(MINNEAPOLIS) Jan. 13, 2012 The city of Minneapolis has just one question for you: Are you in or are you out?

From old-school hockey at the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships to conquering the elements one ski at a time in the City of Lakes Loppet, Minneapolis gets outside in winter with gusto. Warming up with indoor mini golf in the Skyway Open or stopping to smell the roses and planning a little home improvement at the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show, the city is equally comfortable and cozy inside as the snow falls. Indoors or out, Minneapolis knows how to experience winter to the fullest.

Meet Minneapolis, Convention & Visitors Association, offers deals and more to get you out and about this winter on a helpful website http://www.minneapolis.org/promotions your planning resource for your winter getaway.

The site offers cost-saving deals on warm hospitality at hotels like the Marriott City Center and haute cuisine from Seven Sushi and Steakhouse, alongside winter itineraries that are fun and educational with trips to the Science Museum of Minnesota. Events listings and an insiders blog round out this one-stop planning site where you can even book your room with ease.

The season for dreaming about your next car, home or boat is here, too, and the Minneapolis Convention Centers calendar is full of great public shows for everyone. First up, Jan. 19-22, the Progressive Minneapolis Boat Show, celebrating its 40th anniversary with new attractions to provide show goers a chance to experience the boating lifestyle and enjoy on-the-water fun in the dead of winter. For the first time in its history, and in the Midwest, the 2012 show is introducing the Marina & Yacht Club a unique virtual boating experience featuring boats and marine equipment as they were meant to be experienced, in the water in the convention center! Visit http://www.minneapolisboatshow.com/ for details.

Coming soon are the Progressive International Motorcycle Show Feb. 3-5; the Progressive Mpls/St. Paul RV, Vacation and Camping Show Feb. 9-12; the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show Feb. 29-March 4; the Twin Cities Auto Show March 10-18; and the Northwest Sportshow March 28-April 1. Winter will be over before you know it, so come in or get out in Minneapolis!

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.

Online: www.minneapolis.org

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis?ref=ts

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis

VIDEO AVAILABLE

Watch and share Are you in or are you out? from our Vimeo channel at http://vimeo.com/34792002. This downloadable 1080 HD video is 1:05 and can be used with sound or as b-roll.

PHOTO ATTACHED CUT-LINE

As the City by Nature, Minneapolis enjoys the great outdoors year-round. These runners made the Polar Dash by the river with the city skyline in the distance. Photo courtesy of Meet Minneapolis.

MEDIA CONTACT

Kristen Montag, media communication manager, 612.767.8038, kristenm@minneapolis.org, Minneapolis_PR on Twitter

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