There are a lot of lakes within the city and also the Mississippi River is very popular for people to go fishing. People ice skate; hockey is really popular and you can skate outdoors here in the wintertime. It is great. I think lots of Minnesotans remember as kids trudging up to the local park and skating outside. Skiing is very popular. Cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snow-shoeing and of course, ice fishing is extremely popular in St. Paul. Young people like to do it too. It's a great winter activity. Friends will get together, go out on the lake, and cut a hole in the ice. Quite often there are elaborate ice houses that have all of the comforts of home; TVs and heaters and bunk beds and things like that. People really enjoy it. The fish are able to withstand the temperature changes. Maybe not as much in the Twin Cities, but outside of the metro area, there are numerous resorts that offer ice fishing facilities and guides. It is pretty common and pretty popular.
