?? minnesota experiences that make hosting easier -





explore minnesota | minnesota explorer | a minnesota guide to entertaining | who citizens sing with cindy lou in the grinch's arms on a stage of blue [ [link removed] ]





family is in town. now what?

best ways to burn some energy

Minnesota is second to none when it comes to family fun, so when the kids are bouncing off the walls, it’s time to bundle up and head out! Work their minds and bodies with hands-on museums, exciting trails and engaging art. They’ll enjoy the new scenery and maybe you’ll enjoy an early bedtime.

 

*LET THEM LOOSE* [ [link removed] ]






a mother holds a map and a drink while her daughter holds a pencil. Corn stalks blow behind them with a sign behind them. [ [link removed] ]





take ‘em on a day trip

Looking to get out the cities for a day? You don’t have to go far to get the crew exploring caves, taking selfies at sculpture parks and tasting a million (okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration) flavors of SPAM.

 

*CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE* [ [link removed] ]






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stroll charming main streets

Slow the pace and savor the charm of these cute main streets. Packed with local shops, casual cafés and small town vibes, you’ll find fun for those who enjoy the quieter things in life.

 

*TAKE A STROLL* [ [link removed] ]






electric green and deep magenta ribbons of the northern lights dance across a dark a navy sky clustered with white stars in various sizes. [ [link removed] ]





chase the northern lights

Give the adventurers in your family something to talk about for years to come by chasing the Aurora in some of the United States’ darkest skies.

 

*LIGHTS CAMERA AURORA* [ [link removed] ]






sponsored content: downward view of a mall rotunda filled with large nutcrackers, candy arch, and tree forest [ [link removed] ]





unwrap your holiday fun

Holiday cheer is in full swing at Mall of America® – with larger-than-life decor and festive events all season long. See what’s in store for the holidays in Bloomington, MN.

 

*PLAN YOUR TRIP* [ [link removed] ]






INTRODUCE THEATER TO THE LITTLES

video screenshot: Blue lit theater stage in the background with the backs of families sitting in red velvet chairs in the foreground. [ [link removed] ]

*WATCH NOW >>* [ [link removed] ]










all aboard to red wing

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

historic red brick building with 4 arched doorways and 8 arched window on street level [ [link removed] ]

historic happenings

Perhaps best known for the pottery and boots that bear the town’s name, Red Wing is also home to the classically historic *St. James Hotel [ [link removed] ]** *with 67 distinctly decorated rooms, plus many charming bed and breakfast inns and motels. Even if you’re just making a day trip out of it, the St. James is worth a stop for photos and a drink at the cocktail bar.

 

3 people hiking on a grassy bluff golden with sunlight. Below is the quaint town of Red Wing. [ [link removed] ]

get moving

Right in town, Barn Bluff offers a short but steep hike to some of Minnesota’s most magnificent views of the Mississippi River valley. Other recreational highlights include the 19.7-mile *Cannon Valley Trail*, [ [link removed] ] great for bicycling, running from Red Wing to Cannon Falls; the beautiful *Colvill Park [ [link removed] ]* on the riverbank, with a water park, one screened-in and several open-air picnic pavilions, a marina, and a walking trail.

 

Shelves full of handmade pottery and other antiques fill a warm lit store. [ [link removed] ]

shop souvenirs

Red Wing Stoneware, first opened in 1877, offers tours of the facility where they make classic Red Wing pottery, and a separately owned *Pottery Museum* [ [link removed] ] in town has thousands of examples of Red Wing pots over the years. The *Red Wing Shoe Company Museum [ [link removed] ]*, inside the large shoe store, features the world’s largest boot, and a variety of displays from the the company’s 110-plus years in business.

 

 

*DISCOVER MORE BY TRAIN* [ [link removed] ]











plan ahead

IT'S THE MOST MAGICAL TIME





A family of 3 in winter attire admires an array of colors as they walk through an open air light tunnel [ [link removed] ]



fresh snow, towering pines, light displays, seasonal treats and festive activities are just around the corner.

 

*Make the most of the holidays with these spirited events!*






*CELEBRATE WINTER* [ [link removed] ]











Cars driving through an arched tunnel made through a dusty red and grey cliff on the North Shore. Green pines grow on top of the cliff above. [ [link removed] ]





enjoy the open road

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ROAD TRIPS

 


* Take a historical trip from Northfield to Faribault

 


* Shop small towns from Duluth to Hinckley

 


* See big machinery from Hibbing to Grand Rapids

 


* Spot wildlife from Lake Pepin to Kellogg

 


* Wander installations from Lindstrom to the St. Croix River Valley 

 

*PLAN NOW* [ [link removed] ]











our partners

CLICK-WORTHY SPONSORED CONTENT

 

2026 World Juniors [ [link removed] ]





Ad: Visit Red Wing | Every love story belongs in Red Wing, Minnesota | For more info: www.redwing.org [ [link removed] ]





Ad: Visit Duluth | Lost the Signal. Found the Good Stuff | Talk Duluthy to me [ [link removed] ]





Ad: St. James Hotel | The Red Wing love story continues at the St. James Hotel | more info: www.st-james-hotel.com [ [link removed] ]










related content

MORE MINNESOTA MEDIA

 

?? *Make Alma’s Tagliatelle with Lamb Ragu >> [ [link removed] ]*

 

?? *Listen to “**Empowering Women Through Conservation” >>* [ [link removed] ]

 






"from top to bottom: Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, photo by Glen Stubbe  |  Sever's Fall Corn Maze in Shakopee, photo by Sever's  |  Main Street in Stillwater, photo by Paul Vincent  |  Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais, photo by Jackie Scherer courtesy of Capture Minnesota  |  Ad: Mall of America in Bloomington, photo by Bloomington CVB  |  "Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, video by B Schneider  |  Red Wing Shoes in Red Wing, photo by Paul Vincent  |  Barn Bluff in Red Wing, photo by Erica Wacker  |  Pottery Place Antiques in Red Wing, photo by Erica Wacker  |  Bentleyville in Duluth, photo by Visit Duluth  |  Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel on the North Shore of Lake Superior, photo by Buffalo Media Group""






Minnesota designed playing cards, and a light canvas Star of the North tote [ [link removed] ]



*MINNESOTA HAS GREAT LAKES & GREAT MERCH.  **SHOP NOW >>* [ [link removed] ]





*YOUR TEN MUST-DO THINGS THIS FALL IN MINNESOTA >> [ [link removed] ]*





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