January 2021
Make your own fun
When we were kids and mom wanted to get us out of her hair, she told us to go outside.
Even in winter, we made our own fun. We went sledding, built a snowman, put up a snow fort, played fox and goose in our booted feet.
In these times, we are rediscovering simple pleasures like these. But decades later, we can enjoy the other options the north woods offers now that snow has arrived. You can snowmobile on hundreds of miles of groomed trails, cross-country ski, navigate the woods on snowshoes or fish through the ice.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources updates snow and trail conditions in weekly reports posted after 2 p.m. every Thursday at www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html. Be sure to check ice depths and use caution, but anglers are out and the catch is on. DNR ice thickness guidelines are at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html. Check with bait shop owners or neighbors to find out where the ice is safe and the best spots to snag a fresh catch.
The Visitor Center lobby at Itasca State Park is open and exploring the park’s winter wonders always brings peace and calm.
Most organized activities have been cancelled or postponed, but check the Chamber website for possibilities. Our winter lodging facilities are open no matter what Mother Nature brings. Warm up by the fire or in the pool, hot tub or sauna. Our restaurants have take out and delivery figured out and our shops are open.
In 2020, the Park Rapids American Legion cancelled the Community Fishing Contest on Fish Hook Lake due to poor ice conditions. This year, the Legion won’t host a gathering, but you can still be a winner in the Where’s The Fishing Raffle. Your $40 ticket gives you a chance to win a Chevy truck, Polaris Ranger or Ice Castle Fish House gift certificate, plus dozens of other prizes including $5,000 cash. Tickets are available at several local businesses.
The Chamber Website provides information about trail riding and cross-country skiing possibilities as well as available lodging and other things to see and do while you’re here. If you’re ready to make your own winter fun and need help planning a memorable and affordable visit or if you have questions, call our friendly staff at 800-247-0054 to learn more.