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

1 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.

Though it’s about an hour east of the Twin Cities, it’s worth the drive. They are not open all year, so check their website before you visit.

Location: 2131 US-8, St Croix Falls, WI 54024

Click here for more info.

There are 3 other note-worthy pitstops in the area:

the breath-taking Taylor Falls,
the quaint downtown – St. Croix Falls,
Franconia Scupture Park

Need additional ideas of what to do in the Twin Cities? Here’s my Bucket List.

Thanks for reading! Please consider subscribing.

May 24, 2022 By Kathryn

0 In Minnesota/ Peek into our Week/ Things to do in Minnesota

Walking through a tunnel of Sharks at Minnesota’s Largest Aquarium

The boys and I took advantage of a day off in winter to explore SEA LIFE at the Mall of America.

They’d be asking to go to this aquarium since our first visit to the Mall of America in 2018, and we were excited to finally get inside and explore.

Sea Life is well organized with a “trail” that leads you through the entire aquarium.

I was surprised by how many different ‘creatures’ lived at Sea Life. I mean, it’s inside a mall, how big can this place be? Well, apparently VERY BIG! There are literally THOUSANDS of creatures. Two that I enjoyed seeing were the BLUE dart frogs and the alligators.

They also have the only sawfish in Minnesota. Those fish are COOL! (Duke and Duchess are their names)

Sea Life also has the only glass tunnel in Minnesota – and it was incredible. There were different types of fish, turtles and sharks swimming over and around you. We’d never experienced walking through a tunnel like that, and we all enjoyed it.

Upon exiting the tunnel, there was a tank of starfish and sea anemones that we were allowed to touch. They were beautiful and felt so soft.

There were also sting rays to observe and feed.

Next we entered a room of tall tanks filled with jelly fish. They were mesmerizing. I could have watched them for hours – but I was pulled away by my boys who wanted to keep moving.

The boys liked the exhibit with a surf board that had been bitten by a shark.

Did you know that sharks think surfers are seals or sea turtles and that’s why they bite?

For lego lovers – there is a lego play area.

My boys said their favorite part of the day was the “Scavenger Hunt.” Upon arrival, there are books available with things you need to find throughout Sea Life. When you find them, you look for the stamper nearby and “punch” your card. When your card is full, you show it to a staff member in the gift shop to receive a sticker and a medal.

What kid doesn’t want a medal? They all wore theirs proudly.

There were several shows, talks, and exhibits throughout the day.

There are also fun ‘fin’ facts throughout the aquarium, as well as games to play.

If you are in a hurry, you can go through the entire thing in 30 minutes. If you take your time, you can wander and spend about 90 minutes.

Sea Life is a place I’d recommend checking out. Writing this post makes me want to go back. I need to spend more time with those jelly fish. If you are local, you may want to get a season pass so that you can enjoy Sea Life throughout the year.

Thank you to Sea Life for the fun experience! They gave our family free tickets in exchange for this post. Being a blogger has benefits. 🙂

Click here to get tickets for your visit.

Thanks for reading and happy exploring!

Click here to read about the best day for you to come to Mall of America with young children.

Click here to read about FlyOver America at the Mall.

Click here for our Minnesota Bucket List.

February 17, 2022 By Kathryn

4 In 2021/ Giveaway/ Things to do in Minnesota

A Peek inside the Beautiful Bakken Museum + Mansion

A visit to the Bakken Museum has been on my bucket list since moving to Minnesota in 2018, and we finally made it happen.

The beautiful home was orginally built by Mr. William E. Goodfellow, who owned Goodfellow Dry Goods in Minneapolis. Later, the home was purchased Earl Bakken, the inventor of the pacemaker and founder of Medtronic. He used this mansion not as a home, but a place to display things he’d collected over the years. In time, the mansion became the Bakken Museum, with a mission to nurture a love of science in all who visit.

The museum is filled with hands-on exhibits that teach kids about science and electricity. The activities are entertaining for a wide range of ages.

Upon entering the museum, the staff offered my boys a scavenger hunt. This kept them all engaged and allowed us to explore the entire museum. My boys were looking closely at displays they may have missed if they weren’t on the ‘hunt.’

There is a Frankenstein show that combines history, art, and science. The show takes about 10 minutes. It’s not super- scary, but I don’t recommend it for kids under six. My older boys thought it was cool.

The grounds outside the Bakken museum are beautiful. I could have spent a couple hours in the garden area if I’d brought a book to read (and didn’t have four busy boys in tow).

The museum takes about two hours to explore, and parking is free.

Bakken Museum Address: 3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416

After leaving the museum, you may want to take a stroll (or drive) around Lake Bde Maka Ska, then visit the country’s first Caribou Coffee located close by.

Thanks for reading! Happy Exploring!

Click here to read by entire Minnesota Bucket List.

Click here for more info about the Bakken Museum.

January 27, 2022 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Games/ Memories/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

Minnesota’s Largest Indoor Nerf Gun Arena – Tactical Urban Combat

If you live in the Twin Cities and are looking for something fun to do with your family, or perhaps, needing a birthday party idea – you should check out Tactical Urban Combat.

It’s a huge, super fun, indoor nerf gun arena!

The boys, ranging from age 10 to 14, battled it out for a birthday party and had so much fun (and burned so much energy).

You can come with just yourself – and join other players – or bring a group of up to 20 people!

When you arrive:

Sign in
Go to your designated battle ground
Pick your nerf gun from a large display on the wall
Get your ammo and safety gear
Break into teams
A staff person will go over rules and instructions…. then …

The Battle Begins!

They had an amazing time running around, hiding together, ducking behind and peeking out from the obstacles placed strategically around the arena.

They could switch out nerf guns if the one they were using wasn’t ‘accurate’ or ‘powerful’ enough!

The kids had an hour to play – during that time the party host lead them in several games and battles – including Team Elimination and Capture the Flag.

It’s a great place for kids, or for adults that want to feel like a kid again. It’s also a unique way for parents to engage and make memories with their kids.

We went as a family on a separate day and had SO much fun. Here’s a peek:

Check out one of their two locations:

Mall of America: 340 West Market, Bloomington, MN 55425 – or –

Eden Prairie: 8251 Flying Cloud Dr. #1020, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, USA

Would you like more ideas for fun things to do around town?

We loved the Crayola Experience! Click here to read all about it.

Click here for some money saving ideas for Nickelodeon Universe, the amusement park inside Mall Of America.

Click here to read about our FlyOver America experience inside the Mall.

And lastly, here’s the Minnesota Bucket List!

Thanks for reading! Have fun playing and exploring with your family.

October 4, 2021 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Family/ Minnesota/ Peek into our Week/ Things to do in Minnesota

Peek into our Weeks – Queen for a day, Road trippin’ and more!

Sayanora School Year

George finished 7th grade!

Clark is out of Elementary and into Middle school next year!

What a year…but we made it!

(Here’s a post I wrote midyear – when I felt like I was drowning)

Our twenty year “engagement” anniversary

“Queen” for a day

How do become Queen? You put on your plastic crown and declare it! (Thanks, Ted, for the crown!)

The boys and I celebrated my birthday with a great breakfast at Hope Kitchen. Instead of a cake, we ate some delicious Crumbl Cookies.

What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man

Ted asked us to do a hill hike with him on Father’s Day, so we lured the boys to the top with Dunkin’ Donuts.

America Ninja Warriors

A local gym was running a special for a month-long membership so I signed my boys up. They had so much fun and burned LOTS of energy!

A quick trip through Illinois

On our way to Indiana, we had one full day in Illinois. We got to eat at our favorite restaurant with some of our best friends.

**Makayla Beebe’s been babysitting the boys since they were tiny. And I was her children’s pastor when SHE was tiny!**

On the way to Indiana, we stopped at Portillos.

What I’m loving

I love this Alba face wash! The scent, the way it makes my skin feel, and the easy pump!

This quick dry towel. It’s super thin, so it doesn’t take much space in our swim bag.

What are you up to and what are you loving? Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading!

July 13, 2021 By Kathryn

1 In 2021/ Free stuff/ Minnesota/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

Step inside a $43 million dollar Minneapolis mansion

Did you know if you have a library card, you can get access to museums, plays, and other fun things around town?

When I noticed a complimentary pass to a place on my Minnesota bucket list: A visit to the American Swedish Institute, aka – a historic mansion, I snatched up a ticket and snuck away for a couple hours.

Wow, it was spectacular! I enjoyed walking around and imagining what the owners did to earn the money to afford such luxury, and to think about how they lived, and the lavish parties they’d thrown.

I started doing some research and asking questions to find out about the history of this home – and was surprised by what I found out.

How big is this place and how much was it?

The home cost 1.5 million dollars to build in 1903, but is currently worth over $43 million.

It has 33 rooms and 75,000 sq ft!

What did the owners do for a living?

The owner of this home was a Swedish man named Swan Turnblad and his wife, Christina. They owned and distributed a Swedish newspaper. Swan loved new technology and was one of the first owners of a “color” printer.

How long did it take to build this mansion?

This home took almost 5 years to build. They employed EIGHTEEN woodworkers for 3 solid years to create the beautiful beams, trim and moldings you see through the home:

The magnificent fireplace inside the entrance to the home. Anyone else have a foyer fireplace like this one?

A room in the basement that was originally a “billiards” room

What kind of parties did they host?

Only one! A fund raiser.

They had a lavish ball room with a stage – big enough for a live band, but they never hosted one ball!

The owner’s wife was very reclusive and her closest friends were the servants. She grew up as a servant herself, so related to her staff more than the wealthy women in town.

I’d love to rent this space, invite everyone I know to dress up in their fanciest clothes, and have a big ball. This gorgeous room must be used!

How long did the owners live in the mansion?

The owners only lived in the home for 7 years! Mrs. Turnblad never liked the home. It was way too big and pretentious for her. They left the mansion to live in an apartment above their printing press!

What do I have in common with the original owners?

Only ONE thing (that I know of) – my favorite part of the home was also their favorite part of the home – the LIBRARY!

The home was so big, that they mostly lived in the library. Ted and I could happily live in that library!

Did anyone else live in the home?

Yes, they had one daughter, as well as two servants and their children who lived in the mansion. When the owners left, they allowed the servants and their children to occupy the home!

The children’s diaries were found and the children wrote about the fun they had playing hide and seek in this gigantic home!

What else is special about this home?

The beautiful bathroom with the amazing sky light. This is the original tub and tile. I would love to take a bath here at night and watch the sky.

There are 11 porcelain tile Swedish “stoves” (fireplaces) in the mansion, every one of them is unique.

The ceilings are a work of art:

The original kitchen:

I didn’t take a picture, but the pantry is larger than my entire kitchen.

Who bought the mansion after the original owners moved out?

No one. There was only one owner, and they donated the mansion to the American Swedish Institute. Today it is a cultural center, museum, art center, and gathering place for anybody interested in Swedish and Nordic culture.

What’s new now?

The. basement has been updated with a beautiful children’s play room and classrooms.

2. The Solarium was updated

The solarium (sun room) became unusable. It was too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter, and the framing had been destroyed by the harsh Minnesota winters.

It cost almost as much to update this room (over a million dollars in current dollars) as the original owners paid for the entire house at the turn of the century.

I loved the solarium! Next time I want to bring a book to sit in here and read!

3. Nelson Cultural Center

In 2012, a 34,000 square foot addition known as the Nelson Cultural Center opened. It is a gathering place that houses the café, the art gallery, classrooms, and event spaces.

The mansion is a landmark that has been placed on the national, state and city registers of historical places.

Do you want to visit?

Check out the smart pass website by clicking here to see if there are any complimentary passes, or visit their website to purchase a pass.

Thanks for reading!

Click here for the Top 25 things to do in Minnesota!

June 4, 2021 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Book Review/ Things to do in Minnesota

Read the Book or Watch the Movie? Part 2

You may have seen my last post on “Which was better? The Movie or the Book.”

Here’s Part 2:

Catch Me If You Can

The book:

Frank Abagnale’s autobiography was fascinating! Before he turned 21 – Frank posed as a Pan Am pilot and traveled the world, he then passed the bar and became a lawyer, he forged transcripts and was a doctor for an entire year in Atlanta, then taught summer classes at Brigham Young University (his students loved him and the University asked him to come back). He lived large on stolen money. He finally got caught and spent years in jail. After he got out of jail, he couldn’t find anyone to hire a ‘criminal,’ so he created his own line of work – teaching banks and other institutions how to identify fraud and to keep others from doing the same things he did.

I really enjoyed this book, but would have loved for the author to share more about the change that happened on the inside, that caused him to change on the outside. I know he became a man of faith, is married and has 3 sons. Overall, this was an interesting book to read.

The Movie:

The movie tells the story of Frank Abagnale, showcasing a few entertaining scenes from his life, but leaving many out. It was a good movie – but not appropriate for young viewers.

The Verdict:

Watch the movie (without kids) to see how interesting this man was…then read the book if you’d like more details about his life!

Jackie Robinson

The Book:

I decided to read this book after seeing the movie “42”. There are a few biographies about Jackie Robinson, but I wanted to hear the story from the man himself. The beginning of the book was fascinating, as Jackie Robinson shares stories from his growing up years, then breaking into Major League Baseball. The story slows down once he transitions away from baseball. I respect Jackie Robinson, and his fight for civil rights!

The Movie: 42

Excellent family movie with great actors!

The Verdict:

The movie.

Queen’s Gambit

The book:

This is the story of an orphan girl who is a chess genius, but also struggles with addiction. The book takes you on a journey through her life. Highs and lows. Wins and losses. Sobriety and addiction. Friendship and loneliness.

The show:

Because I do not play chess, it was hard for me to imagine the games as they were described in the book. It was much more enjoyable to watch the games and observe the people and their surroundings. The show had a fantastic storyline and excellent actors.

The Verdict:

Watch the show! It’s on Netflix, at your local library, or you can purchase it on Amazon.

The Glass Castle

The Book:

They say that truth is better than fiction, and this book is the PERFECT example of that. The author had me hooked from the very first page. She does an excellent job of recreating her childhood so the reader feels like they were there. I could feel her pain, joy, and disappointment. It’s an incredible story of survival, perseverance and resilience by four children being raised in the midst of poverty. Her story surprised me constantly – from how smart her parents were in some aspects, to absolutely dysfunctional in other areas. What an interesting story!

The Movie:

The movie was hard to watch. Good actors, just a bad retelling of the story. No depth.

The Verdict:

THE BOOK. Skip the movie. The book was hard to put down. The movie was hard to get through.

An EXCELLENT book I’ve read was Redeeming Love. The movie should be released this year and I’m really looking forward to watching it! If you are looking for a good book to read this summer – I highly recommend Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

Have you watched a good movie or read a good book recently? Leave a comment!

Click here to read my last “Book or Movie?” post!

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May 14, 2021 By Kathryn

0 In 2021/ Memories/ Peek into our Week/ Things to do in Minnesota

Peek into our Weeks (March 2021)

I know that it’s nearing the end of April … but here’s a look back into what our family was up to in March!

Checking off an item on Paul’s Bucket list

We had a free day and it was COLD outside…so we made a visit to the REPTILE and AMPHIBIAN Zoo. It’s a small place but we enjoyed watching the staff feed several of their reptiles. Paul was able to check something off his bucket list: Hold a giant Boa Constrictor. (Paul has all kind of UNIQUE things on his bucket list!)

Checked off “hold a giant boa” from Paul’s bucket list

A Real Date Night

Ted and I have a favorite date night spot and it’s been closed for most of 2020 and the beginning of 2021. We were so excited to get a real in-person date night when Colita re-opened! Quarantine date nights were sweet, but it’s so nice to finally get out of the house and go to an actual restaurant!

Classic Clark

Clark comes in each night banged up and usually muddy. I was looking at his legs in astonishment and asking how he has so many marks and scars on his legs. This was his response:

A ‘shell’ of a tradition

When I was a child, my mom came home from a trip to Florida with a bag of white seashells. Together we painted them and gave one to each person in my class.

On a recent trip to Marco Island, I spotted the same white shells and happy memories flooded my mind. I knew I had to carry on the tradition. The boys and I had so much fun painting shells and giving them away!

An afternoon at Como Zoo with a bunch of boys

We spent a few hours at Como Zoo and Conservatory (click here to read about it), then played at the park across the street. We stopped at DQ on our way home.

School Daze

The boys are finally back in school full time. I’ve been teaching and had so much fun getting to be in their classrooms! I taught Clark’s class and was Luke’s reading teaching. Next week I’ll get to be Paul’s teacher. I’m grateful that the boys get excited about me teaching. It gives them something to look forward to, and I look forward to it as well! BONUS: Shields are no longer required.

Wrigley Updates:

Who needs a pillow when you’ve got a Wrigley?

Muddy March

This is our first spring with a dog and WOW – puppies get DIRTY!!!! Dogs gravitate toward the mud more than boys do! We’ve been giving Wrigley baths daily, sometimes multiple baths each day. Wrigley likes bath time ALMOST as much as he likes to play in the mud.

Wrigley had his first visit to the groomer and he looked SO different that we thought the groomer may have given us the wrong dog. The boy decided to ‘test’ Wrigley to see if it was really their dog. They watched to see if he’d respond to his name, then made him do all the tricks they taught him. After he passed his ‘test,’ they were finally convinced we had the right dog.

A visit to Oklahoma

We visited family and friends in Oklahoma for spring break. I’ve got the world’s best in-laws who open up their beautiful home to us and take such good care of us when we visit. It’s also so fun for me to be with my sisters and let the boys play with their cousins. We also got a night out with some old friends.

Thanks for reading! Please subscribe if you’d like to follow our adventures!

April 20, 2021 By Kathryn

4 In 2021/ Free stuff/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Peek into our Week/ Things to do in Minnesota

Why Como Zoo and Conservatory Should Be on Your Twin Cities Bucket List

One of my favorite places to visit in Minnesota is Como Zoo and Conservatory.

Not only is it historic and beautiful, but it’s FREE (though donations are appreciated).

The animals are nice and they are definitely what lure my children here, but my favorite part is the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.

The Conservatory was built in 1915, and is one of the few remaining original Victorian style glasshouses in North America. Inside are two acres of beautiful flowers and greenery ‘under glass.’ The display inside the conservatory changes five times a year, so you never know what beauty you’ll encounter when you visit.

Because of Covid, they are asking everyone to book tickets online in advance (there is no charge for the tickets). This is one of the few Covid changes I like, because it means there are only a select number of tickets they give out each day, so it’s not crowded! (Click here to reserve your space.)

The animals came before the conservatory. Como Zoo started in 1897 when the city of St. Paul was gifted 3 deer and created a fenced in area to keep them.

Como was the first zoo in the world to successfully hand raise Siberian tigers.

Besides tigers and deer, there are many other animals to observe and enjoy. Luke loves the Arctic foxes and penguins, George’s favorites are the monkeys (we all like the monkeys). Paul likes the sloth and fish, I love the birds and giraffes, Clark liked the cougar and giant Polar bear.

The Como Zoo has exhibits inside and outside, so you can enjoy this place all year long.

In the summer, be sure to visit the beautiful Japanese Garden:

After your visit to the zoo, plan to visit the fun playground across the street. There are plenty of tables, perfect for a picnic.

The state’s oldest Dairy Queen dates back to 1947 an is just a mile away. (720 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113) This is a fun way to end a spectacular day!

Click here for a peek into one of our visits to Como Zoo and Conservatory! What animals do you spot?