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

Giant City State Park - 2 Day Trip

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

Day 1:

8:00am - Leave Jackson, TN

10:00am to 10:30pm - Fort Defiance State Park - Fort Defiance Rd., Cairo, IL

11:00am to 11:30am - Trail of Tears Information Center - I-57, Anna, IL
Grave of King Neptune the Pig

12:00pm to 1:00pm - Giant City State Park - 235 Giant City Rd., Makanda, IL
Visitor Center Hours: 8am to 4pm
Camp: $20 night

Trails:
Stop at the Visitor Center to pick up free self-guided tour brochures for each trail.  The brochures are very informative and they gave the kids something to watch for on the trails instead of complaining.

Arrow-wood Self-Interpretive Nature Trail - 1/3 mile - Easy

 This trail is located at the far end of the visitor center parking lot. 

 As you walk through this 1/3 mile loop trail you will see many different trees, a few have signs indicating the type of tree it is.  The self-guided tour brochure that you can pick up in the visitor center tells you a little about each tree that is labeled.



*Devils Standtable Nature Trail - 1/3 mile - Moderate

This trail is located next to Shelter #2.

This large free-standing pillar of sandstone is Devil's Standtable, sometimes called Mushroom Rock.







Stonefort Nature Trail - 1/3 mile

This trail is located near the main entrance off US 51 past Shelter #1.

This short but steep climb up to the stone wall contains large sandstone boulders in the trail.

We were expecting a much bigger wall but it was still and great hike and the view was beauitful.



Indian Creek Trail - 3/4 mile

*Giant City Nature Trail - 1 mile

This trail is located at Shelter #3 parking lot.

This trail was our favorite. We especially enjoyed the "giant city streets"

This trail is how the park got it's name. The self-guided brochure you picked up from the visitor center will talk you through the highlights of the trail.





*Trillium Trail - 2 miles (bring a flashlight) - Rugged

This trail is the first parking lot after the main entrance.

This trail takes you around, over, down and back around the other side of a giant sandstone bluff.  It is a beautiful trail and worth the exersion but difficult.







Red Cedar Hiking Trail - 12 miles

Post Oak Nature Trail - 1/3 mile

This trail is located just before the intersection leading to the visitor center.

The bridge going over the pond is closed...and that was the most exciting thing about the trail.  Just a easy, short walk through the trees.






*Trails I found most interesting

Day 2:

9:00am to 11:00am - Trillium Trail
(see above)

12:00pm to 1:30pm - Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site - 94 Green Street, Wickliffe, KY
 Hours: 10:00am -4:00pm Thursday thru Sunday, April thru October
Admission: Adults $5, Adults $4

Lifeways Building

2:00pm to 3:30pm - Columbus-Belmont State Park - 350 Park Road, Columbus, KY
Museum Hours: April thru September
Museum Admission: Adults $4, Kids $3

Museum

5:00pm - Arrive Jackson, TN