Minneapolis Official Visitors Guide - Fall/Winter 2007 - (Page 63) SPecIaL SPonSored SectIon Metro DESTINATIONS Laser tag, parades, bargain hunting, winery tours: In Minneapolis-Saint Paul, “greater metro” is an understatement. With innumerable activities for all seasons, the greater metro truly offers big city attractions with a small town welcome. Come to Minneapolis-Saint Paul for professional sports competitions and bustling city nightlife, but stay for the greater metro’s charm and distinctive options. It’s the best of both worlds. As the leaves begin to fall, cities all across the metro embrace the season. Anoka is proud to call itself the “Halloween Capitol of the World.” The city celebrates the holiday with the annual Light Up the Night Parade. Other Halloween celebrations include HallZOOween at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, and the Trail of Terror in Shakopee. Valleyfair, the Midwest’s largest amusement park, also has the seasonal spirit (or spirits), as the whole park becomes ValleySCARE for October and hosts the Halloween Haunt. Autumn activities don’t stop there. In Hastings, you can take a tour of the Alexis Bailly Vineyard or join in the Harvest Celebration in November. And around Thanksgiving, Hastings welcomes hundreds for its Gobble Gait walk/run. Chisago County is also a fun area to explore in the fall. Climb aboard a boat and view the colors of the season along the St. Croix River. When the weather changes from falling leaves to falling snow, it’s time to hit the slopes. Burnsville’s Buck Hill and Taylors Falls’ Wild Mountain are the perfect fit for skiers of all ages and skills. Or you can just strap on your stakes and take to the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine and enjoy their state-of-the-art facility (call or check online for open skating). Warm up off the slopes at Grand Slam USA in Eagan, which offers great indoor family fun. Try the arcade games, mini golf, laser tag and bumper cars. Or head back to Shakopee to test your luck at the Canterbury Park Racetrack & Card Club or nearby Mystic Lake Casino, the largest gaming facility in the Midwest. After a long day of excitement, it’s time to refuel. Enjoy the upscale Lowell Inn in Stillwater, Lake Minnetonka’s Lord Fletcher’s Old Lake Lodge or the Macaroni Grill in Roseville. Many of the metro area’s restaurants are located nearby great shopping areas. Seek out antiques in Hastings or great deals at the Tanger Outlet Mall in North Branch. Or, make a day of it and tackle the world famous Mall of America, which houses more than 500 shops, as well as a 14-screen movie theater, and two indoor attractions (The Park at MOA and Underwater Adventures Aquarium). Theater lovers can also find a wide selection in our metro area. Catch a holiday show at the Oops Dinner Theatre near Roseville, check out a hometown comedy at the Plymouth Playhouse, or enjoy a meal and a show at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. For a trip back in time, head north to the Folsom House in Taylors Falls or drive south to Hastings’ LeDuc Historic Estate. Fall/Winter 2008 Minneapolis&Saint Paul 63 West Lakeland Twp AFTON 95 Greater Metro Denmark Twp
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