minnesota field trip ideas

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Minnesota Field Trips

Field trips are a great way to reboot a bad homeschooling week, get out of the house when everyone has cabin fever, and learn about your local area. Before heading out, check out Jeanne's tips for improving homeschool field trips .

Our listing of Minnesota field trips for homeschoolers is ordered alphabetically by city. If you would like to submit a Minnesota field trip destination, you may do so using the red button above.

The Afton Historical Society was organized in 1980 for the purpose of locating and collecting any material which would help to establish or illustrate the history of the Afton area or the state, the exploration, settlement, development, and activities in peace and war, the progress of population, ethnic groups, wealth, education, arts, science, agriculture, manufactures, trade, etc., and to disseminate historical information to interested persons, groups, and institutions.

Afton Historical Museum website

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The Aitkin County Historical Society operates two museum: the Depot Museum and the Log Museum. Both provide ample opportunities to glimpse Aitkin County's past. The Depot Museum is housed in the historic 1916 Northern Pacific Depot. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum features a rotating schedule of exhibits regarding the heritage of Aitkin County. Riverboating on the upper Mississippi, native culture and unique artifacts encompass the exhibit halls. A museum store offers gifts and publications pertaining to area history. The Log Museum was the first home of the Aitkin County Historical Society and was constructed in 1950 with native cedar logs. Click here to read about this wonderful building's history. It was originally located on the court house lawn and moved to its present location in the mid-70s. Exhibits relate to the county's logging heritage, agricultural implements, and tools from the building trades. The Log Museum is open April to October during the same hours as the Depot Museum, otherwise by special appointment.

Aitkin County Historical Museum website

A depository for Eddie Cochran and Marion Ross both natives of Albert Lea. Many other collections to numerous to mention. Great Historical Village. Wonderful program called Discover History.

Freeborn County Historical Museum website

This park has something for everyone. The trails take visitors around wet lowlands, oak savanna, and grasslands. Albert Lea Lake and park marshes draw hundreds of waterfowl during migration. Oak savanna and prairie landscape, including wetlands, dominate most of the park. One of the more unique aspects of the park is the 116-acre Big Island that is covered with baple/basswood forest. Another is the glacial esker located in the northeast section of the park.

Myre-Big Island State Park website

Stop by and tour historic Fort Alexandria, take your picture with the country's biggest viking, and see the world famous Kensington Runestone. Enjoy the exhibition on Norse history, the Native American exhibit, the Minnesota wildlife display, the display of early pioneer life, and the hands-on children's area. Enter Fort Alexandria and visit several authentic log buildings, an 1880 country school house, and view the forty-foot viking ship, the Snorri. Experience the changing of the seasons in the display of tools and farm equipment used by an earlier generation.

Runestone Museum website

Beauty and quiet, that is the essence of Carley State Park. In the spring, delicate bluebells (Mertensia virginica), and other wildflowers carpet the valley with a profusion of color. Hike along the trail that follows the Whitewater River and take in the grand old white pines. Listen for the sweet song of orioles, song sparrows, house wrens, and indigo buntings. Enjoy the picnic area, play on the swings or practice softball. Try your hand at horseshoes or sit back and see a red-tailed hawk ride thermals in the sky. The north branch of the Whitewater River is a designated trout stream and provides habitat for brown trout. Rustic campsites are located near the picnic area.

Carley State Park website

Picturesque limestone bluffs and deep ravines make Whitewater State Park a very popular southeastern park. The 2,700 acre park is an angler's paradise with brown, brook, and rainbow trout swimming in the spring-fed Whitewater River and Trout Run Creek. Visitors enjoy a sandy swimming beach, a year-round visitor center, easy-to-challenging hiking trails, camping, a group camp, and a modern group center. Come winter, enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or stay at the group center in rustic, winterized cabins. All through the year, discover the natural and human history of the area at one of the many interpretive programs, visitor center exhibits or self-guided trails.

Whitewater State Park website

Anoka County park has launched one of Minnesota's firsts... an augmented reality (AR) trail app for use on the trails at Bunker Hills Regional Park located in Andover, Minnesota. Tracks is an immersive AR experience that provides a unique look into the park using the power of technology. Users can discover and interact with nature in a new way at designated points of interest along the trail to learn and engage with the content. This experience allows guests to experience wildlife, history and habitats that will come to life before their eyes. All Ages welcome, FREE Program.

Bunker Hills Regional Park - Tracks AR Program website

Take a trip through history! Colonial Hall Museum is the home for many of Anoka County's precious artifacts and stories. - Exhibits ranging from wedding gowns to logging tools, from school bells to butter churns.

Anoka County Historical Society website

Founded in 1978, the Minnesota Zoo exists to connect people, animals, and the natural world. Cutting-edge exhibits provide exciting experiences with animals and their habitats introducing guests to species from around the globe. Education programs engage audiences at the Zoo, throughout the region, and around world. Conservation programs protect endangered species and preserve critical ecosystems.

Minnesota Zoo website

A log cabin and a steam-powered flour mill at Old Mill State Park are bold landmarks from the past. The grist mill still gets fired up once a year to grind flour. The Middle River meanders through the park and visitors can see deer, beaver, and moose. Enjoy the prairie and the ever-changing parade of wildflowers along wooded trails. A swimming area, swinging bridge, picnic grounds, campground, and interpretive displays are popular among visitors.

Old Mill State Park website

SPAM® fans worldwide now have their own pilgrimage to make. Located in Austin, Minn., the 16,500 square-foot museum is dedicated to the quirky joys and unprecedented excitement inspired by SPAM®. Museum visitors will be welcomed to the world of SPAM® luncheon meat with a variety of interactive and educational games, fun exhibits and remarkable video presentations.  The SPAM® Museum is dedicated to the delicious meat first created at the Hormel Foods Corporation plant in 1937. It's a fun and informational destination with interactive and educational elements designed for all ages.

SPAM® Museum website

The Mower County Historical Society takes great pride in providing quality education programs. Site visits are the most commonly used part of our program. During a visit to our site, students are led through 12 buildings by volunteers, while actively learning the history of Mower County. Students are broken down into small, manageable groups that increase learning on an individual level. Visits can take place either in the fall or spring, depending on the weather.

Mower County Historical Society website

A 507 acre nature center preserve established in 1971 and is located in Western Mower County within the city limits of Austin. The Nature Center features restored and remnant prairie, hardwood forest, wetlands and meandering streams. As you hike the ten miles of trail there are deer, mink, raccoons, salamanders, birds and other native wildlife for your viewing pleasure.

Jay C. Hormel Nature Center website

Ahe Bagley Wildlife Museum is a jam-packed ark of a place, an extravagant monument to nature's fertility. This collection long ago outgrew the front window of a shoe store and now occupies half of a ranch home on the edge of town. Most of the animals were bagged and mounted by Bagley shoemaker Hank Haug from the 1940s through 1970s. Since everything in this space is Mr. Haug's creation there is a notable unity to the collection and displays, not only in the selection of items and their preparation but in the construction of exhibits and wording of labels. The museum is an all-encompassing work of untrained genius. Hank Haug's collection is a real compendium of nature's wonders of the northern prairie.

Bagley Wildlife Museum website

Glendalough also offers a designated "Heritage Fishery" on Annie Battle Lake. This 335-acre lake, located near the park campground, was for the most part, a private fishing lake for many years, and its fish populations and sizes are more comparable to historic times than most public fishing lakes. Very large bass and panfish are still relatively abundant, as are walleyes of good eating size. Special experimental regulations are in effect to preserve the serenity of this undeveloped lake and give anglers the opportunity to catch these sizeable fish. As a result, visitors can experience fishing as it was 100 years ago. Check with the park for current fishing restrictions. No gas-powered augers are allowed during winter fishing. During spring and fall migration, to the delight of birdwatchers, the park becomes a major waterfowl staging area. Two observation areas in the park provide excellent opportunities to see wildlife activity. Hiking trails take you through oak and northern hardwood forests. One trail leads to a prairie hill.

Glendalough State Park website

Headwaters Science Center provides the spark, offering a unique opportunity for young and old to begin this journey of discovery. Over 40 "hands-on" exhibits, a collection of live animals ready to reveal their innermost secrets, group demonstrations that are fun and educational covering 15 science topics presented by knowledgeable staff, and many special activities and programs all combine for an exciting and rewarding experience at HSC.

Headwaters Science Center website

This park is the perfect playground any time of year, offering visitors swimming, boating, fishing, birdwatching, hiking, camping, biking, picnicking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and year-around naturalist-led activities. Hikers can explore the beauty of a tamarack bog carpeted with showy lady's slippers, pitcher plants, dragon's mouth, grass pink, and insect-eating sundews. Most flowers are blooming in the bog during late spring and early summer.

Lake Bemidji State Park website

Old Silo Flower Farm is located in Big Lake, MN. We are a small family run flower farm. We offer seasonal tours, flower arrangement classes, pick your own flower days, paint classes in the gardens and more!

Old Silo Flower Farm website

With its pristine lakes, virgin pines, swimming beach, and nesting osprey, Scenic State Park is well deserving of its name. Here, visitors can hike the Chase Point Trail for hypnotic views of Coon and Sandwick Lakes and listen to the wind whistle through the giant pines. The park's overnight facilities include campsites (boat-in, drive-in, backpack), and a cabin. The historic lodge houses interpretive displays.

Scenic State Park website

Secluded and peaceful, this park offers picturesque views of Ontario and the Rainy River. Short paths and a boat launch offer access to the river for fishing, where anglers can catch walleyes, northerns, small mouth bass and sturgeon. Pitch a tent in the rustic campsites, equipped with pit toilets, and a hand pump for water. A picnic area overlooks Sault Rapids.

Franz Jevne State Park website

Crayola Experience is the only place in the world where the magic of Crayola comes to life. Here, kids are always encouraged to let their creativity run free, to color outside the lines and to play, explore and learn. Boasting over 20 hands-on attractions, Crayola Experience is where color, chemistry and technology magically combine to create a fun-filled, colorful adventure for a kid's imagination.

Crayola Experience-Mall of America website

Experience exciting hands-on engineering activities and science fun with elementary aged students. Explore interactive exhibits in The Museum featuring building, simple machines, optics, sensors, and more! Exhibits are located on one easy-to-supervise level. Add a workshop to field trips for more science education and engineering fun. Workshop topics include Light and Kaleidoscopes, Chemical Changes, Pasta Bridges, Super Circuits, and more! Students in grades K - 6 will experience hands-on science and engineering activities and complete a take-home project.

The Works Museum website

An All-New Aquarium featuring displays, hands-on activities for kids, and over 10,000 sea creatures.

SEA LIFE Minnesota website

Blue Earth is the home to the world's largest statue of the Jolly Green Giant and the largest collection of Green Giant memorabilia in the world. History of canning factory in Blue Earth complete with canning machinery and plant artifacts, and video of the canning process. Free will donation accepted. EV charging stations, clean restrooms, picnic area and more. Handicapped accessible.

Green Giant Museum website

View historic James B. Wakefield House Museum in his 1867 home, Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal, and Etta C. Ross Memorial Library Museum. Enjoy a Tour arranged by appointment to restored buildings on History Lane including the Krosch Log House, Woodland School, Guckeen Post Office, Blacksmith shop and West Delavan Lutheran Church. In addition there is an extensive collection of farming implements, barb wire and a gas station housed in the Antique Machinery Shed. Campground available.

James B. Wakefield House Historical Museum website

This is a nature lover's delight. Explore prairie, pine, and hardwood forests. View the Mississippi River from historic and picturesque "Chippewa Lookout." Novice canoeists can paddle the calm waters of the Crow Wing and Mississippi Rivers. Crow Wing is a park rich in cultural history. In this area, a frontier town emerged to serve the needs of travelers and traders. The town died when the railroad chose to cross the river at Brainerd. Walk through the site of the Old Crow Wing Village for a sense of history. The park still has a section of the famous Woods Trail, which served ox cart traffic that carried supplies between St. Paul and the Red River settlements.

Crow Wing State Park website

Nestled in the blufflands of southeastern Minnesota, Beaver Creek Valley State Park is known for its clear streams fed by the "Big Spring." Its streams are home to brown and native brook trout. In spring, wildflowers that blanket the woodland hills and valleys attract migratory songbirds like the rare Acadian flycatcher, Cerulean warbler, and Louisiana waterthrush. These birds nest in the park. A hiking trail meanders along the stream and up into a maple-basswood and oak forest. Campers are lulled to sleep by the murmuring stream.

Beaver Creek Valley State Park website

Go down in history with a tour of the Hill Annex Iron Mine. On the 1 1/2-hour open pit mine tour, visitors make a spectacular descent into mining's past. Learn about the mine operation, the people who worked here, and where they came from. Discover marine fossils in northern Minnesota. Get a sense of the mine's deep, rich history. Learn how this National Historic Site played an important role in state, national, and world history.

Hill Annex Mine State Park website

This secluded north woods park is the perfect place to unwind. Quiet and peaceful, the trail system leads hikers through the virgin pine forest that includes a white pine more than 300 years old. Canoeists and anglers enjoy the gentle waters of the Mississippi River. A boat access, picnic area, canoe and drive-in campsites are available to visitors.

Schoolcraft State Park website

Sculpted by ancient glaciers, Lake Carlos State Park contains a tamarack bog, marshes, woodland ponds, and lakes. A variety of recreational activities revolve around the lake. Clear and deep, Lake Carlos offers visitors a perfect setting for swimming, fishing, boating, camping, hiking and horseback riding. In the winter, ski from the tamarack bog to a maple-basswood forest.

Lake Carlos State Park website

Trailblazers: this park is a must! Park trails link up to the Willard Munger State Trail at the north edge of the park; perfect for backpackers, bikers (both mountain and tour), hikers, horseback riders, and skiers. Check out the wildflowers in the spring, and the vivid colors in the fall. Walk on the swinging suspension bridge high above the raging St. Louis River. Visit the historic cemetery and the gorge at Thomson Dam.

Jay Cooke State Park website

Wild River is located along 18 miles of the beautiful St. Croix River. The park attracts people who enjoy camping, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, interpretive programs, self-guided trails, and cross-country skiing. Day visitors can enjoy a leisurely paddle down the St. Croix River from the Sunrise river access to the southern park river access. The park provides opportunities for semi-modern camping, group camping, backpack camping, canoe camping, and walk-in camping. Visitors who want modern amenities can reserve the guest house which provides a living room, dining room, kitchen, and fireplace. The park also has two camping cabins which include bunkbeds, a table, and benches. An all-season trail center is a great spot to relax after hiking or cross-country skiing on the 35-mile trail system. A visitor center with exhibits and environmental education programs is open year-round.

Wild River State Park website

The museum, research center and park showcase northeastern Minnesota's Iron Range. Sharing the region's stories through artifacts, exhibits, oral histories, interpretive demonstrations and education programs that help preserve history and make it accessible to all.

Minnesota Discovery Center website

The Cokato Museum is an award-winning local history museum that focuses on the history of the city of Cokato and the surrounding townships in southwestern Wright County. Built in 1905, the Gust Akerlund Photography Studio, an historic photography studio, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was used for over half a century by Swedish immigrant Gust Akerlund. The site is fully restored and includes his original furnishings, cameras, and other equipment, and also a 12-foot skylight. It is the only studio of its kind in the Upper Midwest, and possibly one of a few left in the entire nation.

Cokato Museum & Akerlund Studio website

The depot was the gathering place for ticket purchasing, sending/receiving mail and packages, and relaying telegraph messages. This proved to be the hub of activity for farmers, businessmen, grain merchants, lumber barons, and the tiling industry. A model railroad display, in HO scale, is one of the highlights of the museum. This display is an authentic reproduction of the Currie railroad yards as they were around the Turn of the Century. The layout features scratch-built locomotives and structures, complete landscaping, a full wrap-around mural, complete sound effects and more.

End O Line Railroad Park and Museum website

The word "Shetek" is Ojibwe for "pelican," a bird which visits Lake Shetek during the summer and fall. The park contains the largest lake in southwestern Minnesota, which forms the headwaters of the Des Moines River. Expect great fishing for walleye, northern, crappie, and bullheads. Loon Island, a 45-acre bird sanctuary, is accessible on foot via a causeway and includes an interpretive trail. Visit the Koch Cabin and monument memorializing pioneer settlers. The park includes a swimming beach, boat launch, campgrounds and a scenic six-mile loop bicycle trail into the town of Currie. Boat and canoe rentals are available.

Lake Shetek State Park website

Ergot is a fungus that grows on small grains like rye, oats and wheat, growing naturally in damp, cool growing seasons. Ergotism is a disease caused from ingesting ergot, that causes death by gangrene and by attacking the neurological system. Assyrians, 600-500 BC, used ergot as a biological weapon by contaminating their enemies wells with ergot, and in 945 CE, 40,000 died in Paris of the "Plague of Fire" caused by ergotism. Today, with the development of chemistry, the alkaloids of ergot became the basis of medicines, saving lives, not taking them.

Dassel History Center and Ergot Museum website

Learn about Becker County Minnesota by stepping back in time. From a Native American Wigwam, a logging camp Wannigan, a 1870's log cabin, "Old Three Legs", a summer kitchen to the World's smallest gas station you are sure to find something of interest.

Becker County History Museum, Library & Gift Shop website

With a permanent collection of over 6,000 art objects representing a range of cultures and periods of art history, the Tweed Museum of Art on the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth is a major cultural and educational resource for the Upper Midwest.

Tweed Museum of Art website

The Duluth Children's Museum was founded in 1930 as the fifth children's museum in the United States. Its mission was to be a place for the children and families of this area to learn about other peoples and cultures of the world.

Duluth Children's Museum website

Located at Canal Park next to the Duluth Ship Canal, Aerial Bridges, and Lake Walk at Duluth Harbor. The Center features information of the history of Lake Superior, the shipping activity of the Twin Ports, and the work of the Corps throughout the region. Among the attractions within the modern two-story building are full-sized replicas of ship cabins and a pilothouse, a massive steam engine, a working radar, and dozens of the finest scale ship models in the Midwest.

Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center website

Housed in Duluth, Minnesota's Historic Union Depot, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum works in conjunction with the North Shore Scenic Railroad to offer one of the richest historic experiences in railroading available anywhere.

Lake Superior Railroad Museum website

The St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center's Historic Union Depot, better know as simply the Depot. This former Union Railroad Depot was built in 1892 by the Boston firm of Peabody, Stearns and Furber. The historic part of the building houses exhibits by four different museum and its theater wing functions as a studio and administrative home to five performing arts organizations.

The Duluth Depot website

The Karpeles Library is the world's largest private holding of important original manuscripts & documents. The archives include Literature, Science, Religion, History and Art.

Karpeles Manuscript Library Duluth Museum website

The Lake Superior Zoo shows visitors responsible stewardship of our natural environment through exhibits of living animals and plants and programs in conservation and wildlife education.

Lake Superior Zoo website

A museum open to the public inside the World Snowmobile Headquarters in Eagle River, Wisconsin exhibiting the evolution of snowmobiles and their various uses from the development of the early model vintage snowmobiles to present day models.

International Snowmobile Hall of Fame website

Take a tour of the historic Cahill School and Minnehaha Grange Hall No. 398. Built in 1864, Cahill School is the oldest surviving building in Edina and served School District No. 16 in southwest Edina. History-themed programming at Cahill School and Minnehaha Grange No. 398 are offered by the Edina Historical Society.

Cahill School and Minnehaha Grange Hall No. 398 website

Step onto a working 1860s farm. Pick heirloom vegetables from the garden, visit the farmhands and animals at the barn, or churn butter and see what's cooking in the farmhouse. Costumed guides work the fields with oxen and horses. At different times throughout the season, you'll see plowing with oxen, horse-powered threshing, haymaking and other harvest activities. The gardens and fields are filled with many of the same plants the Kelley farm grew over 130 years ago. Animals similar to those raised by pioneer families fill the barn and outbuildings. In the house, try your hand at domestic crafts like making straw hats and soap.

Oliver Kelley Farm website

Dorothy Molter carved out her legacy in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) located within the Quetico-Superior National Forest. Dorothy lived on the Isle of Pines on Knife Lake for more than 56 years where she paddled, hiked, fished, and snow shoed this pristine area, until her death in 1986. She was visited by as many as 7,000 people a year.The Dorothy Molter Memorial Foundation located in Ely, Minnesota, was formed to preserve and interpret her legacy. Dorothy's homestead was dismantled in 1987 and transported by dogsled and snowmobile to Moose Lake, and then on to Ely where volunteers restored two of her cabins. Come visit the museum where the welcome is always warm and the root beer is always cold.

Dorothy Molter Museum website

Secluded in the Northwoods, this park contains pristine lakes; it is home to black bears, nesting eagles, timber wolves and moose. Stands of white and red pine trees tower over the birch, aspen and fir trees. Located just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the park shares a similar wilderness quality. Explore miles of shoreline by canoe. Swim at the beach, picnic in the shelter building, or fish for walleye, bass, crappies or trout. Trails in the park link-up with the Taconite State Trail and offer snowmobilers, skiers and hikers plenty to enjoy. Rent a three-bedroom guest house any season of the year.

Bear Head Lake State Park website

Tour Historic Fort Ridgely and wander through the ruins of this once thriving outpost. Learn about the U. S.-Dakota Conflict of 1862, a major event in Minnesota's early history. Stop by the cemetery to learn more about the history. For recreation, this park offers plenty: play a nine hole course; hike or ride the trails on horseback; play volleyball or softball; fish; and camp (drive-in and walk-in sites are available). Come winter, ski, snowmobile or sled down the big hill.

Fort Ridgely State Park website

Mission is to preserve and share the history of Martin County by acquiring, conserving, appropriately displaying, and making it accessible for viewing, research, and educational purposes.

Martin County Historical Society website

Dakota City Heritage Village is a 1900-era village and museum dedicated to connecting people to the rural past. The village is located in Farmington on the Dakota County Fairgrounds. This five-acre site includes 22 buildings where visitors experience living history firsthand with costumed interpreters and demonstrations. Events throughout the year focus on rural life 100 years ago including how residents met their needs for food, clothing, shelter, and social connection. The Ahlberg Heritage Center Museum houses more than 10,000 artifacts depicting social and rural history, with an emphasis on agriculture.

Dakota City Heritage Village website

What began as a simple dream in 1977 has grown to give families up close access to more than 50 different species from around the globe. The mission of Hemker Park & Zoo is to highlight and enhance animals’ species and encourage environmental conservation through integrated partnerships and practical approaches to wildlife management. We work hard to share the wonder and importance of conservation, as well as the critical importance of the role of animals within our ecosystem. Guests can expect to learn from their visit about our world while enjoying the over 200 animals that call Hemker Park & Zoo home.

Hemker Park and Zoo website

Located on the Mississippi River, Frontenac is a birdwatcher's paradise. It's one of the best spots in the country to view birds migrating in the spring and fall. More than 260 species of birds have been recorded here. No wonder: Lake Pepin's diverse habitats -- bluffland, prairie, floodplain forest and upland hardwood forest -- attract numerous warblers, hawks, waterfowl and shorebirds. Hikers and skiers enjoy spectacular views of this beautifully wooded river valley. Fishing, swimming and boat tours are all available nearby.

Frontenac State Park website

The Pope County Historical Society organized in 1931 to collect and preserve Pope County history. A unique collection of Native American arts and crafts is a highlight of the Museum experience.

Pope County Museum and History Center website

Prairie lovers, this park is for you. Trails wind through one of Minnesota's finest and largest remnant prairies. Listen for bobolinks, prairie chickens, marbled godwits and upland sandpipers. A picnic area, swimming area and campground are located in the hardwood forest along the Buffalo River. The park is only 14 miles from the large metropolitan area of Fargo, North Dakota - Moorhead, Minnesota.

Buffalo River State Park website

The creation of the Red River State Recreation Area was a grass root effort that came about as a result of the flood of 1997 that devastated the communities of East Grand Forks, MN and Grand Forks, ND. After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers redrew the floodplain, the Federal Emergency Management Agency bought 500 homes and other buildings in East Grand Forks along the Red and Red Lake rivers. Red River State Recreation Area logo showing King fisher sitting in a tree along the river. Various structures and homes were removed and the land, now a 1,200-acre greenway, is a state recreation area. Included in this greenway area is a new campground that features 72 campsites including 48 electric sites that have full hookups (sewer and water). The new recreation area also includes trails for walking and biking, areas for picnicking and rivers for fishing and boating. The recreation area's setting in an urban area offers visitors access to outdoor recreational opportunities as well as shopping and dining facilities within walking distance of one another.

Red River State Park website

Come for the quiet, the solitude, and the famous Devil's Kettle waterfall. The most popular hike leads from the trailhead upstream along the Brule River to Devil's Kettle, where the river splits around a mass of volcanic rock. Half of the river plunges 50 feet into a pool, while the rest pours into a huge pothole. Anglers can catch brook and rainbow trout in the Brule River or its tributary, Gauthier Creek. The park offers camping, picnicking and hiking.

Judge C.R. Magney State Park website

For over 400 years. - Ojibwe families of Grand Portage have tapped maples every spring on a ridge located just off Lake Superior. During the summer, Ojibwe fishermen harvest in the same areas their forefathers have. Before the United States and Canada existed, the trading of furs, ideas and genes between the Ojibwe and French and English fur traders flourished. From 1778 until 1802, welcomed by the Grand Portage Ojibwe, the North West Company located their headquarters and western supply depot here for business and a summer rendezvous. Today, Grand Portage National Monument and Indian Reservation form a bridge between people, time and culture.

Grand Portage National Monument website

Torrents of wild water plummet 120 feet over the High Falls down to the Pigeon River in this park on the U.S. - Canadian border. The falls, the highest in the state, presented a serious obstacle to river travel, so a "carrying place," or portage, was necessary. American Indians created the ancient nine-mile trail from Lake Superior to bypass the falls. This trail became known as "The Grand Portage." Today, visitors of all abilities can take a one-half mile trail and boardwalk to the falls overlook area. The park is designed for day use only and contains mixed hardwood-conifer forests and hiking trails along the banks of the Pigeon River. The spectacular scenery sets the stage for recreational opportunities that include hiking, photography, and picnicking. The park lies within the Grand Portage Indian Reservation and is bordered by Canada on the north and east. Lake Superior is about one mile east of the park.

Grand Portage State Park website

The Itasca County Historical Society is located at Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It houses the Little Gem's Gift Shop, The Itasca Museum, Judy Garland exhibit, and The Karjala Research Genealogy and History Center.

Itasca County Historical Society website

Visit the Judy Garland Birthplace. Located at the southern gateway to the Emerald City—Grand Rapids, Minnesota—the Judy Garland Museum's mission is to engage people in exploring the life and times of Judy Garland. Through educational exhibits, publications, and special events, the Museum encourages people to learn about this great 20th Century artist.

The Judy Garland Museum website

Deep Portage Conservation Reserve is available for school visits, organizational meetings and training, family educational adventures, weekend retreats, and teacher workshops. Groups can conduct their own agenda, or as most do, utilize the expertise of the Deep Portage faculty and many lessons from the accredited curriculum.

Deep Portage Learning Center website

The museum features five large buildings (26,000 sq ft) on a beautiful six-acre site. Its mission is to recapture a century of stories about farm life. Implements, tools, tractors and gas engines in mint condition along with rural art help you look back to an era when neighbors worked together to harvest their crops, raise barns and build a better life for their families.

Minnesota's Machinery Museum website

Travel far beneath the surface through stream-sculpted passages to experience the wonders of Niagara Cave. Within lies an underground waterfall, 450 million-year-old fossils, and formations both delicate and massive.

Niagara Cave website

A 2 to 2 1/2 hour tour stopping at 4 or 5 Amish farms while a knowledgeable guide tells you about the Amish culture and history. You may see the Amish working in their fields with horses and machinery reminiscent of the late 1800's. Stops will have small shops with crafts the Amish make such as baskets, quilts, furniture, baked goods, etc.

Amish Tours of Harmony website

With the coming of the railroad, the lumbering industry boomed and for twenty years, Hinckley was a growing, prosperous town with a population of 1,500. On September 1, 1894, all of that changed. When it was over the firestorm had completely destroyed six towns, and over 400 square miles lay black and smoldering. The firestorm was so devastating that it lasted only four hours but destroyed everything in its path.

Hinckley Fire Museum website

Plan an extended visit to St. Croix. With over 34,000 acres and two great rivers: the Saint Croix River, a National Scenic Riverway, and the Kettle River, a State Wild and Scenic River, there's so much to do. Explore the rivers by canoe or with a fishing pole. Swim at Lake Clayton or climb a fire tower. The park has miles of trails for hikers, horseback riders, bicyclists, snowmobilers, and cross-country skiers. Campers can reserve drive-in, walk-in, backpack, and horseback campsites. Large groups can reserve the modern group centers or the primitive group camps.

St. Croix State Park website

Meet owls up close and learn far more than just the basics. Find out what YOU can do to help make the world a better place for owls by changing a few things in your life. Small groups are welcome to attend regularly scheduled public programs, or larger group may schedule private programs for a flat fee. Live online programs are even possible for those at a distance.

International Owl Center website

Explore the Lakes of the North Woods. Nearly 200 years ago voyageurs paddled birch bark canoes full of animal pelts and trade goods through this area on their way to Lake Athabaska, Canada. Today, people explore the park by houseboat, motorboat, canoe and kayak. Voyageurs is a water-based park where you must leave your car and take to the water to fully experience the lakes, islands and shorelines of the park.

Voyageurs National Park website

Abandoned by mining companies more than 20 years ago, this area of former mining pits and rock deposit stockpiles now boasts regenerated vegetation and clear lakes that draw a wide range of recreation enthusiasts. Twenty-five miles of undeveloped shoreline can be explored by boat or canoe and anglers can cast a line for trout, northerns, bass, crappies, sunfish, and walleyes. As one of Minnesota's newest state recreation areas, Cuyuna's 5,000 acres are mostly undeveloped, and some of the land is being acquired. Most of the current facilities are privately owned and operated, including campgrounds and a historical park. Off-highway vehicles are not permitted within the boundaries of Cuyuna Country Recreation Area.

Cuyuna Country State Park website

Father Hennepin State Park is located on the southeast shore of Mille Lacs Lake. Visitors enjoy a large sandy beach for swimming, two boat accesses, fishing piers and picnic sites with a panoramic view of the lake. The park's 320 acres include two campgrounds and hiking trails that wind through a hardwood forest and along the rocky shoreline of Mille Lacs. The park's original vegetation was northern hardwoods mixed with marsh areas and pines along the lake. The hardwoods provide shade during the summer and spectacular color in the fall.

Father Hennepin State Park website

Swim, fish, or boat the waters of Split Rock Lake, the largest body of water in Pipestone County. The lake is the predominant feature of this park. Stop by the Beach Side Trail Center for an excellent vista and to discover more about the area. Seven miles north of the park is the famous Pipestone National Monument.

Split Rock Creek State Park website

Just minutes from the Twin Cities, this state recreation area preserves part of the Minnesota River Valley. The Minnesota Valley Trail takes you along the Minnesota River. The section of trail from Shakopee to Chaska is paved and a natural surface trail runs from Chaska to Belle Plaine. The area is ideal for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowmobiling and camping in one of the many rustic campsites. The landscapes are just as diverse as the trail system and include wetlands, floodplain forest and blufftop oak savanna. Wildlife observation and birdwatching are popular activities year-round.

Minnesota Valley State Park website

From the observation tower in the park, view the prairie and aspen-oak forests or watch for deer, sharp-tailed grouse, moose and sandhill cranes. The South Branch of the Two Rivers fills Lake Bronson. The lake, which is actually a reservoir, offers visitors swimming, fishing, boating, great camping, and a tranquil backdrop for the picnic grounds. For those who prefer a prairie experience, one of the campground areas allows camping on the prairie. Trails for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling provide visitors with great recreation choices.

Lake Bronson State Park website

Exhibits include a history of rural teachers to highlight the importance of and capture the experiences of the vast rural school system in Jackson County, the biodiversity of Heron Lake, and a celebration of local Main Streets and the history they hold.

Jackson County Historical Society website

For a quiet, relaxing time, hike the cool woodland trail which meanders along the tranquil Des Moines River, or enjoy the view of the river valley from Dinosaur Ridge Overlook. You'll find pleasant surprises as you explore small creeks, prairie grasslands, and oak savannas. Visitors enjoy camping, canoeing, fishing, picnicking and hiking. In the winter, enjoy tubing down the long, steep hill.

Kilen Woods State Park website

Lake Louise lures hikers, horseback riders, skiers, and snowmobilers to its trails, which wind through open landscapes and lush hardwoods. The confluence of the Little Iowa and Upper Iowa Rivers that occurs in the park provides water recreation. In addition, visitors swim, boat, or fish in Lake Louise. Hiking and horseback riding are also popular sports at this park. The lakeside picnic grounds and beach area draws visitors in the summer.

Lake Louise State Park website

The Minnesota Military Museum, located at Camp Ripley, is open to the general public as well as military personnel. Nowhere in Minnesota are the experiences of military men and women so vividly captured and interpreted as at the Minnesota Military Museum. The museum aims to enhance public understanding of how armed conflicts and military institutions have shaped our state and national experience. The museum also functions as a major repository in Minnesota for historical artifacts and records. Indoor and outdoor exhibits depict the stories and contributions of Minnesotans who served in all branches of service or on the home front, in time of peace and war, from our early frontier years to the present.

Minnesota Military Museum website

The Morrison County Historical Society (MCHS) is a non-profit organization devoted to preserving artifacts and historical information regarding Morrison County, Minnesota, and to educating the public about the history of the county. MCHS owns and operates The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum in Little Falls, Minnesota. The museum was built in honor of lumberman, Charles A. Weyerhaeuser, who managed the operations of Pine Tree Lumber Company in Little Falls from 1890 to 1920. Exhibits in the museum are devoted to all aspects of Morrison County history, including the lumber industry. The museum has extensive non-circulating archives that are available to researchers and genealogists.

Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum website

Located on the Mississippi River, Charles A. Lindbergh State Park offers visitors a quaint picnic area. The picnic area includes a historic Work Projects Administration (WPA) picnic shelter and a stone water tower. Fish the waters of the Mississippi River, canoe Pike Creek, or walk the trails amid grand red and white pine, aspen, oak and prairie. Look for bald eagles in the spring and fall. During your visit, stop in at the historic home of Charles A. Lindbergh, Sr., father of the famous aviator, Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr. The home is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) and is adjacent to the park.

Charles A. Lindbergh State Park website

Discover the childhood home of Charles A. Lindbergh, the famed environmental activist, inventor, and aviation pioneer. Explore how ambition, fame, and life on the Mississippi River shaped his complex character.

Charles Lindbergh House and Museum website

The museum has four main display rooms upstairs in former classrooms. The Victorian Room with displays of a Victorian dining room, kitchen, bedroom and parlour. The General Store Room with displays of guns from the landmark Buckhorn restaurant, a general store display and miscellaneous displays. The Textile Room has a loom, quilts and other textile related materials. The Music Room has displays of vintage instruments and music players, a hand carved pulpit, the megalethscope and a vintage 1900 classroom. On the lower level we have a research facility for people who want to use our archives and a picture gallery of early western Hennepin County pioneer families. Come in and find your family's roots in Hennepin County!

WHCPA Pioneer Museum website

Come to Cascade for the rushing river and grand waterfalls that lay within a gorge, lush with moss and ferns that grow on black volcanic rocks. Hike the trail through birch, spruce and white cedar; stop to see the views of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Trails connect with the Superior Hiking Trail and the North Shore State Trail and offer great recreational opportunities to hikers and cross-country skiers. Drive-in and backpack campsites are available.

Cascade River State Park website

The RCHS preserves, maintains, and presents the history of Luverne and Rock County. A member of the Minnesota Historical Society, the RCHS operates two museum: The Rock County Historical Museum, located at 123 North Freeman Avenue (Masonic Temple); and the Hinkly House Museum, a renovated authentic Victorian home, located at 217 North Freeman Avenue.

Rock County Historical Museum website

Blue Mounds State Park is full of natural surprises. Start with the Sioux quartzite cliff, rising 100 feet from the plains. A bison herd grazes on the prairie. Prickly pear cactus blooms in June and July. A sea of prairie grasses and flowers sway in the wind. The park is also a favorite for birdwatchers who want to see nesting blue grosbeaks and other birds. Enjoy camping and swimming.

Blue Mounds State Park website

Camden State Park offers much for visitors to enjoy. Fish for brown trout in the Redwood River or bass and bluegill in Brawner Lake. Hike the trails or cool off in the spring-fed pool. Walk along the wooded river valley, climb the Dakota Valley Trail to the lookout for great fall colors, or go canoeing on Brawner Lake. Woodlands, maples, basswoods, oaks, and cottonwoods, dominate this park. Sun-drenched prairies, grasslands, and marshes offer added diversity. The park provides picnic areas, campgrounds (drive-in, horseback, and group), swimming, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

Camden State Park website

The complex consists of six separate buildings; a 10,000 sq. ft. Educational Museum; an 1870's Log Cabin furnished for that period; a Rural Schoolhouse built in ca.1887, equipped for that period through the early 1900's; and an Agricultural machinery, tools and early transportation exhibit building.

Lac qui Parle County Museum website

The word Minneopa comes from the Dakota language and is interpreted to mean "water falling twice," referring to the beautiful waterfalls of the Minneopa Creek. Walk the trail which encircles the falls, leading down a limestone stairway to the valley below. Ascend the opposite side and enjoy a panoramic view of the valley which reveals the underlying geology of this area. Visit Seppmann Mill, a wind driven grist mill fashioned in German style from native stone and lumber, or hike through oak savanna and native prairie grasslands overlooking the scenic Minnesota River Valley.

Minneopa State Park website

Looking for an unforgettable hands-on experience? Book one of our educational reptile programs! We offer hands-on programs both at our facility and offsite. Our programs cover topics like diet, habitat, defense mechanisms and fun facts, using an assortment of props and live animals! From touching lizards to holding snakes, attendees of all ages are sure to experience something new! Programs are given by one of Snake Discovery's Zookeepers.

Snake Discovery website

A great "get away" park only one hour from the Twin Cities, William O'Brien provides a beautiful setting for quality recreation along the banks of the St. Croix River. Hiking trails offer quiet exploration of the park's rolling, wooded hills. For anglers, the channels of the St. Croix have northerns, walleye, bass and trout. Ideal for canoeing, the river is also a migratory pathway that offers visitors an exciting diversity of sights and sounds. In the winter, snowshoeing, skiing and camping attract enthusiasts.

William O'Brien State Park website

Time slips by when you visit this park of the north. Walk the Savanna Portage Trail, a historic trail traveled by fur traders, Dakota and Ojibwe Indians, and explorers more than 200 years ago. Savanna Portage State Park has 15,818 acres of rolling hills, lakes, and bogs. The Continental Divide marks the great division of water: water to the west flows into the Mississippi River; water to the east runs into Lake Superior. Visitors can hike the Continental Divide Trail and see forested vistas. During the summer, visitors enjoy swimming at Loon Lake. Bike enthusiasts can pedal on roads, or on dirt trails designated for mountain bikes. With four fishing lakes and a river, its common for anglers to catch panfish, trout and bass. Come winter, this park offers snowmobilers approximately 60 miles of trails to explore. This park is a favorite among cross-country skiers too with 10 miles of trails to ski.

Savanna Portage State Park website

As you visit the museum, you are invited to investigate the past through the exciting exhibits in each room. See the displays that depict the life and times of our pioneers and citizens. Learn of the settlement of these communities through each era that defines the people, their ethics and beliefs.

Melrose Area Historical Society website

The Walker Art Center is a catalyst for the creative expression of artists and the active engagement of audiences. Focusing on the visual, performing, and media arts of our time, the Walker takes a global, multidisciplinary, and diverse approach to the creation, presentation, interpretation, collection, and preservation of art. Walker programs examine the questions that shape and inspire us as individuals, cultures, and communities.

Walker Art Center website

Minnesota Center for Book Arts offers workshops for students 2 years of age and up. Create handmade books, paper, and prints, while learning about the history of these traditions. Connect your curriculum to your project when planning your trip for deeper learning in Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Art, or History.

Minnesota Center for Book Arts website

Join us for our free monthly event for families, kids, and the young at heart. One Sunday a month, you'll have a blast making art, going on artful adventures, meeting local artists, musicians, dancers, and story tellers, and more! Enjoy FREE general admission to the museum every day, thanks to the generosity of MIA members and supporters!

Minneapolis Institute of Arts website

A member-supported non-profit that preserves and displays historically significant examples of Russian art and artifacts. It is the only museum in North America solely dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Russian art and artifacts. Through the universal language of art, TMORA visitors explore new and unique perspectives of Russia, a country with a recorded history that spans over one thousand years. Recognizing the importance of educating current and future generations about Russian art and culture, TMORA exhibitions are designed to provide our guests with an opportunity to examine important artistic achievements and historical events through the works of Russia's most esteemed artists.

The Museum of Russian Art website

Housed in a striking stainless steel and brick building designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Weisman Art Museum offers an educational and friendly museum experience. The museum's collection features early 20th century American artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Marsden Hartley, as well as a diverse selection of contemporary art. A teaching museum for the University of Minnesota and the community, the Weisman provides a fresh, engaging arts experience through an array of programs and a changing schedule of exhibitions.

Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art website

MWMO works to protect and improve water quality, habitat, and natural resources by monitoring and tracking water quality in the watershed and working to promote active environmental stewardship among residents. Visitors can, individually or with a facilitator, explore Minnesota's changing climate and home energy themes through interactive displays inside our learning center and walk through our stormwater park to access the Mississippi River and learn about various landscape features including green infrastructure that captures, cleans, and reuses stormwater runoff.

Mississippi Watershed Management Organization website

The Hennepin History Museum is one of the Twin Cities' most unique social history museum. It offers superb exhibits, a historic mansion setting, and archival collections of priceless scholarly value. HHM has evolved from the Hennepin County Territorial Pioneers Association in 1858 to the County Historical Society in 1938 to an award-winning history museum embracing a diverse range of cultures and social histories. The exhibition and education programs have grown from a focus on original Hennepin County settlers to documenting the wide range of people who make up the county today. As one of Minnesota's most rapidly growing and diverse counties, Hennepin includes urban, suburban, and rural communities. You can find all of these stories in the exhibits, library, and outreach programs at the Hennepin History Museum.

Hennepin History Museum website

In 1908, the Turnblads--a Swedish immigrant family--completed the construction of their castle-like mansion on Minneapolis' Park Avenue. Just twenty-one years later, they gave it all away to the community, founding the museum and cultural center that would become the American Swedish Institute. Today, the American Swedish Institute, housed in the Turnblad mansion, is a place to learn about and experience Swedish, Swedish-American, and Nordic culture, learn about the role of Swedish and other immigrants in Minnesota's history, and share stories and experiences.

The American Swedish Institute website

A one of a kind museum exploring the mysteries of our electric world. The Bakken Museum acquired its name from Earl Bakken. Bakken was born in 1924 and grew up in Minneapolis and received his training in electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota. The Bakken Museum inspires a passion for science and its potential good by helping people explore the history and nature of electricity and magnetism.

The Bakken Museum website

Big River Journey is an amazing science and riverboat adventure field trip that has been around for over 20 years! Now it is available to teachers and students in an online format - that can be accessed anytime and for free! This highly interactive website was designed in conjunction with Hamline University and provides students an exciting way to explore the many topics associated with the actual field trip. Highly adaptable to an educator’s curriculum, this site contains all you need for learning more about the science and heritage of the Mississippi River.

Big River Journey Online website

Visitors who come to Lake Maria State Park will enjoy one of the few remaining stands of the "Big Woods," a maple, oak and basswood forest that once covered part of southern Minnesota. The park is perfect for hikers, backpackers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers who enjoy the challenge of the rolling terrain. Take a stroll on the boardwalk which winds through a marsh. Backpack sites, located on remote lakes and ponds throughout the park, are just two miles from the trailhead parking lot. New log camper cabins, located near lakes and ponds, provide bunk beds for six people and a table and benches for campers who want more of the creature comforts. Lake Maria State Park is home to the Blandings turtle, easily identified by bright yellow spots on its shell. It is one of Minnesota's threatened species.

Lake Maria State Park website

The Rourke Art Gallery Museum building was designed by architect Oscar Wenderoth and constructed in 1913 as the Moorhead Federal Post Office. The building was used by the Postal Service until 1960. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Permanent Collections consist of over 3,000 contemporary paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photographs, African, Native American, Pre-Columbian and Hispanic works of art.

The Rourke Art Gallery Museum website

Collects, preserves and disseminates the history of Clay County, Minnesota. Tens of thousands of artifacts, photos and documents, as well as a seaworthy Viking ship built in Minnesota in the 1970s.

HCSCC Hjemkomst Center website

Rolling hills surrounded by fields, woods, ponds and fishing lakes make this park popular for hikers, anglers, canoeists, swimmers and campers. Quiet Echo Lake is ideal for catching bass, northerns and panfish. The Willard Munger Trail is located two miles west of the park. The trail stretches for 60 miles from Hinckley to

Moose Lake State Park website

The Kanabec History Center is located on 37 acres bordering the Snake River on the west side of Mora, MN. Exhibits include local archaeology, logging, a hands-on and child friendly history of local medicine, items that the Ojibwe would have gotten through trade with the early European traders, and more.  The one room Whittier School house is used for Old Tyme Country School classes each summer.

Kanabec History Center website

Since its beginnings in 1922 -- and even back to the Old Settlers Association, founded in 1876 -- the Stevens County Historical Society has worked diligently to collect the best examples of historical artifacts of life on the prairie. Everything from books and letters to clothing, tools, utensils, photographs, and handmade articles have found its way into the collections. The Historical Museum houses captivating displays of items once used in farming, industry, spinning, cooking, education, religion, medicine, animal husbandry, housing, and works of local artisans in Stevens County.

Stevens County Historical Society website

The North Country National Scenic Trail is the longest continuous hiking trail in the U.S., winding its way through seven states over 4,400 miles.

North Country National Scenic Trail website

Enjoy this park on foot, any season of the year. In the spring, the park is a wildflower garden where hepatica, bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, and the dwarf trout lily bloom. The dwarf trout lily is only found here. Relax by Hidden Falls in the summer. The autumn brings a burst of red, orange, and gold in the maple-basswood forest, one of the last extensive stands of the "Big Woods." When winter comes, ski or snowmobile the trails through picturesque woods.

Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park website

There is something for everyone at this popular west-central Minnesota State Park. Hike to Mount Tom, one of several high points in a 50-mile radius, and see a patchwork of forest, farmland, prairie knolls, and lakes. Summer visitors enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing on Lake Andrew. A canoe route invites adventurers to portage and canoe on Henschien Lake and Swan Lake. The park offers campgrounds, a modern group center, horseback camps, picnic area, and interpretive programs year-around.

Sibley State Park website

The gentle flowing Big Cottonwood River meanders through this southern park. The sand-bottom swimming pond, picnic area, campgrounds and group center attract many visitors every summer to this very popular state park. The terrain is diverse, offering views of wooded river bottoms, oxbow marshes and open grasslands. Hikers and cross-country skiers enjoy the flat trails on the bottom of the valley or more challenging routes on the oak-shaded bluffs. Visit historic stone buildings crafted by Works Progress Administration (WPA) crews. Vegetative features include goat prairies, small white lady's slippers, and the floodplain forest.

Flandrau State Park website

An eighteen acre interpretive site devoted to the preservation the heritage of the Finnish Culture. Open all summer, the site includes a 1900 original farmstead, log barns, "Savu" smoke sauna, sawmill and gift shop. The last weekend in August the site is host to Finn Creek Festival, an annual celebration featuring entertainment, demonstrations and food.

Finn Creek Open Air Museum website

The Northfield Historical Society’s main exhibition tells the story of Northfield’s most famous day, September 7, 1876. That was the day the James-Younger Gang came to town expecting an easy target, and instead met the unmoving force of the Northfield citizens. Every member of the gang was wounded during the shootout and two were killed. In 1975 the Northfield Historical Society purchased the building to use it as a museum and restored the First National Bank to its 1876 appearance.

Northfield Historical Society website

The Mille Lacs Indian Museum, which opened May 18, 1996, offers exhibits dedicated to telling the story of the Band. Trace their journey to settle in Northern Minnesota, learn about their fate during a period of treaties made and broken, and follow their story up to the present.

Mille Lacs Indian Museum website

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park has so much to offer and discover. Its 9000 years of human history and archaeological significance has made it a National Historic Landmark. You can learn about its rich history and all of Kathio's other treasures at the Visitor Center located next to the picnic grounds. While you're at Mille Lacs Kathio, take some time to visit the Mille Lacs Indian Museum located just two miles north on US Hwy. 169. It is operated by the Minnesota State Historical Society and exhibits the Mille Lacs area history from 1680 forward.

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park website

Big Stone Lake is 26 miles long and is located on the South Dakota-Minnesota border. The lake is the source of the Minnesota River and attracts anglers who catch walleye, northerns and bluegills. The northern section of the park, called the Bonanza Area, provides a picnic area, boat launch and a primitive group camp for guests. The area also includes the Bonanza Education Center which provides a place to discover the past and ways to preserve it. The southern section of the park, called the Meadowbrook Area, contains a campground, swimming beach and hiking trails.

Big Stone Lake State Park website

Long ago, American Indians harvested wild rice from this lake where today, the shallow waters and marshy edges of Rice Lake attract many waterfowl during migrations. Rice Lake is a major wetland in the area. Visitors enjoy camping under the tall hardwoods, photographing spring wildflowers, picnicking, and birdwatching. For a more secluded camping experience, paddle across the lake and camp in a canoe campsite. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowmobiling on the trails.

Rice Lake State Park website

Long Lake Conservation Center is a nature school - one of Minnesota's six Residential Environmental Learning Centers. The center's mission is to inspire a deep appreciation of nature, promote wise use of natural resources and foster a lifelong stewardship of the environment. They have dormitory style lodging and a cafeteria where they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to groups come for three-day, two-night nature field trips.

Long Lake Conservation Center website

Established in 1891, Itasca is Minnesota's oldest state park. Today, the park totals more than 32,000 acres and includes more than 100 lakes. Walk across the mighty Mississippi as it starts its winding journey 2,552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Stand under towering pines at Preacher's Grove. Visit the Itasca Indian Cemetery or Wegmann's Cabin, landmarks of centuries gone by. Camp under the stars, or stay the night at the historic Douglas Lodge or cabins. Explore Wilderness Drive past the 2,000-acre Wilderness Sanctuary, one of Minnesota's seven National Natural Landmarks.

Itasca State Park website

The maple forest turns brilliant shades of orange, gold, and red in the fall. Eight major lakes and many ponds offer water lovers places to swim, fish, boat, and simply relax. Lake Lida has a sandy beach and large picnic areas for visitors. Drive along the scenic route to observe the wildlife: the park is host to 150 bird species and 50 species of mammals. The extensive trail system attracts hikers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers.

Maplewood State Park website

Interactive exhibits paint the picture of life at the fur post, the global economy of the fur trade, the relationships between the fur traders and the Ojibwe, and archaeology of the site. This site was formerly known as North West Company Fur Post, but has been updated because "Our site experience is much broader than just the history of the North West Company — we tell the wider history of Native Americans, French voyageurs, and British fur traders in the early 19th century on the Ginebig-ziibi (Snake River)."

Snake River Fur Post website

An opportunity to explore American Indian culture and the natural resources of the tallgrass prairie. Established by Congress in 1937 to protect the historic pipestone quarries, the site is considered sacred by many American Indians. Spanning centuries of use, American Indians continue to quarry pipestone which they carve into sacred pipes.

Pipestone National Monument website

The Pipestone County Historical Society is a group of people dedicated to the preservation of the history of Pipestone County, Minnesota. It operates a historical museum that has many historical artifacts as well as genealogical resources.

Pipestone County Historical Society website

Walk across the Carnegie Steel Bridge into 1899 Forestville. See 19th century merchandise in the Meighen family store, discover what's cooking in the kitchen, and help the hired hand with chores in the garden and farm buildings. Costumed guides portray actual residents and their daily activities.

Historic Forestville website

Visit Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park to see natural wonders above and below ground. Explore the world of Mystery Cave with its stalactites, stalagmites and underground pools. Park naturalists provide tours of the cave throughout the summer and on weekends in the spring and fall. The temperature stays at a constant 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Above ground, stop by Historic Forestville, a restored 1800s village operated by the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS). Fish three blue-ribbon trout streams for brown trout. Take in the soft pastels of wildflowers in spring or listen to ruffed grouse drumming and wild turkeys gobbling. Hike or bring your horse to ride the ridge tops and stream valleys. Observe interesting geologic features along the way including sinkholes and dramatic Big Spring. In the fall, don't miss the bold colors of the forest. Winter invites visitors to ski or snowmobile the Bluff Country.

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park website

Minnesota's Oldest County Historical Society. "Our museum features exhibits that showcase the diverse stories and artifacts of the area’s past. Immerse yourself in our local history galleries, including exhibits on pioneer life, Native American culture, and the impact of transportation on the region."

Goodhue County Historical Society website

Discover the one-of-a-kind Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing, MN. Since its opening in 1904, the historic Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts warmly welcomes about 30,000 people to dozens of performance events every year. Its ornately gilded walls have played host to thousands of large national touring acts, international artists, and local performers alike. Visit the website for a current listing of school matinee shows.

Sheldon Theatre of the Performing Arts website

Redwood Historical Museum located on Highway 19 West, Redwood Falls, was constructed in 1908 as the county poor farm. The 30 rooms including a living room, dining room, kitchen, general store, military room, doctor's office, and 3 wildlife rooms. Interesting items such as toys tools, clothing, fine linens, photos, fans, Indian artifacts, and much more are displayed. A one-room school building is also on the grounds.

Redwood Historical Museum website

Each year, the Rochester Art Center offers over 100 adult and children educational programs. These exceptional educational offerings include classes, workshops, film presentations, lectures and gallery tours for all ages. Programs are designed to encourage an understanding and appreciation of the visual arts. Children and youth programs provide valuable hands-on art experiences under the direction of professional guest artists. Classes, art- after-school sessions, career and portfolio counseling, along with the popular Total Arts Day Camp, are just some of the programs offered for youth at the Center. Scholarships are available for Art Center classes and workshops, making art accessible for everyone.

Rochester Art Center website

"The History Center of Olmsted County is your place to experience, explore, and examine Olmsted County's history. We are located on 54 acres in southwest Rochester and our grounds include two historic farmsteads, historic buildings, and the History Center museum itself with many exhibits highlighting local history."

Olmsted County Historical Society website

The Roseau County Historical Society was organized in April 1927 with the intent of collecting, preserving and disseminating the history of Roseau County, Minnesota. The Historical Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization. The organization displays artifacts from the present and the past that represent the history of the county as well as hosts traveling exhibits at the museum. The Historical Society also has an extensive research center.

Roseau County Historical Society and Museum website

Some days it's just you, loons, and moose, while you traverse around Hayes Lake. Fed by the north fork of the Roseau River, the lake supports crappie, sunfish, and northerns. Birdwatchers have spotted over 200 species in or near the park. The summer is perfect to look for orchids, gentians, and blueberries (you can pick the berries, but not the flowers). Visitors also enjoy swimming and canoeing in the lake, along with camping. Trails for hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding connect with the Beltrami Island State Forest.

Hayes Lake State Park website

In the spring, watch daring canoeists and kayakers shoot the turbulent rapids at Blueberry Slide, Mother's Delight, Dragon's Tooth and Hell's Gate. In the summer, hike along the Kettle River amid dramatic sandstone rock formations with lush lichens, liverworts and mosses. Visit Wolf Creek Falls, the Log Creek Arches and Robinson's Ice Cave. Stay at the new camper cabin (sleeps five people), which includes bunk beds, a table and benches. Take in the historic ruins of Banning Sandstone Quarry. The park is known for camping, picnicking, cross-country skiing, beautiful trails for hiking and the study of natural history.

Banning State Park website

The Hay Lake School was constructed in 1896. This was rural school district #2 and that district was organized in Washington County in 1855. After several years of school being held in local homes, the school was moved into the old Elim Lutheran Church building. The school used that structure, which is now a part of the Gammelgarden complex, until this brick school building was built. Hay Lake School was used by Washington County Rural School system until 1963. The school was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 1, 1970. The Erickson Log House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 17, 1976.

Hay Lake School and Erickson Log House Museum website

"Gammelgården" means Old Farm in Swedish. Visitors to the museum can step back in history and experience the lives of early Swedish immigrants in the only open air museum devoted to Swedish immigration in the United States. Today, in buildings that have been carefully preserved and restored, visitors can get a glimpse of the daily lives of these immigrants and participate in events and classes to learn more about the culture and times of the immigrants. Visit the many buildings on Gammelgården Museum's 11 acres site. Your tour guide will give a lots of information about the Välkommen Hus, Präst Hus, Gammel Kyrkan, Ladugård, Immigrant Hus and Swedish Stuga.

Gammelgården Museum website

Take the trail that winds along the edge of the Temperance River gorge and enjoy the rushing waterfalls surrounded by pine, spruce, cedar and birch forests. The rapidly flowing river has cut deep potholes in and along the riverbed. Hike the trail to Hidden Falls or connect up with trails into the Superior National Forest and the Cross River Wayside. Visitors come to camp and picnic along the shore of Lake Superior. Winter brings cross-country skiers and snowmobilers to tackle the hilly terrain. Carlton Peak, a recent addition to the park, is popular with rock climbers and offers even more recreational opportunities to park visitors.

Temperance River State Park website

Nestled on the Minnesota River, The Landing is located 30 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. Explore the grounds by yourself using interpretive media to discover how 19th-century Minnesotans established their lives on the frontier. Enjoy a peaceful stroll along the Minnesota River and enjoy stunning views of the lush river valley. The park is open for tours, educational events, group events and weddings. The park grounds and trails are open daily for self-guided exploration. Access to the park is free, though it does not include access inside the historic buildings.

The Landing at Minnesota River Heritage Park website

Located in the scenic Minnesota River Valley, visitors to the Stans Museum can explore interactive exhibits featuring unique history and people of Scott County, Minnesota. Named for Maurice H. Stans, the museum also includes exhibits commemorating Stans' life as an entrepreneur, African adventurer and public servant. Persons interested in genealogy research will want to investigate our Research Center & Archives.

Stans Museum website

"Experience the ultimate Homeschool Day at Valleyfair – where education meets excitement! Embark on an extraordinary learning adventure as we invite homeschoolers to turn our park into an outdoor classroom. Join us at Valleyfair for a day of unforgettable adventures, where the thrill of knowledge meets the excitement of the rides."

Valleyfair Amusement Park website

Come to McCarthy Beach State Park and you'll remember the lakes. Dig your toes into the sandy beach on Sturgeon Lake, rated one of the top 17 beaches in North America by Highways' Magazine. Launch a boat to explore Side Lake and the four connected lakes of the Sturgeon chain. Hikers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers enjoy the scenic trails winding through stands of large red and white pines. For longer ventures, head out on the Taconite Trail for access to hundreds of miles of additional trails.

McCarthy Beach State Park website

Come to this north-country wilderness park where waterfalls cascade through a volcanic canyon surrounded by majestic forest. The trails in the park are carved through a forest of fir, cedar, spruce, and northern hardwoods. Although the trails are steep and challenging for hikers and backpackers, they offer spectacular views. Secluded campsites are for backpackers only. Trout (brown, rainbow, and brook) and splake (a hybrid of brook and lake trout) reside in Benson Lake. Watch for moose, deer, bear, and wolves.

George Crosby Manitou State Park website

Come to Tettegouche for a great sense of the North Shore: the spectacular overlooks at Shovel Point; rocky, steep cliffs and inland bluffs; the cascading 60 ft. High Falls of the Baptism River; and the historic Tettegouche Camp where visitors can stay the night. This is a hiker's paradise with miles of trails that overlook the Sawtooth Mountains and wind down to inland lakes accessible only by foot. The Palisade Valley Unit features broad scenic vistas coupled with an expanse of multi-use, four-season trails. Two more trout lakes complement the fishing opportunities within the rest of the park. The park is also known for rock climbing opportunities and quality birdwatching in the spring, summer, and especially the fall.

Tettegouche State Park website

"The Sleepy Eye Depot Museum is operated by the Sleepy Eye Historical Society, in a restored 115 year old railroad depot. The museum displays everything 'Sleepy Eye' including items from both world wars, vintage clothing and items from early life in the 1890's and an original telegraph station are all used to tell the story of the depots history. Our local music culture, baseball history and family genealogy of Sleepy Eye residents can be explored as well. Artifacts of the towns Indian heritage are also displayed, coinciding with the large granite obelisk located just east of the building; a monument to our patron Chief Sleepy Eyes."

Sleepy Eye Area Depot Museum website

A century slips by when you visit this park. Visitors wear hard hats and journey down 2,341 feet via a "cage." On the 27th level, the transportation shifts to a rail car for a ride back into the mine as you listen to the stories of the mining days. Above ground visitors can explore the dry house, drill shop, crusher house and engine house. Visitors also can walk the boardwalk past one of the deepest open mine pits or hike the trails in the park through a northern hardwood conifer forest, past the famous Soudan Iron Formation.

Soudan Underground Mine State Park website

Grand oaks and delicate prairie flowers grace the rugged, rolling landscape of this park. Trails traverse remnant and restored prairies, wind down deep ravines and rise up to the grassy ridgetops and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Croix River. The trails are perfect for hikers, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. The park offers visitors a swimming beach, backpack campsites and a visitor center with interpretive displays.

Afton State Park website

"Blue Sun Soda Shop is proud to offer tours of the Whistler Soda bottling facility so you can see our vintage bottling in action. Whistler Classic Soda and North Star Craft Soda are both bottled on an authentic 1952 Crown, Cork and Seal Dixie Model F bottling line just like they used to do it in the good old days. The has a 10 person minimum, and a reservation is required. We can not guarantee that you’ll see bottling in action; it will depend on if they happen to be bottling that day. However, your group will enjoy a 30-45 minute class on how we make and bottle our soda. Afterwards, the group will move to our classic soda fountain to learn how to craft flavors and make your own soda to enjoy. We tailor our tours to all different age groups and interest groups. Additionally, we are wheelchair accessible to accommodate the needs of everyone."

Blue Sun Soda Shop website

A visit to the Stearns History Museum makes a perfect family activity. With two floors of exhibits, a Research Center, Museum Store, and a children's playroom, there is something for everyone in the family. Walk four miles of nature trails and enjoy the woods, prairie, and ponds of Heritage Park.

Stearns History Museum website

"The mission of the Pavek Museum is to share how pioneers in electronic communications created enormous impacts on the evolution of society, to inspire in people a passion to make contributions to our quality of life through science and the communication arts, and to preserve the rich mosaic of the development of electronic communications through a historically significant, permanent, and living repository. We have over 12,000 square feet of antique radios, televisions, and broadcast equipment. The bulk of our inventory is the original Joe Pavek Collection, but we've added a lot more over the years since we opened in 1988."

Pavek Museum of Broadcasting website

Offers an often surprising and always engaging view of contemporary works created in wood. Although all pieces on exhibit have been at least partially created on a lathe, the diversity of techniques, subjects, materials and ideas of each artist keeps each exhibit fresh and engaging. The Gallery of Wood Art also features educational exhibits, a display of vintage lathes, and a gallery gift store offering turned items, books and DVDs.

Gallery of Wood Art website

At Minnesota Children's Museum, kids will have a blast discovering an exciting, immersive world that arouses their curiosity, increases their understanding, and ignites an appreciation for learning.

Minnesota Children's Museum website

At the Science Museum, learners will find interactive exhibits filled with stories about science, cultures, discoveries, and the people who observe and analyze our world. K–12 field trip groups have the opportunity to engage with one another and spark a lifelong love of science. Educators can pick which permanent and/or traveling exhibits their classes will experience during the field trips, which can help tailor the students’ experiences to learning objects and other goals.

Science Museum of Minnesota website

The Dakota County Historical Society continues to build upon the efforts of Fred E. Lawshe and others who have worked for the Society over the years. There are now over 25,000 objects in the museum's collections and more than 20,000 photographs. New exhibits include Pioneering Black Families of Dakota County, Agriculture: The Foundation of Dakota County, the Diaries of Jane Doe: Women's Healthcare in Dakota County, World War I, Hastings Needlework, Women's Suffrage, Old Town Up Close, the history of Lockheed Martin and predecessor companies, as well as highlighted artifacts from the South St. Paul Stockyards.

Dakota County Historical Society website

Come learn about St. Paul's railroad history at our unique and FUN museum! Located in St. Paul at the historic Jackson Street Roundhouse - built in 1907 by James J. Hill as a train maintenance facility. The building has been restored and is now a fully functioning train restoration shop and family-friendly museum.

Minnesota Transportation Museum - Jackson Street Roundhouse website

"Established in 1976, and named in honor of the Goldstein sisters, The Goldstein Museum of Design (GMD) is a research center in the College of Design and the only design museum in the Upper Midwest. Through our teaching collection of 36,000+ multidisciplinary objects and free, public exhibitions on the St. Paul and East Bank campuses, we advance learning in design history and practice for students and the greater community."

The Goldstein Museum of Design website

Jane and Heman Gibbs settled on the frontier site in 1849. By 1900, the Gibbs family was operating a market-garden farm on the edge of a growing metropolitan region. The house, which reached its present size in 1874, is furnished the way a farm house close to the city would have been in 1900. There are also two Dakotah-style tipi at the Gibbs Museum.

Gibbs Farm website

The Commemorative Air Force was founded to acquire, restore and preserve in flying condition a complete collection of combat aircraft which were flown by all military services of the United States, and selected aircraft of other nations, for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations of Americans. Today, the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing is home to six aircraft, a large motor pool fleet, and a unique collection of World War II artifacts that are on display at Fleming Field in South Saint Paul, MN.

Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing website

This landmark building houses an award-winning museum, a library housing the state’s historical documents, meeting spaces of all sorts, a museum store, and the Market House cafe. It’s also home to the Minnesota Historical Society’s collections and archives. Collecting items from the state’s past helps illuminate Minnesota history, and the museum’s award-winning, interactive exhibits present these collections at visitors’ fingertips. Each exhibit is designed to immerse visitors old and young in the stories of the past. Featuring voices of real people reminiscing about their experiences, special effects, and opportunities to learn while playing, the commitment to authenticity is apparent at every turn.

Minnesota History Center website

What do the Mayo Clinic and the Green Giant Company have in common? Their stories begin in the same modest home in Le Sueur. Explore the home with costumed guides and hear stories of the Mayo and Cosgrove families who lived here in this home before founding the Mayo Clinic and the Green Giant Company.

W.W. Mayo House website

"The Czech and Slovak Cultural Center partners with subject-matter experts and various local groups dedicated to Czech and Slovak culture. Working together, we present films, lectures, and musical performances. Additionally, these groups are dedicated to folk dance, Czech and Slovak literature, and exploring language."

Czech and Slovak Cultural Center of Minnesota website

"The Minnesota Air National Guard Museum is home to one of the largest displays of military aircraft in the five-state area. The 21-aircraft displayed in our airpark include fighters, cargo planes, helicopters, and utility aircraft used by the US military from pre-WWII to the present day. In the hangars are displays of ejections seats, flight simulators, jet and piston engines, plus weaponry from WWI to the present day. Also on display are ancillary artifacts, historical documents, photographs, manuscripts, and books are also on display. There are also Doolittle and Tuskegee Airmen exhibits."

Minnesota Air National Guard Museum website

Experience the Schubert Club Music Museum's galleries: Music Makers Zone, where visitors can explore, discover and create music with instruments from around the globe, and Keyboard Journey, where visitors will be immersed in the sights and sounds of Schubert Club's keyboard and composer letter collections.

Schubert Club Music Museum website

The Mississippi River's character changes more throughout the 72-mile stretch of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area than anywhere else along its 2,350-mile course. The river enters the northern corridor as a free-flowing prairie river and moves downstream to plunge over St. Anthony Falls and into the river's narrowest gorge. Eight and one-half miles later, the river exits the gorge to become the country's dominant floodplain river and part of the largest inland navigation system on earth. Through the eight and one-half mile gorge, the Mississippi drops more than 110 feet, the river's steepest descent anywhere. The river's rapidly changing character explains why the national river and recreation area has such a unique concentration of nationally significant resources.

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area website

For more than 20 years the Ordway has been a destination for thousands of students and educators, welcoming public, private and homeschools from throughout the region to experience the magic of live music, dance, puppetry and theater. Performances are both engaging and educational, starting with artists and art forms that inspire and ignite imaginations. School performances are programed for students in grades PK-12. Tickets start at just $4 a ticket.

Ordway Center For the Performing Arts website

Located in the heart of the Twin Cities, this park offers extensive hiking, bike and ski trails that link to Minnehaha Park and the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Canoe on Gun Club Lake, play golf, swim in Snelling Lake, or hike on Pike Island where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers converge. Interpretive exhibits and films on display in the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center give visitors a good background on the history and resources of the park and area. Trails also allow visitors to hike up to the historic Fort Snelling for a view of military life in the 1820s. This is a day-use only park; no camping is available.

Fort Snelling State Park website

Animals, family fun, and gardens all in one place. Located in historic Como Park, this popular zoo, especially known for its California sea lion exhibit, also features a great cat display, gorillas and giraffes.

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory website

The Treaty Site History Center is the headquarters of the Nicollet County Historical Society. You can stroll through a restored prairie (Traverse des Sioux Historic Site) adjacent to the Treaty Site History Center. Located inside the Treaty Site, you can take in absorbing exhibits that change periodically through out the year. While you are at the Treaty Site, you can learn about the 1851 Treaty that altered the future and the territory soon to become Minnesota in a semi-permant exhibit. Also, come and enjoy some of the many programs that the Nicollet County Historical Society has all year round, from the annual meeting to the "Shadows at the Crossing."

Treaty Site History Center website

This neo-Gothic, wood-frame dwelling is known as much for its architectural beauty as for its association with its original owner, St. Peter's first mayor. Eugene Saint Julien Cox served as an officer in the Civil War before becoming a lawyer and eventually a district judge. The extraordinary house has a prominent tower, elaborate pinnacles, finials and bargeboards with cusped traceries. Today it is a museum administered by the Nicollet County Historical Society.

Eugene Saint Julien Cox House website

Stand on top of the scenic glacial hills and experience the vast, open prairie which once dominated Minnesota. Wildflowers and prairie grasses blanket the landscape from spring through fall. Swim, fish or boat (electric motors only) in the fresh, clear waters of 56-acre Mountain Lake. A shady, spacious campground is available; horseback riders and backpack campers can camp at the trail center and at remote sites. Canoe rental available. A picnic area deck overlooks Mountain Lake.

Glacial Lakes State Park website

The Warden’s House Museum was built in 1853 as the residence of the Minnesota Territorial Prison warden. Over the next six decades, there were thirteen wardens that lived in the house until 1914 when the prison moved to its present site in Bayport. After 1914, a Deputy Warden or Superintendent of the prison used the old Warden’s House. In 1941, the State of Minnesota sold the house to the Washington County Historical Society and it was opened as the second house museum in the state in June 1941. The museum consists of 14 rooms decorated in the late 19th and early 20th century style. Many rooms are like that of a upper middle class Victorian household while other rooms house exhibits showcasing Washington County history such as the lumber industry, the 1965 St. Croix Valley Flood, and of course, the Old Stillwater Prison.

Warden's House Museum website

Cast your line for walleye, northerns, bass, and sunfish in Monson Lake. Birdwatchers look for white pelicans, herons, western grebes, and songbirds in this 187-acre park with a diverse landscape of wetlands and hardwood forests. The park includes a quiet campground and wooded picnic area. Paddle the lake and take a short portage that leads from Monson Lake to West Sunburg Lake.

Monson Lake State Park website

There is so much to do at Interstate State Park, located on the beautiful St. Croix River. Visitors can climb the cliffs of the St. Croix River Dalles, canoe the flat-water, watch kayakers rush through the rapids, or relax on a excursion boat. Spring brings a great diversity of wildflowers and in fall, the St. Croix River Valley forest is ablaze in the autumn colors of red, gold, and orange. The geology that formed this park intrigues visitors, and brings geologists from all over the world. At least 10 different lava flows are exposed in the park, along with two distinct glacial deposits, and traces of old streams valleys and faults. During the summer, hike the trails and explore the glacial potholes that make this park unique.

Interstate State Park website

Gooseberry Falls is the gateway to the North Shore. It is known for its spectacular waterfalls, river gorge, Lake Superior shoreline, Civilian Conservation Corps log and stone structures, and north woods wildlife. Hike or ski to see the Fifth Falls through a forest of evergreens, aspen, and birch. Enjoy camping in modern campsites, picnicking, and relaxing along the Lake Superior shoreline or the Gooseberry River. To get the most out of your visit, stop by the Joseph N. Alexander Visitor Center where you can find park information, interpretive displays, a park video, Nature Store, and more. Or visit the Gateway Plaza for outdoor interpretive signs on area resources and history.

Gooseberry Falls State Park website

This park is situated on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Perhaps best known for its historic lighthouse, this park offers numerous recreational opportunities. Visitors can cart-in their supplies to pristine campsites along Lake Superior. Scenic trails along the lake link up to the spectacular Superior Hiking Trail. Anglers cast their lines for lake trout, salmon, and brown trout. The rocky beach is perfect for skipping stones into Lake Superior.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park website

A private, non-profit organization established in 1940 to collect, preserve and interpret the history of Carver County. Shares this history through the Historical Society's exhibits, local research library, adult and children's programs, newsletter and website

Carver County Historical Society website

The museum offers 15 exhibits featuring artifacts depicting the lifestyles of early pioneers. Among the displays are: elegant wedding fashions, 1920s-30s garments, country school items, military uniforms and equipment, American Indian artifacts, and much more.

Wadena County History Museum website

The Walnut Grove Museum's collections are housed in a series of buildings, including an 1898 depot, a chapel, an onion-domed house, dugout display, little red schoolhouse, early settler home, and covered wagon display.

Walnut Grove: Childhood Home of Laura Ingalls Wilder website

Minnesota's last true wilderness. This two-part recreation area includes a northern unit and a southern unit. The 500-square-mile peat bog, the largest in the lower 48 states, is located in the northern unit. A mile-long boardwalk, completed in 2005, enables visitors to get a first-hand look at the unique plant and animal life of this rare resource. The bog, which has long been a source of medicinal plants for the Ojibwe Indians, represented a barrier to European settlers who tried in vain to drain it. Today, many of the native plants, including yellow-eyed grass, bog rush and two kinds of sundews, are on Minnesota's endangered or threatened species list. From orchids to carnivorous plants to rare birds, visitors will see a mixture of fascinating and rare resources.

Big Bog State Park website

Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail runs through Sakatah Lake State Park and stretches 39 miles from Mankato to Faribault. The paved trail offers hikers, bikers, skiers, and snowmobilers beautiful scenery through Minnesota's hardwoods. Sakatah Lake, a natural widening of the Cannon River, lures canoeists to paddle the calm waters, and anglers to catch walleye, large mouth and white bass, northern pike, and panfish. Whatever the season, visitors enjoy camping and picnicking.

Sakatah Lake State Park website

Lac qui Parle is a French translation of the name given to the lake by the Dakota Indians who called it the "lake that speaks." If you visit in the spring or fall you'll understand why. The lake is a stop over for thousands of migratory Canada geese and other waterfowl. You'll hear a chorus of honking, quacking, and other vocalizations. Paddle the lake, or cast a line and catch walleye, northerns, perch, or crappie. Explore one of the trails by foot or horseback. Visit the historic Fort Renville and Lac qui Parle mission sites. While in the area, be sure to visit the 27,000-acre Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area.

Lac Qui Parle State Park website

After visiting Zippel Bay, you'll remember the sunsets, and the miles of white sand beach. The park is located on the shores of Lake of the Woods, one of the world's largest lakes. Because of its size, the lake freezes much later than most lakes and remains ice covered much later in the spring. In the spring hear the ice as it is stressed by wind and compression. During the winter, visitors will be treated to the intricate ice forms on rocks and the shore. The mood of the lake is always changing, from three-foot high crashing waves, approaching storms and lightening flashes, to an eerie stillness with faint sounds from a thousand raucous gulls, out of sight in the lakes interior. The 3,000-acre park offers a swimming beach on the big lake, a marina in Zippel Bay and stone jetty providing access to Lake of the Woods and safe passage off the lake. Watch for sandhill cranes and piping plovers. The park offers drive-in campsites and a group camp.

Zippel Bay State Park website

The Pickwick Mill was built from 1856 to 1858 by Thomas Grant and Wilson Davis and is one of the oldest water powered gristmills found in southeast Minnesota. The mill was constructed as a gristmill and sawmill on the banks of Big Trout Creek located in Pickwick Minnesota. The mill ran 24 hours a day during the Civil War and produced 100 barrels daily for the Union Army. After the war, the mill became a flour-milling center for most of southern Minnesota and portions of Iowa and Wisconsin.

Pickwick Mill website

This is beautiful bluff country! The park contains two Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs), King's and Queen's Bluff. The King's Bluff trail offers a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River Valley. Bring your binoculars; the river valley is a major flyway for waterfowl, eagles, and hawks. Explore the diversity in this park: oak-hickory and maple-basswood forests, pine plantations, fields, and goat prairies offer visitors excellent hiking and a diversity of wildlife. Look for ruffed grouse, wild turkeys, coyotes, and many species of songbirds.

Great River Bluffs State Park website

John A. Latsch, a successful Winona businessman and founder of the Izaak Walton League, loved to fish in the waters of the Mississippi River below the bluffs of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Today, a half-mile hike up the deep ravine for a view from these peaks is well worth the effort. From this vantage point, visitors relish a grand long view of the Mississippi River Valley, the green lush forest in the summer, and the colors in the fall.

John A. Latsch State Park website

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8 Minneapolis-Inspired Field Trip Ideas

Let's face it, this school year is anything but normal. Whether you've gone all virtual or are trying out hybrid learning, students can still get educational experiences outside the house. If you're looking to take classes to the next level check out our ideas for a Minneapolis field trip.

1. Take an Adventure Into the Wild

Complement a few of those science lessons with a trip to see animals from all over the world and learn about their natural habitats. The Minnesota and Como Zoos have plenty of opportunities to see wildlife up close while SEA LIFE at Mall of America has an aquarium experience that lets you explore thousands of creatures from giant sharks to rescued sea turtles and more.

2. Sample the World During a Geography Lesson

Take a trip to multiple countries without leaving the city. Midtown Global Market offers a chance to not only get a crash course in geography, but also sample many different foods, traditions and cultures.

3. Connect with History

Minneapolis is full of history, and learning about the past is a great way to understand and connect with local communities. The Minnesota African American Heritage Museum & Gallery gives visitors a look at the achievements, contributions and experiences of Black people throughout the history of our state. For even more local discoveries head over to the Hennepin History Museum and view exhibits and galleries focused on the diverse history of Hennepin County and the city of Minneapolis.

4. Study Nature

Get a better understanding of the natural world all around us. At the gardens surrounding Como Park and the Landscape Arboretum , you can observe multiple fields full of plants and flowers. Get even more scientific at the Bell Museum . As the official natural history museum of Minnesota, you can explore local habitats, specimens, and landscapes.

5. Step Into a World of Creativity

Get a first-hand look at the work of famous artists. Study their techniques and learn about their history at some of Minneapolis' most popular art museums like the Walker Art Center , the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Weisman Art Musuem . Or put together your own tour and visit all the public art murals around town.

6. Think Outside the Box

Math and science lessons get a fun twist with all the interactive learning exhibits at the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Bakken Museum . To really put minds at work, try out The Escape Room or Trapped Puzzle Room where teams have to use logic to solve clues and puzzles.

7. Create Your Own Jam Session

When you’re the birthplace of Prince, a music lesson isn’t complete without visiting his home/studio at Paisley Park . If you're interested in exploring more Minneapolis music connections , go on a shopping trip to Electric Fetus , Minneapolis' most famous record store, and sift through an eclectic mix of music styles and artists.

8. Take a Study Break

Consider a trip to Theodore Wirth Park. With the park's year-round activities , you don’t need a big gymnasium to release all that pent-up energy. If you prefer indoor activities, REM5 takes "learning by doing" to a whole new level with virtual reality. Their programs like Google Earth, where you can stroll the streets of cities around the world, will not only keep you active but give you a learning experience like no other.

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9 Amazing Field Trips Every Minnesotan Took As A Kid... And Should Retake Now

Jo Magliocco

Minnesota staff writer for Only in Your State and owner of Minnesota blog NorthGuide.co, I'm a Minneapolis transplant who loves my cats, camera, and local coffee. On the weekends I'm usually exploring the North Shore or making my way through the list of Minnesota's State Parks. Want to talk about MN or ask me a question? Tweet me @sotafiedjo!

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Whether you have kids, or still wish you were one, it’s always fun to revisit places you remember going as a child. And nothing was more exciting in childhood than going on field trips! With a trip to one of these 9 classic MN field trip spots, you can feel the elation that you once experienced when you knew you were missing a day of regular, boring class to explore somewhere new and exciting.

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OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Preschool » Prospective Familiess

Options for your field trip, before you choose a program, read field trip information..

Air Around Us

• 1st–3rd Grade
• 60 Student Max

From a gentle breeze to a gale, air is always around us, constantly on the move and impacting our lives. In this program, students will use tools to measure wind and record their observations of the air around us.

Animal Tracks and Signs

• 80 Student Max
• 1–1.25 hours

There are stories in the clues left behind by the animals that live here at Dodge. Learn to find tracks, patterns, signs, homes, and scat. Then unravel the story of an animal’s adventures from your careful observations.

Aquatic Life

• K–6th Grade
• 1–1.5 hours

The ponds and wetlands of Dodge are home to a multitude of different plants and animals. Students will collect, observe, study and then return aquatic animals to various aquatic habitats in this hands-on exploration.

Bee Ecology

• 35 Student Max
• 1.25–1.5 hours

From their role in pollinating crops to the sweet honey they make, bees are an important part of our world. Learn more about their life cycles as you watch a beekeeper open a working hive. Then learn about honey extraction and taste the sweet results.

*August and September Only

Birds of a Feather

• 1st Grade–Adult

They fly, they swim, they walk on land—what group of animals are we talking about? Birds! Students will learn about adaptations that help birds survive in a variety of habitats through exploration with bird artifacts, a visit with a live bird, and a short hike to look for wild birds.

Bones, Bones, Bones

• 3rd Grade–Adult

Skeletons provide structure, protection and movement. Students will analyze bones from different animals to compare their forms and functions, including dissecting sterilized owl pellets. This program has an additional fee for materials.

• PreK–Adults

Tour our barn, chicken coop and pastures at the Main Property in West St. Paul. You’ll enjoy the sights and sounds (and smells) of a small, sustainable farm as you see and learn about farm life, farm animals and the roles they play in peoples’ lives. *Children must be at least three years old.

Hens and Roosters

The most common farm animal in the world is also one of the most interesting. Get a very close look at the life cycle of chickens on our farm. Tour the coop, hold a chicken, check for eggs and see the free range flock as the roosters crow all the while.

Honey Bees and Apple Trees

• K–2nd Grade
• 30 Student Max

The interaction between honey bees and apple trees in the spring allows us to enjoy the harvest of honey and apples in the fall. Learn how bees act as pollinators and how various life cycles are connected. Taste the apples and honey that are the products of pollination while watching bees work.

• K–5th Grade

Grab a net and a jar and we’ll be off to see what 6-legged creatures live here at Dodge. We’ll look for eggs and larvae while learning about insects’ life cycles, find predators and prey, and catch and release a bug or two. No log shall be left unturned in this insect adventure.

*Ends first week of October

Intro to Nature

Look up, look down, look all around—nature surrounds us at Dodge Nature Center! Practice your observation and recording skills on a naturalist-led hike where you’ll use your senses to discover the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of the natural world.

Life in the Cold

• 3rd Grade–Adults

Winter presents life-and-death struggles for Minnesota animals who face limited sunlight, cold, snow, and ice. Learn how animals use migration, hibernation, and adaptation to deal with winter conditions as we hike the woods, prairie, and frozen ponds of Dodge to observe some of these strategies in action.

Investigate the lives of Minnesota’s mammals and uncover what foods they prefer to eat. Learn to classify mammals as herbivores, carnivores or omnivores by examining clues from their skulls and diets.

Maple Syruping

Celebrate the return of spring by observing the age-old process of turning tree sap into syrup. Students will help tap a tree, collect sap, visit the evaporator and sample some delicious maple syrup. Dress for the snowy, muddy trails.

*March Only

Minnesota Wildlife

Which wild animals live where we are? This program will introduce students to some of Minnesota’s wildlife through investigating various habitats and visiting with live animals.

Orienteering

• 4th Grade–Adult

Finding your way is a skill. Practice with a compass to find direction and pacing to measure distance. Then use teamwork as small groups to navigate our orienteering courses. Compasses are provided.

Papermaking

• 50 Student Max

Make your own paper from recycled and natural materials. Students will compare different types of paper and paper products and learn the process of making paper by doing it themselves.

*January Only

Physics on the Farm

• 5th Grade–Adult

From pulleys to levers, ramps to wheels, the farm is filled with simple machines that illustrate principles of physics. At the Main Property in West St. Paul, students will discover the physics used in farm machinery, tools and building design, and work together to complete farm tasks using simple tools and physics.

Raptors: Hunters from Above

• 45 Student Max

Meet one of nature’s most amazing groups of animals – raptors. See a live raptor and participate in hands-on activities to better understand the critical role these birds play in the environment.

Renewable Energy

The sun is a source of energy that humans use in direct and secondary ways. Through hands-on activities, students will be introduced to how sunlight and wind are used to generate electricity.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Discover the world of the cold-blooded creatures as students compare and contrast the reptiles and amphibians in our live animal collection. Students will be able to observe and interact with many native species in this hands-on adventure.

Seasons Hike

• 100 Student Max

Each season is unique and brings many changes to the land as well as the plants and animals living there. In this program students explore the prairies, ponds, and forests of Dodge using your five senses to find the best of what each season has to offer.

Sky-Watching

• 2nd Grade–Adult

The night sky and its many celestial objects have fascinated humans throughout time. Learn about the moon and why it seems to change shape. Play a game to learn about stars, planets, and other objects in space. Then explore constellation stories inside a portable star lab. This class is designed for either day or night programs, regardless of the weather.

*December Only

Sounds of Nature

Sound surrounds us every day and is an important way for people and animals to gather information about their world. Through activities and a hike, learn how sounds are made and how animals use sound to communicate.

• K–4th Grade
• 1 - 1.25 hours

Trees are a vital element in the lives of many animals. Learn about the life cycle of trees, discover how they are alike and different, and explore how they are used by people and animals as you use your senses to explore the forests of Dodge.

Water is the basis of all life on earth. We find it in many locations as it moves in the water cycle. Students will participate in hands-on activities to learn how water travels and how humans impact water quality through our actions and choices.

Wilderness Skills

Practice teamwork and problem-solving to learn about surviving in the wilderness. In small groups, students will build survival shelters and learn about fire-building in the outdoors.

Winter Technologies

Being outdoors in a Minnesota winter can be cold, snowy and challenging for plants, animals, and people. Inventions, both old and new, allow us to explore the winter landscape. We’ll predict and record temperatures in the air, under the snow, and under the ice as well as cut through the ice and snow

*January and February Only

Ready for your visit?

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K–12 Field Trips & Groups

Explore, discover, and connect with the Bell Museum

K-12 Booking for the 2024-25 school year is now open. Please note: we are fully booked for 2023-2024 field trips.

The Bell Museum brings together science, art, and the environment with a unique Minnesota perspective. We offer school groups a high-quality learning experience, working with you to achieve your educational goals, no matter where you are in the state!

Download our educator brochure for a concise overview of our educator programs, plus offerings by grade.

Educator Programs Brochure

• Field trips are scheduled for Wednesday-Friday (and select Tuesdays)
• Field trips must be booked a minimum of four weeks prior to the visit date
• Scholarships are available for qualified schools. Please inquire when booking
• School groups must be a minimum of 25 students. If you have a large number of students, we may ask to split your group into two bookings or two separate dates
• If you are interested in our pilot Indigenous Field Trip programs for the 2024-2025 school year, you can express your interest and be added to a list to stay updated as the planning for those trips are finalized

Create your own visit by choosing and combining experiences (museum visit, planetarium, science lab). The first experience is $6 per student and each additional experience is just $3 per student. Pricing includes teachers, 1:1 support staff, and one free adult for every 8 students; additional adults are charged the student rate. Invoices for payment will be sent after your visit.

One experience:  $6 per student

Two experiences:  $9 per student

Three experiences:  $12 per student

Scholarships

Scholarships and bus funding are available for qualified schools.

Booking & Visit Details

Field trips must be booked at least four weeks in advance. The minimum size for discounted educational group rates is 15 people. 

We encourage you to submit your preferred date/time. You will receive a confirmation of your request:

• When bookings open in April, we will prioritize confirmation of field trip dates between September-November 2024. 
• If you are requesting a field trip for a date after December 1, 2024, you will hear from the booking team by October 9t h.
• You will receive confirmation of your booking date and scholarship status (if requested) at the same time.
• Send only 1 request per field/trip group. Multiple requests (ex. from different teachers) may delay your confirmation.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] .

K-12 Field Trip Request Form

Accessibility: The Bell Museum strives to make its facility accessible to all. We work with groups to provide appropriate accommodations for their specific needs to facilitate a lasting and meaningful experience for everyone. Please let us know of your needs when booking your experience. We are happy to arrange captioning, ASL interpretation, or other accommodations with a two-week notice. For additional information, please ask during booking.

Lunch Space: Limited space is available for groups booking 2 or more experiences at no additional cost. Bag lunches must be brought from school/home—the Bell museum is not able to provide food for lunch or refrigeration. Lunch space must be reserved at time of booking and is not guaranteed .

Inclement Weather: In the case of school closures, we will work with groups to reschedule the visit for a later date as space is available. Please contact us as soon as possible once you know your school will be closed.

Cancellations: Cancellations will only be accepted for cases of extenuating circumstances such as: busing or transportation issues, inclement weather, or other extraordinary circumstances. There is a one-time option to reschedule, dependent on availability.

Complete Teacher Visit Form

K-12 Experiences

Minnesota Journeys

Exhibit Galleries

Hands-on learning

Science Labs

Immersive digital theater

Planetarium Shows

All in One Field Trip Experience

Indigenous Field Trip Programs: On Native Land

Virtual Bell experiences

Virtual K-12 Programs

Traveling Planetarium

ExploraDome

Complement your science curriculum

Home Schooling

Learning opportunities for educators

Summer Professional Development

If you have any questions please contact [email protected] .

Already booked your visit? Click here for resources!

Support for k12 education programs & scholarships generously supported by:.

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Field Trip Info       |      Homeschool/Daycare Info

Book Your Field Trip to the Museum

10 permanent exhibits and great visitor amenities. The experiences cultivate essential skills, including critical thinking, communication, creative thinking and more. We create an educational environment infused with excitement and hands-on interactions, making the museum one of the top destinations in Minnesota for educator and student visits.

Tackle challenges, fire up critical thinking skills and spark creativity as you explore the museum’s interactive and engaging galleries. All exhibit experiences fuel playful learning adventures that support state and national standards. Our exhibits

Field Trip Details

Grade Level:   PreK – 5

Group Size*:   Minimum 20 children. Chaperone ratio of 1:4 is strongly recommended (chaperones admitted FREE).

Standard Rate:   $7.50 per child

Play for All   Group Scholarship Rate: $5.50 per child

Chaperones admitted FREE

Availability:   Wednesday–Thursday

Visit Length:   2–3 hours

Reserve: Schedule your field trip today! Please fill out the form below or if you have questions call 651-225-6000

*Special needs groups: Please call 651-225-6000.

Field Trip to the Museum Request Form

Field trips at minnesota children's museum.

• This form is for requesting a field trip reservation - if you have questions about field trips and are not ready to request a date please call us at 651-225-6000. All requests must be made at least 2 weeks in advance and are subject to availability. Filling out this form does not confirm or guarantee your reservation. After hitting the SUBMIT button for this form, you will receive a confirmation email. You will also receive a follow-up email within 2-3 business days with details to complete the process. If we cannot accommodate your field trip request, we will reach out with possible alternatives for your group. Self-guided field trips are available Wednesdays–Thursdays between 9 am - 3:45 pm. We recommend a 2-3 hour visit.
• Please note that our group availability is limited. We currently don't have openings for May 2024 and are only accepting groups of 100 people (chaperones and students) or fewer for June-August 2024. If we cannot accommodate your field trip request, we will reach out with possible alternatives for your group.
• 1st Choice: Visit Date (available Wed-Thurs Only) * MM slash DD slash YYYY
• 2nd Choice: Visit Date (available Wed-Thurs Only) * MM slash DD slash YYYY
• 3rd Choice: Visit Date (available Wed-Thurs Only) * MM slash DD slash YYYY
• Please indicate your arrival and departure preference. We will do our best to maximize the time spent in the museum based on your indicated availability. Arrival times begin at 9 am and are available every 15 minutes. We do not accept arrivals between 11:15 and 12:45 due to our lunch reservation schedule. Departure times are available every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. until 3:45 p.m.
• When is the earliest time you could arrive? * Times begin at 9 am and are available every 15 minutes
• When is the latest time you could arrive? * Times begin at 9 am and are available every 15 minutes
• When is the earliest time you would like to depart? * Times are available every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. until 3:45 p.m.
• When is the latest time you could depart? * Times are available every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. until 3:45 p.m.
• Summer 2024 Lunch Availability
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
• I would not like to reserve a lunch
• Please include any notes or special requests:
• How many students will visit the museum? (20 children minimum) * Please enter a number greater than or equal to 20 .
• How many chaperones will join? (We recommend at least 1 adult for every 4 students; all chaperones are free of charge.) *
• Kindergarten
• If yes, what are the names for each classroom/location?

Contact Information

• We will contact you with any questions and to confirm your reservation.
• Teacher/Coordinator Name * First Last
• Please provide information for the person who will be present at the field trip and the main point of contact for museum staff throughout the reservation.
• Field Trip Contact Name * First Last
• Field Trip Contact Email *
• Field Trip Contact Phone *
• Teacher/Coordinator Email *
• Teacher/Coordinator Phone Number *
• School/Organization Name *
• Street Address * Street Address Address Line 2 City Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah U.S. Virgin Islands Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Europe Armed Forces Pacific State ZIP Code

Museum Policies and Agreement

• Please send me information about your Play for All Group Scholarship Program for schools and nonprofit organizations that serve economically disadvantaged children and families.
• Digital Signature * I confirm that the information I have provided is accurate, and that I have read and agree to Minnesota Children's Museum's policies and scheduling procedures.

Homeschool & Licensed Home Day Care Discount Programs

Homeschool families and licensed home day care providers are welcome to join our discount program to make museum visits convenient and affordable. Sign up for a year’s access to endless amounts of fun at a reduced cost!

Group Size: Maximum of 20 children Cost: $6.50 per child (age 1 and older) Chaperones admitted FREE No reservations or minimum group size requirements.

Community Nights

Empower family learning and build school community by hosting exclusive use of the museum for a community night.

Group Size : Up to 250 children and adults included in rate. Additional visitors are $50 per 50 people. Cost: Standard Rate: $3,000 Non-Profit Rate: $1,750 Available: Tuesday or Thursday evenings, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Reserve: Call 651-225-6000 to schedule

Upcoming Special Exhibits

Sept. 12, 2024 - Jan. 5, 2025

Get up close with the most curious little monkey and follow his lead as you engage in math, science and engineering activities modeled after Curious George’s own adventures.

Winter 2025

Travel back in time and come face-to-face with dinosaurs as you discover what life was like when they roamed the earth. Dig for fossils, explore a swampy bog and oozing volcano, climb through icy terrain and much more. Explore the extraordinary world of dinosaurs!

More Upcoming Experiences

• This form is for requesting a field trip reservation - if you have questions about field trips and are not ready to request a date please call us at 651-225-6000. All requests must be made at least 2 weeks in advance and are subject to availability. Submission of this form does not confirm or guarantee your reservation. You will receive a confirmation email once this process is complete. If we cannot accommodate your field trip request, we will reach out with possible alternatives for your group. Self-guided field trips are available Wednesdays–Fridays between 9 am - 3:45 pm. We recommend a 2-3 hour visit.
• Please note that our group availability is limited. If we cannot accommodate your field trip request, we will reach out with possible alternatives for your group.
• 1st Choice: Visit Date (available Wed-Fri Only) * MM slash DD slash YYYY
• 2nd Choice: Visit Date (available Wed-Fri Only) * MM slash DD slash YYYY
• 3rd Choice: Visit Date (available Wed-Fri Only) * MM slash DD slash YYYY

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Field Trip Ideas in Minneapolis

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It’s back to school time here in Minnesota! Teachers are in full swing getting their classrooms ready, excited to have a brand new group of students! Most schools are getting ready to head back to the classroom! Along with prepping for flocks of new learners, teachers are busy making lesson plans. Field trips are an important part of the school year learning and teachers of elementary through high school students are always looking for new ideas. And in towns like Roseville, Minneapolis, St.Paul and Duluth are just a few districts gearing up for the fall school bell, so it’s never too early to get those field trips booked for the year. From zoos and aquariums to museums and historic sites, this quick list of field trip ideas in and around the state of Minnesota will be a helpful resource for teachers and school administrators!

Outdoor Field Trip Ideas

A shining beacon: split rock lighthouse.

Located one hour North of Duluth,   Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors  sits right on the shores of Lake Superior. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, field trip groups can explore the site while taking in views of the largest of the Great Lakes. Dating back to the 1920s, this landmark has a rich history and geography. Homeschool groups can participate in self-guided or guided tours of the lighthouse, keeper’s house, and more. There’s also a fun visitor center with some great visual exhibits and more.

From A to Zoo: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Found in the heart of St. Paul,  Como Park Zoo and Conservatory  is located in historic Como Park. This zoo features hundreds of animal species including gorillas, giraffes, big cats, and the hugely popular California sea lion exhibit. Field trip groups can spend the day learning about zoology and biology, along with educational programs about protecting animals. There is also an amusement park, with a carousel and activities for the little tykes. One of the most fascinating parts of the park is the amazing garden landscapes. They feature a lily pond, orchid house, and sunken gardens. It’s an opportunity for students to also work on botany lessons and spend a wonderful afternoon in nature.

Follow the Clues:  Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

Just an hour’s drive south of Rochester,  Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park  is located in the middle of Fillmore county and is one of the most unique field trip destinations in Minnesota. Groups can explore the great outdoors, trout streams, scenic hiking, and horse trails. There’s a restored 1800s village which is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society,  Students can also venture into the Mystery Cave, which is a 13-mile trek and the longest cave in the state. This site makes for a terrific educational trip in the state of Minnesota!

Indoor Field Trip Ideas 

Dive in seaquest roseville.

Take Flight! The Charles Lindbergh House and Museum

Situated on the Mississippi River, the Charles A. Lindbergh House and Museum is part of Charles Lindbergh State Park. The house and museum are managed and operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. This historic landmark is the site of the childhood home of Charles Lindbergh, the famous aviator whose 1927 flight from New York to Paris changed the industry of aviation forever. The museum features some great exhibits, a “Spirit of St. Louis” flight simulator, and an interpretive trail walk along the river. The park features a great picnic area, great for groups of field trips students to have a picnic lunch!

No Strings Attached: Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Take a journey into the heart of downtown Minneapolis, the  Minneapolis Institute of Art  has over 90,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history. Its collection represents the world’s diverse cultures across six continents. With a variety of sculptures, photographs, paintings, drawings, and prints, it’s a great field trip destination for kids to spend the day celebrating the arts and working through creative activities on a fun scavenger hunt!

Minnesota has a long list of field trip options to choose from, with plenty of indoor and outdoor activities that can fit in any semester of the school year. There are a number of amazing, fun, and educational experiences out there when it comes to school field trips in Minneapolis and beyond. This list has just some of the best field trip ideas out there.  From  SeaQuest Roseville to museums or artistic adventures, this list offers great suggestions to make a classroom learning experience feel like the trip of a lifetime!

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Bring your students to the places where history was made and where it is preserved. MNHS historic sites and museums around the state offer field trip programs that engage students and bring history to life.

Field trip destinations

The following historic sites and museums are hosting field trips during the 2023-24 school year.

Metro sites & museums

• Alexander Ramsey House St. Paul
• Historic Fort Snelling St. Paul
• James J. Hill House St. Paul
• Mill City Museum Minneapolis
• Minnesota History Center St. Paul
• Minnesota State Capitol St. Paul
• Oliver Kelley Farm Elk River

Greater Minnesota sites & museums

• Forest History Center    Grand Rapids
• Historic Forestville    Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park
• Jeffers Petroglyphs    Comfrey
• Lower Sioux Agency    Morton
• Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post    Onamia
• Snake River Fur Post    Pine City
• Split Rock Lighthouse    North of Two Harbors

Scholarship funds and subsidies

Scholarship funds and subsidies are available to help offset the cost of field trips and transportation. Discounts based on your school’s Free and Federal Reduced Lunch Program (FFRL) enrollment are available. Please check with your administration for your FFRL enrollment numbers.