Winter Wind Kennels

Challenge your buddies to recreational warfare at Splat Tag Inc, open seven days a week. This enormous paintball field is only 25 minutes east of Saint Paul and offers 20 unique courses at one convenient location. Battle it out with a private group reservation or join in an ongoing game.

Join in the seasonal, citywide festival of the arts at the Saint Paul Art Crawl. All along Downtown, Lowertown and Harriet Island, vendors and local artists set up tents and galleries to display their wares. Listen to local bands perform on stage and in the parade during this three-day long extravaganza, watch performances by theater and ballet groups and admire the art and culture of the Capital City.

You can let your wild ones run free at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Admission is free, although donations are suggested. See exhibits and attractions that house the big cats, the primates, the exotic birds, the hoofed creatures, the wild wolves and even polar bears. Head over to the Conservatory afterward to see, smell and possibly taste plants from all over the world.

See everything from Broadway productions to classic opera performances at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. The home of several cultural and arts organizations, including the Minnesota Opera and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, this European-style concert hall is the place to go for live entertainment—from plays and musicals to ballets and the Russian circus.