Living well and centsibly in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area
Welcome to fall in Minnesota!
It’s a beautiful time, when the temps drop from warm to just right, the colors are vibrant and there are activities galore.
Everywhere you go, you’re not far from something festive, whether indoors or outdoors.
Tricks and Treats is back at Valleyfair this year! And you can get discounted tickets.
Tricks and Treats is back at Valleyfair on Saturdays and Sundays, September 23 – October 29, 2023.
Last year we went to Tricks and Treats and it was so fun!
The park is divided into 2 “lands” – The Land of Tricks, and the Land of Treats.
And the gift card really is a gift card, not a coupon. So you don’t have to spend a minimum amount to use it. It’s literally like cash to use in the store!
This deal is only for new subscribers, meaning you haven’t had an active subscription for the past 30 days.
However, if you are a current subscriber, there are other deals you can sign up for!
If you live outside the 13-county metro area, your cost will be slightly higher. It will be $45.50 instead of $32.50. You will still get a $20 gift card, so the total AFTER gift card will be $25.50. Be sure to check the appropriate box.
I grew up in Duluth and then moved to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area to start a family, but no matter where you go in the state, there is so much to discover and explore with kids of all ages.
Cities throughout the state have so much to draw families, from the SPAM Museum in Austin, to the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth, to Valleyfair in Shakopee!
In my 13+ years of blogging here, I’ve done so much with my family, and have written about TONS of places which you can check out on my page called “Reviews A to Z.” But I decided to compile them all here by category for easy searching!
This is a long list, but more can certainly be added. In fact, I hope to keep adding more and more! What would you add to this list?
Thank you to Jessica Meyer for her contributions to this list!
A note about links
I realize that adding links would have made this a more useful resource, but I did NOT include links for each item on this list for two reasons:
In the time of COVID
Also note that due to COVID, some of these listings may be either temporarily closed or operating at reduced hours/capacity. Be sure to check in advance.
Make this your bucket list for family fun in Minnesota!
Thank you for visiting and be sure to check back for new additions!
After I posted “The Ultimate List of Minnesota Family Fun” it was so helpful to one reader that she created an interactive spreadsheet version of it and sent it to me! She also added some more regional information.
Thank you to Elizabeth Goskesen for putting this spreadsheet together!
You can search the spreadsheet by city/region, or by type of attraction, or name.
To use it:
Click on the down arrow in each column OR right click on each column to sort A to Z or Z to A.
To search for a specific attraction or anything else in the spreadsheet, hold “Control” & “F” to open the “Find” window, and search in that.
Works best on a desktop computer.
If you are viewing on your phone, it helps to download the Google Sheets app.
One thing I love to do in the morning is sit at my kitchen table, enjoying the Sunday paper with breakfast and a yummy cup of hot or iced coffee.
And checking out all the ads and coupons!
And what I love also is sharing these amazing deals for subscriptions!
It’s the New Year (yay!) and COVID is still canceling many events (boo!), but if there’s one thing people prove, it’s that we still will figure out how to have some fun! Drive-thru holiday lights events were super popular this holiday season, and this guide I put together listed the ones I found throughout the state!
It’s January now, but fortunately there are still safe DRIVE-THRU events happening this month and next month in Minnesota!
Here are the events I’ve found! Let me know if there are more I should add!
Are you a Minnesota Energy Resources customer? If so, did you know that you may be able to get a FREE water conservation kit?
All active residential customers can receive these kits, which include low-flow showerheads, kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators, and pipe insulation. All items are easy to install and can save you money on your home’s water heating costs right away!
We have all of these installed in our home (it’s easy to do!) and we don’t even notice any difference in water flow. But they definitely can save money and water so I highly recommend them!
Just sign up at cashrebatesnow.com or call Minnesota Energy Resources at 866-872-0052 Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to order your kit.
Two types of kits are available:
A) 2 low-flow showerheads, 1 kitchen faucet aerator, 2 bathroom faucet aerators, 3 feet of pipe insulation x 2
B) 1 low-flow showerhead, 1 kitchen faucet aerator, 2 bathroom faucet aerators, 3 feet of pipe insulation x 2
All instructions are included.
To be eligible:
Check out how much money and water you can save!
10 Simple Ways to Save Money and Energy at Home
10 Ways to Save Money Running Your Dishwasher
10 Ways to Save Money Heating Your Home
3 Ways a New ENERGY STAR Certified Washing Machine can Save You Money
https://minnesotaenergyresources.e-smartkids.com/kids/
For more information about rebates available to Minnesota Energy Resources customers, visit their website.
Not a Minnesota Energy Resources customer? Check with your energy provider for similar freebies and rebates!
(Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.)
Check out my exclusive deals below for the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press!
(Update: School meals are FREE to ALL students through 2022! Read about that here or on your child’s school district website.)
I previously shared a guide to finding free meals for your kids and family in Minnesota during this time of quarantine. A major source of this food is school districts around the state and nation. We’ve been picking up this free food since shortly after it started.
The above picture shows a sampling of what my kids get from their school. I drive up and am given a paper bag with food for each child. Typically they just put it directly in my trunk, no questions asked (other than “For how many kids?”). The food is different every week, but always includes main entrees, fruits, vegetables, snacks and milk. There are also treats – today they got cookies!
The food is distributed twice a week in our district, but it’s enough to last a week. Other districts have pickup every day or at set times during the week. There are also ways to get the food dropped off near your home by bus, which some districts are offering.
*Be sure to check back for updates as more resources are added*
The Coronavirus has affected all of us, and will continue to do so in the coming weeks and months.
Many families are struggling financially because of decreased work and pay, while many others are looking for help caring and educating their kids at home due to schools closing for weeks.
Stores are bare – not just toilet paper bare, but eggs, meat and other staples are often wiped out. (Tip: To get toilet paper, go to a store like Cub or Aldi when it first opens in the morning!)
But there’s good news! Some companies are stepping up to provide free help to get through this time, and there are many new resources popping up every day.
Here is a roundup of what I’ve found so far – though I will update this as it grows. Please share any more that I should add to this list, and JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS on my Facebook page and in my group, Minnesota Money-Saving Moms!
Cancellations – A list of cancellations in the Twin Cities that is being updated daily.
Center for Disease Control – Latest guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Minnesota Department of Health · Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-10).
Minnesota Unemployment Insurance – If your employment has been affected by COVID-19, you can apply for unemployment benefits. You can also qualify if you can’t work due to lack of child care. Be sure to apply online vs. by phone if you can.
MNsure – If your employment changes, you could qualify for free or reduced-cost health insurance.
There are a lot of helpful discussions happening right now in these groups, and many resources are being shared as they become available.
Helping Hands MN – People sharing items with others in need. Post what you need and what you can share.
MN Parents of K-12 Covid-19 Support – A new (and quickly growing) Facebook group for Minnesota families.
Minnesota Resource Connection – People sharing local resources for food, housing and more.
Minnesota Money-Saving Moms – My group of 1200+ budget-minded moms around the state.
