What to do when it’s winter and your kids are bored? It can be easy as a family to just hibernate and spend all day on digital devices, but there’s so much everyone can do that’s fun and is FREE. Here are 32 FREE “No Spend” Family Winter Activities and a FREE list you can […]
Ice Castles Are Open in St. Paul, Minnesota (& Save 15%!)
Ice Castles are back in Minnesota! Plus, I’m excited to announce that once again I have an exclusive 15% discount for tickets! Opening Date Ice Castles opened at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Friday, January 3rd, 2025! They’re open weekends and select weekdays now through mid-February, depending on weather. And you can save 15% with […]
Free Printable Winter Scavenger Hunt
It’s winter in Minnesota, and winter activities like skiing and sledding are in full swing! And I have this exclusive NEW Free Printable Winter Scavenger Hunt to help you and your kids have fun outside! Search for these wintery things around your house and neighborhood. Even with all the snow, there’s a lot you can […]
4 Budget-Friendly Ways to Keep Your Primary Bedroom Warm in Winter
When winter rolls around, one of your main concerns is likely to be the most affordable and yet effective way for you to keep your primary bedroom warm. This can help you stay comfortable without breaking the bank, and it’s an amazing way to improve your home’s value. By putting the right tips into practice, […]
See the Bartz Snow Sculptures Giant Seal in New Brighton
The Bartz Brothers snow sculpture for 2024 is here – and it’s a seal! The Bartz Brothers have been creating newsworthy snow sculptures in New Brighton for years. They’ve done them in their front yard but now this year the sculpture is at Brightwood Hills Golf Course in New Brighton, and is in conjunction with […]
Family Guide to the Saint Paul Winter Carnival 2023 (Jan 26 – Feb 5)
The Saint Paul Winter Carnival is back in-person this year with tons of free events for everyone! The 2023 Saint Paul Winter Carnival, known as “The “Coolest Celebration on Earth,” starts Thursday, January 26th and lasts through Sunday, February 5th. Most events are free and open to the public. However, some require a fee which […]
Ice Palace Maze in Stillwater (Cool Winter Fun!)
Last year we visited Stillwater’s Ice Palace Maze, and we’re thrilled that it’s back again this year! The Ice Palace Maze is a palace-themed walkable puzzle formed from walls of ice six to ten feet high. Like last year, it’s a half-mile of twisty turns with an ice throne, ending in an ice slide (optional!), and […]
Driving Through the Saint Paul Winter Carnival in 2021 (Our Review)
Our family experienced the Saint Paul Winter Carnival Drive-Thru on opening day, January 28, 2021, and here’s what we loved and what you can expect! I posted about this unique event a few weeks ago. The Saint Paul Winter Carnival of course isn’t new (far from it!), but the drive-thru experience is new this year, […]
Stillwater’s Ice Palace Maze is Cool Winter Family Fun!
This week our family visited the new Ice Palace Maze in Stillwater, Minnesota, and it was a perfect winter family outing! It’s a winter playground and it’s outside the Zephyr Theatre in downtown Stillwater. The Ice Palace Maze is a half-mile long, has 8-foot-tall walls, and there are fun things to discover throughout like sculptures […]
How to Find the Frozen Caveman in Minneapolis
UPDATE: The Caveman is no longer there – it was removed by the artist who created it. If you live in the Twin Cities and you haven’t heard on the news already, there’s a frozen caveman in Minneapolis! Well, not a real one, of course – but a piece of art originally created by Leonic […]
Ice Palace Maze in Stillwater (January 22 – February 28)
Though Ice Castles isn’t happening in Minnesota this winter, there is another similar event coming to Stillwater, Minnesota (where Ice Castles was in 2017 and 2018). It’s the Ice Palace Maze, and it’s coming to Stillwater! This is going to be a safe, outdoor family winter event! Here are the details: […]
Get Outdoors More in Minnesota with the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge
Have you heard of the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge? I’ve been hearing about this online and many people are trying it out! This is a challenge to help kids spend 1000 hours outside in 2021. There is a website and free printables to track your hours outside. We printed one of the full year trackers […]
10 Ways to Save Money Heating Your Home
Looking for ways to save money heating your home? As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, it’s a good thing to start thinking about especially here in Minnesota! Minnesota winters are cold and long, which means home heating bills can add up pretty high for many families. But there are many ways […]
100 Things for Kids to Do at Home When Bored (Written by My 12-Year-Old!)
Kids bored? Not sure what to do at home? This list was written in response to the closing of schools during COVID, as my kids were clearly more bored at home during that time. But it’s clearly useful any time kids don’t know what to do when they’re home and have free time!
Our Winter Getaway to Spirit Mountain in Duluth
After a few months of mostly being cooped upside due to the all the cold and snow this winter in Minnesota, my family and I decided we needed to go somewhere fun to get away! So this past weekend we headed to Spirit Mountain in Duluth for an overnight visit to spend some time outside […]