The holidays are over and winter is now in full swing. The bitter cold seems less intense under the mid-day sun and the wind comes and goes leaving moments of stillness in between. The temps are low (or below zero) and daylight is short. But up north, we don’t let this slow us down. In fact, we embrace the cold. Not just because we’ve built up a tolerance to frigid air, but because staying active keeps the winter blues away and gives us a special, rare glimpse into nature’s stark beauty that comes only in the deepest part of winter.
What are the secrets to a perfect winter day? We’re glad you asked. Here’s how we’d spend every precious moment of daylight in our beautiful corner of Voyageurs National Park.

• 8:00 AM: We’d start with a hearty breakfast. After a restful night at one of our favorite lodges, we’d prepare a delicious meal that fills us up before embarking on our adventures. If we have any leftovers, we’d pack them up for a snack to eat later.
• 9:00 AM: Daylight is passing quickly, so after cleaning up from breakfast, we’d quickly layer on winter gear over our clothes, grab our fishing license and rod, and head to our best-kept secret fishing spot. New to ice fishing? Here are a few tips on what gear you’ll need and how to find your own best-kept secret fishing spot.
• 11:00 AM: Despite your best efforts, you might need to warm up after over an hour of fishing. It’s time to head back to our lodge and prep lunch.
• Noon: It’s as warm as it will be all day around noon. So, after lunch, we decide to take a new form of transportation: snowmobile. We grab our helmet and head out on sled to Rainy Lake Visitor Center.
• 1:00 PM: We spend a few minutes exploring the bookstore, exhibit area, displays, and activity table before borrowing a free pair or two of cross country skis at the visitor center. With trails nearby, we map out our route and get moving.
• 2:30 PM: It’s time for a quick snack break. Cross country skiing can make you break a sweat, so we unpack our snacks and sit down for a moment to soak in our surroundings. Not sure what to pack beyond your breakfast scraps? Here are our top suggestions. Then, after a quick break, it’s time to head back to the visitor center and beat the setting sun.
• 4:00 PM: After returning our skis, we head back to our lodge and get cozy. We rest our legs and prepare any fish caught from earlier in the day for our supper. As the sun sets, we pour a cup of hot cocoa, watch the sky closely for any glimpse of the Northern Lights, and reminisce about our favorite moments from the busy day.
  

Through the years, suffering the cold has become a sort of challenge that we celebrate. It’s a challenge that many accept excitedly and many more accept begrudgingly. For instance, do you remember the ice bucket challenge where you dump a bucket of ice over a friend (or victim) for charity? Or the various snowball fights you had as a child or maybe still have, because who ever really grows out of wanting to play in the snow? We take stock in knowing that we’ve embraced the cold and we’re always a little rosier and prouder for doing so. It goes beyond our backyard though, with communities around the country celebrating winter’s beauty and coming together to make something magical, memorable, and fulfilling. It’s not just that we’re trying to beat the cold, but find a reason to make something meaningful because of it. In Leavenworth, Washington, they celebrate winter with the Bavarian Icefest which includes outdoor games, treats, and a stroll down a stunning street adorned with holiday lights. In our neighbor state of Wisconsin, they celebrate Winter Fest with art, music, and various family events and friendly competitions.

In International Falls, we have our own winter celebrations and, not to brag, but we’ve become quite famous for them. With several national news stations and big-name writers coming to check out Icebox Days and watch runners shiver through the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run, we proudly own the “Icebox of the Nation” nickname. You’ll be hard pressed to find a colder place in the US than International Falls, MN, on any given day in January. But it’s just that challenge that we accept gladly as we prepare to celebrate the 40th Annual Icebox Days Winter Festival.

If you’re ready to celebrate the cold with us, there’s a plethora of activities to choose from in order to stay warm, and most importantly, have fun in January. To help you get organized, here are a few suggestions to make the most out of your festival weekend:

1. Moonlight Snowshoe Hike: Luminaries to light your way, this is a romantic Friday night date activity. Pack a flashlight or headlamp, check in at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center around 7 PM for free snowshoe rentals, and make your way through the hushed and peaceful nighttime forest in Voyageurs National Park.
2. Icebox Days Pancake Breakfast: Feed your inner lumberjack with a thick stack of pancakes at Elk’s Lodge on Saturday morning. Free will offering will get your hands on some hot cakes, sausage, juice, and coffee.
3. Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run: Registration opens at 8 AM, the 5K race begins at 9 AM, and the 10K race begins at 10 AM. Lace up your shoes or cheer on the brave runners and walkers from the sidelines.
4. Frostbite Falls Open Ice Golf Tournament: If Santa played golf, this might be his favorite course. It’s a winter paradise with nine holes and golfers deck their “carts” out in a friendly competition for the “Best Sled” award. Registration opens at 11 AM.
5. Frozen Turkey Bowling or the Toilet Seat Toss: Take your pick as to what you’d like to throw across the frigid ice more: turkeys or toilet seats. The frozen turkey toss event is free and simply asks that participants toss a frozen turkey down a bowling lane in their best attempt at hitting as many pins as possible. If you’ve never seen a frozen turkey roll down a bowling lane and you like to laugh, this event might be for you. Head to the Backus Community Center at 1 PM and don’t miss a beat of this wacky event. On the other hand, if you’ve ever had plumbing issues and have unreleased aggression towards a toilet seat, the 1 PM Toilet Seat Toss at the Viking Bar and Lounge might be an even better fit.
6. Chili Feed: The cold means you burn more calories. So filling up on something warm and satisfying is a must. The Chili Feed starts at 2 PM at the Backus Community Center and you can purchase small or large bowls, depending on your appetite. You’ll sample from steamy pots of chili to choose your favorite. Over the years we’ve found that the winner is rarely the mouth-burning spicy variety but rather a really good hit for a variety of palates. But, if you like it hot, there’s always a pot or two of fire-alarm worthy chili to try.
7. Smoosh Races: Never played on a smoosh board? Make this day your first time and with any amount of beginner’s luck, you’ll have a shot at cash prizes from the Chamber. Smoosh racers strap four team members to a prepared two-by-four and then try to run, in unison (or more often in a state of complete confusion) down the course, negotiate a turn and race back to the finish line. If you want to compete but don’t have two-by-fours with some sort of strap or binder system, they can be provided. If you don’t want to compete, join the crowd of spectators having a laugh or two as teams do their best to compete in an intentionally clumsy contest.
8. Fireworks: Cuddle up with a loved one under a warm blanket and settle in along 3rd Street to listen to and watch the fireworks show.

If you’re staying in town through Sunday, the festivities continue with canoe races, a hot dog roast, and a figure skating competition and exhibition. For the full list of events and details, visit the Chamber’s website here.

Want to see what Icebox Days from years past looked like? Read on from our blog here.

Think back to some of your most fond Christmas memories. Can you recall what you got for presents? It’s tough. But if asked to recall who you spent Christmas with and the fun activities you did together, well that’s usually a little easier. The best Christmas memories might include familiar flavors like that honey glazed ham your mom makes every year and familiar sounds like that song your brother sings around the soft light of the Christmas tree. Some of the best Christmas memories come from unplugging, disconnecting, and recharging. In the border waters, that’s the easy part.

Today, families are looking for more meaningful ways to connect beyond the harsh, cold electronic screens that occupy most of our precious time. Christmas is a great time to press pause, lift your head up from your phone, and take in the splendor of the beauty that surrounds you and the presence of the people you hold closest to your heart.

Now, we might be biased, but we think one of the best places to spend Christmas is up north. Can we let you in on a little secret? We’ve figured out a recipe to slow down time. Or at least our perception of it. And we’re sharing that recipe with you.

Step 1: Plan your trip and holiday meals. If food is an important part of your family’s tradition, plan to pack and bring along the ingredients you need to make those heirloom dishes. Check with your resort or lodge prior to booking to be sure they have the right equipment to prepare and cook your meals, too. Preparation will take the headache and stress out of cooking when you are there. If you’re planning to cook up your fresh catch of fish from your ice fishing venture, plan a backup meal in case the big one gets away.

Step 2: Make a list of activities for everyone in your party. If moving past gifts and onto more meaningful experiences is on your agenda, here are a few activities to include:

• Storytime: There’s the usual Dickens’ Christmas Carol or Clement Clarke Moore’s Twas the Night Before Christmas, but if you’re at Rainy Lake or in Voyageur’s National Park, read up on the history of this area.
• Scan the skies: Did you know that the starlight we see can be as old as centuries or millennia? Again, we’ve figured out a way to slow down time (or the universe has, but we’ll take credit). When you gaze up at the sky, the light you see from the galaxies above may be light from before your birth, or your parents’ birth, or their parents’. Download a star gazing app (we’ve listed a few here) to start naming the constellations. Or nickname them yourself and come back every year to find your constellation or star.
• Hunt: Rifle season may be over, but archery season lasts through the end of the year. Rainy Lake offers pristine places to hunt by bow. There are vast tracts of public land and designated non-motorized hunting trails to give you plenty of space to hunt. If it’s not your land and you haven’t been granted permission to be on it, don’t hunt it. Be aware of where you are at all times and map out your route and hunting trip ahead of time. If you go it alone, make sure at least one person knows where you are planning to hunt and double check your surroundings for other hunters, posted signs, or trespassing notices. Above all else, be safe and follow these regulations and safety tips from the Minnesota DNR’s website here.

Step 3: Unplug. Turn off your phone and enjoy your surroundings and present company. Sometimes, the greatest gift you can give is your undivided attention. Plus, that is how memories are made. It’s the holiday season and it’s a time to reflect, honor, and cherish the gifts you’ve been given.