School’s barely started, but it’s already time for that first long
weekend of the school year, with the upcoming Education Minnesota’s
Professional Conference weekend (formerly known as MEA). Parents who have just
adjusted to having kids gone all day will suddenly have them home for two extra
days next week (Oct. 15-16). Maybe they’ll be too exhausted from following the
Twins odyssey over the next week, but just in case they’re not, here are a few
suggestions for fun things to do.
Enjoy the colors of the season.
The Minnesota DNR Web site offers a frequently updated
fall color update, so you can easily find where
the colors will be the most brilliant next weekend. Note: it’s also a good time
to check one of Minnesota’s
72 state parks, as the DNR is offering a “try before you buy” promotion. You
can buy a one-day pass for $5, and if you decide during your visit to buy the
annual pass, your $5 will be deducted from the annual fee of $25.
Go
swimming. The
Waterpark of America will be open the evening of
Oct. 14, as well as all day Oct. 15-18. Word to the wise: if you’re not staying
at the adjoining Radisson Hotel, plan to arrive early -- hotel guests get first
priority, and overflow crowds will be turned away.
Get your
scare on.
ValleySCARE,
known during the summer months as
Valleyfair, will be open evenings Oct. 14-16, and
all day Oct. 17-18. The evening adventures may be too much for younger kids,
but the daylight hours have some milder Halloween-themed fun.
Sneak
in a little education. Take the kids to see the Science Museum’s
Titanic exhibit.
Older kids may appreciate the accompanying film more than younger kids, but
nobody will pass up the opportunity to touch an “iceberg.”
Explore
the state’s history. The fine folks at the
Minnesota State Historical Society have plenty of
plans for the education weekend, including a kids’ scavenger hunt at Ft. Snelling,
additional hours at the James J. Hill house, extended hours at Split Rock
Lighthouse, apple butter-making day at historic Forestville, and the popular
annual Shadows and Spirits of the State Capitol tour on the evenings of Oct.
15-16.
Find your way through a pirate ship maze.
Severs Corn Maze
will, weather permitting (call ahead if the weather looks dicey), be open Oct.
15-18. This year’s maze, shown on their Web site is a pirate ship. For little mazers,
there’s a hay bale maze, a corn pit, live animals, pumpkin slinging, a giant
slide, and food and entertainment.
What else is happening in
our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where
you can learn more in the weekly segment,
Finding Minnesota.
