Transport yourself back to the 16th century with a trip to the annual Renaissance Festival in nearby Shakopee, Minnesota. Laugh at court jesters, shop for handicrafts, watch a joust and enjoy some delicious, authentic fare. The festival opens in late August and finishes up in early October.

Saint Paul's beautiful Rice Park is the "center stage" for the Winter Carnival, which is an annual celebration of winter held entirely outside. Three parades, a beer festival, a 5k, the Snow Park at the Fair, and ice palaces demonstrate Minnesota's embrace of its cold season. The Winter Carnival is held from late January through early February.

Anyone entering Szczecin by bridges over the Oder River can see the towering red-brick gothic Cathedral and an elegant, pale silhouette of a Renaissance castle with green towers, which used to be the seat of the dukes of the Griffins dynasty who ruled the Duchy of Pomerania. The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle has five wings and two courtyards. Acting as a cultural institution it organizes an array of cultural events: concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions, conferences and meetings to popularize science, as well as to spread knowledge about the history of West Pomerania. The largest wing houses an Opera. In the wing that housed a mint in the olden days one can find today Cultural and Tourist Information Centre. There is a panoramic terrace on the rooftop of the northern wing from where splendid views can be appreciated. The wing’s basement houses a Vault with sarcophaguses of six princes. The Duke Boguslaw X hall, which used to be a princely chapel, is now a concert hall with a polychromatic ceiling decorated in Renaissance style. A 17th century astronomical clock is the Castle’s special tourist attraction. Also a room dedicated to Eilhard Lubinus and the Witches’ Cell are definitely worth a visit.

Berg’s Locks are the Göta Canal’s major sight and attract thousands of visitors every year. The area contains restaurants, cafés, minigolf, youth hostel, cycle rental, swimming in lake Roxen, etc. The passenger ship M/S WASA LEJON makes daily trips on the Göta Canal from here. If you visit Berg's Locks during the fall or winter season - make sure to stroll down the Canal and enjoy the magical surroundings and fall in love with the Swedish nature! This is an experience you just don't want to miss! It's easy to travel to Berg's Locks, regardless if you go by car, bus or bicycle. If you want to take a bike ride or a long stroll, the inner city of Linköping is perfect connected to Berg's Locks only 11 km away. Don't forget to check out the amazing stairway of locks during your visit! Berg's Locks is the largest attraction along Göta Canal. And if you want to explore your surroundings even further, we recommend you to take a trip to near by Borensberg only 21 km away.