Googs

We are looking for a site/town for a three-day weekend in October (formerally MEA) that would be fun for us parents and 6 and 9yo. We live in the Minneapolis suburbs and don't want to travel more than four hours.

The kids love water, but my husband and I don't swim a lot so are trying to avoid Dells. We have throughly explored the north shore, Duluth, Brainerd, Fargo, Alexandria, St. Cloud, Harmony/Preston, Red Wing, Winona, Austin, Eau Claire, Bayfield and so are looking for a different area. We like doing querky stuff like visiting the Spam Museum and the biggest ball of twine. We also love exploring state parks and festivals. Your ideas are appreciated.

rjasnumberonefan

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...th_Dakota.html
Sioux Falls is about 4 hours away and might have enough to fill a long weekend. They have kid friendly museums, a zoo, parks, lakes, picnic grounds, walking trails, butterfly houses, historic areas, Battleship Memorials and, of course, the Falls.

I have only stopped at the visitor center and Falls on trips to take a hour or so break and loved it. I think 6 and 9 yr olds would love the "run free" type of trip.

Sorry, I can't help much more. I looked and there isn't a lot that you didn't mention in the 4 hour radius. Maybe someone local can help out.

ziggypop

Googs, I am impressed that you have experienced Darwin, MN. and the ball of twine. Have you looked into Des Moines, Iowa? If you go to Sioux Falls you can travel north to Watertown and see the Terry Redlund museum (free) and drive 212 back to the cities.

Googs

Thank you rjasnumberonefan and ziggypop!

I failed to mention, in June we did a South Dakota trip and spent time in Sioux Falls. It was a lively city with Storybook Land, Dinasours on a hill and such.

Had to Google Terry Redlund. ; )

Has anyone visited the House on the Rock in WI? Or Spring Green, the Frank Lloyd Wright house?

ElendilPickle

We spent a night in Spring Green last year on a Chicago/Milwaukee/other parts of Wisconsin trip so we could visit House on the Rock and see some of the Frank Lloyd Wright things in the area.

We were on a pretty tight budget, so we didn't actually go to Taliesin. We spent some time in the visitor center and toured the studio and school, though.

Your kids will probably get a kick out of House on the Rock, but if I were you, I would only tour the first part of the place - maybe part two as well since it has the carousel. We paid for all three parts, since it was only a little more to see all of it. It got to be pretty overwhelming by the end - room after room after room after room of lots and lots of stuff.

After we visited Spring Green, we went west and drove up the Great River Road. I imagine that would be lovely in the fall.

Lee Ann

taitai

What about a weekend at Lutsen, Gunflint or Grandview Lodge? We have done those for MEA before. Chicago is a good MEA destination but it is over your 4 hour drive requirement. Madison and Milwaukee would be as well. Door County? Mackinac? All slightly longer drives but good destinations.

If you can find good fares (which is really hard this close to MEA), San Diego and DC have been fun MEA destinations.

Happy planning.

WhereAreWe

That time of October I'd definitely be heading south, I have a feeling the fall color is going to peak a little earlier than normal this year. There probably will be nothing but bare trees north of the Cities by then.

Dubuque? LaCrosse? Madison? There are a lot of small towns in between the Twin Cities and those places. One that comes to mind on the way to Madison is Baraboo - International Crane Foundation, Circus World Museum, Devil's Lake State Park.

I've always heard good things about Lanesboro, MN but have never visited. Prairie du Chien might have some interesting things.

Googs

Great ideas all! ElendilPickle, where did you stay in Spring Green. I see many are booked for Oct 17 weekend. Thanks for the tip on House on the Rock. Is Spring Green like Stillwater, MN or Lanesboro, MN? Cute stores, restaurants and B&Bs.

Good suggestions taitai. We love the north shore, but vacationed there last year. We can't leave until Friday afternoon, so this truly is a less than three-day trip. I do want to get to Door County sometime.

I agree WhereAreWe on keeping southernly. Dubuque is a little too far, but Madison could be very peppy and active. I like the Baraboo idea....Could you picture the kids faces as we pass WI Dells to go to Baraboo? We went to the Circus Festival in Baraboo a few years ago, but stopped in the Dells for lunch and Duck Boats.

You all have given terrific suggestions. Must research Prairie du Chien next. We love Halloween, does anyone know of Halloween festivals or not-too-scarry haunted houses?

Bitter

I understand that you don't want to do the Dells, but you don't really have to swim there. We stayed at Wilderness this summer. I'm assuming (but don't know) that the indoor parks are open year round. At least two of the indoor parks really aren't for swimming. Just slides and such. Lots of parents hanging out watching but not participating (or maybe helping the younger kids). There is waist deep water at the end of some of slides, but they are "operated" by an employee (so you don't need to get in).

If you click on my screen name you'll find my thread.

WhereAreWe

I don't know of any Halloween festivals or haunted houses specifically, but once you decide where you're going I'm sure you will find some in that area. Corn mazes, probably could find a haunted hay ride or something similar too.

Baraboo is about 45 minutes from Spring Green. If you want to be sneaky just go the opposite way - drive down along the Mississippi to LaCrosse, then head to Spring Green and end up in Baraboo. You'd drive past the Dells on Sunday on your way home and the kids wouldn't know til then how close you were.

But I would agree with Bitter, the indoor waterparks don't require swimming. They have waterslides, water coasters, shallow pools, etc. And there are lots of weird/quirky things in the Dells.

Googs

Hmmm interesting thoughts of deception WhereAreWe. Bitter you make a good swimming point. There is a magic show in the Dells we would all enjoy. Today checking rates at Wilderness seemed reasonable. I've heard the two best places in the Dells are Kalahara or Wilderness. I'm not a Motel 6 kind of girl. I'll bounce off the hubby tonight.

ziggypop

>> I'll bounce off the hubby tonight.

Googs

Haha ziggypop. I didn't do any bouncing last night, but did text him the Dells idea. He said he didn't want to be in the water the whole time. I told him we didn't have to be, but the Wilderness web site shows a lot of water. Haha, what did we expect.

He wants to do Wabasha and the surrounding area, even though we have done in the recent years. I'm ready to settle because hotels are booking up. Hmmmm.

ElendilPickle

We stayed at the Spring Green Motel - http://www.springgreenmotel.net More details are in my trip report, but we liked it.

I'm not familiar with the two MN towns you mentioned, but Spring Green is a pretty little town.

Lee Ann

SusanM

My sister and her family live in Prairie Du Chien, and personally I wouldn't recommend it. IMO there's nothing to do. I have to admit, though, I'm rather anti-small town. Madison is our hometown (although I haven't lived there in 26 years), and that receives a big thumbs up! You can day-trip to Spring Green, Baraboo, the Dells, House on the Rock, etc.

SusanM

Two more recs: since you like state parks, Devil's Lake is just outside Baraboo and beautiful. Also, your kids might like Cave of the Mounds in Blue Mounds.

Googs

Lee Ann, the Spring Green Motel looks nice. Thanks!

SusanM, The caves sound great for kids.

Hubby now thinking about a staycation. Booooring. We saw The Incredible Burt Wonderstone this weekend. I think the Rick Wilcox magic show at the Dells would be great. Hmmmmm, again.

mdwest

Hi Googs,
Just in case you may be reconsidering the "staycation" I stumbled across this link that you may find useful. I've only been to about half dozen of these places but they were all enjoyable. Thought I'd pass along the info anyway. It is a pretty time of year for a drive now that the colors are starting to show themselves.
http://www.visitdairyland.com/results.iml?q=Tour

Googs

Very neat mdwest! Thank you