Wasn't sure what I was expecting coming here, but it exceeded my expectations. I have to give a lot…read moreof credit to our tour guide, Dawn. She had a music background and just really was able to pull out all the ways Prince has influenced music. I feel like she went deeper than the typical tour. I also appreciated that most of the tour is phone free, so you get to really just experience it. It's a great place to experience!

If you grew into the Prince, the artist formerly known as Prince and any other names you must make…read morea visit to here. Was there for a Library conference and I also went on behalf of my recently departed man. A huge Prince fan and had subscribed to the NPG music club. Iykyk. He was supposed to come with me and we would have come together. Its a big property and pretty much left as it was. There is a security check and you are to turn your phone off and put it in a phone lockable holder. No pictures for the majority of the tour. Which is fine because you can pay attention to the tour guide. Its was strange because you can still feel his spirit, just like when I visited Gracela nd. Toward the end of the tour there is a area they let you take photos. Over all a great hour spent. The gift shop is not huge and overwhelming. You can get stickers, mugs, shirts, key chains, and LPs (records for you younger readers) I opted go for the umbrella that the drops on it turn purple in the rain. If you find yourself in the area make your way over.

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.

Whenever you book a class, they cancel it. It happens all the time…read more And their response is, Oh well...

This is my happy place. I've taken two classes here and the instructors were amazing and everyone…read morewas so kind. To have a facility like this is truly a gift and I have no idea why this place doesn't have a solid 5 stars!!

The Landscape Arboretum is another one of the Twin Cities treasures that is overlooked or taken for…read moregranted. It was founded in 1958 and has 1200 acres located in Chaska. It is different experience depending upon the season and what you choose to do. Today I went to their annual pancake breakfast, highlighted with their own maple syrup. They also showed how maple sap is collected (there are plastic tubes running between trees leading to collection bags), to the process of reducing the sap into syrup. They also process Black Walnut and Birch syrup, with tastings of each. At other times, highlights include a three mile drive that loops through the forests, variety of shrubs and plants, sculpture garden, and heads to a farm with a variety of displays. You can also take a narrated shuttle trip. Seasonally, the tulips (40,000 tulip bulbs!), roses, and daffodils are amazing and worth a visit just for that. In addition, there are miles of walking trails, and surprises around every corner. In their library there is even a collection of Nakashima furniture, from a world-famous furniture maker. There is something that will delight every age from toddler to grandparent in this everchanging environment. Tickets are a bit on the expensive side ($20 for 16 and older), but free for under 16 with an adult. If you are going to make multiple visits within a year, you might want to consider membership, which entitles you to unlimited free visits, plus a discount in their gift store. You can apply your paid visit to the cost of an annual membership. Pro-tip: Although they have a cafeteria, it's not their strong suit. I recommend eating before hand, or bring a picnic if the weather is nice and warm.

I was a member of the arboretum many years ago and enjoyed walking here, but on a more recent visit…read moreI noticed (and was reminded of) some significant issues. First of all, for those who do not have a membership or who are from out of town the admission cost is $25 per person (not per car). We had three people in our group so we paid $75 to walk a frozen albeit beautiful landscape, (with some paths not entirely cleared of ice). In the summer it might possibly have been worth that much to spend a day here, when there would have been better access and gardens in bloom. We were "greeted" on our visit by an unpleasant woman at the gate post. She asked if we had been there before and I said a very long time ago. She then informed us of the price per person (and peered into our car...to make sure we weren't hiding anyone?!) and took our money and waved us on. No welcoming utterance or thank you or asking if we had any questions. I asked for a map after she tried to wave us through without any further information and she told us to go to the customer desk because "they have everything" there. We didn't plan on going inside first so that was completely unhelpful. But this woman was done and offered no further help or what we might want to see. There was no one behind us waiting in line so I am not sure why she was so impatient. I thought the park would have the same layout as when we last visited, but it did not. We started walking where we used to walk, only to be stopped by a sign that said walkers were not allowed on the Three Mile Drive (the main route through the park). We turned around and went back towards the beginning of the path, and found out that now there were two options for touring the grounds: the Three Mile Walk (new to us) and the Three Mile Drive. The Three Mile Walk was a rerouted pathway through the park utilizing the sidewalks and attempting to keep walkers away from the road. We walked most of the Three Mile Walk until I ran out of energy (having not eaten breakfast) and we found an old shortcut that we remembered that led back to the visitors center. (Make sure to eat something before walking, as I didn't do!) At the visitors center we discovered the cafe had just closed (it was shortly after 3 pm on a weekday). So we traipsed downstairs to the gift shop and purchased several yummy snacks...and there certainly was a good collection of trail mixes and chocolates.... So I would recommend this park with some reservations. It is a beautiful place to walk but I would not go during the winter unless you decide to become a member. The visitors center also showcases cool artwork, the gift shop is fun to browse, and there is a cafe open during limited hours...but I haven't had good experiences with customer service (outside of the gift shop) and admissions is very pricey without a membership.