0 In 2022/ History/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

Exploring Minnesota: A Visit to the Historic Fort Snelling

I’m not sure why I lived in Minnesota for almost four years without getting a membership to the Minnesota Historic Society or exploring the historic Fort Snelling. I didn’t realize how beneficial those passes would be, or what a beautiful place the Fort is!

Fort Snelling is a fun and education field trip for your family in St. Paul, Minnesota. You will learn about army life, see live demonstrations, learn how they cared for the sick, explore the beautiful home of the commander, taste what they ate, watch how they made their tools, and more!

First of all, the Minnesota Historical society annual family pass is less than $100, and grants your family (plus two guests) access into amazing spots all over Minnesota, including: the Mill City Museum, the State Capitol, the Minnesota History Center, and today’s focus: Fort Snelling!

Upon arrival, we pulled into the gated parking lot for Fort Snelling. The parking fee is $4 for members, $6 for non-members. There’s a beautiful walking path along the Minnesota River up to the entrance of the visitor center. This area was recently remodeled. It has a small museum inside, as well as a gift shop and clean bathrooms.

From there, we enjoyed a golf cart ride to the entrance of the Fort.

The Fort is phenomenal. It was constructed 200 years ago and used until the end of WW2. It’s been restored to show visitors what life was like as a soldier living in this fort. There are characters dressed and ready to teach everyone about anything from laundry, to slavery, to fur trading, to black smithing! (Is that a word?) You can watch guns and canons being shot too, and food being made.

Some things to discover and explore:

The school house
The hospital/medical exhibit
The armory/weapons storage
Jail
Blacksmith shop
Dred Scott’s living quarters and how his time living on the base enable him to fight for his freedom from slavery.
Commander’s home
Kitchen
Archeology exhibit
Soldier’s quarters
Married quarters
Trails to the river

My kids and I absolutely LOVED it. We learned a lot about the history of Minnesota and military life, and enjoyed the beautiful grounds. There was even a baseball game happening as we left. We hope to be a part of that during our next visit.

This was the temporary home of Dred Scott and his wife. He lived below the army 'hospital'/infirmary, because he was a slave to a doctor. Because of his time in Minnesota, a 'free state,' Dred Scott went to court to obtain his freedom from slavery. — Army Barracks

Fort Snelling is very close to the Minneapolis airport, so if you have a layover – it would be worth checking out!

Locations, Hours, and Admission:

Historic Fort Snelling is open Wednesdays through Sundays from May 31 to September 4, 2022. Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m

Address: 200 Tower Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55111

Admission is $12 for adults, or $10 for seniors and college students with ID. Children aged 5-17 are $8.

Admission is free for Minnesota Historical Society members, military veterans and family, native Americans and families, and active military and families (walk up only.) Tickets may be purchased in advance online, through the box office at 651-259-3015, or at the visitor center.

Website: Click here

Here’s a peek into our visit:

Thanks for reading!

Here are more places worth mentioning:

Click here for a peek into our visit to Mill City Museum.

Click here to read our Minnesota Bucket List.

Click here to read: 20 Gifts Minnesota Gave the World

July 27, 2022 By Kathryn

0 In 2022/ Inspiration/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

15 Old-fashioned ways to stand out – in business and in life

Ted found this list on Twitter, copied it to a word document and printed it out for each of our boys. After they read it, we talked about what stood out to them. We also discussed which of these we do well, and which ones we could work on.

I thought you might enjoy reading this, and perhaps you’ll want to print it to read and discuss with your family. Feel free to share this post!

15 “old fashioned” ways to stand out in life:

1. Handwritten Notes:

Handwritten notes have sadly become a rarity in the digital age. Emails and texts lack personality—handwritten notes exude a raw authencity that fosters connection. Use them for: Thank yous, follow ups, letters to loved ones…AND nice penmanship is a plus!

2. Be True to Your Word:

When you say you’re going to do something, follow through. Being true to your word builds trust and deep relationships—personally and professionally. The recipe is simple:

(1) Say what you’re going to do

(2) Do it

(3) Repeat

Your word is your bond.

3. Be on Time (or early):

Take pride in punctuality. Being on time (or early) for your commitments is a clear show of respect to the other people involved.

4. Good Posture:

Strong posture is a physical and mental unlock for life. It’s linked to a variety of health benefits, including healthier muscles and joints, higher energy levels, and more. It also improves self-confidence—and how others perceive us. Stand tall to stand out.

5. Smile at Strangers:

It used to be considered common courtesy to smile and say good morning to people on the street. But somewhere along the line, it became “weird” to do so. Smile at people, say hello, give a warm head nod. It might even make them more likely to pass it on.

6. Hold the Door:

Holding the door for others was a simple point of good manners taught to many of us as children. Sadly, it seems like a lost art. It’s a habit worth reviving: When you go through a door, hold it for the next person—smile and say hello. Small acts go a long way.

7. Express Gratitude:

Life gets so much better when you really lean into gratitude. Create a daily gratitude practice—write down 3 things you’re grateful for every night before bed. Tell someone how much you appreciate them. Don’t wait to show gratitude until it’s too late.

8. Help Someone in Need:

When I was a kid, I was always taught to offer up my seat for anyone in need. The lesson extended to other areas of life. It’s easy to do—and so important. Help someone with their suitcase, walk someone across the street, buy someone a donut and coffee. (Click here to read 21 small ways to make a big difference)

9. Listen More than You Speak:

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” — Epictetus

If you want your words and ideas to be heard, start by talking less and listening more. You’ll find more power in your words. Talk less to be heard more.

10. Say Someone’s Name:

Calling someone by their name is an easy way to build a bond. When you meet a new person, make a point to remember their name. If it’s a difficult one, ask how to pronounce it. Say it back in conversation so it sticks.

11. Eye Contact:

Eye contact builds trust. When you’re listening, look them in the eye. It shows presence, focus, and respect. When you’re speaking, eye contact can be organic (to avoid being intense). It’s ok to gaze off to think, but use eye contact to emphasize key points.

12. Apologize Effectively:

When you screw something up, be accountable and own it. Admit you’re wrong and apologize. All apologies should be direct and specific—acknowledge exactly what you did, why it was incorrect, and how it will be remedied. It’s the only way to move forward.

13. Work Hard:

Hard work stands out in a world where everyone wants to call it overrated. Take pride in working hard—show up and do what you say you’ll do. Always look for ways to work smarter, but if you’re striving for great things, you have to work hard.

14. Confident Handshake:

Handshakes fell out of favor due to COVID—some said they would never return. I don’t believe it. If handshakes are a trust-building part of your culture, take pride in them. Look the person in the eye, smile, and deliver a confident (but not hard) grip.

15. Be Kind:

Kindness is somehow severely underrated. It fosters relationships, reduces stress and anxiety, and improves overall happiness. When you are consistently, genuinely kind, you become a magnet for the highest-quality people.

Questions to consider:

Which are your currently doing well?
Which do you want to try today?

July 20, 2022 By Kathryn

0 In 2022/ Family/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

How to Raise a Jerk!

15 ways to raise a jerk from TheParentCue.org

Here are a few ideas to help you effectively raise a jerk:

Protect them from the consequences of their own mistakes.
Make sure you do whatever they can do for themselves.
Keep them away from anyone who thinks differently than they do.
Try to give them everything they want.
Tell them over and over you just want them to be happy.
Convince them that they are more special than other kids.
Always take their side when they get in trouble with their teacher at school.
Always take their side whenever they are in a conflict with a friend.
Don’t give them consistent opportunities to help or serve other people.
Never require them to do chores.
Reinforce their prejudices about people from different cultures or backgrounds.
Make your relationship with them more important than your relationship with your spouse.
Rarely express genuine gratitude to those who help you.
Teach them to talk more than they listen.
Never let them hear you say “I was wrong. I am sorry.”

I loved this and hope you do too! What would you add or change? Leave a comment.

I use the free Parent Cue app because it provides simple ways to connect with and influence my kids. Click here to check it out.

Thanks for reading. Please consider subscribing.

July 14, 2022 By Kathryn

0 In 2022/ Peek into our Week

Peek into our Week (June 2022)

Here’s a peek into what we’ve been up to in June.

Watch out world, there’s a new REF in town.

We are so proud of George and how hard he worked to become a soccer referee.

He watched about 8 hours of ref instruction online,
went to a four-hour class,
a two-hour training, and
took an intense referee test, and …

Earned his official “Ref” status!

He was super nervous about reffing his first game – but Ted went to observe and said he did awesome. He’s reffed a bunch a games in June, and becoming better and more confident with each one.

George even got to ref one of Paul’s soccer games, which was super fun for all of us.

Paul finished his spring soccer season in June. He played with a great group of boys and their team was UNDEFEATED all season.

Luke and Clark are in baseball. It’s been fun spending summer nights at the baseball field watching them play. Clark made the All-Star baseball team and crushed it! He hit the ball every time he was up to bat, had several RBI’s, pitched, and started the game playing third base (which was his dad’s position).

Field Trips Fridays

Field Trip 1: The Minnesota History Center

I joined the Minnesota Historical Society so that our family could visit a few unique places in our state. Our first stop was the Minnesota History center in St. Paul. It was a fantastic museum with hands-on exhibits to teach kids (and adults) about Minnesota’s History. George loved the WW2 airplane experience. Clark liked making sundaes at the soda shop. Paul and Luke loved the tornado experience. I enjoyed exploring this new place with my boys.

Here’s a peek into our visit:

Field Trip #2 – Fort Snelling

Our next field trip (with our Minnesota History passes) was to Fort Snelling. This place had been on my list for awhile, and I’m so glad we finally made it happen. It was beautiful and so interesting to get to experience what an army base would have looked and felt like 200 years ago.

Field trip #3 – Tactical Urban Combat

The family that battles together, stays together.

Our family was gifted passes to Tactical Urban Combat in exchange for a blog post. We had a so much fun choosing a nerf gun and battling it out with another group. Clark helped us win ‘capture the flag.’

We celebrated Father’s Day for one FINE dad!

I’m thankful that our boys are following in the footsteps of someone so kind, wise, strong, faithful and full of integrity.

An Egly Boy Sleeps away

In June we sent the first #eglyboy to Lake Geneva Campground with a bunch of other kids from our church. He loved it!

Wrigley Love

A Walk Down Memory Lane

This sums up the personalities of Clark and George when they were toddlers. George was so easy-going and Clark was a spit-fire!

July 8, 2022 By Kathryn

0 In 2022/ Book Review

5 Books I Finished This Month: June 2022 Book Reviews and Recommendations

I finished five books this month = 3 memoir/biographies + 1 fiction + 1 non-fiction. I share my reviews and recommendations below. I’d love for you to leave a comment if you’ve read something interesting lately!

Taste by Stanley Tucci

Rating: 7/10

Review: This book made me want to eat large bowls of pasta. I was hungry the whole way through. I started reading the hard copy, but when I saw that Stanley Tucci reads the audio version, I switched to listening to HIM read the book to ME…his voice…so good. The only reason you may want the hard copy of this book is to see the recipes. There’s a pasta/zucchini recipe that Stanley describes in the book that I’m dying to try. I think Stanley is a great actor, and LOVED him in the movie Julie and Julia, so I was looking forward to reading his book. However, it wasn’t your typical autobiography. He told more stories and details about FOOD than his actual life. He shared briefly that his first wife died of cancer and left him with three young children – but never went into any detail about this part of his life. He met his second wife (Felicity Blunt), at her sister Emily’s wedding. Overall the book was interesting, but I’d recommend his “Searching for Italy” series over the book.

Davy Crocket by Janet Benge

Rating: 9/10

Review: Another great biography about a man from history. I was fascinated by what life was like during that era. So simple, yet so challenging. I’m grateful for this glimpse into his life and how hard he worked to take care of his family, and to make America a great place to live. He died defending our country.

I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron

Rating: 6/10

Review: I feel bad about this book. Nora tried to write a funny book about aging, and while there were funny parts, overall, this book left me feeling bad. If you are a Nora Ephron fan, what book would you recommend that I read that’s better than this one?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Rating: 9/10

Review: A unique story of a young foster girl living in Nazi Germany through World War 2. The book is narrated by Death, who crosses her path more than once, and tells the story of her struggles as she grows from a child to a teenager. I’m looking forward to watching the movie now that I’ve read the book, I’ll post my thoughts on which is better in my next “Movie or Book” post.

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Rating: 7/10

Review:

This book had extremely high reviews, so I had high expectation and thought I’d love it. While there were some beautiful parts, I found it a little dry and had a hard time getting through it. A similar book that was much more enjoyable to read was “What is God Like?” by SJ Hill.

June 30, 2022 By Kathryn

0 In 2022/ Motherhood

How Parents of Special Needs Children Can Diagnose and Manage Caregiver Fatigue by Janice Russell

Parenting is a tough job, and for a parent with a special needs child, it comes with an extra set of challenges. When caring for a special needs child, it is not uncommon to overlook your needs. Thus, you may experience parental burnout. You cannot give your child the best care when you are physically, mentally, or emotionally drained. Therefore, it is essential to know how to spot signs of fatigue and schedule time for self-care. If you are a parent of a special needs child, read this guide for tips on diagnosing and reducing fatigue.

Diagnosing Caregiver Fatigue

You should be able to recognize signs of fatigue to take the appropriate actions to manage them. Check the following to assess your fatigue levels:

Your and Your Child’s Sleep Quality

How is your sleep quality? Do you go to bed and stare in the dark for hours, unable to sleep, or feel like you are always sleeping? Either of these experiences indicates fatigue. Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep. However, if you have a special needs child, they may interrupt your sleep. If this happens often, you will likely suffer fatigue with time.

Your Marital Satisfaction

If you are married, does your spouse help with childcare? If you have no respite or are frustrated at your spouse because they don’t help you enough, your fatigue levels are likely high.

Your Caregiving Burden

Does taking care of your child feel like a 24/7 job? Do you have time for yourself? How much physical activity outside of childcare do you get? You may have high fatigue levels if taking care of your child consumes all your time. In this case, you likely have no time for self-care, including wellness checkups when you are ill or visits to the salon.

Managing Caregiver Fatigue

Here are some effective ways to manage fatigue among parents of special needs children.

Make Time for Your Goals

Pursuing your goals is an essential part of self-care. So if you have put your dreams aside to take care of your child, consider picking up one to work on and schedule time for it. For instance, studying for an online education degree could pave the path to your dream career and allow you time to care for your child.

Improve Your Home Environment

Did you know that introducing some changes to your home can help you reduce stress and manage fatigue? Removing clutter creates a less stressful environment, allowing you to focus on your needs. The presence of nature also reduces stress levels. So, you might want to get a houseplant.

Address Possible Hurdles

When you often ignore your needs, you may need time to adjust to a self-care plan. Sometimes, you may go overboard and burden your support system. Other times, you may downplay your fatigue symptoms. A support group provides you with people to keep you in check.

Prevent Caregiver Fatigue

Child care should not cost you your well-being. Follow the above tips and explore more advice on parenting without burnout.

Cheering you on,

Janice Russell of ParentingDisasters.com

June 27, 2022 By Kathryn

0 In 2022/ Free stuff/ Saving money

25 of my Favorite Birthday Freebies

Freebies bring me SO MUCH JOY!

Grocery store and Costco samples … yay!

Complimentary candy with your dinner bill … love it!

Freebie because it’s your birthday … yes please!

Here are 25 birthday freebies for you to enjoy:

1. Ace Hardware

Subscribe to Ace Rewards to get at least $5 off your purchase on your birthday.

2. AMC Theatres

Join AMC Stubs and get a possible free popcorn and/or drink offer on your birthday. Plus, get a $5 AMC Stubs reward to spend on concessions for every 5,000 points you spend

3. Barnes & Noble

Join the Barnes & Noble Kids’ Club, and your child will get a free cupcake (or a treat of their choice) from the café. They will email you a coupon and you have at least a month to use it.

I’ve enjoyed taking my boys on a ‘date’ to Barnes and Nobles for their free treat, then we roam the children’s area.

4. Caribou Coffee

Free drink during your birthday week for rewards member.

5. Chick-fil-A

Free food item and dessert during your birthday month if you have the app.

6. Chipotle

Free chips and a side on your birthday.

7. Nautical Bowls

A free, delicious, healthy superfood bowl on your Birthday!

8. Culver’s

Get a free sundae on your birthday when you enroll in the Culver’s rewards program.

9. Dairy Queen

BOGO Blizzard coupon for your birthday if you have the app.

10. Dunkin’ Donuts

Free coffee on your birthday for rewards members.

11. Ikea

$10 off any $10 purchase and free ice cream for your birthday, if you join their rewards club.

12. Nothing Bundt Cake

Subscribe to their email list, and get occasionally free BOGO coupons, plus a Free bundtlet on your birthday!

13. Once Upon a Child

Once upon a child is a kid’s resale shop. I’ve bought and sold lots of great things for my boys here. You get regular discounts when you sign up – plus $5 off a $10 purchase.

14. Panera

Free treat on your birthday if you are My Panera rewards member.

15. Pizza Hut and Papa Johns

Free dessert pizza if you are part of the Rewards program for Pizza Hut and Papa Johns.

16. Play it Again Sports

Play it again sports is a re-sale sports store. This place is great for a mom of four boys. I used my birthday discount to get new baseball pants for one of my sons.

17. Portillo’s

Free slice of cake on your birthday if you join the birthday club. They serve the world’s BEST chocolate cake and Chicago Hot Dogs!

18. Raising Canes Chicken

19. Red Savoy

Red Savoy is a Minnesota pizza franchise. Sign up for their rewards program and get a free one-topping pizza during your birthday month!

20. Rita’s

Free Italian ice on your birthday if you have their app and sign up for the rewards club.

Free movie for your birthday.

21. Safeway/ Jewel Osco/ Albertsons

Free $10 reward on your birthday if you sign up for JUST FOR U discounts.

22. Jimmy Johns

Free Sandwich or wrap on your birthday if you join the free rewards club!

23. Starbucks

Free drink on your birthday.

This works at MOST locations, you may want to ask first.
It can only be redeemed on your actual birthday – not a day before or anytime after.

I spent my birthday in Vail a couple of years ago and was excited to find a Starbucks and my free drink. I walked in and saw a LONG LINE. That’s okay, it’s my birthday, it’s worth the wait for a free drink. Fifteen minutes later, it was my turn and I ordered the fanciest drink possible because it was free. It rang up to almost $10. That’s okay, it’s my birthday! I let the cashier know I’d like to use my free birthday drink and she said, “I’m sorry, we don’t give free drinks at this location.”

I was too embarrassed to cancel my order, so I just paid for my super fancy, super expensive coffee. That’s okay, it’s my birthday.

I shared that story hoping that on YOUR birthday, you will be wiser than me and ASK if the Starbucks you’ve entered gives free drinks before you order.

Now, moving on…

24. Target

Extra 5% discount on one entire order for those who use the circle app.

25. Swagbucks

Have you joined Swagbucks yet? It’s a website that awards with points for using their search engine, printing coupons, taking surveys, etc. You can use your points for gifts cards to Target, Starbucks, or PayPal. You can earn 300 points just for signing up, and more free points on your birthday!

For everyone who likes a “freebie” – it’s going to be a HAPPY birthday!!

Want more birthday freebies? Hip3Save has a much longer list than I’ve put together – click here to read.

Click here to read how to Embrace another Year Around the Sun

If this post about “getting” makes you wonder about “giving,” click here to read Little Ways to Make a Big Difference

Thanks for reading, please consider subscribing!

June 8, 2022 By Kathryn

1 In 2022/ Peek into our Week

Peek into our Weeks (April/May 2022)

It’s GREAT to be EIGHT

How is our baby EIGHT years old??

We had a little backyard birthday for him and some of his friends.

He asked for a “Hibachi” birthday dinner. Here’s a peek into our first family hibachi experience:

Signs of Spring

Minnesota had the LONGEST winter, but warmer days are finally here. Spring is BURSTING all around us. It THRILLS me and smells OH.SO.GOOD!

Listen to this cardinal sing:

Field Trips are BACK!

After more than two years, field trips are back!

I was thrilled when Paul asked if I would chaperone his fourth grade trip to the Minnesota State Capital. This place had been on our bucket list for four years.

The capitol was designed by an architect named Cass Gilbert, and built in 1905 for $4.5 million.

We had a great time exploring this beautiful building and learning about our state’s government. Paul didn’t want the day to end.

Encountering a new season of parenthood

After all these years, we finally have a child old enough to babysit so we can sneak off and have dinner by ourselves.

We Escaped to Florida

My amazing in-laws came to town so that I could tag-a-long on Ted’s work trip to Orlando in April. The sunshine, palm trees, and warm weather were good for my soul.

Easter at our house

Our Youngest Two Boys were Baptized

About four years ago, George and Clark were baptized. This year, Paul and Luke asked to be baptized! We were thrilled to celebrate this big step in their faith walk with Jesus.

Wrigley’s World

Wrigley’s been getting lots of exercise running with the neighborhood dogs:

His two favorite things are cuddling with his family and playing catch with his favorite ball.

It was a cold rainy day in Minnesota – this is what everyone wishes they were doing today.

A Quick and Easy Salsa Recipe

Taking a Walk Down Memory Lane

6 year old George holding baby Luke (Luke is now TWO YEARS older than George was when we took this picture)!

Luke attending his first “field trip” to BlackBerry Farm.

This picture is our first outing with all four boys. We went to Chick-fil-A (shocking, right?). I love how Clark grabbed the centerpiece from the table because he thought the flower would be ‘pretty in the picture.’

Thanks for reading! What have you been up to? Leave me a comment!

June 2, 2022 By Kathryn

0 In 2022/ Book Review

May 2022 Book Reviews and Recommendations

Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Barry

Rating: 10/10

Review: A beautifully written autobiography from a girl who left Islam to become a Christ-follower. She wrote about the struggle she endured because of that decision. Her family thought it would be better for her to be dead than to become a Christian.

Because I have grown up knowing Jesus, there are certain things I take for granted – this book reminded me HOW MUCH I have to be grateful for. The author points out how in her Islam faith, it was mostly rules and traditions. She said multiple prayers, at specific times each day, in a language she doesn’t speak.

The author was shocked to learn that Christians can pray anytime, in words they understand. She loved praying to a God she knew would listen…to a God who answers prayer. She discovered a freedom in Christ she had never experienced before. A joy she had never felt. The deep, experiential love of God, an indescribable peace, and an enduring strength.

I loved this book and highly recommend it, especially if you are curious about the differences between Islam and the Christian faith.

I, Dred Scott: A Fictional Narrative about the Life of Dred Scott by Shelia Moses

Rating: 9/10

Review: When I heard that Dred Scot lived at Fort Snelling in Minnesota, I wanted to hear more about his life and what brought him here. I listened to this short, but interesting, historical audiobook on my free Hoopla app. The book is fiction, but based on research the author has done on the life of Dred Scot. It shares the challenges of a man who was born a slave, and how hard he (and others) fought for freedom.

Wishtree by Kathleen Applegate (with Clark)

Rating: 8/10

Review: “Red” is an oak tree that’s over 200 years old. He narrates the story from his point of view. Once a year, Red becomes the “wishtree” when people write their wishes on scraps of cloth and tie their wishes onto his branches. Red has seen many things in his life, and shares some of those stories with the reader. When he thinks he’s about to be cut down, his final ‘legacy’ is helping two unlikely kids meet and become friends. This story is written for children around the ages of 8-14.

The Boys Start the War Series by Phylis Naylor Reynolds (with Paul)

Rating: 7/10

Paul’s teacher read the first book in this series aloud to the class, then Paul asked if we could get the other books in the series from the library. We’ve been slowly making our way through each book. They are cute stories, and Paul enjoys them. The books are about a family of four boys and another family of three girls, and the silly pranks they pull on each other.

The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey (with Luke)

Rating: 10/10

Review: After Luke saw The Bad Guys movie with his Nana, he brought home the first book in this series from his school library and asked if we could read it together. It’s the story of some animals who are usually ‘scary’ or considered “the bad guys” (a shark, wolf, tarantula, snake & piranha), who are working hard to become the “good guys.”

The books are really entertaining. I’m enjoying this series as much as Luke is. The chapters are short and an entire book can be read in 30-45 minutes.

Click here to read my TOP TEN reads from 2021.

What have you been reading lately? Leave a comment!

May 29, 2022 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Family/ Memories/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

Experience the Garden of Eden with a visit to Fawn Doe Rosa

When my son heard there was a place near the Twin Cities where you could interact with wildlife, he nagged me until we made it happen – and I’m SO glad we made it happen.

Fawn Doe Rosa is a one-of-a-kind experience. Stepping onto the grounds feels like stepping into the Garden of Eden. There are big trees, a peaceful pond, lovely bridge, rolling hills….and beautiful animals that graze among all the guests!

We loved it. Even my TEENAGER was fascinated by this experience (and not much fascinates him right now).

Fawn Doe Rosa opened in 1963 and was originally called “Bambi-land.” The staff focuses on care, conservation and rehabilitation of the animals in the park.

We went on a Saturday, and though there were lots of other people, the grounds were spacious enough that it didn’t feel crowded.

We brought our lunch and ate at the picnic area outside, because they ask that you don’t bring any food inside. There is a playground next to the picnic area.

We enjoyed chasing chickens, adoring the baby fawns, feeding the goats and llamas, but the highlights for us were:

1 – Cuddling with the large buck:

2 – Feeding the animals:

It’s not free (in fact, it’s not cheap), but it’s a bucket-list spot. Adult admission currently costs $10.25/person and kids (ages 2-12) cost $9.25/person. Children under 2 are free. At the admission counter, you can pay for animal feed or pony rides. They offer coupons on their site for the animal feed.