Minnesotan winters tend to be lengthy and cold, but those that think there’s nothing to do but wait for spring to hurry itself here are sadly mistaken. True Minnesotans embrace the five months of the powdery snow that covers the ground by participating in the unique recreation that snow enables.

Golf course by spring and snowy delight by winter, Theodore Wirth Park provides such an opportunity. As the cross-country teams know, Wirth has two groomed cross-country ski trails, three snowboarding hills, and a tubing hill that promise hours of fun.

Passes for cross-country skiing are good for all hours of the day of purchase, and they’re valid at all Minneapolis Park and Recreation groomed ski trails. Now half-season passes are on sale for the cross-country skiing connoisseur.

The snowboarding area requires a long trek to get to, but it features three areas: a bunny hill and two apparatus hills. Competitions are held there periodically and are open to the public for watching and participating.

Every Wednesday is Wirth Wild Winter Wednesday, where kids aged 17 and younger tube for free, so it’s a perfect time to check out the hill to see if it’s worthy of buying a ticket for a later date. Unlike Afton of Highland, Wirth’s lift tickets and passes are good from open to close, and they allow re-entry, making it a great deal.

Inside the chalet, food offerings warm patrons up from the inside out. Their hot chocolate is the perfect remedy for chilly fingers and cold faces, and the french fries are priced right and are numerous enough to share. Whether it be tubing, cross-country skiing, or snowboarding, Theodore Wirth meets the needs of winter enthusiasts around the Twin Cities.