Fun Minnesota Summer Activities
August 18th -September 31
Weekends and Labor day
This adventure is a bit different than the rest of the exciting exploration that we have taken you on. We did no camping this weekend or rock climbing. Instead we stayed close to home. We find some interesting places to visit while here in the Twin City Metro Area.
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August 18th through September 30th, 2007
Weekends, Labor Day and Friday, September 28th Open 9:00 am to 7:00 pm • Rain or Shine |
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Coming in October! From the producers of the Minnesota
Renaissance Festival, the
Trail of Terror is the Twin Cities' scariest Halloween event! 2007 Dates |
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click on the schedule to find out more information
This day we went to the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee Minnesota. This is quite a treat. This was the first time that I as at this particular Rens Fest but found it large and very nice. It runs from the middle of August till the end of September; weekends only.
Although one could say that it is like any other fair but this fair does have a small twist to it. When you enter the festival area you walk in to decades gone by. Not only do the fair employees wear dress of yester year the patrons dress to the time era as well. Make sure that when you go that you do bring plenty of money as the wares that are sold are unique and you might not want to leave the grounds without it. The food in some of the little side shops were a bit pricey but the food was great so well worth the extra money.
While there don't miss out on the free shows that are provided for your entertainment. We show the Arabian horse show. That was truly a delight to watch. There was the knight joisting act and of course the magician. The day we chose to go was nice. No rain no extreme heat or humidity. What more can one ask for.
There were rides available and several different games that could be played. You could ride on an elephant or the camel. You can ring the bell or try your hand at archery. You can also try your hand at shooting at a target. You can try to dunk the wench in the water tank or throw tomatoes at the town jester, or you can just sit around and watch the merriment within the crowd.
There is just so much to see there I do advise going early in the day. Make sure that if a piece of work catches your eye that you buy now or you might have to wait to purchase that item next year; only if that craftsman comes back next year.
HOURS
Como Zoo & Marjorie McNeely Conservatory are open every
day of the year.
Winter hours (October - March) are 10am-4pm
Summer hours (April - September) are 10am-6pm
Because Como Zoo & Marjorie McNeely Conservatory remain open during inclement weather, some animals may be off display and some exhibits or gardens may be closed.
ENTRANCE
The
main entrance for Como Zoo & Marjorie McNeely
Conservatory is the Visitor Center. The historic
entrance of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is also
open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Visitors with limited mobility are encouraged to use the historic entrance of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. If you are visiting Monday - Thursday, please call our Visitor Services Office (651-487-8201) ahead of your visit to arrange to have a Como staff person waiting to admit you at the historic entrance.
PETS
Pets are not allowed on the grounds or in the buildings
of Como Zoo & Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Service
animals are permitted, but may cause undue stress on zoo
animals. In this case, the owner may be requested to
remove their service animal from zoo grounds.
ADMISSION
Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory are free. But
we do need help from our visitors. We ask that our
visitors consider making a voluntary donation of $2 for
an adult and $1 for a child to help us care for our
plants and animals. We appreciate your support and want
you to know that everyone is always welcome whether or
not they make a donation.
Parking is free.
DIRECTIONS & PARKING
Here's how to get to
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. Click here for
maps of the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Grounds,
and for the location of our parking lots.
On our list of favorite places to go we stopped at the Como Park Zoo in St Paul, Minnesota. Besides a nice family experience; I still enjoy going to the zoo. The picnic grounds are huge and well manicured and clean. There is plenty of room between each picnic table for the youth in the group to run and play. Como Park even have baseball diamonds available for your family or group to have a nice game or two. The park provides several areas that are sheltered to enjoy your picnic should rain disrupt your plans. I don't know if you have to reserve them or not so you might want to contact the zoo officials regarding that.
At this location you will find nice green rolling hills with plenty of bike paths to ride on. The paths do take you all around Como Park. This place is full of surprises with a lot of wild flowers and grasses growing about. There are of course those plants that have been planted just to make the area more scenic as well.
You will also find a small lake in this park by the name of Lake Como. This lake is not for swimming but you do see a lot of paddle boats on the lake on a nice sunny day. Yes you can rent the paddle boats at the park. I do not know what the cost would be but it is there.
The only bad thing that I could think of to say is that parking can be terrible in that area of town if it is indeed a gorgeous day. You will find hundreds of cars filling the lots and lining the near by streets.
Como Park is still free to gain entrance. Of course there are always the buckets that are scattered around if one would love to donate money to help keep the zoo operational and free.
There are kiddy rides are still available during the summer months at a small fee.
My favorite part of the zoo are the animals. They do get enough room to move about and look happy and comfortable in their surroundings. The cages are always clean and the animals look well cared for.
My very favorites are the sea lions, mustached monkey and the wild cats with lions being my favored choice of animals.
I will be providing pictures of the animals that I wish to share with you. I do hope that you will enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them.
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