Every winter, St. Paul throws a massive outdoor party to prove that the cold never bothered us anyway. This year, that party includes an ice castle in St. Paul’s downtown Rice Park, designed by John Culligan of the Minneapolis-based Cuningham Group.

The Jean Nouvel-designed Guthrie Theater hosts tours and locally produced plays on its three stages. The breathtaking modern structure was built in 2006 and the views of the Mississippi River and Mill City Ruins from the Guthrie’s Endless Bridge are spectacular.

The grandest museum in the Twin Cities is also the one place to see ancient sculptures and internationally renowned work by artists like Van Gogh, Degas, and more for free. And don’t forget to walk down the the painstakingly reassembled Frank Lloyd Wright hallway inside the museum.

Minneapolis’s chain of lakes includes Lake Harriet, Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles, and each features a uniquely striking walking path. You can find a warming house and skating rink on Lake of the Isles in Winter, and The Art Shanty project has small ice fishing “houses” set up as art installations on Lake Harriet through February 11. You can also go all in and try ice fishing.

An icy city like ours might not seem like the most obvious place to have a tiki drink outside in winter, but Minneapolis is a place that defies expectation. This wild spot by the river has irreverent decor that leans heavily on Polynesian-punk-rock.

Minneapolis has made a name as a music city. Stop by this historic record store that has served as ground zero in the development of the Minneapolis sound since 1968. Score some rare vinyl and maybe catch an in-store performance.

First Avenue has been the home away from home for generations of Minneapolis musicians. And yes, it’s the iconic rock club that Prince made famous in Purple Rain, but also be sure to check out the stars painted along the sides of this former bus station. Check out a show in the main room, or in the smaller, 7th Street Entry.

St. Paul’s sprawling Summit Avenue is home to rows of historic mansions from the Gilded Age—including a brownstone where F. Scott Fitzgerald once lived. The grand James J. Hill House, a national historic landmark, offers tours of the city’s answer to Downton Abbey.

Get to know some of the vibrant cultures that make up Minneapolis by touring the former Sears building that has been converted into shops and a food hall. Somali, Vietnamese, Mexican, Moroccan, Italian, French, are just a few of the nationalities that are represented.

Curling, for the uninitiated, is a sport of flinging heavy round “rocks” down an icy lane and manipulating the landing by swiping a broom back and forth across the ice. And at this club, which opened in 1912, it’s an artform. A heated observation deck and bar is open to the public.

Originally the neoclassical train destination for anyone entering the capitol city, this mammoth marble-forward station was recently refurbished and restored to its historic glory. Designed by architect Charles Sumner Frost, the depot was first completed in 1926.

Located in St. Paul’s vibrant Lowertown neighborhood, this beautiful former warehouse contains a casual seafood restaurant from nationally renowned chef Tim McKee, fish market, butcher counter and bakery/cafe from pastry chef Michelle Gayer. The St. Paul Farmers Market takes place here every Saturday with rotating pop ups and tons of local food samples.

This museum named after Earl Bakken, the inventor of the pacemaker, is housed in an English Tudor home known as West Winds. Designed by Carl Gage for William Goodfellow, Bakken was originally dedicated to studying electronic therapies. It is now a library and museum of electricity.

Prince was a musician who could have lived anywhere, but he made a Minneapolis suburb his home. The plain, white exterior belies the purple Graceland-like interiors that await at his home and music studio. After Prince’s death, his family converted Paisley Park into a museum.

It’s a mall that’s run like its own city, with that an underground aquarium, a movie theater with $25 ticket prices, and an indoor theme park.

Head up to the top of this art deco building that was modeled after the Washington monument. Completed in 1906 and designed by Léon Eugène Arnal for the Magney & Tusler firm, it is on the historic register as an example of art deco majesty with African mahogany, gold accents, and Italian marble. Take in the gorgeous sites of downtown Minneapolis on the observation deck.

Even in the winter, the ruins along the Mississippi River where icy water rages over the crumbling bricks, merit a nice walk. Take a quick jaunt up to the nearby Mill City Museum to learn how the flour industry shaped Minneapolis.

This is a gorgeous little island tucked away in the middle of the city where time seems to have stopped. Take a self-guided tour of the homes that look like gingerbread houses come to life, many built by Franklin C. Griswold. Or reserve a horse-drawn carriage if you’d like to kick it up a notch.