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January 28, 2016

Cabins for a crowd

When groups travel, they divide costs and multiply benefits.

Contrary to common wisdom, the best deals in travel aren't too good to be true.

The key is to travel with a group. Gather 20 people, and you can bring per-person costs way, way down — we're talking $20, $10, even $5 for an overnight stay.

Where? State-park lodges, environmental-learning centers, church retreats and youth camps.

They're perfect for outdoors clubs, hobby retreats or family reunions. Here are some of the best ones.

Read entire story

Best bets for the weekend

Greet a groundhog, spy on an eagle, pull a sled.

Winter is almost half over, but the big festivals have just started.

This weekend, they're all about sleds: cardboard ones in Minneapolis and Fargo; pulled by humans in Lake Okoboji and Grand Haven; pulled by dogs in Elkhart Lake and along Minnesota's North Shore.

In Wausau, dogs will pull weights at Winter Fest. Humans will ride fat-tire bikes downtown and race them at the Badger State Winter Games.

Warm temperatures are plaguing ice-carvers at St. Paul's Winter Carnival but making it rather pleasant to belly up to the ice bar and watch Saturday's parade. On the other side of the Twin Cities, the Eden Prairie Ice Castles have returned.

At Starved Rock State Park on the Illinois River, it's Eagle Watch Weekend. Nest-peeping season has started early in St. Paul, where mama eagle delighted web-cam watchers by laying an egg. In Decorah, mom and dad have accepted a starter nest built by humans after a July storm destroyed the old one; owls also are trying to move in, providing extra drama.

Up in Ely, wolves have been making frequent appearances on photographer Jim Brandenburg's daily Nature 365 video blog. Another furry critter will show up Tuesday in Woodstock, Ill., and at the Milwaukee Zoo, both celebrating Groundhog Day.

If you're an Illinois resident, now is a good time to visit Chicago's museums. The Art Institute (now $25) is free weekdays through Feb. 11, and the Field Museum is free every day in February. If you don't live in Illinois, you still can make a trip to Chicago cheap.

February also is a good time to visit Madison. You can get a discounted hotel room during Hotel Week, Feb. 12-21, and guided tours of the State Capitol always are free.

Next weekend

Watch hot-air balloons billow and snow sculptures take shape.

Snow sculpture at Ely's Winter Festival.

Winter Festival in Ely, Minn. There are guided snowshoe hikes, a beard contest, snow sculpting, an arts market and a candlelight ski. Feb. 4-14.

Hot Air Affair in Hudson, Wis. There will be a Friday night torchlight parade and fireworks plus a craft fair, smoosh boarding, balloon launches and moon glows. Feb. 5-7.

U.S. Snow Sculpting Championship in Lake Geneva, Wis. Watch artists turn snow into whimsical sculptures and vote on the best ones. There's also music, food, children's entertainment and helicopter rides. Feb. 3-7.

Scandihoovian Winter Festival in Mount Horeb, Wis. In this town just west of Madison, there's turkey bowling, a snowman-building contest, kick sledding, a spelling bee and a vintage snowmobile show and ride. Feb. 5-7.

For more events, see our Events Calendar.

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