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November 17, 2016
Cheap winter getawaysHere are 20 places where a fun weekend away is easy on the wallet.
In the Upper Midwest, finding a good deal is a sport second only to football. Some of us need a bargain. Some of us just like them. But we all need to get away occasionally, especially when cabin fever strikes in winter. The easiest way to save is to round up a group of friends and rent a guesthouse in a state park. You'll find more overnight deals at environmental centers, hostels and even museums. And most of the fun — skiing, snowshoeing, bird-watching, festival-attending — is free. Here are 20 inexpensive weekend trips you can take in 2017, most for $100 or less per person. Best bets for the weekendMarching bands and light shows herald the change of season.
The endless fall has been great, but a reality check is coming. Good thing, because watching a Christmas parade in shirtsleeves would be weird. Already, our Events Calendar is almost all about Christmas. For instant immersion in the holidays, head to Milwaukee for a ride on the Jingle Bus and the annual Christkindlmarket, folk fair and parade. On Saturday, there are also parades in Chicago, Sturgeon Bay, Baraboo and Green Bay. The Christkindlmarket in Chicago and Kerstmarkt in Holland are opening, with more Old World Christmas markets next weekend in Minneapolis, Excelsior, Naperville, Oconomowoc and Monroe. In Duluth, Bentleyville opens. This sprawling tour of lights has become our favorite thing to do over the holidays. Everything is free, including cookies, popcorn and marshmallows to roast (bring food items or cash to donate). Holiday mansion tours have started, and Santa already has been listening to wishes at the Mall of America for a week. If you're raring for winter, head up north, where snow is expected. Or collect ideas for future adventures — snow-kiting or fat-tire biking? — at the Winterer's Gathering in Grand Marais or Outdoor Adventure Expo in Minneapolis. The holiday shopping frenzy traditionally starts next Friday, but Minnesota is offering free admission to state parks so that you can play outdoors instead, and you'll get free skiing or gondola rides at Lutsen Mountains. The Minneapolis Institute of Art always is free, but if you're an early bird there instead of the mall, you'll get treats and free tickets to its special "Martin Luther: Art and the Reformation" exhibit. If you can't face the holidays or winter, late November and the first three weeks of December is the best time to find deals at indoor water parks in the Wisconsin Dells and elsewhere. We hope you have a relaxing Thanksgiving! Next weekendKick off the holidays with lighted parades and penguins.
Christkindlsmarkt in Excelsior, Minn. In this town west of Minneapolis, a traditional German open-air Christmas market features choir music, kids' activities, a grand opening parade and two children's parades. Nov. 25-27. Holiday Homecoming in St. Charles, Ill. There's Lighting of the Lights and music Friday and free horse-drawn sleigh rides, movies and Santa visits Saturday, with the Electric Christmas Parade at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 25-26. German Christmas Market in Oconomowoc, Wis. This downtown market features vendors in outdoor huts as well as tents for music, German food, gingerbread-decorating and a beer garden. Nov. 25-27. Holiday Stroll in Red Wing, Minn. This Mississippi River town offers horse-drawn carriage rides, reindeer sleigh rides, fire dancing and live penguins. There's a lighted parade at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks. Nov. 25. For more, see our Events Calendar.
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