The Cozy Small Town In Minnesota That Comes Alive Under A Blanket Of Snow
By Trent Jonas|Published December 11, 2023
×
Trent Jonas
Author
Trent Jonas came to Minnesota to attend college - and never left. He's a Twin Cities-based writer with a BA in English and a MFA in creative writing, a Minnesota Master Naturalist, and the proud father of two adult children. With more than a decade of freelance writing experience under his belt, Trent is often out exploring his favorite topics: Minnesota's woods, lakes, and trails. Rhubarb pie is his weakness, so discovering new diners is also a passion.
Most smaller communities are wonderful places to visit any time of year, but some small towns in Minnesota get a little extra spark when the snow flies. Meadowlands, which is the gateway community for the Sax-Zim Bog, is just such a town.
Meadowlands is a small community in St. Louis County.
Word got out quickly, and birders descended on the area to get a glimpse of these secretive, boreal creatures. Not used to humans, these birds were perfectly comfortable hunting right in front of their eager audience.
Advertisement
The general area is referred to as the Sax-Zim Bog, and it’s now considered a globally-significant area for migrating birds, in general, and owls, in particular.
Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center, Owl Avenue, Meadowlands, MN, USA
Great grays actually mate and nest in the bog before returning north to Canada’s boreal forests. However, there is a year-round resident population in the bog.
Other boreal species, like redpolls, northern shrikes, and Canada jays winter in the Sax-Zim Bog, as well.
The Alborn-Pengilly Trail, a state rail trail, runs directly through town. It is a popular ATV trail when there’s no snow on the ground. But when the snow flies, snowmobile enthusiasts flock to the trail and to Meadowlands.
Advertisement
With Meadowlands situated at about the halfway point of the 39-mile trail, a stop at the Trailside Lounge and Grill is almost a requirement.
Trailside Lounge & Grill Inc, Spruce Street, Meadowlands, MN, USA
Its hours are somewhat limited, so be sure to check check out the coffee shop on Facebook or call ahead before you go.
Meadowlands is really a wonderful small community to visit any time of year, but it’s particularly lively in winter. For getting around on the area’s trails – some of which are not all that well blazed – and boardwalks, I recommend AllTrails Plus, which lets you download maps for offline use.
Have you visited Meadowlands in the winter? What are your favorite winter towns in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
