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Other stories in "Winter"

• Wacky winter festivals
  Some folks really know how to throw a party — and a lot of other things, too.
• Readers say Ely is the coolest town
  It's got wolves, it's got bears, it's got character.
• Vacations for the brain
  Go to a summer school, and you'll come home with a skill.
• Sightseeing by bicycle
  This summer's tours include an extra quota of scenery.
• Go, dogs, go
  Watch an elite field of mushers and huskies in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.
• Walking on ice
  To stay safe and have fun, buy a pair of crampons.
• Volunteering on Lake Superior
  Be keeper of the light or a watcher of wolves.
• Serious reservations
  Here's a guide to the lodgings, campsites and permits you should nail down now.
• Best bets in ski country
  Trails in the south bask in snow; a hostel reopens in state forest.
• Skiing in the city
  On the trails of Duluth, a cappuccino never is far away.
• Cheap winter retreats
  Spend a weekend mushing dogs or tracking wolves at bargain prices.
• Happy holidays from MidwestWeekends
  Here are our wishes (and gifts).
• A peek into an inn
  During holidays, B&Bs in four tourist towns open for tours.
• Holiday house calls
  On tours, see where the rich and famous celebrated Christmas.
• Magic under the moon
  In winter, plan a trip around a candlelight ski or snowshoe.
• A very merry city
  At Christmas, Chicago brims with good will.
• All eyes on eagles
  In winter, tourists and birds alike head for open water.

How to make ice luminaries

With homemade lanterns, make your front walk sparkle.

In winter, the best time to be out in the forest is during a candlelight ski in state parks and forests, when volunteers set out hundreds of luminaries along snow-draped trails. It's always a magical occasion (for more, see Ski or snowshoe by candlelight).

If you'd like to have the same effect all winter long, make some ice luminaries for your own walk. It'll impress visitors as well as put some sparkle into the long winter nights.

Here's a recipe from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. If you don't have enough coffee cans or buckets, pick up some at a dollar store. That's also a good place to buy pillar-type candles that will last for a while.

Find a large bucket and a smaller bowl or container. Put some rocks in the bottom of the big bucket to make a shelf for the smaller bucket to sit on. Place more rocks into the smaller bucket.

Place the smaller bucket inside the bigger bucket. Pour water into the bigger bucket, around the smaller bucket. Add food coloring, if you want. For a more festive look, add glitter, berries, orange slices or pine needles.

Place the buckets in the back yard. Wait for the water to freeze hard. Remove the rocks from the smaller container. Add some warm water to loosen the container. Remove it.

Turn the big bucket upside down in sink. Run warm water over it to remove the ice luminary. Be careful; if the water is too hot, the ice may crack.

Put a candle in the opening. Light the candle and place the luminary on the front walk or around the house.

Last updated on December 9, 2009