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Fast Plans / Where to go now

FastPlans/North Shore fun

On Minnesota's North Shore, spectacular scenery and superbly groomed trails make it a perfect place to ski and snowshoe.

Where to ski: For alpine skiing, Lutsen Mountains. For cross-country skiing, the Sugarbush system between Tofte and Lutsen, Cascade River-Deer Yard Lake between Lutsen and Grand Marais and Pincushion near Grand Marais.

Where to snowshoe: Anywhere in the eight state parks and on the Superior Hiking Trail (pictured).

Events to catch: Feb. 3-12, Winter Tracks Festival.

Lodgings: See Where to stay on Minnesota's North Shore.

Details: See Skiing the North Shore and North Shore by snowshoe.

Snowy in Eagle River

There's plenty of snow around the northeast Wisconsin town of Eagle River, where beautifully groomed trails draw legions of skiers and snowmobilers.

What to do: Go skiing and snowshoeing on the many trails. Anvil Lake, where chickadees eat out of skiers' hands, is a favorite. Go on a snowmobiling tour with Decker's Sno-Venture. See the town's ice castle, a tradition since the 1920s.

Events to catch: Jan. 19-22, World Championship Snowmobile Derby. March 3-4, Klondike Days.

Details: See Full throttle in Eagle River.

Itasca in winter

In summer, tourists from all over the world make a beeline for Minnesota's Itasca State Park, where the Mississippi River starts its run for the Gulf.

But in the winter, it's very quiet . . . and very serene. It's a great time to see the park's beautiful old-growth pines under a cloak of snow.

What to do: Ski on 28 miles of trails. Snowshoe on five trails or anywhere in the park, including Itasca Wilderness Sanctuary state natural area. Ice fish on Itasca Lake. See exhibits about the park's colorful history at the Jacob Brower Visitors Center.

Events to catch: Jan. 21, Snowshoe Wildlife Watch. Feb. 4, lantern-lit ski and snowshoe.

Where to stay: The rate for the Itasca Suites is reduced to $99. Near the headwaters, Mississippi Headwaters Hostel is very inexpensive. Bert's Cabins has five deluxe cabins with wood stoves.

Details: For more, see Itasca in winter and The people's park.

Skiing Thunder Bay

On Lake Superior, the real North Shore starts in Thunder Bay, a sprawling port town an hour north of Grand Marais, Minn.

The Nor'Wester Mountains rise within city limits, giving it great downhill skiing, and it has plenty of nordic skiing, too.

Where to ski: For downhill, go to Loch Lomond, on the south edge of town (pictured); it has 14 runs, the longest 1½ miles. Mount Baldy, north of town, has 10 runs.

For cross-country skiing, there are 60 kilometers of groomed trails at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, 30 at Kamview Nordic Ski Centre and 13 at Kakabeka Provincial Park.

Events to catch: The Sleeping Giant Loppet, formerly the Sibley Tour, is March 3. There's an 8-kilometer family event, a 35-kilometer tour and a 50-kilometer race.

Details: See Downhill in Thunder Bay.

Swans in Monticello

The trumpeter swans have arrived in Monticello. From November through February, more than 1,000 trumpeter swans gather at a warm spot on the Mississippi River, just an hour west of the Twin Cities.

When to go: Jim Lawrence feeds the swans around 10 a.m. every day; get there early and watch them fly in.

His wife, Sheila, fed them for more than 25 years. She passed away in April 2011; here's a video of her feeding and talking about her beloved swans.

What else to do: Shop at the nearby Albertville Premium Outlets. Ski, snowshoe or skate at nearby Lake Maria State Park.

Events to catch: Jan. 28, Winter Fun Day at Lake Maria State Park.

Details: See Snow birds and Winter weekend in Monticello.