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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

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

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

the backs of a family of four as they stride into a red candy shop with a neon orange "OPEN" sign.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

WATCH NOW >>

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

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 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.

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, great for bicycling, running from Red Wing to Cannon Falls; the beautiful Colvill Park 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.

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 in town has thousands of examples of Red Wing pots over the years. The Red Wing Shoe Company Museum, 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

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

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

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.

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

our partners

CLICK-WORTHY SPONSORED CONTENT

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

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

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

related content

MORE MINNESOTA MEDIA

🌟 Make Alma’s Tagliatelle with Lamb Ragu >>

🌟 Listen to “Empowering Women Through Conservation” >>

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

MINNESOTA HAS GREAT LAKES & GREAT MERCH. SHOP NOW >>

YOUR TEN MUST-DO THINGS THIS FALL IN MINNESOTA >>

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