The best winter rituals don’t deny the cold. They make it part of the pleasure. This season, as it turns out, is far more interesting — dare we even say fun — when we design our lives around it. A 10-below forecast becomes a reason to invite the neighbors over for soup, upgrade your wardrobe layering game or try your hand at a sub-zero activity like skijoring.
Winter asks a lot of people, even those who genuinely like it. It has a way of making everyone saltier than the roads we’re fishtailing on. It gets dark out absurdly early. Errands take twice as long. By February, even the sunniest person in the group chat is seeking out light-therapy lamps and cursing Jack Frost with the vehemence of the Grinch.
Illustration by Kate Worum
With the help of our winter survival guide, we can shift the narrative. Imagine putting one-fifth of the affection into winter that we pour into summer, with its gloriously lazy lake days, alfresco dinners and rosé-fueled patio gatherings. Instead of treating the season like a grim disruption between fall foliage and spring thaw or only showing up for the Thanksgiving–to–New Year’s blitz, consider what winter could offer if we warmly welcomed the colder temps and shorter days.
That’s the spirit of this guide: expert ideas for making the most of the Midwest’s signature season — tending to yourself and others, zhuzhing your favorite gathering spaces, dressing with pride on the most frigid days and dreaming up cold-weather trips with the same gusto typically reserved for summer vacations. Winter is an inevitability. Here’s how to make it a season worth celebrating — icicles and all.
Winter Wellness
The most important tool in your winter wellness tool kit? A group of down-for-anything friends. Or at least a few standing calendar dates to fend off an isolation spiral, like a weekly stroll with someone who won’t bail just because it’s snowing. The key is making non-holiday plans before the holly jolly frenzy takes over. This is wellness, too — not the self-care-as-biohacking sort, but the type that keeps people connected when winter tries its hardest to shrink everyone’s universe. There’s even research to back this. Studies show that frequent hangs with others can help fend off the negative health effects brought on by stress, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
One surefire strategy? Tap into the nostalgic childhood outings that made winter magical before everyone got so adult about it, suggests Asha Shoffner, a St. Paul Parks and Recreation educator and organizer of BIPOC Outdoors Twin Cities. For example, go sledding after work, build a fort or start a deeply unserious snowball fight. The laughter and endorphin rush are powerful weapons against the winter doldrums.
Letting loose and leaning into the goofiness of it all is another fail-safe antidote. Practice your golf swing with tennis balls and hockey sticks at the annual Wayzata Chilly Open. Head north to International Falls for frozen turkey bowling during Icebox Days. Ride a fat-tire bike on frozen Lake Superior at Bike Across the Bay in Washburn, Wisconsin. You’re not trying to convince yourself that winter is your new favorite season; you’re just persuading your mind, body and spirit that joy can be found in January through movement, laughter and social interaction.
Of course, there’s always the most civilized form of group sweating: sauna. It may be newly fashionable in American wellness circles, but perspiring amongst friends has been part of Scandinavian life for thousands of years. In Minnesota, heat is both a physical comfort and a reason to gather. Sauna turns winter into a season of “warmth and connection,” says board member Alex Rongen of 612 Sauna Cooperative, which offers community sauna sessions. The body benefits as well: Regular, brief sauna sessions can support heart health and longevity, according to Mayo Clinic Press.
Not totally comfortable with the whole idea of profusely sweating with others? There’s a sauna setting for that. Some sessions are public; others can be booked privately with family or friends. Just as important, Rongen notes, is remembering there’s no single correct way to sauna. You can chat with friends or stay quiet (just mind any house rules), cool down slowly in the winter air or quickly in a cold plunge, and always step out if you’ve had enough.
If shivering in your skivvies with strangers is a step too far, start smaller. “You don’t need to be hardcore to have fun in the winter,” says Shoffner. Soak in a hot tub. Take the first few sips of your morning tea outdoors. Stroll around the neighborhood with a friend, listening for birds.
Once you’ve cared for your own circle, widen it. Choose one top cause you feel passionate about instead of vaguely promising to support your community more. Organize a shoveling squad to assist neighbors in need. Pick up a monthly volunteer shift at Second Harvest Heartland or People Serving People.
Giving back is a win-win. People who practice regular acts of kindness reported 23% lower stress levels, per a 2022 Mayo Clinic Review. Helping others through the coldest season is not a halo-polishing exercise; it’s a practical way to feel useful, connected and more immersed in the community. From connection to adventure to philanthropy, a targeted focus on well-being is arguably the most important aspect of your winter lifestyle overhaul. Your brain and body will thank you.
Seasonal Style
In the Upper Midwest, outerwear is the first line of defense. “The coat is arguably your most important and functional daily garment,” says Ben Magnuson, MartinPatrick 3 director of men’s buying. His advice is to think in categories: a weather-resistant workhorse coat for every day, a refined wool overcoat for work or evenings out, and fine knitwear that layers beneath it all without bulk. Different garments, different jobs.
Thankfully, staying warm no longer requires relinquishing all shape or dignity — even on a morning when the wind chill makes you especially grateful that automatic car starters exist. Magnuson likes performance-minded coats with sharp silhouettes, lightweight Italian pieces and tailored wool styles that are refined but built for the weather. For base layers, he recommends fine-gauge merino wool or cashmere that’s as fashionable as it is functional.
But let’s be real: This is where many cold-weather ensembles miss the mark. The coat comes off, and what’s left is an ill-fitting sweater and emergency leggings. It’s OK — we’ve all been there. The team at Grethen House in Edina suggests barrel-leg pants or casual trouser silhouettes in lightweight wool as a chic way to create shape without sacrificing comfort. Just be mindful of proportion: if the coat is oversize, the pants need structure. If the sweater dress is slightly boxy, the boots should be streamlined.
“Build a uniform, not a collection of outfits,” suggests Minnesota-based fashion designer and entrepreneur Eleanor Leftwich. Identify a tight cast of go-to pieces you can layer, repeat, dress up or down, and feel confident in all season long. Her own winter uniform is built from a capsule wardrobe of high-quality garments: a sharp cashmere coat, a few excellent sweaters, a couple of pairs of tailored trousers and some versatile statement accessories.
“When every piece works together, getting dressed becomes easy,” Leftwich says. It’s a seamless system given that the same outfit can survive a slushy errand run, a client meeting, school pickup and a dinner out. A thoughtful uniform lets you swap out surface details — a structured handbag here, a striking necklace there — instead of starting from scratch.
Creative layering and rich textures keep the uniform from feeling, well, too uniform, notes the Grethen House team. They’re especially keen on knits that layer without adding heft, say a crewneck under a V-neck or a polo under a cardigan. They also deem coats the perfect canvas for showcasing bold brooches, gloves and scarves. Try incorporating an unexpected twist into each outfit — a printed jacket over a muted base or a chunky cable-knit sweater with a sequin skirt — instead of defaulting to yet another black layer.
Of course, the winter wardrobe comes with additional maintenance, given that many seasonal textiles don’t play nice with the snow, slush and salt of these cold-weather months. Patric Richardson, host of HGTV’s The Laundry Guy, recommends treating salt stains on boots or leather goods with vinegar and water, then wiping with a soft cloth. He suggests cleaning sweaters before storing them, too, because “moths don’t want to eat your sweater; they want the stains on the sweater,” he says. (Who knew?!) His hottest take? Spritz stale-smelling pieces with vodka, which dries clear, colorless and odorless. Maybe that’s the most Midwestern winter style advice of all: buy intentionally, assemble your staples and keep emergency vodka handy.
Hibernation Station
When it comes to the home, decorating for the long haul — not the holiday sprint — is the way to go. The goal isn’t to turn the house into a ski lodge, with antlers over the mantel and plaid on every pillow, but to make your favorite rooms feel layered, luminous and inviting.
Start where friends and family naturally gather. Heather Peterson, principal designer of Heather Peterson Design, begins by reorienting her living room. In warmer months, chairs and sofas face the windows; in winter, she turns them toward the fireplace or television. Then she swaps out the soft goods to add coziness: mohair or faux-fur throws instead of linen and richly toned solids and runners underfoot on bare kitchen or hallway floors.
Now that the furniture is pointed in the right direction, learn to make the 5 p.m. darkness work for your space. The trick is not to rely solely on overhead light fixtures. Instead, Kristi Patterson, founder and principal designer of Grace Hill Design, recommends curating your lighting based on the experience, such as dotting the dining room table with battery-operated candles to bring a warming glow to an evening amongst friends. Martha Dayton, president and principal designer of Martha Dayton Design, likes cordless lamps for places where a plug-in might be awkward: tucked into a bookshelf, on a kitchen counter or anywhere else that would benefit from a soft pool of light.
The same long-haul logic applies to greenery, too. Pine, cedar and fir are holiday classics for a reason, but magnolia leaves, boxwood, red-twig dogwood and paperwhites tend to have a longer shelf life. Peterson prefers arrangements in creams, greens and golds — hues that, unlike red and green or silver and blue, won’t feel stale after New Year’s. Scent-wise, she likes something “heady and masculine,” such as teakwood and tobacco notes, which will also outlast more seasonal peppermint and gingerbread options.
Bring that seasonal flair to the table, too, where winter entertaining can look festive without going full-on mountain motif. Think less matching holiday set and more collected winter mix: cloth napkins and elegant candlesticks, colored glassware and earthenware plates, serving pieces in silver or pewter, and a runner with pops of color, like a high-contrast kantha quilt, suggests Peterson.
When the house feels sufficiently radiant, invite people over for no reason at all. Winter entertaining should feel “relaxed, easy and frequent,” says Patterson, reminding us that hosting doesn’t require a major holiday. Maybe it’s an après-ski party with fireside cocktails or an ornament swap with cheeky adults-only cookie decorating. However you choose to gather, ensure guests feel comfortable helping themselves: set up a tray with glassware, a few local spirits, mixers and a bottle opener.
Before anyone can settle in, though, they have to get through the door. Peterson suggests coat and mitten pegs, copper boot trays or a vintage dresser with one drawer per family member. Dayton recommends lining mudroom shoe shelves with metal (aluminum, copper or brass) to protect wood from wet footwear and salt. She also likes placing a small ottoman near the entry so guests have somewhere to sit while wrestling off winter boots. That thoughtful functionality is the key to winter decorating: creating spaces for loved ones to easily gather, cozy up and stay awhile. Toss another log on the fire? Absolutely.
Vacation Mode
Even people who claim to love winter start fantasizing about the emergency exit by late February. Before you book that predictable beach resort, adjust your attitude: either embrace the season in all its snowy pageantry or plan a more intentional warm-weather trip that trades fishbowl margaritas for nature, culture and adventure. Better yet, use this as an opportunity to visit trending destinations during the off-season.
For those truly willing to go to the end of the earth, Antarctica delivers cold-weather wonder at cinematic scale. “There is a silence and vastness that is almost impossible to replicate anywhere else in the world,” notes Monika Sundem, CEO of Adventure Life. “You realize very quickly how small you are in comparison to the landscape.” The payoff is pure ice-sheathed drama: kayaking past icebergs, visiting gentoo penguin colonies and exploring sites where glaciers calve at sea level.
Not every winter retreat requires going quite that far. During these chilly months, Alaska is outrageous in the best possible way, especially in early March, when Anchorage becomes the staging ground for the grueling 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The Wildbirch Hotel is an ideal home base, with stellar views of the mushing action. Nearby, Sheep Mountain Lodge in Glacier View is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the Matanuska Glacier via snowmobile or braving an ice-cave helicopter tour. For a more restorative experience, opt for a visit to Chena Hot Springs, about 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks. The picturesque destination offers geothermal pools, an ice museum and aurora chasing.
Closer to home, the American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin, makes the case for a shorter snow-globe getaway with ice skating, curling, fat-tire biking and horse-drawn carriage rides. The main draw here? The posh Kohler Waters Spa features a soothing hydrotherapy circuit and a new Ammortal Chamber, which offers high-tech recovery and biohacking sessions from the comfort of a luxury wellness pod.
If you’re no longer on speaking terms with your ice scraper, look for a warm-weather locale where sunshine is virtually guaranteed. Sundem recommends Costa Rica’s Sensoria Private Eco-Luxury Reserve, a family-owned rainforest experience near the Rincón de la Vieja volcano in Guanacaste, where guests hike to waterfalls and soak in mineral-rich geothermal pools. Meanwhile, the tiny Dutch Caribbean island of Saba has almost no beaches but boasts epic volcanic trekking and technicolor scuba diving. For those who prefer a desert escape, Scottsdale, Arizona, serves its heat with a side of iconic architecture, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, plus swanky resorts with championship golf and an Old Town packed with upscale galleries and boutiques.
For travelers seeking milder weather and “a real sense of cultural purpose,” Charlotte Wells of luxury tour agency Unforgettable Travel points to southern Spain and Morocco. On her company’s 12-night grand tour, guests take in flamenco in Seville and the Alhambra in Granada before crossing into Morocco to visit Tangier, Fes, Chefchaouen and Marrakesh. The trip strikes an ideal contrast: a slower pace of artful immersion in Spain followed by a full-sensory jolt of sound, smell and color in Morocco.
Whether you fly south the moment the temperatures dip or bundle up and burrow in deeper, there’s a difference between simply accepting winter and truly embracing it. While we can’t control the seasons, we can move through them with as much enthusiasm as our Midwestern hearts can muster up — that and an extra handful of marshmallows in our hot cocoa.
