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Need some winter beauty? Arboretum offers free admission through January

Enjoy the sights – indoors and out– and free admission at the Landscape Arboretum.

By Pamela Miller

January 13, 2014 at 4:38PM

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(Shari L. Gross/Shari L. Gross)

Here's some incentive to get out outside during the coldest month of the year: The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is offering free gate admission to all visitors all month.

You don't have to go outside; you can stay inside the Visitor Center and enjoy a 25-foot tree covered with orchids in the Great Hall, sip hot chocolate or enjoy a warm bowl of soup in the restaurant, and check out the expanded clearance area in the gift store.

For outdoors enthusiasts, the arboretum offers 16 miles of snowshoe or cross-country ski trails, plus snowshoe rentals.

For more information about January activities and offerings, go to www.arboretum.umn.edu/.

The arboretum is the largest public garden in the Upper Midwest.

Left to right, Jacob Larkin of Bloomington, Christina Tran of Eden Prairie, and Jacob’s brother Aaron Larkin took a brisk winter’s walk at the arboretum. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Green Heron Trail glittered brilliantly in the winter sun at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Barb DeGroot, public relations specialist for the arboretum, with children’s and adult’s snowshoes. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Green Heron Trail is a dedicated cross country skiing trail during the winter. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

about the writer

Pamela Miller

Night Metro Editor

Pam Miller is one of two night metro editors for the Star Tribune. In her 30 years at the paper, she has also worked as a copy editor, reporter and West Metro Team editor.