When the news is too much, find solace in these 10 local spaces

In a world of unrelenting headlines, incessant news notifications and understandable anxiety, it’s important to find moments of solace.

During challenging times, Minnesotans know the power of community. Whether it’s walking a casserole down the street or hosting a potluck, we turn to neighbors to shed the weight of worry, ease the burden of hard times and get through winter’s long, dark days.

If you’re in need of a ideas for where to seek solace when the world feels heavy, we’ve gathered our best bets for filling an empty cup. Share your ideas in the comments.

Not everyone has a four-legged friend waiting at home at the end of a hard day. Even when pet ownership isn’t in the cards, it’s possible to get a furry friend fix at many area shelters. At the Humane Society, depending on the animals and the day, it’s possible to stop in and take a dog in need of a good home out for a walk. Some are located near trails, like the St. Paul Humane Society, with paths that wind through parts of Como Park. Minneapolis Animal Control relies on volunteers to help care for their animals. Just check with your local shelter on their policies ahead of time.

Animal Humane Society, 1411 Main St. NW., Coon Rapids; 845 Meadow Lane N., Golden Valley; 9785 Hudson Road, Woodbury; animalhumanesociety.org.

Minneapolis Animal Care and Control, 212 17th Av. N., Mpls., minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/animals-pets

Step away from screens inside this new coffee shop and cafe that intentionally has no Wi-Fi. The entire goal of the space is to connect with others face-to-face. Order a brown sugar oat latte, sweet treat and bathe in the white walls, warm wood and conversation with friends newly found or old and cherished.

A fresh blanket of snow feels like wiping the slate clean. And there’s something life-affirming about leaving the first set of prints. Walking through a winter wonderland on snowshoes is the way to go when you’d rather float than trudge. And there are many Minnesota state parks, metro-area Three Rivers parks and municipal nature centers that rent out the oversize footwear for just a few bucks.

$6, dnr.state.mn.us, threeriversparks.org

On the fourth floor of the Guthrie Theater, starchitect Jean Nouvel designed a 178-foot finger jutting out from the shiny blue building. Tiered outdoor seating at the cantilever’s tip offers a panoramic view of St. Anthony Falls, where the Mighty Mississippi birthed Minneapolis. The historic Stone Arch Bridge beside the modern Hennepin Avenue Bridge and the crumbling grain-mill structures juxtaposed with skyscrapers serve as a reminder of the city’s capacity to endure.

Free, 818 2nd St. S., Mpls., guthrietheater.org

This south Minneapolis cemetery beside Bade Maka Ska is a city oasis filled with towering oaks, a serene pond and stunning architecture. The Memorial Chapel, modeled after a Turkish Byzantine cathedral, charms with its pink-hued St. Cloud granite exterior and red Spanish tile roof. And it wows once you stand underneath the sanctuary’s domed ceiling and take in its astonishing mosaic, made with 10 million glimmering tesserae. Between the glory of its hovering angels and stained-glass windows, it feels like inhabiting a Faberge egg. Check the events schedule for hours, but it’s always open to the public on Sundays.

Long a Minnesotan’s winter survival spot, the tropical air and greenery mixed with the ever-present sound of falling water can be an immediate blood pressure drop on any day. Linger by the koi pond, walk the sunken garden or soak in the humidity and fresh moss aromas of the fern room. And don’t forget to look up — there’s growth and beauty to take in at every angle.

Free, but donations requested; 1225 Estabrook Drive, St. Paul, comozooconservatory.org

For some it’s Jean-Léon Gérôme’s “The Carpet Merchant" painting: the magnetic mix of tapestry colors, human expression and expansive canvas hanging inside Mia, the area’s massive, venerable museum. For others, it’s the hush inside the hallway of the re-created Frank Lloyd Wright house or the Dale Chihuly glass sunburst sculpture that dangles over the entryway. Every visitor has that favorite piece that reaches through the busy brain’s litany of thoughts and stills the mind with the power of art.

Free, but donations requested; 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls., new.artsmia.org

The Minnesota Zoo’s version of the Highline overlooks animals in natural habitats instead of New Yorkers in their concrete jungle. The 30-foot, elevated 1.25-mile walkway gives a bird’s-eye view of grazing bison, prowling tigers and sunbathing turtles as it passes above grasslands and ponds and through a leafy canopy. The trail builds on the zoo’s pioneering approach to forgo cages in favor of immersive outdoor environments that promote peaceful cohabitation with flora and fauna.

Some studies suggest that our brain perceives music differently when we’re listening to the vibrational hum of music on vinyl. That might be why Twin Cities record stores continue to be some of the best gathering grounds. Even if you don’t have a record player, it’s possible to feel the effects by reserving time at the Hennepin County Library’s vinyl lounge. Go online to make an appointment to listen to selections from the library’s extensive collection. Located on the third floor, the room has two studio headphones and turntable and can be reserved up to two hours a day.

Free, 300 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., hclib.libcal.com

You don’t even have to leave home to create a chill space.

Put on a mood-appropriate playlist. The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Chris Riemenschneider has the perfect Spotify playlist to amp up a mood to rise above dark times.

For something even more chill, Minneapolis humorist John Moe’s podcast “Sleeping with Celebrities” is a cozy audible comforter. He describes it “guaranteed to be just interesting enough to draw your attention away from your own swirling anxieties but never interesting enough to keep you awake.”