FAMILY VACATIONS IN MINNESOTA WITH CHILREN - WHAT TO DO IN MINNESOTA WITH KIDS
FUN THINGS TO DO ON VACATION WITH KIDS - MINNESOTA
FUN & ENTERTAINMENT VACATIONS - NORTHERN MINNESOTA (For example - Bemidji,MN - Grand Rapids,MN - Duluth,MN)
Headwaters Science Center - Located near the headwaters of the Mississippi River in downtown Bemidji, Minnesota, HSC is dedicated to science education and environmental awareness. It features hands-on exhibits, a live animal collection and special events and science programs and demonstrations. Shopping is available at a unique gift shop featuring science toys and gifts.
Hockey Hall of Fame - The United States Hockey Hall of Fame is America's hockey showcase. Beginning in 1973, the hall has honored and recognized outstanding coaches, players, builders and administrators who have contributed to the success and promotion of American Hockey.
Location: 801 Hat Trick Avenue P. O. Box 657 Eveleth Minnesota 55734 Tel: 218 744 5167 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Glensheen Estate - Glensheen, Duluth's American Castle, as showcased on A&E's America's Castles, is a 7.6 acre estate built between 1905-08 by Chester A. Congdon. The estate's gently sloping terrain may have enticed Mr. Congdon and his wife, Clara, to select this site for their family home. The area was heavily wooded then and the lake shore was rough. Yet they saw the potential and an idea for a family home evolved into a formal estate.
Location: 3300 London Road Duluth, MN 55804 Tel: 218-726-8910 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Saint Louis County Heritage and Arts Center - You haven't seen Duluth until you've explored the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center's Historic Union Depot, better know as simply the Depot. This former Union Railroad Depot was built in 1892 by the Boston firm of Peabody, Stearns and Furber. By 1910, the Union Depot was serving seven different rail lines with up to 5,000 people passing through its doors daily.
Location: 506 West Michigan Street Duluth, Minnesota 55802 Tel: (218) 727-8025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center - Film shows, model ships and exhibits featuring the commercial shipping of Lake Superior and the Duluth-Superior Harbor. At Canal Park you are within yards of giant lake carriers and foreign ships as they pass under the world-famous Aerial Lift Bridge.
Location: P O Box 177 Duluth MN 55801 Tel: 218 720 5260 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International Wolf Center - Since humans first drew petroglyphs to record their observations, wolves have populated the art, literature and culture of our planet. The howl of the wolf sends shivers of fascination and love, or fear and distrust, up the backs of people around the world. Hardly anyone treats the wolf with indifference.
Location: 1396 Highway 169 Ely, MN 55731-8129 Tel: 218-365-4695 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lake Superior Zoo - The Lake Superior Zoo is located in the beautiful lakeside city of Duluth, and is one of only 180 zoo's and aquariums (out of more than 1800) in the United States to have achieved the ranking of an Accredited Institution of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). It is one of three accredited zoos in Minnesota and the only one outside of the Greater Metro Area.
Location: 72nd Avenue West & Grand Avenue Duluth, MN 55807 Tel: 218-730-4900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forest History Center - The forests of northern Minnesota have had great impact on the lives of their inhabitants for many centuries. This relationship between people and the land has evolved from those who relied on the forests to provide sustenance, through the cutting of forests to provide the timber that helped to build a growing America, to today's recreational escape from our urbanized society. The Forest History Center tells the story of this changing relationship.
Location: 2609 County Road 76 Grand Rapids, MN 55744 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
North West Company Fur Post - Step out of the modern visitor center into the recreated world of 1804, where you can stop at the Ojibwe encampment and learn how the seasonal living of the Ojibwe changed when Europeans arrived. Walk with a costumed guide along outdoor trails to the reconstructed Wintering Post for the North West Company. While there, meet a fur trade clerk who explains the system of barter that moved beaver fur from the hands of Indian hunters onto the heads of fashionable Europeans.
Location: Box 51 Pine City, MN 55063 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Renegade Comedy Theatre - The only professional theatre company in the Northland devoted exclusively to fun & laughs! Renegade offers original comedy revues every summer & winter, a Comedy Spook Show every Halloween season, and comic productions by established playwrights like Durang, Kling & Simon anda full season of Renegade Children's Theatre.
Location: 404 W. Superior St. Duluth, MN 55802 Tel: 218 -722 -6775 or 1 -888 -722-6627 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lake Superior Railroad Museum - Climb up into the cab of one of the world's largest steam locomotives and take the throttle of the Yellowstone Class Mallet. Take in the view from the cupola of a wooden caboose. Imagine what dining on the rails was like as you marvel at one-of-a-kind dining car china and table settings displayed in a restored, turn-of-the-century coach.
Location: 506 West Michigan Street Duluth, Minnesota 55802 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ironworld Discovery Center - Journey through the generations at Ironworld Discovery Center. Ride a trolley with spectacular mine views, explore the outdoor exhibits, take part in cultural heritage activities and uncover links to the past at the Iron Range Research Center.
Location: 801 SW Hwy 169, Suite 1 Chisholm, MN 55719 Tel: (800) 372-6437 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum - The Karpeles Manuscript Museum is one of the world's largest private holding of important original documents and manuscripts. The Museum features a rotating exhibit designed to focus on 26 documents at any one time. The documents are educational and entertaining. Topics are presented from the fields of history, music, science, literature and art.
Location: Karpeles in Duluth 902 E. 1st. St. Duluth, Minnesota 55805 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center - The Duluth Entertainment Convention Centthe restored steamer S.S. William A. Irvin, former flagship of U.S. Steel's Great Lakes Fleet, Duluth OMNIMAX, Ship of Ghouls. The center is also home to a variety of concerts, movies, ballet, symphony, broadway shows and more.
Location: 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802 Tel: 218.722.5573 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Great Lakes Aquarium - With more than 70 species of fish, numerous critters, and lots of interactive exhibits—including some where you can get your hands wet (and maybe more!)—the Aquarium promises plenty of fun for everyone.
Location: 353 Harbor Drive Duluth, MN 55802 Tel: 218 740.3474 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FUN & ENTERTAINMENT VACATIONS - CENTRAL MINNESOTA (For example - Moorhead,MN - Brainerd,MN - Alexandria,MN)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stearns History Museum - The Stearns History Museum is one of the finest history museums in Minnesota. With over 1,000 artifacts in its exhibit hall, the History Museum has something for everyone. Visit us and stroll through two floors of exhibits, research your family history and shop the Museum Store. Just minutes off I-94 along Minnesota Highway 15 in St. Cloud, the Stearns History Museum is located in a 100-acre nature park with flower gardens and walking paths.
Location: 235 33rd Avenue South St. Cloud, MN 56301 Tel: 1-866-253-8424, 320-253-8424 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota Fishing Museum and Education Center - Over 7,000 fishing artifacts on display in two large showrooms. An overview of some of our individual display cases and stands made by founder Morry Sauve. Founder Al Baert then lovingly arranged all of the artifacts in the display.
Location: 304 W. Broadway Little Falls, MN 56345 Tel: 320-616-2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Center - The Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Center provides interpretation of the Hjemkomst Viking Ship, Hopperstad Stave Church Replica, Red River Valley Exhibition and hosts traveling exhibits in 7,000 sq. feet of temporary exhibition space. The interpretive center offers tours, lectures and festivals, hosts residencies and performances and provides educational services. Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Center is a community resource for 150,000 people in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, and serves an average of 40,000 visitors a year from all over the world.
Location: PO Box 157 Moorhead, Minnesota 56561-0157 Tel: (218) 299-5511 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oliver H. Kelley Farm - Step onto a working 1860s farm. Pick heirloom vegetables from the garden, visit the farmhands and animals at the barn, or churn butter and see what's cooking in the farmhouse. Costumed guides work the fields with oxen and horses.
Location: 15788 Kelley Farm Rd. Elk River, MN 55330 Tel: 763-441-6896 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mille Lacs Indian Museum - The museum's spacious crafts room serves as a demonstration area for traditional cooking, birch-bark basketry and beadwork. The building's arching window wall reflects the shoreline of Lake Mille Lacs. Fashioned in cedar, the exterior is highlighted with a copper dome and an inset tile band.
Location: 43411 Oodena Dr. Onamia, MN 56359 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Big Splash at Arrowwood Resort - Tons of water fun await you in our huge 38,000 square foot indoor waterpark featuring three exhilarating 4-story slides that twist and turn and take you on a journey inside and outside the waterpark, "Lazy River" floating inner tube ride, tropical whirlpool spa, lily pad waterwalk, basketball shoot out, children's play fort with water blasters, geysers all topped off with "Calypso Cabana" the 500 gallon splash bucket!
Location: 2100 Arrowood, Lane Northwest Alexandria, Minnesota Tel: 320-762-1124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Carlos Creek Winery - Carlos Creek Winery is home to an orchard full of 7,000 apple trees - not to mention the largest grape vineyard in Minnesota. Enjoy winery tours anytime of the day. Feel free to walk around the grounds and tour Minnesota's largest Siberian Elm Maze and Wine Cave. Also enjoy live music every weekend!
Location: 6693 Co. Rd. 34 NW, Alexandria, Minnesota 56308 Tel: 320.846.5443 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Runestone Museum - Enjoy the story of the Kensington Runestone, Norse history, and many exhibits which demonstrate early pioneer life and the Native Americans of the 1870's. The Minnesota wildlife exhibit, scavenger hunt, and interactive exhibit are fun for kids of all ages. Visit Fort Alexandria's authentic log buildings, country school house, and agriculture museum. The museum also features a changing gun exhibit, a war memorial display, a 40 ft Viking Ship replica, and a large rotating exhibit which changes annually.
Location: 206 Broadway , Alexandria, MN 56308 Tel: (320) 763-3160 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lake Miltona - Lake Miltona is a popular, 5,838 acre, heavily developed recreational lake located about ten miles north of Alexandria in Douglas County. The lake offers diverse habitat and structure; including extensive shallow flats, submerged islands and bars, and depths over 100 feet. Water quality and clarity are considered good. Seechi disk transparency is usually ten feet or greater during summer months. Lake Miltona supports an abundant and diverse aquatic plant community, including large beds of hardstem bulrush.
Location: Alexandria Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paul Bunyan State Trail - With 100 miles of the Paul Bunyan Trail, 57 miles now paved, there is a lot of area to cover.
Location: Brainerd Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mille Lacs - The Mille Lacs Lake area is Cool in Summer! Hot in Winter! But to really appreciate our area, stay awhile, because most of our secrets are shared only with those who take the time to get to know us. Visit us during any season and discover our good nature from a fairway, a snowmobile trail, a bike path, a lawn chair on a sandy beach or the porch of a cozy resort cabin.
Location: P.O. Box 758 Onamia, MN 56359 Tel: (320) 532-5626 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Legacy at Cragun's - World class golf course surrounding a 104 acre lake and calming waterfall set in beautiful environmental surroundings.
Location: 11000 Craguns Drive, Brainerd, Minnesota 56401 Tel: 800-272-4867 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cuyana Mine Pits - Abandoned by mining companies more than 20 years ago, this area of former mining pits and rock deposit stockpiles now boasts regenerated vegetation and clear lakes that draw a wide range of recreation enthusiasts. Twenty-five miles of undeveloped shoreline can be explored by boat or canoe and anglers can cast a line for trout, northerns, bass, crappies, sunfish, and walleyes.
Location: Brainerd Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gull Lake Resort - Gull Lake Resort spreads out along almost 3000 feet of lakeshore on one of Minnesota's most beautiful lakes. With 53 acres, Gull Lake Resort offers you privacy and room to roam.
Location: 1304 Gull Lake Lane East Gull Lake, MN 56401-3064 Tel: 218-829-1344 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Northland Arboretum - In addition to its gardens, the Arboretum offers hiking and cross-country skiing.
Location: P O Box 927 Brainerd MN 56401 Tel: 218 963-4762 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FUN & ENTERTAINMENT VACATIONS - SOUTHERN MINNESOTA (For example - Minneapolis,MN - Bloomington,MN - Saint Paul,MN )
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Historic Murphy's Landing - Experience life in Minnesota from the 1840s through 1890 with a visit to Historic Murphy's Landing, a recreated living history museum nestled along the beautiful Minnesota River Valley near Shakopee.
Location: 2187 East Highway 101 Shakopee, MN 55379 Tel:763/694-7784 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota State Capitol - See the legislature in action in the historic House and Senate chambers. Original furnishings and vivid colors of the restored Senate, House, Supreme Court and Rathskeller cafe add to your experience of this working masterpiece by acclaimed architect Cass Gilbert.
Location: 75 Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St Paul, MN 55155 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
American Swedish Institute - The American Swedish Institute, founded in 1929 by Swan J. Turnblad, is a historic house/museum offering a variety of programs designed to celebrate Swedish culture. The Turnblad mansion, which houses the Institute, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only castle in the Twin Cities.
Location: 2600 Pak Avenue, Minneapolis MN 55407 Tel: 612 871 4907 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mall of America - Mall of America® is breaking the mold with this year’s high energy Lights, Camera, Fashion! show featuring the latest looks from over 30 retailers and live entertainment. Watch as fashion and technology infuse to unfold an unforgettable showcase of this fall’s must-haves.
Location: 60 East Broadway Bloomington, MN 55425 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota Transportation Museum (MTM) - The Minnesota Transportation Museum is probably unique among its kind. MTM has an operating streetcar line, an interstate tourist railroad, a depot museum, a former roundhouse that serves as a maintenance base, and a 70-foot wood steamboat in operation, which connects with a second trolley line. In addition they have operated over the road excursions and publish a quarterly magazine.
Location: 193 Pennsylvania Ave E St. Paul, MN 55101-4319 Tel: 651-228-0263 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota Zoo - The Minnesota Zoo is situated on 500 acres in Dakota County. The zoo features about 2,300 animals, with 105 animals representing 15 species on the United States Endangered Species list.
Location: 13000 Zoo Boulevard Apple Valley, MN 55124 Tel: 952-431-9200, 1-800-366-7811 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' founders, Herb and Carol Bloomberg, designed and constructed their 90,000 square foot entertainment complex where once stood a cornfield, some distance out of the metropolitan area.
Location: 501 W. 78th Street Chanhassen, MN 55317 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Science Museum of Minnesota - Experience the Science Museum of Minnesota's awe-inspiring exhibits and breathtaking views of the Mississippi River! Human Body Gallery. Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery featuring dinosaurs and the Primeval Swamp, Mississippi River Gallery with an authentic climb-aboard towboat, Collections Gallery showcasing museum treasures the mummy and the Collectors' Corner, Experiment Gallery with tons of hands-on activities, First Convertible Dome Omnitheater in the United States, Big Back Yard a seasonal outdoor gallery featuring earthscapes mini-golf, Brand new 3D Cinema, And the Mississippi River Visitor Center.
Location: 120 West Kellogg Boulevard Saint Paul, MN 55102 Tel: 651-221-9444 or 800-221-9444 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota Children's Museum - Play to learn! Learn to play! Minnesota Children's Museum is sparking children’s learning through play. The Museum is at the heart of where fun meets learning. It’s where kids can touch, climb, splash, crawl, push, pull and press it all! Infants through children 10 years old and their adult guests can explore seven galleries packed with extraordinary hands–on adventures.
Location: at 10 West Seventh Street, St. Paul, MN 55102 Tel:651–225–6000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sibley House Historic Site - Tour three of the restored structures, including a fur company cold store from 1843 and the 1840 residence of longtime trader-turned-hotelier Jean-Baptiste Faribault. Experienced guides unravel stories of the fur-trade era, uncover memories of changes to the area and the structures, and lead visitors through the fully furnished interiors and exhibits.
Location: 1357 Sibley Memorial Hwy. Mendota, MN 55150 Tel: 651-452-1596 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Walker Arts Center - Formally established in 1927, the Walker Art Center began as the first public art gallery in the Upper Midwest. The museum's focus on modern art began in the 1940s, when a gift from Mrs. Gilbert Walker made possible the acquisition of works by important artists of the day, including sculptures by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Alberto Giacometti, and others.
Location: 1750 Hennepin, Minneapolis MN 55403 Tel: 612.375.7600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum - Housed in a striking stainless steel and brick building designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Weisman Art Museum offers an educational and friendly museum experience. The museum's collection features early 20th century American artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Marsden Hartley, as well as a diverse selection of contemporary art. A teaching museum for the University of Minnesota and the community, the Weisman provides a fresh, engaging arts experience through an array of programs and a changing schedule of exhibitions.
Location: University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bakken Library & Museum - Located in a newly expanded Tudor mansion in Minneapolis, it holds a research treasure of 11,000 rare books and 2,500 scientific instruments relating to the role of electricity in life. The Bakken was founded in 1975 by Earl E. Bakken, inventor of the first transistorized cardiac pacemaker.
Location: 3537 Zenith Ave. South Minneapolis, Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Museum of Questionable Medical Devices - The curator of the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices shares his collection of the hilarious, horrifying, and preposterous medical devices that have been foisted upon the public in their quest for good health. Includes the Prostate Gland Warmer, Phrenology Machine, Recto Rotor, Nose Straightener, Wonder Electro Marvel, and hundreds of other quack devices.
Location: 120 W. Kellogg Blvd St. Paul, Minnesota 55102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota Museum of American Art - The MMAA was founded as an art school in 1927, when it formally incorporated as The Saint Paul School of Art. Collecting works of art, for instructional purposes, began in the late 1930’s. Over time, the acquisition of additional paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and studio crafts expanded the School’s collection and, in 1969, the then Saint Paul Art Center was renamed the Minnesota Museum of Art. By the early 1980’s, the institution’s primary emphasis had shifted to exhibitions and research while still providing popular education programs.
Location: 50 West Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 341, St. Paul, MN 55102 Tel: 651-266-1030 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wild Mountain Waterpark - Imagine the rush of 350 gallons of water pouring out of a giant Mountain Dew bucket over a small roof and onto your head. You have just experienced the first element of the all new Wild Adventure Island. Featuring 4 new waterslides, hydro fountains, a cargo climbing net, water cannons and bubblers, this water adventure is sure to keep guests of all ages busy. The little ones can even splash and play in the zero depth area. The Wild Adventure Island will be nestled within the calm confines of the 800-foot serpentine lazy river complex.
Location: Taylors Falls Recreation P.O. Box 235 Taylors Falls, MN 55084 Tel: (651) 465-6315, 1-800-447-4958 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota Orchestra - The Orchestra played its first regional tour in 1907, performed its first major city concert in Chicago in 1911, and made its New York City debut in 1912 at Carnegie Hall. Outside the United States, the Minnesota Orchestra has played concerts in Australia, Canada, Europe, the Far East, Latin America and the Middle East. Performances in Carnegie Hall have been regular events for nearly nine decades.
Location: 1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 Tel: 612-371-5600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Underwater Adventures - Imagine traveling 14 feet underwater where sharks, stingrays and giant sea turtles swim so close, you'll feel like you can reach out and touch them! With over 1.2 million gallons of water, this aquarium features a 300 foot-long curved tunnel, complete with a moving walkway that simulates a scuba diving adventure - but without getting wet!
Location: Mall of America 120 East Broadway Bloomington, MN 55425 Tel:952-883-0202 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Como Zoo - Como Zoo located in Como Park in St. Paul. Visitors can see Siberian tigers, eastern Timber wolves, a wide variety of native waterfowl, Kodiak, and polar bears and lots more.
Location: 1225 Estabrook Drive Saint Paul, MN 55103 Tel: 651-487-8200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum - Take a guided birding walk through the Arboretum’s diverse habitats. Identify birds by sight and song and learn more about the behavior of the Arboretum’s many birds. Bring your own binoculars, hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Dress for hiking.
Location: 3675 Arboretum Drive Chaska, MN 55318 Tel: 952-443-1400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center - Hiking trails wind throughout the tall pines, oak savanna, restored prairies, wooded ravines, around the apple orchard, and along the river of the 425 acre main property north of Hasting, MN. Wildlife abounds in the restored prairie and wooded bluffs on the 300 acre Wisconsin nature preserve. With over 10 miles of hiking trails, 3.5 of which are paved to accommodate persons with mobility limitations, you will see a vast variety of plant and animal communities.
Location: 12805 St. Croix Trail Hastings, MN 55033 Tel:(651)437-4359 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts - Ordway Center audiences can see: The exciting Broadway musicals and other unique theatrical presentations of the Ordway CenterTheater Season; The multicultural programming of the planet Ordway Target Season; The Flint Hills International Children's Festival; Education at Ordway Center featuring the performing arts classroom series and teacher and student workshops, to name a few. The thirty-three virtuoso musicians of the critically acclaimed Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra The Minnesota Opera, producing opera and opera education programs at the highest artistic level; The premiere recital performances of The Schubert Club
Location: 345 Washington Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 Tel: 651-224-4222 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Valleyfair - Splash into fun on refreshing water rides. Enjoy the scenery from a chugging steam-powered train. Catch the view from the Ferris Wheel. Explore family fun in Berenstain Bear Country, and many other activities for the whole family.
Location: One Valleyfair Drive Shakopee, Minnesota 55379 Tel:1-800-FUN-RIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Camp Snoopy - It’s seven acres of indoor excitement, with over 30 thrilling rides and attractions, unique shops, games to test your skills, fun-filled entertainment and many places to dine or simply grab a treat.
Location: 5000 Center Court Bloomington, MN 55425 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minneapolis Institute of Arts - The Minneapolis Institute of Arts was established in 1883. The museum building, designed by the firm of McKim, Mead and White, opened its doors in 1915. In 1974 the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange was commissioned to design needed additions to the neoclassical structure. In the 1990s, with funds from the New Beginnings Campaign, the museum was renovated, the collections reinstalled, and state of the art technology introduced to help visitors and members interpret the works of art.
Location: 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404 Tel:(612) 870-3131, TDD (612) 870-3132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bell Museum of Natural History - The Bell Museum's exhibits encourage exploration and convey the wonder of nature, the excitement of science, and the importance of research and conservation of the natural world.
Location: 10 Church Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 Tel:(612) 624-7083 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Landmark Center - Landmark Center was built in 1902 and originally served as the Federal Court House and Post Office for the Upper Midwest. In the 1970s, a group of determined citizens saved the building from the wrecking ball and restored it to its previous grandeur. It was designated a National Historic Monument and reopened to the public as Landmark Center in 1978. Today, Landmark Center serves as a cultural center for music, dance, theater, exhibitions, public forums, and special events.
Location: 75 West Fifth Street Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102 Tel: (651) 292-3233 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Commonweal Theatre Company - The artists of the Commonweal bring years of training and a lifelong commitment to sharing soulful stories, told with honesty and creativity. We seek to enlighten, tickle, and uplift you. When we succeed, together we make our world more compassionate, more vital, and more joyful. We feel sure that, having journeyed with us once, you’ll return again and again. For nothing matches theatre for immediacy, emotion, and delight. And without you it’s just rehearsal.
Location: 206 Parkway Avenue North Lanesboro, MN 55949 Tel:800-657-7025 or 507-467-2525 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jeffers Petroglyphs - Amid the prairie grasses are islands of uncovered rock, where American Indians left carvings —petroglyphs— humans, deer, elk, buffalo, turtles, thunderbirds, atlatls and arrows. They tell a story that spans 5,000 years. The glyphs served many functions, including recording important events, depicting sacred ceremonies, and emphasizing the importance of animals and hunting.
Location: 27160 County Road 2 Comfrey, MN 56019 Tel:507-628-5591 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
End-O-Line Railroad Park and Museum - Hear the old steam locomotive puff and chug throughout the countryside. Hear the puffing and chugging accented by the steam whistle, bell and the hiss of steam. You will think that time has been turned back. The Hilfers train and yard equipment, built a number of years ago by the late Henry Hilfers, has a small depot, turntable, coal bunker, water tower and engine with several cars constructed for giving rides.
Location: 440 North Mill Street, Currie, MN 56123 Tel: (507) 763-3708 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lac Qui Parle Mission - A mission and fur post overlooked the Minnesota River 150 years ago and today the mission still stands. Joseph Renville, an explorer and fur trader whose mother was Dakota and father was French, established a fur post on the river in 1826 near a wide portion called Lac qui Parle. He invited missionaries to the area. After his death in 1846, Dakota opposition to the mission forced the missionaries out. Managed by Chippewa County Historical Society.
Location: P.O. Box 303 Montevideo, MN 56265 Tel:320-269-7636 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spam Museum - Just as every Elvis fan longs to visit Graceland, SPAM fans worldwide now have their own pilgrimage to make. In Austin, Minnesota a 16,500 square-foot SPAM Museum opened in September 2001. Museum visitors will be welcomed to the world of SPAM Family of Products with a variety of interactive and educational games, fun exhibits and remarkable video presentations.
Location: 1937 SPAM Boulevard Austin, Minnesota 55912 Tel: 1-800-LUV-SPAM (1-800-588-7726) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Niagara Cave - Niagara Cave is one of the most fascinating and unique geological attractions in the Midwest. During the one-hour guided tour, visitors will witness a waterfall, nearly 60 feet high, stalactites both delicate and massive, calcite flowstone, fossils that have been dated to over 400 million years old, and a wedding chapel in which over 300 weddings have been performed, plus much more.
Location: P.O. Box 444 Harmony MN 55939 Tel: (800)-837-6606 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fort Ridgley - In 1853, the U.S. military started construction on Fort Ridgely, near the southern border of the new reservation and northwest of the German settlement of New Ulm. The fort was designed as a police station to keep peace as settlers poured into the former Dakota lands.
Location: 72404 County Road 30 Fairfax, MN 55332 Tel:507-426-7888 or 507-697-6321 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center - The strength and focus of The Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center is the educational program. Whether churning butter, planting a garden or working behind oxen, guests leave with a heightened awareness and appreciation for agriculture, Minnesota's richest and most valuable resource.
Location: From Interstate 35, take State Highway 14 west through Waseca. Turn south on CR 17 and then east on CR 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sheldon Theatre - World class entertainment in Red Wing Minnesota, The theatre showcases music, dance and film by local, regional, national and international artists.
Location: 443 West 3rd Street (at East Avenue) Red Wing, MN 55066 Tel:1-651-385-3667 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum - Enjoy learning the history of the Ingalls in Walnut Grove at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum and Gift Shop. The museum's collections are housed in a series of interesting buildings, including an 1898 depot, an 1880's school chapel, and an onion-domed house.
Location: 330 8th Street Walnut Grove, MN 56180 Tel: 800-528-7280 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
