When winter arrives, many head straight for the ski slopes or unearth their ice skates from the back of the closet. Not all the fun festivities during the cold, blustery winter months involve bundling up for outdoor recreation though, especially this year with our very underwhelming amount of snow. (Definitely not complaining about that by the way!) You might instead want to set your sights on some indoor fun:
1. Egypt’s Sunken Cities Exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Everyone who has seen this exhibit simply raves. Underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio, who’s dubbed “the marine ‘Indiana Jones’” (awesome) discovered two lost ancient cities under the sea while exploring Aboukir Bay near the city of Alexandria.
Goddio and his team discovered a slew of treasures including monumental statues, religious images carved in stone, exquisite jewelry, delicate ceramics, a mummy, and much more. Over 250 items are on display that reveal details and new understanding about an ancient world that thrived 1200 years ago. You do have to purchase tickets to see the exhibit but it is well worth it.
2. Omnifest at the Science Museum of Minnesota
Now celebrating its 20th year of mind-blowing, epic films, Omnifest returns to the Science Museum of Minnesota. This year, the film fest features five fan favorites:
- Journey to Space — Breathtaking footage of Earth and captivating repair operations of the Hubble Space Telescope.
- National Parks Adventure — Fly over canyons and mountains in an off-road adventure.
- Ring of Fire — See spectacular volcanic eruptions.
- The Greatest Places — Takes you on a journey to the world’s greatest landscapes.
- Tornado Alley — An up close look at the power of tornadoes.
3. Adult Night Out at the Minnesota Zoo
Get out of the cold and explore the indoor zoo attractions at this 18+ event. Perfect for a date night or simply a new experience with your friends, you can wander the interior trails and exhibits with less crowds and perhaps with an adult beverage in hand as well. Adult Night Out also provides fun activities throughout the evening such as animal trivia, board games, a wine and coffee bar, live music, and of course, amazing animal attractions.
4. Food with a View at the Guthrie
The theater scene is huge in Minnesota. And while I highly recommend actually seeing a play at the Guthrie, if you’re not into it, you can still enjoy an amazing evening with dinner and daily happy hour specials at the Guthrie’s restaurant, Sea Change. Enjoy a great meal or simply grab a drink and some appetizers and then head out to the overhanging balcony for stunning views of the Minneapolis skyline and illuminated Stone Arch Bridge on the Mississippi.
5. Meet Minnesota’s Most Innovative and Influential at Creative Mornings
If you’re new to Creative Mornings, the concept is simple: a free monthly event with complimentary breakfast and a short talk from someone who is doing really cool things in the community and beyond. Each month has a new theme which the speaker addresses in their own way based on their journey and experience. This month’s speaker on January 18 is Chris Pennington, the mastermind behind ideas such as the Soap Factory Haunted Basement, Ten Second Film Festival, and the ever-popular Can Can Wonderland. At the very least you’ll get some tasty breakfast and coffee from Minnesota-favorite local business.
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