Tell me about Minnesota

[Swirly girls]

I have relatives that have lived in Detroit lakes their whole lives (40+ years) and it's a really cool, tourist type town. The lake is beautiful, downtown is stunning with all the quaint little shop -- some are right across the road from the lake and beach. I love it there! You'll find plenty to do and see while your there -- there's always something to do or see during the summer.
Mall if America is lots of fun, with a smallish amusement park inside, tons if eating places, and every store you could imagine. It's not hard to spend a whole day there. We do every summer! They have rides for all ages. We also like the Water Park of America. It's an inside water park. Lots and lots if fun. We love the hotel ( Radisson) that's attached right To the water park. Convenient, and close to the MOA too. We also take our family to the Minnesota State Fair every summer ( runs only 12 days, so check the dates)

 

[Pembo]

Hey MN people - anyone familiar with the McNally Smith summer music camps? My son is very interested in the guitar one. This thread is very timely as if he goes, the rest of the family will be vacationing in MN.

 

[anelson81993]

Not from Minnesota, but went to camp in Minnesota every summer of middle and high school.
The Mall of America is awesome, but probably wouldn't take up more than one day (depending on how much you like shopping). If you want to do the MOA amusement park, that would probably eat up another half day (although for what it's worth, I haven't been to the amusement park part since it was Camp Snoopy).
There are many, many lakes in Minnesota. If you're into lakes and water activities, there really isn't a better place to go. My camp was on a lake in the Brainerd area, which is probably too far away from where you'll be to be worth the drive, but Minnesota has plenty of other lakes for lake activities like swimming, boating, etc. Just make sure you're coating yourself in bug spray, and watch out for swimmer's itch--it can get bad in the lakes during the summer!
Valley Fair is in the MOA/Twin Cities area, and if you like amusement rides, it's a great place. It's no WDW, but it definitely has thrill rides and other theme park rides.
I remember there being a brand-name chocolate outlet store in the Albertville outlet mall area (Russell Stover maybe?), but it's been a couple years since I've been to camp, so I can't quite remember where it was or what brand it is. If anyone else can help out with a name of the store, and whether or not it's still around, I remember that as being a pretty awesome place for those who like chocolate.
Minnesota also has a pretty great State Fair, but it runs for a very short time, so depending on your dates the State Fair might be totally irrelevant.