The city is great and all, but sometimes we just need to get out and explore with the family! Now that the weather is warmer again, it is the perfect time for a day trip. The Taylors Falls area is a great destination and the best part, it is less than an hour away! Here are some of my family’s favorite activities to do near Taylors Falls!
Interstate State Park
This is a gorgeous state park that is lined with the St Croix River. It is filled with large rocks to climb, great hiking trails, and some pretty amazing views of the river. They have great picnic spots to hang out and have lunch and they also have a camp ground if you decided to extend your day trip for a night. Stop by the visitor building and pick up a scavenger hunt for the kids before you begin your hike and they can pick out a prize at the end. But the best part? The glacial potholes! These holes found throughout the park, large and small, are pretty cool. My daughters were fascinated by them and loved learning all about them.
Canoeing and\or Kayaking
There are multiple rental facilities that you can rent canoes or kayaks from in Taylors Falls. You can rent them by the hour or you can do an extended rental that allows you to relax and coast down the river with a bus waiting for you at the end of your journey to pick you up and bring you back to your vehicle. A quick tip for canoeing with toddlers; bring a small chair for them to sit in so they don’t have to sit on the floor of the boat. This allows them to be up a little higher and enjoy the ride!
Wild Mountain
In the summertime, Wild Mountain is a great outdoor summer recreation area for all ages. They have Alpine Slides, go-karts, a free fall pillow, and a pretty fun waterpark.
Fawn-doe-rosa
Every year, a stop at this place is an absolute must for our family! Fawn-doe-rosa is just across the river in St Croix Falls. It is a Wildlife Education Park that you can roam with the deer while feeding them carrots out of your hands, snuggle cute little bunnies, go for a pony ride, and get a glimpse of other animals such as fox, elk, mountain lions and so much more. It is a pretty amazing experience for all ages to be able to interacting with the animals so closely. They have bags of animal feed as you enter the park for purchase. As a tip, they usually have a coupon on their website for $.50 off a bag. You definitely want to remember your camera at this stop!
Scenic Boat Tour
Climb aboard an authentic paddle wheel boat and enjoy the landscape views and entertainment. You can choose from a 45-minute tour, 80-minute tour, or they also offer lunch and dinner cruises that include a meal while onboard.
The Drive In
If you are hungry and looking for a place to eat, stop by and check out The Drive In. It is a fun old-school drive in restaurant that you can eat in your car or get out and enjoy the large patio seating area. Their burgers are delicious and a root beer float made with their home made root beer is a must on a hot summer day! They have a fountain in the middle of the patio where the kids love ‘making wishes’ while throwing coins into it, and if you purchase a kid’s meal, you’ll receive a BOGO coupon for the Adventures Falls mini golf located right next door. There are 18 holes that include fun obstacles such as bridges, waterfalls, and streams to keep the kids busy.
Franconia Sculpture Park
This sculpture park is spread out over 43 acres of land and provides an intriguing and fun place for a group of artists to display their large scale sculptures. Some of the sculptures are truly remarkable and it is a great place for the kids to use their imaginations!
Trollhaugen
Trollhaugen outdoor recreation area features over 3,000 feet of zip line, an aerial adventure park, and a challenge course. If you have never zip lined before, you have to check it out! There is something so liberating about soaring high over the tree tops. They also have a kid’s challenge course geared towards ages 3-7 so the younger kids can have fun, too!
