Enjoyed walking around looking at all of the art. There is so much talent in the Twin Cities!…read moreJumped in on some Zumba too! And of course what's a festival without food. I stuck with the basics of corn, corn dog and churro. Prices seemed high but sadly food costs are on the rise. Can't wait until next year!

6.21.26 If I liked snow and brutally freezing weather, I would move here. All the green spaces…read moreencourages you to get up and move, get outside, smell the roses and get your vitamin D on. From the music to art festivals, everything is FREE. Though....parking is a bit challenging. Nonetheless, I would do it again and again. Weather was perfect 73 degrees People, hmmm...I am impressed on so many levels. For 1 they support the Somalian community and they stand for what is just and fair. Its funny, my friend of 52 years asked me, what are we doing this year, I said Cruise, Jamaica, Mexico...she said how about Minnesota. I said what's in Minnesota? And that's when I went down the rabbit hole and did my research. I can honestly say, I'm glad I was too busy to plan our annual trip this year. She did it all, I just had to send my money. From a ferry down the Mississippi river, to several lakes, downtown Minneapolis, Paisley Park, Mall of America to sooo much more. I would like to come back, but there is so much more on my bucket list to double back. Cheers to Minnesota and all its fabulousness!

We went to check out the ice festival in Eagan that has the longest ice maze. This festival runs…read morefrom January 10 to February 16, depending on the weather of course. Tickets can be purchased online or the box office. We had purchased a deal online and waited for someone to come to the box office in order to redeem the voucher. After waiting for 10 minutes, the guard let us through the gate to talk to the ladies that works for the event. Ice maze was fun, for all ages. There's a warming house that sells hot and cold beverages and alcohol. Variety of food trucks, ice skating rink, and slide made from ice. The maze has a scavenger hunt throughout, there's 12 names to look for and you'll get a prize at the hut near the skating rink. Definitely recommend to check out.

The Minnesota Ice Festival is an absolute must-see for anyone who loves winter, art, and outdoor…read morefun! From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the stunning ice sculptures-each one more intricate and breathtaking than the last. The level of detail and creativity that goes into these frozen masterpieces is truly incredible. Beyond the sculptures, the festival had so much to offer. We enjoyed the ice slides (so much fun for both kids and adults!), sipped on delicious hot cocoa, and even tried our hand at ice carving. The atmosphere was lively, with twinkling lights, live music, and cozy fire pits where you can make s'mores and it easy to warm up when needed. They also have games made out of ice shuffle board, ping pong, air hockey and they also have ice skating The staff and volunteers were friendly and helpful, and despite the crowds, everything was well organized. Dress warmly-it gets chilly, especially at night-but that's all part of the magical winter experience.If you're looking for a unique and festive way to celebrate winter in Minnesota, this festival is well worth it. We went on a pretty warm day so unfortunately the maze was very wet lots of puddles We'll definitely be back next year!

Wow! What an impressive sight! I was in the area to see the next door Millennium Gardens, but…read moredecided to extend my visit by walking down the trails. I ended up at the Hilde Amphitheater. There wasn't an event going on at the time, but the facility still really impressed me! Gorgeous piece of architecture, but also a really well maintained lawn and surrounding grounds that looked like it could accommodate a considerable gathering of people. There's a fountain near the memorial plaque, along with some statuary and some cute music makers for people to play with. I was quite enamored by the multicolored mosaic animal statues (I had to snap a photo with each!) near one of the entrances. I noticed a couple of port-a-potties and many trash cans. Also the geese waddling about the grounds were kinda cute. I'll probably look online to see if they're having any upcoming events that interest me, because it'd be cool to show up for a performance!

Have been to a few events here and they have always been great! Recently attended an outdoor…read moreconcert and it was so much fun! The space is smaller so it felt more intimate than a traditional outdoor venue. The sound and lights were great! We were able to bring in our own lawn chairs and the drink options were very decently priced for a concert venue. They had a handful of food trucks on site. We were able to find free street parking nearby. All of the workers were very friendly and it was a great way to spend a summer evening in Minnesota!

If you need a good Christmas Spirit jolt, this is a good one for you…read more There's always lots of cool things to see at Norway House, but this time of the year they go out of their way to bring out the best. See all the entries to their annual gingerbread house contest (open to the public!) and take part in a very important seasonal fund raiser and membership drive for this non-profit. Historical yet whimsical, come see what all the fuss is about in this beautiful place in uptown Minneapolis!

Was here for a meeting, and wow, what an incredible space. Staff were friendly and welcoming, the…read moregift shop is fun, and there was so much happening, the space really felt alive. I did not eat at the nice little eatery there, but would like to go back to try it!

This is such a fun activity to do as part of an outing to Lake Harriet, especially with kids! While…read moreit's only a 15 minute activity, it's a TON of fun, and both of our kids loved every minute. It was also really neat to learn more about the streetcar lines from the volunteers, and to see a little bit of the area that's hard to visit on bike or foot. The price is super reasonable at $3 per person (babies are free). While I would not make a special trip here just to ride the street car, it's an awesome additional activity to eating at Bread and Pickle, walking around the lake or kayaking/boating on it, or playing in the playground!

Disclaimer: I am an (unpaid) volunteer streetcar operator (i.e. driver) for the Minnesota…read moreStreetcar Museum. The actual Museum is in Excelsior, but there are two locations that have a streetcar you can ride. If you would like to be transported back in time, I recommend a ride on a streetcar at either Lake Harriet (the "Harriet-Como Line") or in Excelsior. I can speak to the streetcar experience at the location at Lake Harriet, since that's where I volunteer. The ride starts and stops near the lakeside pavilion, at 42nd Street and Queen Avenue South. There is train depot from which you can buy tokens (currently $2.50 for a round trip -- kids under four are free), souvenirs, and some candy. You can use a credit card to pay, but cash is not accepted. There are currently two Streetcars in operation. One was built in 1908 and was used until the Streetcars were discontinued in 1954 in favor of buses. The more "modern" streetcar was built in 1947. The Excelsior location has other models. The best part about driving a streetcar is to see the smiles on the faces of the children. Parents and grandparents delight in sharing this experience with younger people and also enjoy a cool breeze on a hot Minnesota day. This ride is something that routinely surpasses the expectations of riders. Round trip tokens can be purchased at the Depot (called the Linden Hills Station), and they are the original tokens used when the streetcars ran. Drop your token into the faire collector box by the driver and pick a seat. The trolly goes to Lake Bde Maka Ska and back. Feel free to depart at Bde Maka Ska and return later (no extra charge). You will then continue back past the Depot and stop at the "Car Barn" where the streetcars are parked at night). It will then return to the Depot for the end of the ride. A ride is approximately 20 minutes long.

Wow, what a cool train museum, ESPECIALLY for young kids. This place brings me back to my days of…read morehaving a train as a child, but watching my kids interact with the trains is the best part. If you have young kids (under 8 or so), this is a wonderful place to take them, and if you live nearby, consider a membership. Here's a summary of the cool aspects for kids: 1) Almost all the trains are interactive. There are buttons kids can press to start trains, and also start other aspects of the displays, like turning on lights, making cars go, helicopter blades spin, and even a roller coaster go (yes you read that right!). 2) There's so many trains, my kids would walk around for hours if I let them. 3) They change aspects of the displays often, so even if you visit a lot, there's always something new to look at. 4) There's three tables with large Lego trains and Brio trains, we always end here and my kids play endlessly with them. 5) There's a few other cool things like a scavenger hunt, a couple "racing" tables, and night trains (have not been yet but looks cool). 6) The bathroom is clean and set up for kids. All in all, this is a phenomenal place to bring kids, and even if you don't have kids, it's great for people who are kids-at-heart!

We came in time for the night train display. I have to say they "bring it" for this event. The…read moretrains are fun and they even had live music. There were many staff and volunteers on hand, including a train doctor. If you look closely at the displays, there are some (not literal) Easter eggs. They have a gift shop too with hats, whistles, books, and postcards. My kid actually lasted an hour and then it was too much. Many of the displays were hard to read in the dark, so if you're there for more of a museum experience, go during day hours. Overall a good experience. You can see the love and care put into the displays.

Beautiful fall evening to enjoy vendors showcasing their craft beer and wines. Roseville has a…read morebeautiful park system very well manicured and clean. A nice sized crowd turned out and people seemed to be enjoying themselves chatting and mingling. There was a huge band playing some 70's musics with a full horn section. Giant Jenga and the game where you pound a nail into a slab of wood not sure what it is called Hammicker Slamicker or something like that...hahaha by the time I played I had already indulged so forgive my memory. There was a breathalizer on display so you could test how inebriated you may be. I thought this was a great idea. They should be in every drinking establishment out there. He explained that it does not cost the bar a thing to put in and it is affordable for people to use 2.00. Me thinks much better than a DUI. The boys in uniform were right there when you left wishing you a good evening as this was held in a parking lot adjacent to the police station. I got an opportunity to try some beers I would not normally sampled and leaned about some local breweries and wineries. Some I can remember are Lucid, Summit, Big Wood, Barley Johns, Rush River, Burning Brothers, Tin Whiskers, Bent, Mankato Brewing, Insight, Brau Brothers, Sidhe and Granite City. They were all very generous with the pours and happy to speak with you about the product. The wineries that showed up were slim and a bit stingy with the sample amount. So was not a good evening for wine but no shortage of beer. It was a great event with proceeds supporting the local community by providing clean, safe, park facilities for the residents.

For the past 3-6 weeks, my wife has been trying to convince me that we should buy a home in…read moreRoseville, where she works, instead of staying in downtown St Paul. Events like 'Tapped and Uncorked' work in her favor. Tapped and Uncorked was a great way for a couple of Twin City Transplants like ourselves to get up to speed on local microbreweries, wineries, and distilleries. It didn't take us long to discover new, local favorites such as the pumpkin ale created by Tin Whiskers (the secret is in their blend of spices). It was like drinking fall on tap. Everything we tried from Northern Vinyards Winery, in Stillwater, was a hit. This included the house red, house white, and house rose. We also fell in love with Yellow Belly Cider from Sapsucker Farms because its neither too sweet nor too dry. The secret? Minnesota apples? Hmm. Food at the event was provided by food trucks. Our favorite was A Cupcake Social, which made two special cupcakes for the event. I was disappointed when I saw that the Tot Boss food truck was there, but that we didn't see it. Perhaps they didn't make it? The event was well organized. The music was excellent and there was plenty of space to mill around. Had there been seating, more than six tables, and more than two fire pits, we probably would have stayed all night. Instead, we found ourselves wandering home shortly after dark with a bright smile and wine-warmed bellies. Next year, I definitely plan to bring folding chairs and a jacket (based on weather) so that we can spend more time enjoying the samples, the music, and the company. The location of the event is ideal because there is plenty of parking, party area, and access to clean public bathrooms. As a transplant to the Twin Cities from Wisconsin, it might not surprise you that I'd give an event like 'Tapped and Uncorked' five stars. On the other hand, I know how beer tastings should be done... and that this event surpassed my expectations. Given that this is only the event's 2nd year, I expect that it'll only get better in 2016.

FAMILY FUN DAY at the The Bakken Museum!!! We had an unexpectedly great time. Each of us enjoyed a…read moredifferent aspect of this unique place: - My teen son loved the interactive, tech-inspired exhibits - I loved the beautiful Gothic/Tudor architecture and the history of the families that lived in the mansion throughout the years -Hubby loved the calming outdoor spaces and medicinal gardens - Our tween daughter loved her scavenger hunt for Lego people that were hidden throughout the museum From their website: The Bakken Museum inspires a passion for innovation by exploring the potential for science, technology, and the humanities to make the world a better place. Located on the West shore of Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis, the museum features interactive exhibits for all ages and exceptional STEM education programs. Make movies in the Spark exhibit, meet the mother of science fiction in Mary & Her Monster, and test out some of Ben Franklin's favorite experiments in the Electricity Party Room.

A total gem - The Bakken Museum hits hard, not only from…read morethe buzz of learning something new but from how fresh everything feels. Never thought I'd skip this spot for years, even though it's near my usual bike trail. Not just another exhibit hall - it sparks real wonder, like flipping on a light in a dark room. You walk out seeing things differently, especially those hidden powers running behind everyday life. Finding it tucked where it is? Unexpected. Sure, I've passed by loads of times, pedaling right past without stopping. But now? No way am I sleeping on it again. Right when I walked in, it hit me - this place was different, almost magnetic. No question about it, the highlight had to be the West Wing Mansion. It's more than just walls and floors - it's like a snapshot from the past, carefully kept alive. As I moved through the graceful halls, packed with old tools and exhibits, history came alive. Best part? Learning stuff didn't feel forced - it flowed naturally with everything around. The museum isn't about flashy displays - it shows what makes each item tick, telling stories of wild breakthroughs or the clever people who made them happen. Then comes power - yeah, electric juice. Those sections on how electricity works? Totally mind-blowing. Sure, I liked science before, yet this place cranked up my curiosity big time. They break down tricky ideas using simple words, fun visuals, so you actually get it without zoning out. One moment I'm looking at basic ideas, next I'm stuck on complex setups - each exhibit pulled me in. Not just scanning signs, but actually sensing electricity through sound, touch, sight. Walked out knowing way more about how this invisible push shapes everything - from turning on lights to nerves firing in your arms. Totally didn't expect to run into something that matched a story from my English lesson. Keeping details quiet so you can discover it yourself, yet realizing then and there: stories, creativity, facts - they're all tangled up in real life. On top of that, it deepened how I saw things, making the experience stick in my mind like a real-life story. What stands out is how well everything's put together - clearly, care went into reaching different kinds of people. At The Bakken Museum, you get what good exhibit planning looks like in action. Things to touch and try, but nothing flashy or fake-feeling; facts served straight, never too much at once - it just works. Workers knew their stuff, genuinely excited, which lifted the whole vibe. Curious about how science shaped life? Head to The Bakken Museum - it'll grab your attention no matter who you are. It might just do it better than school, it sure did for me! This isn't just for nerds or kids; it's for anyone who likes surprises. You'll learn stuff without feeling like you're studying, laugh a bit, maybe jump when something zaps. Honestly, few places deliver this much fun with electricity - real and metaphorical. Skip waiting around like I did. Just go.