Around Minnesota in 15 Days

*This trip is planned from the Twin Cities, MN*

Day 1:

7am - Leave Twin Cities, MN

9:15am-12:30pm - Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park -Minnesota Historical Society
-Scenic Tour 10am (1hr) $12 per person
-Historic Forestville Tour (1hr) $8 Adults/$6 Kids
Sun12-5, Thurs-Sat10-5

2pm-4pm - RAD Zoo
Sat9-6, Sun12-5, Mon-Fri10-5
$9.50 per person

4:30pm-Camp - Myre-Big Island State Park
Camp $37.50

Day 2:

8am - Leave Camp

8:45am-9am - Jolly Green Giant statue -1130 Giant Dr.

9:05am-10am - Jolly Green Giant Museum -113 S Nicollet St.

11:30am-1:30pm - Fort Ridgely State Park
-Visitor Center -historic site -interpretive exhibits

2:15pm-3:30pm - Jeffers Petroglyphs -Minnesota Historical Society
-Visitor Center/Exhibits -tour -1/4m nature trail
Mon10-5, Wed-Sat10-5, Sun 12-5
$8 Adults/$6 Kids

5pm-Camp - Split Rock Creek State Park
Camp $37.50

Day 3:

8am - Leave Camp

8:15am-10:15am - Pipestone National Monument
-VC/Exhibits/Film -Jr Program
-Circle Trail 3/4mile

11:45am-12pm - World's Oldest Rock -Yellow Medicine City Historical Museum

1:45pm-2pm - Big Ole -Alexandria

2pm-5pm - Runestone Museum
$8Adults/$5Kids

5:30pm-Camp - Lake Carlos State Park
Camp $39.50

Day 4:

8am - Leave Camp

8:30am-9:30am - Inspiration Peak -Urbank
1/2m RT

11am-12pm - Heritage Hjemkomst Center
-Viking ship
Mon-Sat9-5, Sun12-5

2:15pm-Camp - Old Mill State Park
Camp $39.50
-trails -historic site (logcabin/flourmill) -interpretive exhibit -beach

Day 5:

8am - Leave Camp

10:30am-Camp - Itasca State Park
Camp $39.50
-beginning of MS River
-towering pines -vc -historic sites -Mary Gibbs MS Headwater Center -trails -beach -boat tours

Day 6:

8am - Leave Camp

8:45am-9am - Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox -Bemidji

10:15am-1pm - Forest History Center -Minnesota Historical Society
10-5
$10Adults/$6Kids
-vc -logging camp -cabin fire tower

2pm-5pm - Minnesota Discovery Center -Ironworld
Tues-Sat10-5
$9Adults/$5Kids

Other Interests:
Bob Dylan's Teenage Home
Paper Mache Statue of Bob Dylan

5:30pm-Camp - McCarthy Beach State Park
$39.50

Day 7:

8am - Leave Camp

10am-3pm - Voyageurs National Park
10-10:30 - Rainy Lake VC
-Jr Program
10:30-11:30 - Oberholtzer Trail 1.7m
11:30-1 - North Canoe Voyage
2-2:30 - Ash River VC
2:30-3 - Kabetogama Lake Overlook

5pm-Camp - Bear Head Lake State Park
$39.50

Day 8:

8:30am - Leave Camp

9am-2pm - Soudan Underground Mine State Park
-mine tour $12 per person -rock formations -vc -Physics tour $12 per person

4pm-Camp - Temperance River State Park

Day 9:

8am - Leave Camp

9:15am-12pm - Grand Portage National Monument
-Heritage Center -Jr Program -Historic Depot -Mt. Rose Trail 1m

12:45pm-3pm - Grand Portage State Park
-vc -MN's highest waterfall 0.5m -exhibits -International Border marker

3:30pm-Camp - Judge CR Magney State Park
Camp $31.50
-waterfall -Devils Kettle

Day 10:

8am - Leave Camp

8:30am-10:30am - Cascade River State Park
-trails -falls -cascade

11:30am-2pm - Split Rock Lighthouse State Park -Minnesota Historical Society
-vc -exhibits -lighthouse 10-6

2:15pm-Camp - Gooseberry Falls State Park
Camp $31.50
-vc/exhibits -falls

Day 11:

8am - Leave Camp

9am-7pm - Duluth
9-11 - Hawks Ridge
11:30-1 - William A Irvin
$12Adults/$8Kids
1-2 - Enger Tower
2-5 - North Shore Scenic Railroad
$16 per person
5-7 - Canal Park
     -Grandma's Saloon -dinner
     -Aerial Lift
     -Lake Walk

Other Interests:
Statue of Viking Leif Erikson
Bob Dylan's Boyhood Home

7:30pm-Camp - Jay Cooke State Park
Camp $39.50
-swinging bridge -dam -cemetery -vc/exhibits

Day 12:

12pm - Leave Camp/Park

12:30pm-1:30pm - Lake Superior Maritime Center

Other Interests:
Great Hinckley Fire Museum and Mass Grave

3pm-5pm - Northwest Company Fur Post -Minnesota Historical Society
$10Adults/$6Kids
-vc -exhibits -furpost tour

6pm-Camp - Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
Camp $39.50
-vc/exhibits -historic sites -trails -firetower

Day 13:

11am - Leave Camp/Park

11:15am-1pm - Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post -Minnesota Historical Society
-museum -trading post
$10Adults/$6Kids
10-5

1:30pm-6pm - Paul Bunyan Land -Brainerd
$19.95 per person

6:30pm-Camp - Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
Camp $39.50

Day 14:

9am - Leave Camp

10am-12:30pm - Charles A Lindbergh Historic Site -Minnesota Historical Society
-vc -home tour -nature trail -driving tour
$8Adults/$6Kids
10-5

1:45pm-5pm - Oliver H Kelley Farm -Minnesota Historical Society
$9Adults/$6Kids
10-5

5:30pm - Twin Cities, MN

Day 15:

9:30am-10:30am - Mississippi River Visitor Center at MN Science Museum
-Jr Program

10:45am-11:30am - Prospect Park
-witch hat

12pm-4pm - Bakken Museum
$10Adults/$8Kids

Other Interests:
Mary Tyler Moore's TV Home

Tennessee to Minnesota...and Back - 4+ Day Trip

This trip is planned from Jackson, TN.  It can be revised to fit your location.

Day 1:

7:00am - Leave Home

11:30am to 12:30pm - Nuclear Waste Adventure Trail & Museum - 7295 Old Hwy 94, Weldon Springs, MO

 It's a little bit of a climb to reach the top...but once you get there the view is worth it.



Hours: Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 12pm to 4pm
Admission: Free

3:30pm to 4:00pm - Snake Alley - N 6th St between Washington & Columbus Streets, Burlington, IA
"The Crookedest Street in the World"

5pm to 5:30pm - Lover's Leap Swinging Bridge - 3rd St.(2blks S of Hwy 92), Columbus Junction, IA

8:30pm - Hotel in Prairie Du Chien, WI
Super 8, 1930 S Marquette Rd, Prairie Du Chien, WI

Day 2:

7:45am - Leave Hotel

8:00am to 10:00am - Effigy Mounds National Monument - 151 Highway 76, Harper's Ferry, IA
Visitor Center Hours: 8am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Five Points Trail Guide - 2 miles/1hour

11:00am to 12:00pm - Ice Cave - Ice Cave Rd (near Dunnings Spring Park), Decorah, IA

1:00pm - Niagara Cave - 29842 County Road 30, Harmony, MN
Tours: 1:30pm, 3pm and 4:30pm
Admission: Adults $12, Kids $7

2.5 hours to St. Paul, MN

Day 3 and 4:  I plan to spend these 2 days with my family...

Day 5:

8:00am - Leave St. Paul, MN

12:00pm to 1:00pm - Otis Redding Crash Site@Monona Terrece - One John Molan Dr., Madison, WI
William T Evjue Rooftop Garden
Hours: Sunday thru Thursday 8am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 8am to 12am
Admission: Free

2:00pm to 2:30pm - Rock Men - 1401 N 2nd St., Rockford, IL
Rock River Recreation Path @ Sinnissippi Park

2:45pm to 4:00pm - Midway Village Museum - 6799 Guilford Rd., Rockford, IL
Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday 10:30am to 4pm
Admission: Adults $7, Kids $5
Sock Monkey Exhibit

4:30pm - Hotel in Rockford, IL
Super 8, 7646 Colosseum Dr, Rockford, IL

Sock Monkeys around Town
Rockford Airport
Stockholm Inn
Swedish American Hospital
Rockford College
Midway Village Museum (4)
Nelson School - 623 15th Street
1111 Alpine S, Suite 200
Rockford Register Star - 99 E State Street
Stewart Square - 115 S Main Street
Rockford Day Nursery - 2323 S 6th Street
Rockford Speedway
Project First Rate - 223 E State Street
Rockford Area CVB - 102 N Main Street
Stillman Bank - 8492 E State Street

Day 6:

8:30am - Leave Hotel

9:30am to 9:45am - Horsey Ronald Reagan - 106 W River Street, Dixon, IL

10:00am to 11:00am - Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home - 816 S Hennepin Ave, Dixon, IL
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm
Admission: $5

12:00pm to 12:30pm - Ronald Reagan Birthplace - 111 S Main Street, Tampico, IL
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm
Admission: Free

9:00pm - Arrive Jackson, TN

3 Mamas, 8 Kids and a 12 Seater

This trip is planned from New Brighton, MN

Day 1:

7:00am - Leave New Brighton, MN

8:45am to 10:00am - Minneopa State Park - 54497 Gadwall Rd  Mankato, MN 56001
8:45am - 9:00am - Seppmann Windmill
9:15am - 10:00am - Waterfall Trail Loop - 0.5 mile
Hours: 9am to 3pm
Admission: Free

12:30pm to 2:00pm - Falls Park - 131 E Falls Park Dr., Sioux Falls, SD
Hours: 5am to 10pm
Admission: Free

3:15pm to 4:30pm - Corn Palace - 612 N Main St., Mitchell, SD
Hours: 8am to 9pm
Admission: Free

5:40pm to 6:30pm - Pizza Ranch - 801 7th St  Platte, SD 57369
Dinner Buffet - $8 Adults

9:30pm - Hotel in Wall, SD
America's Best Value Inn, 201 S Blvd, Wall, SD

Day One Cost:
Gas: 591 Miles - $197
Food: Lunch $20, Dinner $70
Admissions: $0
Hotel: 3 Rooms $211
Total: $498

Day 2:

8:00am - Leave Hotel

9:00am to 11:00am - Bear County USA - 13820 S Highway 16, Rapid City, SD
Hours: 9am to 4pm
Admission: Adults $16, Kids $10

11:05am to 3:30pm - Reptile Gardens - 8955 S Highway 16, Rapid City, SD
Hours: 8am to 6pm
Admission: $16, Kids $11
Eat a packed lunch

3:45pm to 5:30pm - City of Presidents - 631 Main St., Rapid City, SD
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 12pm to 9pm

Little Ceasers - 1601 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD

5:40pm - Hotel in Rapid City, SD
Super 8, 2124 N Lacrosse St., Rapid City, SD

Day Two Cost:
Gas: 78 Miles - $26
Food: Lunch $20, Dinner $15
Admissions: $179
Hotel: 3 Rooms $211
Total: $451

 Day 3:

7:00am - Leave Hotel

8:00am to 9:00am - Crook County Courthouse - 309 Cleveland St., Sundance, WY
Hours: 8am to 4pm
Admission: Free
Sundance Kid Statue and Jail

9:30am to 12:00pm - Devils Tower National Monument - US Hwy 14, Devils Tower, WY
Hours: 9am to 4pm
Admission: $10 Car
Tower Trail - 1.5 hours/1.3 miles

12:00pm to 12:30pm - Picnic Lunch

2:45pm to 4:30pm - Black Hills Institute Museum - 117 Main St., Hill City, SD
Hours: 9am to 7pm
Admission: Adults $8, Kids $4

4:45pm to 9:00pm - Crazy Horse Mountain Memorial - 12151 Ave of the Chiefs, Crazy Hourse, SD
Hours: 8am to Dark
Admission: $27 car
Museums
Laser Light Show at Dark
Dinner at Laughing Water Restuarant

10:00pm - Hotel in Custer, SD
Days Inn Custer, 519 Crook St., Custer, SD

Day Three Cost:
Gas: 239 Miles - $80
Food: Lunch $20, Dinner $100
Admissions: $84
Hotel: 3 Rooms $224
Total: $508

Day 4:

8:00am - Leave Hotel

8:20am to 10:00am - Jewel Cave National Monument - 11149 US Hwy 16 B-12, Custer, SD
Visitor Center Hours: 8:30am to 5:30pm
Cave Tour: Discovery Tour - 9:35am (20 minutes) Adults $4, Kids Free

10:30am to 11:00am - Custer State Park - Gordon Stockyard - Stockyard Lake Dr, Custer, SD

11:15am to 11:45am - Custer State Park - Mt. Coolidge FireTower - Off SD-897 S, Custer, SD

12:15pm to 1:00pm - Wind Cave National Park - Rankin Ridge Trail - SD-87 S & Rankin Ridge Rd.
1 Mile Loop Trail - 14 Interpretive Stops

1:15pm - 3:10pm - Wind Cave National Park - 26611 US 385, Hot Springs, SD
Hours: 8am to 6pm
Admission: Free
Cave Tour: Fairgrounds Cave Tour - 1:40pm (1.50 hours) Adults $9, Kids $4.50
Junior Ranger Program

3:30pm to 5:30pm - Mammoth Site - 1800 US 18 Bypass, Hot Springs, SD
Hours: 8am to 8pm
Admission: Adults $9, Kids $7

5:30pm - Hotel in Hot Springs, SD
Super 8, 800 Mammoth St., Hot Springs, SD

Day Four Cost:
Gas: 71 Miles - $24
Food: Lunch $20, Dinner $100
Admissions: $144
Hotel: 3 Rooms $252
Total: $540

Day 5:

8:00am - Leave Hotel

8:45am to 11:45am - Custer State Park - Entrance Station - SD-87 N & Wildlife Loop Rd, Custer, SD

• 9:15 - Buffalo Corrals
• 9:45 - Peter Norbeck Visitor Center - 30 minutes
• 10:30 - Badger Hole - 30 minutes
• 11:15 - Tunnel 6
• 11:25 - Tunnel 5 and Needles Eye - 15 minutes
• 11:45 - Tunnel 4

12:15pm to 1:30pm - Mount Rushmore National Monument - 12000 S Dakota 244, Keystone, SD
Hours: 8am to 10pm
Admission: $11 Car
Junior Ranger Program

1:45pm to 2:30pm - Cosmos Mystery Area - 24040 Cosmos Rd, Rapids City, SD
Hours: 8am to Dusk
Admission: 12+ $10, Under 12 Free

3:00pm to 5:00pm - South Dakota Air & Space Museum - 2890 Davis Dr., Ellsworth AFB, SD
Hours: 8:30am to 6pm
Admission: Free

5:15pm to 6:30pm - Arnold's Classic Diner - 1940 N Lacrosse St., Rapid City, SD

6:30pm - Hotel in Rapid City, SD
Super 8, 2124 N Lacrosse St., Rapid City, SD

Day Five Cost:
Gas: 129 Miles - $43
Food: Lunch $20, Dinner $100
Admissions: $51
Hotel: 3 Rooms $211
Total: $425

Day 6:

8:00am - Leave Hotel

9:15am to 2:00pm - Badlands National Park - 25216 Ben Reifel Rd, Interior, SD
Hours: 7am to 7pm
Admission: $15 Car
GPS Adventure Activity Book
1-Notch Trail - 1.5 miles - 2 hours RT
2-Cliff Shelf Nature Trail - 0.5 miles - 30 minutes RT
3-Saber Site
4-Erosion Study
5-Sea of Grass

2:30pm to 4:30pm - Wall Drug - 510 Main St., Wall, SD
Hours: 7am to 10pm
Admission: Free + Lunch Cost

5:00pm to 6:00pm - Wall Drug Restuarant

6:15pm - Hotel in Wall, SD
Americas Best Value Inn, 201 S Blvd, Wall, SD

Day Six Cost:
Gas: 109 Miles - $37
Food: Lunch $20, Dinner $100
Admissions: $15
Hotel: 3 Rooms $ 211
Total: $383

Day 7:

7:00am - Leave Hotel

8:00am to 11:00am - Minuteman Missle National Historic Site - 21280 SD Hwy 240, Phillip, SD
Hours: 8am to 4:30pm
Admission: Free
Guided Delta-01 Tour
Self Guided Delta-09 Tour

11:30am to 12:00pm - Picnic Lunch

12:00pm to 2:00pm - Badlands Petrified Garden - 23104 SD Hwy 248, Kadoka, SD
Hours: 7am to 7pm
Admission: Adults $5, Kids $3

5:30pm - Hotel in Sioux Falls, SD
Microtel Inn and Suites, 2901 S Carolyn Ave, Sioux Falls, SD

Day Seven Cost:
Gas: 295 Miles - $99
Food: Lunch $20, Dinner $100
Admissions: $39
Hotel: 3 Rooms $193
Total: $451

Day 8:

9:30am - Leave Hotel

10:00am to 11:00am - USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial - 2705 12th St., Sioux Falls, SD
Hours: 10am to 6pm
Admission: Free

11:30pm to 1:30pm - Devils Gulch Park - Devils Gulch Park Rd., Garretson, SD
(5th St) Near Split Rock Park

2:30pm to 5:00pm - Pipestone National Monument - 36 North Reservation Ave, Pipestone, MN
Hours: 8am to 5pm
Admission: $3
Junior Ranger Program
The Circle Trail/The Old Stone Face

9:00pm - Arrive at Moms - New Brighton, MN

Day Eight Cost:
Gas: 265 Miles - $89
Food: Lunch $20, Dinner $100
Admissions:$9
Hotel: None
Total: $218

Total Trip Cost: All
Ford Econline 350 or similar Rental - $1500 ($1482)
Day 1: $500 ($498)
Day 2: $450 ($451)
Day 3: $510 ($508)
Day 4: $540
Day 5: $430 ($425)
Day 6: $390 ($383)
Day 7: $450 ($451)
Day 8: $220 ($218)
Total:  $4990 ($4956)
Divided by 3: $1664 ($1652)

Total Trip Cost: Individual
Amy: Van - $500
D1: $174, D2: $165, D3: $186, D4: $202.50, D5: $159.50, D6: $140.50, D7: $164, D8: $85
Amy's Total: $1776.50

Sarah: Van - $500
D1: $159, D2: $138, D3: $154, D4: $153, D5: $130, D6: $120.50, D7: $135, D8: $65
Sarah's Total: $1554.50

Keri: Van - $500
D1: $164, D2: $149, D3: $157, D4: $164, D5: $125, D6: $115.50, D7: $136, D8: $60
Keri's Total: $1570.50

Minnesota Fun!

If you ever find yourself in Minnesota with nothing to do...here are a few places my family found fun.

Minnesota History Center - 345 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN
Hours: Tuesdays, 10am to 8pm, Wednesdays thru Saturdays 10am to 5pm, Sundays 12pm to 5pm
Admission: Adults $11, Seniors and College Students $9, Kids $6, Free Tuesdays 5pm to 8pm

June 7 2012

Minnesota's Greatest Generation Exhibit and Weather Permitting Exhibit

Minnesota's Greatest Generation Exhibit and Open House Exhibit


Grainland Exhibit

 

Minnesota Interstate State Park - 307 Milltown Road, Taylors Falls, MN
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Admission: Free
My kids really loved this park.  They thought the Glacial Potholes were awesome.  If you stay on the paths it's a real easy walk to see everything.  If you are feeling more adventurous, they also have some trails you can take.

Glacial Potholes

 
 

Wisconsin also has a Interstate State Park that is just across the Minnesota border in St. Croix Falls

Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park - 9750 Egret Boulevard, Coon Rapids, MN
Visitor Center Hours: Closed Mondays, Tuesday thru Thursday 4pm to 8pm, Friday thru Sunday 9am to 5pm

Franconia Sculpture Garden - 29836 St. Croix Trail, Shafer, MN
Open 365 days a year, Dawn to Dusk
 Free Admission

                             



Como Zoo and Conservatory -1225 Estabrook Drive, St. Paul, MN
Hours: Open Every Day of the Year: October thru March 10am to 4pm, April thru Sept 10am to 6pm
Admission: Voluntary Donation of $3

Mill City Museum - 704 S 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm
Admission: Adults $11, Kids $6

                        

Science Museum of Minnesota - 120 W Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, MN
Hours: Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday 9:30am to 5pm and Thursday thru Saturday 9:30am to 9pm
Admission:
Omnitheater + Museum Admission: Adults $20 Kids $17
Omnitheater Only: Adults $8 Kids $7
Museum Only: Adults $13 Kids $10

Fort Snelling State Park - 101 Snelling Lake Road, St. Paul, MN
Hours: Daily 8am to 10pm, Visitor Center 8am to 4pm
Admission: Free

Historic Fort Snelling - 200 Tower Ave, St. Paul, MN
Hours: Memorial Day thru Labor Day, Tuesday thru Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm
Admission: Adults $11, Seniors and College Students $9, Kids $6

                   

Minnehaha Falls - Minnehaha Park - 4801 S Minnehaha Park Dr., Minneapolis, MN
Hours: 6am to 10pm
Admission: Free

 This park is by far my kids' favorite place to visit when we are in Minnesota.


Richardson Nature Center - 8737 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington, MN
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday Noon to 5pm
Admission: Free

                   

Hyland Park Reserve - 10145 Bush Lake Road, Bloomington, MN
Hours: 5am to 10pm
Admission: Free

This is the biggest playground I have ever seen.  It was so much fun for the kids...hard to keep track of the kiddos though as I was 5 against 1.


Islands of Peace Regional Park - 200 Charles Street NE, Fridley, MN
Hours: Not Posted
Admission: Free