What a great place to hang out for awhile! Family entertainment, museum library and if you have…read morehistory in Carver County a clerk can help start digging. There is a vast Microfilm library from the county's records of two weekly papers going back to the 19th century.

I was recently in a wedding held here. I remember coming here as a child on field trips, but have…read morenot been here in years. The grounds are beautiful and the entire space was ours once they closed for the day. It had rained the night before and the day of was very hot. This made the paths muddy and bugs multiply. FYI-bring or rent some large fans to circulate the air since there is no air conditioning in the brides room or barn.

I grew up going to Gibb on field trips, and attended a wonderful wedding there a few years ago but…read moreabout a month ago we drove by and spotted their Country Festival and stopped in and had such a great time we bought a membership for the Ramsey County Historical Society (rchs.com) which allows us to attend many events at Gibb Farm which includes the Country Festival, a Woodcutting Weekend, Apple Festival, and Ice Cream Sundays. We are also planning on sending our son to one of the summer day camps next summer (Pioneer Pee-Wees will teach him about life on the prairie and Dakota traditions). Gibb's Farm Museum is a fantastic rural island in the city and is a definite must for families to check out. Update: good friends of ours got married here - it was a beautiful setting, and made for a memorable time.

Another masterpiece of a model railroad. The March flea market was a good show with excellent buys…read moreand plenty of vendors. The layout is fully operational and many trains operate at one time. The current size covers East Minneapolis Junction to Duluth, Brainerd and Staples. This is an incredible place to take kids who are about 4 and up. Kids will love the buildings where you can see the inside. You could spend many hours just watching trains pass by. For kids under 4 feet tall be prepared to carry them so they can see everything.

An amazing gem hidden away in St. Paul. This place is a gold mine for kids and adults alike. It's…read moreso fun to check out the amazing miniature towns, Lego sets, and other creations as trains wind their way through. I like that they have an "I Spy" guide for older kids who enjoy trying to find hidden items within the scenes. And the fact that the kids can actually interact with the exhibits and start and stop the trains makes it lots of fun.

We came in time for the night train display. I have to say they "bring it" for this event. The…read moretrains are fun and they even had live music. There were many staff and volunteers on hand, including a train doctor. If you look closely at the displays, there are some (not literal) Easter eggs. They have a gift shop too with hats, whistles, books, and postcards. My kid actually lasted an hour and then it was too much. Many of the displays were hard to read in the dark, so if you're there for more of a museum experience, go during day hours. Overall a good experience. You can see the love and care put into the displays.

Another Hidden Gem: Noerenberg Memorial Gardens Review…read more Noerenberg Memorial Gardens is another secret I should have discovered sooner! As someone who lives nearby I stumbled upon it while planning a bike ride and it felt like I found a hidden oasis. The gardens really do live up to being a place of tranquility and fresh air and are a far cry from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The accessibility of the Noerenberg Memorial Gardens is a big plus. Being close to the Dakota Rail Regional Trail makes it a great destination for cyclists. I highly recommend incorporating it into a bike ride. The ride itself adds to the experience, you get to transition from the activity of cycling into the peacefulness of the gardens. This seamless transition makes for a more immersive and rewarding visit. The garden itself is beautiful. The attention to detail in the landscaping is obvious and it's visually stunning and calming. What struck me most was the quiet. Being right next to a busy road and yet it's so quiet. It's amazing how well the gardens filter out the noise and you can fully immerse yourself in the sounds of nature: birdsong, rustling leaves and maybe the gentle lapping of the nearby lake. It really feels like stepping through a "portal of tranquility" and instantly washing away stress and feeling peaceful. The atmosphere is what sets the Noerenberg Memorial Gardens apart. It's a place for quiet contemplation, a space to breathe deeply and reconnect with nature. Whether you want to read a book, meditate or just wander and take in the beauty around you this garden is the place. Feeling surrounded by beauty is both uplifting and restorative. Beyond the aesthetics the gardens offer learning and inspiration. Discovering places like this is valuable learning regardless of whether school is in session. Seeing the different plant species, appreciating the artistry and just soaking in the peacefulness can spark curiosity and deepen your connection to the natural world. It's a reminder that learning can be found everywhere and not just in a classroom. The Noerenberg Memorial Gardens are more than a garden but it's an experience. It's a must see for anyone looking for a peaceful escape. Proof that nature can heal and inspire and a reminder to slow down and appreciate what's around us.

Located right by lake Minnetonka, the Noerenberg Memorial Gardens is a intriguing memorial which…read moreI had the opportunity to partake in a walking tour offered by Three Rivers Park. Through walking through and visiting the eye-catching boathouse architecture and the historic barn which is part of the estate, I learned about the history of the memorial which was originally developed around 1890 by Frederick Noerenberg, a brewer who was one of the first entrepreneurs to establish a year-round home at Lake Minnetonka. Although the family house was torn down and the will was to just preserve the estate the overall feel of the property is still defined by the non existent house. A little disappointed that there are no actual garden with flowers, but the landscape is still stunning and calming that I would like to revisit on my own time.

Choo choo! Great place for all train enthusiasts and future train engineers. This place is housed…read morein the old Wayzata Train Depot. We planned our trip so our little guy could check out their outdoor model train set. It was a gorgeous day on lake Minnetonka - so not only do the kids love to run around and chase around the train table looking at the trains but you have this gorgeous view of the lake. They also have bins for donations cause it appears it's all based on volunteers who run everything. If you can, please give. Inside the place is very much how it looked back in the 1800's. They have a cute scavenger hunt, train whistle the kids can pull, and other volunteers inside that will answer all your wonderful questions. Glad we found this place for our little train engineer.

Nice little museum in downtown Excelsior In the old Rail depot next to the Lake Minnetonka Trail…read moreand the boarding area for the Excelsior Trolley. You'll probably only spend 10 minutes at the most but they have some local history including boats and items from the old amusement park. Be sure to catch a ride on the trolley out front too.

Nice friendly place to check out. It's a must stop destination if you're looking for Excelsior…read moreAmusement Park memorabilia! It's free and there are a few things for sale, including the hard to find book "Excelsior Amusement Park... From Rise to Demise 1924-1974". They also accept donations.

- Historic Fort Snelling…read more Historic Fort Snelling is an excellent place to visit for anyone interested in American history, military history, or history in general. The site is fairly large, but parking was easy and cost about $6. Payment appeared to operate largely on the honor system, with instructions posted near the visitor center. Admission was around $15. Guided tours are offered at the top of the hour and last approximately 15 minutes. The tour is brief, but it provides a helpful overview of the fort and gives you enough background to explore the rest of the site on your own. Afterward, you can visit the different buildings and areas discussed during the tour. Costumed interpreters are stationed throughout the property and provide more detailed explanations about the fort, its residents, and daily life during different historical periods. There are also large informational displays throughout the site for anyone who wants to learn more independently. Some of the highlights included live blacksmithing demonstrations showing how items such as nails were made, as well as exhibits covering the quartermaster, sutler, physician, pharmacy, library, enlisted soldiers, officers, and the commanding officer's residence. The medical exhibits were especially interesting and showed how medicine and the role of physicians changed over time. The different sections of the fort represent multiple periods in its history and appeared to be carefully presented with period-appropriate details. Visitors can also see areas such as the ammunition magazines and the spaces where enslaved African Americans lived. I appreciated that the site did not ignore or minimize that part of its history. There was also a live rifle demonstration using blanks, which was interesting and added another interactive element to the visit. How long you spend here really depends on how deeply you want to explore. You could move through fairly quickly or spend several hours reading the displays and speaking with the interpreters. A large school group was visiting while I was there, and the children seemed engaged and excited. Between the costumed interpreters, demonstrations, and hands-on style of learning, this would be a great place to introduce children to history. Overall, I am very glad I stopped at Historic Fort Snelling. It was educational, engaging, and well worth the visit.

Immersive experience with staff to guide you at the entrance for an overview of what you'll see in…read morethe various buildings as well as at various exhibits such as the fort hospital, the blacksmith forge, the commissary, and the barracks. All the staff are to be commended not only for their knowledge but also their friendliness and willingness to answer questions. I especially enjoyed the blacksmith's explanation and demonstration of the work he does there. In the gift shop they sell actual nails and hooks they forge on site! The museum at the visitor center has an excellent exhibit of the history of the fort that's worth visiting!