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Other stories in "Winter"

• Next weekend
  Prepare to be dazzled in Minneapolis.
• Best bets for the weekend
  At Expo, learn how to love winter.
• The best of 2010 . . . and 2011
  Here are our revelations from the old year and resolutions for the new one.
• The chocolate cure
  As winter drags on, drown your sorrows with sweets.
• Vacations for the brain
  Go to a summer school, and you'll come home with a skill.
• Following the Beargrease
  The 2011 North Shore sled-dog marathon was one of the most exciting in years.
• Volunteering on Lake Superior
  Be keeper of the light or a modern voyageur.
• Bargains for beginners
  Free or cut-rate ski and snowboard packages make it easy to learn.
• How to make ice luminaries
  With homemade lanterns, make your front walk sparkle.
• Walking on ice
  To stay safe and have fun, buy a pair of crampons.
• Cheap winter retreats
  Spend a weekend mushing dogs or tracking wolves at bargain prices.
• A peek into an inn
  During holidays, B&Bs in five tourist towns open for tours.
• Holiday house calls
  On tours, see where the rich and famous celebrated Christmas.
• Readers say Ely is the coolest town
  It's got wolves, it's got bears, it's got character.
• Sightseeing by bicycle
  This summer's tours include an extra quota of scenery.
• 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.
• 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.

Magic under the moon

In winter, plan a trip around a candlelight ski or snowshoe.

On a dark winter night, there's nothing more magical than skiing or snowshoeing on a trail lined by candles.

I got hooked in Minnesota's Mille Lacs Kathio State Park. A fat blue moon hung in the sky, a thick coating of hoarfrost made tree branches look like reindeer antlers and more than 400 glowing bags gave the forest a fairy-tale aura.

I often plan winter trips around candlelight events. In Minnesota, you can stay right in the park if you reserve fast enough.

Right now, there are camper cabins available for the Feb. 3-4 skis in Lake Carlos State Park near Alexandria, suites for Jan. 7 and Feb. 4 in Itasca State Park and the guesthouse Feb. 4 in St. Croix State Park.

Here's our list of candlelight skiing and snowshoeing events in 2012.

Last updated on November 17, 2011