Best Family-Friendly Getaways Near Minnesota
Craving adventure without the high cost of an extreme vacation? Fortunately, Minnesota is located in the perfect position to allow a great getaway to happen without cashing in your savings. The landscape lends itself to a vacation filled with natural beauty and a wide variety of outdoor activity. Spend time in a national park hiking, camping or just enjoying the scenery. For those looking for more of an indoor getaway, there are so many museums, indoor waterparks and other fantastic destinations for inside fun. Consider these getaways for a unique and frugal adventure with your family.
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Stoney Creek Inn
3060 South Kinney Coulee Rd.
Onalaska, WI 54650
(608) 781-3060
www.stoneycreekinn.com
La Crosse, Wisconsin is just over the border of Minnesota and a short drive from the Twin Cities. This little town offers a quick getaway for anyone wanting a fun and interesting weekend. Stay at the Stoney Creek Inn, where you can enjoy a large facility with quaint details throughout the lobby and guest rooms. The indoor-outdoor swim-through pool makes it easy to enjoy any month of the year at the Stoney Creek. While you're in La Crosse, travel to one of the many art museums or three-level children's museum for the kids. Check out Riverside Park, a neat shopping district and park where three rivers meet, or travel to historic downtown La Crosse.
Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
Big Bay State Park Campground
2402 Hagen Rd.
La Pointe, WI 54850
(715) 747-6425
www.nps.gov
Craving a camping adventure on the less-busy side of Lake Superior? Head north to the Apostle Islands and be intrigued by the beauty of nature. Famous ice formations can be seen through the canals and among the island formations. Camp at the Big Bay Campground or stay on the largest of the islands, Madeline Island, where you can only access the island by a ferry. Enjoy beaches, boating and fishing on this vacation or take a guided tour to learn about the history of this remarkable land. On the mainland of Bayfield, shopping and berry picking can be an engaging activity for your family as well.
House On The Rock
5754 State Rd. 23
Spring Green, WI 53588
(608) 935-3639
www.thehouseontherock.com
Travel just 275 miles from the Twin Cities to visit one of the most unusual attractions in the world. The House On The Rock started as a beautiful retreat and became an enormous collection of memorabilia, furniture, decorations and one-of-a-kind items. Turned into a museum, The House On The Rock is a popular tourist attraction that often takes more than one day to explore. With hundreds of rooms and objects of interest, tourists of all ages will find something to explore even further. Stay at the House On The Rock Inn And Resort for a unique lodging experience to match your holiday. The resort includes a spa, fine dining restaurant and many other amenities including an indoor-outdoor pool and submarine. Are you intrigued yet?
Jeffers Petroglyphs
27160 510th Ave.
Comfrey, MN 56019
(507) 628-5591
www.jefferspetroglyphs.com
An ancient site older than the pyramids in Egypt, the Jeffers Petroglyphs are a little-known tourist attraction in southwest Minnesota. Travel down to see the famous rock carvings made by the Native Americans over 7,000 years ago. Families will enjoy spending time outdoors whether walking the trails on their own or signing up for a guided tour of the area. Preserved by the Minnesota Historical Society, the Petroglyphs tell a story of ancient times and a life lived by the founding tribes of Minnesota. Stay nearby at the Mound Creek Campground and make your vacation a complete outdoor adventure.
Staudemeyer's Four Seasons Resort
44705 Birch Point Road
Cable, WI 54821
(715) 798-2346
www.4seasonsresort.net
Head up north to Cable, Wisconsin for an all-inclusive resort vacation that combines comfort with the outdoors. At a four-season resort, a family can enjoy any outdoor or indoor activity suited to the climate at that time. In the winter, Cable is know for its large selection of Nordic skiing trails and the resort offers skiing trips and snowmobiling adventures through the vast wilderness. Spring and fall are perfectly suited for hunting and fishing expeditions at the resort and summer lends itself perfectly to beach activities and pontoon boating on Lake Namakagon. Stay in a pristine cabin or vacation home and relax away on the most fun vacation ever.
Related: Best Tourist Attractions In Minnesota Worth The Hype
Andrea Wodele is a freelance writer who has lived in the Twin Cities for the last 10 years. Her hobbies include exercising, driving kids around, watching Minnesota sports, and reading self-help literature. Examiner.com.
