Best Activities To Celebrate Father's Day In Minnesota
Spare dad yet another tie and show your appreciation by taking him out for a fun Father's Day outing instead. An awesome day with his kids is one of the best gifts a dad can get. While there are tons of excellent sites and activities to enjoy throughout Minnesota, below are our picks for some of the best things to do this Father's Day. For more great ideas, check out our previous list of Best Activities To Do With Dad.
Biking In Lanesboro
Little River General Store
105 Coffee St.
Lanesboro, MN 55949
(507) 467-2943
www.lrgeneralstore.net
Bike all or part of the 60-mile paved Root River State Bike Trail that goes through the lovely town of Lanesboro for a peaceful Father's Day outing. If you are in need of a bike rental, head to Little River General Store to rent all types of bikes. Then hit the trail that winds over bridges, along limestone bluffs and past farms. Make stops to pick up delicious goods from local Amish or walk the quaint streets of downtown Lanesboro where there are no stoplights or chain stores, but plenty of charming shops and restaurants.
CSI: The Experience
Mall of America
60 E. Broadway
Bloomington, MN 55425
(952) 883-8800
www.mallofamerica.com
Older kids can join dad for a day of crime-scene investigations at "CSI: The Experience." Participants record evidence from a choice of three different crime scenes and then use a variety of scientific technologies and tools to test the information they've collected. Families will learn about DNA identification, forensic pathology, toxicology, bullet traps and more. After this hands-on testing is complete, participants present their findings to solve the crime.
Ultimate Dinosaurs & Dinosaurs Alive!
Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 221-9444
www.smm.org
Visit the Science Museum of Minnesota on Father's Day and score a free museum, exhibit or Omnitheater pass for dad. This buy-one, get-one offer even includes the two newest dinosaur features at the museum. The high-tech exhibit, "Ultimate Dinosaurs," features a new breed of dinosaurs from the Southern Hemisphere and includes the massive dinos on display. The Omnitheater hit "Dinosaurs Alive!" gives guests a larger-than-life look at how paleontologists gather evidence of dinosaurs. A good rule of thumb is to make a reservation to see the Omnitheater first so you do not have to rush through the exhibit for your showing time.
Related: A Guide To The Minnesota Zoo
Toys Of The '50s, '60s And '70s
Minnesota History Center
345 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 259-3000
www.minnesotahistorycenter.org
Let dad relive his childhood memories and tell tales of Big Wheels, Mr. Potato Head and American Flyers. Take him to this special Minnesota History Center exhibit and nostalgia will take over as he views three decades of toys on display. Visitors will learn how these toys came into existence and why they impacted our lives. Other things to do at the Minnesota History Center include climbing the replica grain elevator, experiencing a recreated tornado or getting behind the counter of a soda fountain from the 1930s.
Oliver H. Kelley Farm
15788 Kelley Farm Road
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 441-6896
www.mnhs.org
Fathers are admitted free when a child accompanies them to the Oliver H. Kelley Farm on Father's Day. At this working farm set in the 1860s, families get to care for the animals in the barn, build feed boxes and repair fences. You can even head in to the kitchen to bake treats. If the kids still have energy after a day of living like a pioneer farmer, they can walk the farm's trails that run along the Mississippi River.
Cortney Mohnk is a freelance writer covering all things Minnesota. She is also a public relations and event planning professional. Her most important job is mother to her young daughter, who is her partner-in-crime when checking out the family entertainment scene in the Twin Cities. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
