Peace and Calm preside
With Presidents Day weekend and Valentines’ Day on the calendar, head north where Peace and Calm preside. Their cabinet members are Quiet, Beauty and Recreation.
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. exploring the park’s winter wonders always brings peace and calm. At Soaring Eagle Ski Trails you’ll find 10 km of marked and groomed trails for skiing and for snowshoeing. Due to Covid-19, the Itascatur Outdoor Activity Club’s open houses are cancelled, but the trails are ready when snow conditions permit. To learn more, go to Itascatur Outdoor Activity Club.
Most organized activities have been cancelled or postponed, but check the Chamber website for possibilities. Some local dining establishments serve sides of music and activities with their food. 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. And our shops will have just the right gift for you Valentine’s sweetheart.
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 the Legion and several local businesses until the drawing March 19 Or go to Where’s The Fishing Raffle to order a ticket by mail.
Park Rapids will welcome snowmobilers to the Heartland 200 Feb. 27-28. The gate will open at 8 a.m. both days. Races will start at 9 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday. Admission to watch racers depart is $10 (12 and under free). The race course is typically 120 miles of wooded trails and ditches which presents unique challenges to racers to run at top speed. Racers of all ages and skill will compete in classes from Juniors to Pro Stock to Vintage. If conditions in the woods do not allow, the back up option is to run the races on Fish Hook Lake. For more information, go to 2021 HEARTLAND 200 COR POWERSPORTS (FORMERLY USXC).
If you need help planning a memorable and affordable visit this winter or any time of the year, call our friendly staff at 800-247-0054 to learn more. And be sure to check out the 2021 Chamber Discovery Guide to find out what’s happening all year long.