ValleyFair and beyond.

This is to the Minnesota folks out there.

I am seriously considering the 7 hour drive from Chicago up to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Obviously ValleyFair and the Mall of America will be on the agenda for places to visit.

Besides these 2 must visits, what other places in the area are of great interest to see and do? Museums, zoo's, landmarks, or possibly the capital building(can I get an autograph from Jesse "The Body" Ventura? :) ) Oh wait, he isn't governor anymore. :)

Any help would be appreciated.

St. Paul has a great science museum that's worth a visit (especially if you see a film in the Omni Theatre). There are two area zoos, a free one in St. Paul and a very nice one closer to Valleyfair. If possible, you should time your trip so you can visit the Minnesota State Fair. It's one of the best fairs in the country, and the midway is fantastic.

There's more, of course, but I'll let the more local people help with that.

-Nate *** Edited 12/17/2003 6:59:16 AM UTC by coasterdude318***

Thanks Nate.

When is the state fair and where does it reside at?

Oh, I suppose I should have posted that info.

The State Fair runs from August 26 to Labor Day. It's held not far from downtown St. Paul and it's within walking distance of Como Zoo (the free one) if you wanted to do that too. It is also home to the world's best fried cheese curds.

http://www.mnstatefair.org/

-Nate *** Edited 12/17/2003 7:34:21 AM UTC by coasterdude318***

Cheese curds? How'd you get to cheese curds?

How 'bout the Space Roller, the SCAD tower, the Skyscraper and the other really good spin-and-spues that show up?

Oh yeah--there's been a Reverchon Crazy Mouse for the past few years too, but seeing that we'll be able to do tht year 'round, it might not be so big a deal.

And you course, you haven't lived until you've been stood up by yours truly on a MN visit...

-'Playa

It has snowed quite a bit so far this winter. You might want to schedule your visit early in May and you could go on the 'Playa Memorial Wave Pool that forms by Excalibur. Valleyfair has some flooding issues in the back of the park and at the pace of snowfall it might be a bad flood year. Keeping with the food threads, Labor Day weekend is Valleyfair's annual corn feed. All the cobs you can eat for free!

And grandpaw can eat 'em without his chompers...yeehaw!

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CoastaPlaya said:
Cheese curds? How'd you get to cheese curds?

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What do you mean? They're all over the place (along with much more of the best food on the planet).

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How 'bout the Space Roller, the SCAD tower, the Skyscraper and the other really good spin-and-spues that show up?

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The Topscan is really good if you're a fan of intense rides, but there have been enough little mistakes on the SCAD towers for me to not want to ride again. The one in the Dells is far better anyway. The real thrills on the midway (besides the Topscan) are the Afterburner and Fabbri Megadrop. The Mondial Shake is pretty good too.

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Oh yeah--there's been a Reverchon Crazy Mouse for the past few years too

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And a Zyklon, if that really thrills you... :)

-Nate

Zyklon? I was speaking of thrills here.

Oh yeah, I completely forgot about the Power Surge and that other thingie--what is the make and model of that 'Magnum' Ride where the airbrushed Tom Selleck looks more like Bozo with a Detroit Tigers cap?

-'Playa

Hahaha...the Magnum ride is the Mondial Shake. The Power Surge at the fair is decent (definitely better than Knoebels') but the KMG Afterburner and the Fabbri Megadrop are the real winners.

-Nate

Adam's site DOES kick butt, huh? :)

The Shake is something I'll *have* to ride once when I see one....The Megadrop, OTOH, is probably something I'd want to ride quite a few times...

Already getting excited about the FL State Fair in February....

Depending on when you go, you can always catch a Twins game, there is also the Minnesota Zoo and a couple casinos if your into gambling anyway.

Also if your into old hot rods, there is a Back to the 50's, 60's and 70's car shows. Over 10,000+ cars and trucks are up there.

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CoastaPlaya said:
And you course, you haven't lived until you've been stood up by yours truly on a MN visit...

-'Playa

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Ahhh, yes....totally made my Labor Day.....

Chitown,

as to what else to do for your trip, I would be remiss if I didn't echo the advice that someone;) beat me over the head with earlier this year, and suggest that you stop at Big Chief's in the Dells on your way up.

Heck, I'm literally 2 minutes off I-90 on the way up, so if you need a "partner in crime" for Cyclops, let me know....

Later,
EV

Lest we tap into the whole Chamber of Commerce spiel here, let's put this into perspective. The Twins play in a turf-laden dome from the 70s where fans wave little rags for team spirit. Anyone with that idea ever been to Comiskey? Sang along with Harry? Rooted for Sammy? Come on!

There's no comparing the Minnesota zoo with Brookfield, no comparing our new Science Museum with the Field Museum and so on and so forth. It's a small town, people.

Of course, you could always stop by Big Chief's on the way to worship at the altar of the great one-eyed beast and step into the weird little world of Riverview across the street. Then there's always Noah's Ark on the way back...

-'Playa
*** Edited 12/17/2003 10:22:57 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

Already have done the Wisconsin Dell's thing guys. I will probably stop there on the way up but its not a must do if time is critical.

Small town Playa? Minneapolis and St. Paul side by side seems pretty big to me. Of course it isn't the magnitude of Chicago but that isn't a concern where I wouldn't be impressed. New-to-me things intrigue me.

Minnesota itself is a pretty state. I have seen enough pics from my father and his wife that back that fact.