Spring Break Trip (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth: waterpark, how much, home)

[cubssoxfan]

Taking my daughters (12/15) to the Mall of America. Base is Comfort Inn in Bloomington(points =free nights). Arrive late Monday and leave Friday AM. Besides the mall (Dad can only handle a limited amount of shopping) we were thinking of going to a Wild game on Wed night (tickets are 1/2 as costly as Blackhawk tickets). I was also considering taking the train into downtown to find some good asian or vegetarian food for eldest non-meat-phase daughter. We like hiking, walks and zoos. If the forecast is good, we will bring bikes. If it looks like snow going skiing would be fun. What other activities do you recommend, keeping the fickle spring weather in mind?
Also, any sights to stop and see when we take the river road home via Red Wing, Winona & La Crosse?
Thanks in advance!

[phoenixmike11]

Downtown travel guide - Wikitravel
Minneapolis travel guide - Wikitravel
Have fun- Minneapolis is fun place to visit-

[Ghengis]

right near the MOA is one of only two (?) urban Nat'l Wildlife Reguges that has a nice visitors center/overlook open year round. You'd probably be able to hike some of the trails as well.

http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=32590

Perfect time of year to see the thousands of bald eagles between Red Wing and Wabasha. Outside of Red Wing and heading to Wisconsin along the river bottoms is where we often go. Just follow the cars...

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=R...p=1&sz=18&z=18

The Nat'l Eagle Center in Wabasha has a great visitor's center and an eagle or two on display. Call them for current sighting locations/info as well as the possibility of guided trips in the nearby area,

National Eagle Center, National Bald Eagle Center | The National Eagle Center - Wabasha, Minnesota

[jayhopethismeeturstandard]

The Metro has so many activities that you will be hard pressed to find the time to do everything. MOA in and of itself can take up a whole day easily. You will also be very close to South Minneapolis and a variety of vegetarian restaurants. One that may suit you is Evergreen on Nicollet Ave though I am including a list of other options. If you are in that area I recommend you visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art, it will not disappoint.

Best Places For Vegetarian Food In The Twin Cities « CBS Minnesota

Also on your way through Red Wing I would visit Barn Bluff which offers some of the best views of the Mississippi River I have ever seen outside of Downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul.

[golfgal]

When are you coming?

[cubssoxfan]

Last week of March. thanks for all the suggestions

[golfgal]

Hopefully by then we won't have snow....not looking good right now. If there is still snow, Buck Hill is just down 35 from the MOA if they like skiing or snowboarding. It's not a huge place by any means but it's where Lindsey Vohn trained and a couple other Olympians.

What do the girls like to do? Obviously they want to shop. At 12 and 15, they can safely shop at the MOA without you so if you wanted to catch a movie at the Mall while they shopped, you can.

My teenage daughter suggested going to the Waterpark of America, maybe catch a play at one of the theaters (not sure what is playing though). If they like Laser Tag, Brunswick Bowl in Lakeville is an easy ride from the MOA. The Minnesota Zoo is also just south of the MOA and has plenty of indoor exhibits if it's cold. I don't know how much driving you want to do but a trip to Duluth might be interesting if they haven't spent time around the Great Lakes. Mostly though, shopping is kind of the thing to do when you are a girl that age. You might want to take them to Southdale for the "historic" factor--first enclosed mall in the world.

[cubssoxfan]

The water park would normally be a stop, but we are spending a couple nights in the Dells at a water park before traveling to Bloomington. Laser Tag is an excellent idea and we will visit the zoo, we often go during the winter. Thanks!

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

The water park would normally be a stop, but we are spending a couple nights in the Dells at a water park before traveling to Bloomington. Laser Tag is an excellent idea and we will visit the zoo, we often go during the winter. Thanks!

There is also a place called Grand Slam in Burnsville, also not far from the mall, that has laser tag but it also has bumper cars, batting cages, etc. Grand Slam

[nrogers1122]

Wild games are great fun. You could make a day of it in St. Paul - the science museum is close to the Xcel Energy Center and has some interesting exhibits.