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A trip to Minnesota during the summer can include everything from enjoying the serenity of camping outdoors with your family to indulging in the near-over-stimulation of adventure at theme parks and the country’s largest mall. Here are just a few of the attractions and highlights that you might want to consider when planning your summer family vacation to this state:
Lutsen Mountains
The area to make sure to check out here is Sawtooth Mountain Park and the thing to make sure the kids see is Alpine Slide. Older kids will love the adventure of riding solo in summertime sleds down this mountain and parents can enjoy the fun too, taking little ones along in their laps. Other adventures in this area include horseback riding, picnicking, camping, hiking, and scenic cable car rides. The Poplar River runs through this area so families that enjoy swimming, fishing and things like canoeing will also find plenty to do. The mountain overlooks all of the activity taking place own below at Lake Superior.
Lake Superior
This largest of freshwater lakes has miles and miles of beach for your family to enjoy this summer. Start at Park Point, located in Duluth, and make your way up the North Shore to enjoy all of the various activities and scenic vistas that the area offers. State parks are located all throughout the area, offering camping and other outdoor adventures as well as the chance to see lighthouses and explore nature’s wonders. Favorites include Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls, and Brighton Beach.
Lake of the Woods
This northernmost part of the continental United States provides your family the chance to explore the outdoors away from the summer crowds at Lake Superior. It also provides an interesting look at the culture of the area, from the influence of nearby Canada to the history of such area legends as Paul Bunyon. Other state parks and wooded areas are located all throughout this area so it’s a good location for families planning week-long summer trips as well as those just looking for a weekend getaway.
Valley Fair
Located in Apple Valley, this amusement park is the largest one in the state so it offers plenty of fun to keep the kids entertained and to help burn off some of that excess energy that they’re likely to have during your summer vacation. If the rides of Valley Fair alone aren’t enough to keep your family occupied, you can visit the real adventures over within Valley Fair at Challenge Park or enjoy the summertime fun of water rides at Whitewater Country Waterpark. The theme park just started offering a family dinner special called Backyard BBQ and also offers plenty of special discounts so you should be able to afford this summer fun if you plan your trip properly.
Mall of America
You can’t take a trip to the state with your kids and miss seeing the biggest mall in the country. After all, back-to-school shopping is one thing but experiencing all of the non-shopping things that this place has to offer is another entirely. While here, your kids can enjoy attractions like The Park at MOA (”the largest indoor family amusement park in the nation”), the Underwater Adventures Aquarium and the four story LEGO fun spot. There are also plenty of events and activities happening throughout this megamall all summer long.
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