LONG TRAIN RUNNIN'…read more Mall of America's original roller coaster is still chugging along 33 years later. As fate would have it, my first coaster in over 5 years (an insanely long dry spell for me) wound up being something I'd ridden before the millennium, back when Nickelodeon Universe was called Knott's Camp Snoopy. Pepsi Orange Streak is a custom coaster made by Zierer and remains the German manufacturer's longest installation at 2,680ft.  It was specially built to fit inside (and snake around) the Mall of America's indoor amusement park, which it's been doing since 1992. This ride was known as "Ripsaw" until 2007, when a Nickelodeon rebrand changed the colors and theming from a logging company to....the official soft drink of MoA.  Aesthetically speaking, this is a big step backwards, as absolutely zero thought or effort went into any new theming. One circuit lasts 2-1/2 minutes (somewhat long for a coaster), although a good chunk of this time is spent meandering along the mid-course brake run that lies within the log flume's mountain façade. It reaches a top speed of 30mph, mild overall but great for families with younger kids. Orange Streak uses two booster wheel lift hills (not a standard chain lift), the first of which is 60ft tall with a modest 40ft drop.  I rode once in the front row and once in the back, and despite neither trip being particularly thrilling I felt more dynamics in the rear.  The ride only runs a single train, but it's a whopping 15 cars long! The unusually lengthy train does two things: it cranks through capacity, and it delivers a unique ride sensation depending on where you sit.  Since the train's center of gravity lies in the middle, the further towards the front you go, the more you'll notice being "pushed" around the track, while at the same time the back row is being "pulled" through the course.  The longer the train, the more noticeable these dynamics become; conversely, in the single cars on neighboring Spongebob's Rock Bottom Plunge, there's virtually no difference at all. My biggest criticism of the coaster is that it slams on the brakes at the end much more forcefully than it needs to (though I suppose the 15 cars generate a ton of momentum).  Given that the train is probably only going 10-20mph at that point, such an abrupt/painful stop on a family ride is no bueno. * TL;DR * Although I care not for the current name, I have plenty of love for this coaster itself, one of the OG attractions inside Nickelodeon Universe. Orange Streak is a solid starter coaster with S-tier reliability comparable to a nicely maintained Volvo.  That is to say, this thing could basically run indoors forever under the glass-and-steel ceiling at the Mall of America.  I hope it's still here in another 30 years. To me, this ride has been - and always will be - RIPSAW. Shove it, Pepsi!

This greenway connects Nicollet Mall with Loring Park. It was opened in 1979 and was designed by M…read more Paul Friedberg, who also designed nearby Peavey Plaza. The Plaza is maintained by the city's Public Works Department and the nonprofit Loring Greenway Association. It is popular with dog owners from the surrounding neighborhood and joggers. It spans about 1,500 linear feet and is like a mini park. You will find bike racks, tables, and chairs, and a picnic table shelter sprinkled along the Greenway. There is also a small playground just off of it. It is a new playground that was installed last year and is very nice. The park features two fountains, one at the Nicollet Mall entrance and one halfway along the greenway. However, the fountains were not operating during my visit. The greenway is very well-maintained. The Greenway is known for its gardens. The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District has awarded the Greenway a Greening & Public Realm Award for its gardens 13 times, most recently in 2024 in teh Large Greenspace catagory. The Greenway is scheduled to undergo major improvements in 2028, including making it ADA-compliant and making it easier and safer for people of all ages and abilities to ride their bikes. This is not only a nice transit path, but a decent place to hang out for a bit and relax.

Excalibur reminds me of a mine train ride only with more balls. Like Corkscrew, it's an old school…read moreArrow Dynamics creation so it's not modern precision smooth but I found it less clunky than that garish looper. It has a decent first hill and lots of fun twistiness after. It was a cool, slightly rainy day when my friends and I visited Valleyfair and we really got a nice breeze as Excalibur whipped us around. Excalibur has handsome trains with a nice logo and a cozy spot at the back of the park. (Maybe a bit too cozy. Rumor has it ol' Ex might get the axe so VF can expand Soak City and give the water park it's own entrance plaza and parking lot.) The ride ops on Excalibur were great on the day we visited. Maybe it's because it was opening weekend and the season was new and fresh, but they were doing a great job trying to not send trains out with empty seats and joking around to boot. One dude gave one rider a hard time for being a Cowboys fan and it was priceless. "Enjoy your ride on Excalibur everybody! Everybody except YOU, Cowboys fan! " (Do not reprimand this worker, Cedar Fair corporate types. That sh*t was hilarious!) I liked Excalibur but truth be told wouldn't be too upset if Valleyfair took it down. Well, maybe if it made lines for Renegade significantly longer. Cause Valleyfair has another coaster built atop wood that is exhilarating in a way Excalibur only hints at. We almost rode Excalibur a second time, mostly to enjoy the ride ops schtick but opted instead to to strap into the awesomeness that is Renegade. Get your Last Call on here at Excalibur but it's not marathon worthy like Renegade or Wild Thing.

Whether you are young, boy or girl, this is a great place to learn or be a better skater. You will…read morenot regret it.

Was in the area as we are in the market to buy a home, and any home we buy needs to be close by to…read morea public park! So before my scheduled tour time, I came here to scope it out. The road the park is off of, Butler Avenue , is extremely busy for a little two-lane road (everyone apparently uses it to get to highway 52), but once you pull in, it's like a sigh of relief. Nice big parking lot can accommodate lots of vehicles, if you are visiting by car. There's a big bathroom facility right there at the entrance (that's even open during the winter!) with additional tables and grills for picnicers. The lake is just a short distance away, and there's a short trail that goes all the way around it; very picturesque! Additional trails will take you through more landscape and trees (all paved and in great condition), and even over highway 52 into the adjacent park (Kaposia) and further to Simon's Ravine Trailhead, if you're up to it! Truly excellent to have the option to really stretch your legs and go some distance. If you're not here for hiking, there's also an impressively-sized kiddie park that's modern and has some fun unique play structures. (Legit, I wanted to go play on it and I'm 38 1/2.) I think it might've included a small splash pad, but I couldn't be certain in the winter. I spotted some tables with built-in chess/checkers boards, as well as some additional picnic tables. A pier that extends into the lake for fishers. By the kid park there's another large building with external-facing restrooms, and the building itself looks like it gets used for classes or something if you're there at the right season. Seriously, what a great resource for the neighboring communities! If I do move nearby, this would be an excellent spot to be able to relax, play, and exercise.

Spacious park with walking trails, playground, fishing dock, senior center, and a pavilion. Tons of…read morespace to grill and picnic

Checked this nature area out after work in long lake. I liked that it was tucked in. It's a DNR…read morescientific area. There's a hidden lake when you walk a little ways into the forested path as well as a small stream. Very secluded and quiet. Doesn't feel like you're even in a developed area. I loved hearing the different sounds of nature. Very peaceful

These giant drop towers are usually the most nerve racking rides at amusement parks for me. (I've…read morenever been on one of those up charge bungee chord rides though.) It's all about the suspense. Funny thing is, about a fraction of a second into the drop I remember it's actually really fun and exhilarating, refreshing, too, if it's a hot, stuffy day and you get a breeze rushing past you. Still, they get me keyed up every time! Identical in height to it's counterpart at Cedar Point, this Power Tower has only columns opposed to four, sacrificing a second column where the hydraulics shoot you up the tower since everybody knows being propelled down is more fun, not to mention suspenseful. One column wasn't running the day we went and Power Tower was the only ride at VF that operations were a bit slow on. It's always nice to get up into the air and see the view from these things, especially in an unfamiliar area for me like Shakopee, MN. And I appreciate that the top is still adorned with Valleyfair in the old school, medieval font as opposed to the uninspiring official Cedar Fair font that all parks seem to have imposed on them these days. Ely and I had a blast on Power Tower while Dave chickened out, waiting for us, looking like the Unabomber on the rickety bridge leading up to PT.

One of the best swim schools we have been to. Highly recommended. The teachers are friendly and the…read morefacility is accommodating.

For the last two months I brought my 18 month old son to Atlantis to learn to swim in the Guppy…read moreprogram. All I can say was that it was amazing, the staff was fantastic and they were very accommodating if we had to miss a class. We're going to miss swimming there when we move to South Carolina