Most people give the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul a miss during the winter months. The reputation the Twin Cities have for their winters is justified, in part. Temperatures are chilly, but no more so that Chicago. Snowstorms occur, but not as frequently as some might think. But there is plenty going on in the Twin Cities in December and January. Sure, there are snow and ice related activities. That is to be expected. But even if you have no desire to put on a jacket and hat, there is still a lot to do. The theater and music scenes offer non-stop action, as does the shopping in the city and in the adjoining suburbs.

The Mall of America in suburban Bloomington no longer bears the title of World's Largest Mall. But it is impressive nonetheless. An indoor amusement park, a nearby indoor water park and thousands of retail outlets make this a destination in and of itself. Of course, if the prices are too steep, there are other options nearby. Furniture giant Ikea is literally a few hundred feet away from the MOA. A trip five miles down the highway will lead to the hip urban shops and ethnic eateries of Uptown Minneapolis.

The theater season lasts 12 months each year in the Twin Cities. The plush Guthrie Theater draws national praise for its shows, but the glut of smaller theaters means Minneapolis is second only to New York City in terms of theater seats per capita.

First Ave, the famous venue where pop star Prince got his start, is still going strong. It is now dominated by underground hip hop acts like Atmosphere and a handful of nationally known acts stop by for intimate shows. As with theater, aside from the big venues, there are smaller clubs too numerous to mention scattered throughout the cities. During the winter, things are rocking six or even seven nights per week.