U pick apple farms: Historic Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest

September 30, 2013 By

Families visiting or living in the Twin Cities can get their autumn apple fix at Minnesota Harvest, one of the biggest u pick apple farms in the midwest. With more than 50 varieties of apples grown on the farm, families can certainly find their favorite, and enjoy a long growing season well into late autumn.

u pick apples minnesota

If you want to make a day of it, add a horseback ride through Minnesota Harvest’s picturesque countryside, or peruse the offerings at the on-site bakery. Harvest bakers keep the kitchen stocked with fritters, apple bread, and dumplings.

On weekends, artisans and crafters are on site selling local and homemade goods, so be sure to support local artists while you’re at the farm. Check their picking schedule to time your visit with your favorite harvest, or plan your  visit to coincide with a weekend event, such as band performances. Every weekend in autumn includes family activities such as a petting zoo, tours of the historic farm, and wagon rides. A sunflower  maze is up and running as well!

Distance from the interstate:

30 minutes from I-394.

Admission:

$2 admission on Saturdays and Sundays, which includes: wagon ride, kiddie wagon ride, the sunflower maze, and a petting zoo. BBQ is available most weekends for an additional per plate fee.

Directions:

Minnesota Harvest is located at 8251 Old Highway 169 at Apple Lover’s Lane in Jordan, Minnesota. It’s 45 minutes from Minneapolis via I-394 and MN-100.

Photo credit: Flickr/BrianBirke

The Minnesota Zoo

September 19, 2011 By

The following pit stop submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com.

Located off 35E and Highway 77 in Apple Valley (just south of Minneapolis), the Minnesota Zoo is a destination in and of itself. The Zoo has both indoor and outdoor exhibits, and also boasts an IMAX theater. There are plenty of educational programs–just call ahead, or look online. There are strollers and wheelchairs for rent, a gift shop, and food available. The restrooms all have diaper changing areas, and there is a nursing area as well.

Minnesota Zoo_ Wandering Educators

Special Events include:
dolphin Training Sessions (10, 12, 2 & 4)
Biodiversity Puppet Adventure (Mondays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. until September 5, 2011)
Coral Reef Dive Show (10:30am)
seasonal cow milking demonstrations at the Wells Fargo Family Farm
seasonal splash pad with animal sculptures in an interactive water fountain
World of Birds Show
Shark Feedings (3pm daily)
Woodland Adventure (play area)

But let’s say you just want to walk around and explore! You can take the monorail through the outdoor part of the zoo, and see animals from Russia’s Grizzly Coast (sea otters, brown bears, tigers, leopards, and wild boar), takin, gazelle, prairie dogs, bison, Bactrian camels, Asian wild horses, moose, caribou, and musk ox. You can also walk the trail. There are benches along the way, restrooms, and occasionally a kids’ play area.

The Minnesota Trail is my favorite part: you can see lynx, cougar, wolverine, timberwolves, and beavers. There are educational stations and even places where you can get rubbings of tracks. This is outdoors, as well.

Heading there in the winter? Spend most of your time inside, and be warm in the Tropics Trail and Discovery Bay. You’ll see animals from tropical rain forests, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific, such as tamarin, red panda, lemurs, and gibbons. Also inside are penguins, bees, sharks, dolphins, snow monkeys, dolphins, and more. It’s a welcome relief from the cold!

Tip: Want to prepare your kids before you go? Spend a few weeks watching their live webcams (http://www.mnzoo.com/animals/animals_liveCam.asp) of beavers, dolphins, or gibbon. Be sure to take your camera: there are SO many opportunities to see such a wide variety of animals! And, there are so many kid play areas throughout the zoo, you’re sure to get good photos of your own critters!

Distance from the interstate: Minutes from I-35E

Admission cost: Kids 3-12 are $12, adults $18. Kids under three are free. More ticketing information can be found on the website.

Hours of operation: The zoo is open either 9 am to 4 pm or 9 am to 6 pm, depending on the season.

Directions:: The Minnesota Zoo is located at 13000 Zoo Boulevard in Apple Valley, MN just minutes south of Mall of America. Take Interstate 35W south to Highway 62 east. Exit taking Highway 77 south and follow it to County Road 38 east. Follow the brown-colored “Zoo” signs. For more information, visit mnzoo.org.

 

Hormel SPAM Museum

May 16, 2010 By

SPAM Museum, photo courtesy of minnemom, Travels with Children

1101 N. Main St.
Austin, MN

If you’ve ever wondered what exactly is in that famous mystery meat, and you happen to find yourself driving along I-90 through Minnesota, you simply have to stop with your family at Hormel’s SPAM Museum in Austin.

Opened in 2002 and located directly across the street from Hormel’s main meat plant, the 16,500 square foot museum is housed in its own custom building and introduces visitors to every aspect of SPAM-making (which would certainly be educational!). “Spambassadors” roam the main floor, acting as guides (and serving SPAM on toothpicks), adding to the lighthearted fun.

Hands-on SPAMMY fun, photo courtesy of minnemom, Travels with Children

TwinCitiesGal of The Vacation Gals recently reviewed the museum, saying, “My kids’ favorite section was the Spam Production where they could dress up like factory workers and “package” their own SPAM. Mine on the other hand was the Changing Market Place. It showed the difference between the shopping habits of the 1950’s and today. The comparison was astounding!” Read her full review!

Date last visited: May 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Right off I-90!

Hours and Admission Prices: Admission is FREE! Hours: Monday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-5. (Closed major holidays, open Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day.)

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Food Services: If you’re feeling daring, Johnny’s Spamarama restaurant is located directly across the street. Beware: the menu is full of SPAM dishes!

Phone: 507-437-5100

Directions: From I-90, take exit 178-B. Turn south onto 6th St, then right at the T onto 14th Ave. Bear right (straight) onto 15th Ave, which turns left and becomes Main St. Cross the bridge, turn right onto 11th Ave., and the museum will be on the left.

 

Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport

February 25, 2010 By

Photo courtesy of MSP International

Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport

Travelers through Minneapolis-St Paul are lucky enough to have not one, but two airport play spaces available to them (although we all know the truly lucky depart on their planes without any airport waiting with small kids at all!). Both play spaces feature a great play area with a huge plane, slide, and climbing area in addition to an air traffic control tower and beautiful murals of the Minneapolis skyline. The first is located by gate C12 (right by the tram stop to the other concourses). There is an A&W, Godfather’s Pizza and bookstore right next to it. If you have over an hour to kill in this airport it is definitely worth seeking it out.

The second play space is located on Level 2, inside security, at the Humphrey Terminal and includes a giant suitcase designed to educate young and (parental) travelers alike.

Date last visited: February 2010

Hours and Admission Prices: Free. Open during concourse hours.

Bathrooms: Nearby. Also: a Nursing Mothers Room is located at the Lindbergh Terminal on Concourse C near the play space. To obtain access, nursing moms should go to the Travelers Assistance desk across from Gate C12. The assistant will provide you access to the room, located at the north end of the Concourse Connector above the C rotunda food court and near the elevators.

Food Services: Several choices (see description above).

Website: http://www.mspairport.com/