Dan - I believe it was the winter of 1976 when the temperature did not rise above -20 below for 10 straight days and nights. It was the coldest I have ever been for so long! Minnesota is beautiful for about 3 seasons, then head South!

My wife's uncle who lives in Anchorage says that MANY Alaska residents winterize their places, then head for warmer areas like Washington, Oregon, and down to Arizona. Alaska is BEAUTIFUL when you can be warm enough to really enjoy it, but that nice season is really short!