Family activites in Minnesota (St. Paul, Rochester: sale, for rent, houses)

[mimberly]

We are moving to Minnesota this summer by July we have 4 kids. We will be in the Rochester, Winona area. I would like some advice on things we can see and do as a family. I'm not looking for huge expensive things. My younger kids like animals and fish. My little boy who is 6 loves trains. We are from Michigan and I try and find things that don;t cost a lot as they are out there if you look for them. I was wondering how far from the area we will be living is the Mall of America. Any good suggestions would be great. Are there any good zoo's.

[molochai2580]

I'm in Rochester and the MN zoo and MOA are about an hour to an hour and a half drive(depedning on traffic, weather and speed). I'm not sure if the MN Zoo is good, because I've never been to it. I do know there is a little place called Oxbow Park around Rochester that used to be fairly cheap to go to, of course it was also very small. The good news is there are plenty of rivers and lakes in this area that you could go fishing. There is a small campground in Zumbro Falls that is only $10/night for a tent, it's right on the river and they also have canoes and tubes for rent.

[golfgal]

The MN zoo is great. It will probably be less expensive for you to get a family membership there. The Como Zoo in St. Paul is free, smaller and you are closer to the animals too.

Bandana Square has a great train display that your 6 year old will LOVE. That is in St. Paul.

There are a ton of state parks, lakes, etc. all around the state that you can hike, bike, swim, etc. as a family.

[JenLee]

There is a lot of hiking and biking trails you can go on as a family; fishing is also a fun thing that is free after the adults get the their fishing licenses.

There is a small town near Rochester called Mantorville that has a theater company which puts on wonderful melodramas during the year where you can boo & hiss at the villan and cheer for the heroes and heroines. (BTW, you were asking about where your hubby could buy some cheap cooking utensils in another thread? They are having a rummage sale there this weekend that he might find what he's looking for there). Mantorville Theatre Company - Mantorville, Minnesota

Frontenac State Park was my favorite place to spend a camping weekend when our kids were school-aged. The trails along the bluffs going down to Lake Pepin and then back up to the campgrounds always wore them out; and they came to love looking for Jack-in-the-pulpits, Trilliums, and Lady Slippers in the ferns on the shady bluffs overlooking the lake (which is really just a very wide part of the Mississippi River). We'd go down to the lake to watch the tugboats going up and down the river.

So many small towns in the SE corner of the state have a lot of hidden treasures to find. The tiny town of Kellogg has the nation's largest independent toy store (L.A.R.K. Toys), which houses a carousel which has all hand-carved animals to ride. If you are lucky, you may get to see the wood carver working on his current projects. There is also a wholesale shop there that has all sorts of home decorating items in Kellogg. Wabasha has the National Eagle Center and they have daily shows that are always interesting to see.

The MOA is not my favorite place to go and (IMHO) would be fairly expensive to take a family with 4 kids to. I know you have to do it once, just be aware that for kids 4 feet and up, a one day unlimited-ride band costs $29.00 (then again, the admission for 1 day at Valleyfair is $37.00).

I hope that I've given you a few ideas to do and see with your family. There are always things to do that don't cost a lot, just go exploring and see what you find!

[mimberly]

Thanks all. We live in MIchigan and we are not campers. We have tried but .. NO. Like Minnesota , Michigan has the fishing and trails and all of that. We just aren't drawn to that much. We like the out doors we are just not out door fishing, hunting and walking in the woods people. I just don't see the wonder of deer when you have hit one several times it looses it magic. I like deer when they are in someones yard hook to Santa;s Sleigh for a Christmas decoration.

[oconnorcm3]

In Winona, at the band shell, there are free band concerts every Wednesday night, during the summer (at 7 pm, I think). The band shell is on Lake Winona, about 1 mile from downtown. Right next to the band shell are great playing fields for the kids as well as an awesome play ground. It has ramps, slides, swings and is wheelchair friendly.

Climbing up to Garvin Heights (pant, pant) is fun if your kids are hikders. The views from up there are magnificent.

The public library (downtown area) has story time, movies to rent for $1. and activities for kids.

On the Mississippi, near downtown, there is a river boat that offers tours (it's on dry land). Walking across the Mississippi bridge to Latch Island is fun. There's a nice swimming beach there.

The two lakes in Winona (big and small lake) have a wonderful bike trail that goes all around it. That's a fun thing to do with bikes, walking or roller blades. I think that it's 3-miles around both lakes. The Lakeview Drive in is just off that trail and has great root beer floats. All summer long the lake area offers baseball/softball games for kids and adults.

See, lots of free things to do in Winona!

Mari