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Plenty Of Fun Activities For These Subzero Days

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - The chilly temperatures are keeping many Minnesotans indoors during this winter break.

Families might be feeling a little stir crazy, but there are several activities out there happening around town to keep the kids busy.

For a taste of the tropics, many are flocking to the Como Park Conservatory in St. Paul, where it's often 75 degrees and humid.

Claire Duggan is visiting from Chicago, and says she's not used to Minnesota's level of cold. But the conservatory provides a nice break from the oppressive temps.

"I like it in here, it feels like summer," Duggan said.

Visitors step into the tropics, complete with wildlife. Admission is free, but Como Park does ask for a suggested donation of $3 for adults and $2 for children.

For families looking for more hands-on activity, the Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown St. Paul offers a learning experience.

Cold weather and winter break boost attendance by 300-400 percent on the weekdays. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $9 for children, and include access to the museum and the Omni Theater.

Jen Seel brought her family after their initial winter break plans fell through.

"We are here because we were going to go up north to our cabin, but it was so cold out," Seel said. "So we decided to have some family fun."

But even in subzero temperatures, cold is in the eye of the beholder. Canadian Helen Collainder is no stranger to freezing temps.

"We were going to go to an indoor rink, but then we decided to go outdoors," Collainder said. "It's not too cold for me."

Other family activities include Winter Skate in Rice Park, and the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum in Bandana Square, both in St. Paul.

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