Sunday, May 25, 2014

Summer Fun Ideas 2014

Family Dining
D’Amico’s Golden Valley (has fountain, etc.)
Original Pancake House (call ahead to put name in)
Patrick’s Maple Grove
Denny’s Tuesday Night
Plymouth Farmer’s Market ice cream
Super Moon Buffet

Outdoor Dining
Bistro 11
Jake’s

Free Activity
Watching people/boats in Wayzata
Kiddywampus
Pet store
Three Rivers Beaches
Model train at Wayzata Depot
Choo Choo Bob’s
Plymouth Community Ed Events (parades)
Farmer’s Market – Mpls, Mill City, Excelsior, Maple Grove, Plymouth, 

Beaches/Pools
Lake Independence
Excelsior Beach Park
Calhoun
Lake of the Isle
Cascade Bay
Edina pool
St. Louis Park pool
Lake Miniwashka 
Lake Rebecca
Maple Grove Comm. Ctr.

At-home (yard) activities
Sprinkler
Painting rocks
Sidewalk chalks
t-ball
sponges filled with water
slip and slide
water table
sand table
blow-up/plastic pool
ring toss/beanbag toss
lemonade/treat stand
painting ___ with water (deck, rocks, garage door, driveway)
squirt guns
weed garden/yard work
make obstacle course with chalk (time completions)
sand box
biking in cul-de-sac
bug hunt w/magnifying glass
hose/sprayer
water balloons
pick up sticks (then roast marshmallows)
chase/throw/kick balls
soccer
water plants
hide and seek
picnic
bubbles
scavenger hunt
nature hike (collect things on reverse-tape bracelet)

Bike Trails
Elm Creek
Mpls Lakes
Through Lake Minnetonka starting at Wayzata Beach
Baker Park
Around Medicine Lake
Maple Grove trails around lakes (& DQ stop in Maple Grove)
French Park
Parker’s Lake
Fish Lake
Minnehaha Falls

Places to go
Nature Centers
Roller Garden – St Louis Park
Bowling – Tuttles, Medina
Valley Fair
Maple Grove Community Center
Library
Kolacky Days – Montgomery
Hennepin (Carver, Anoka) County Fairs
James Hill Days Wayzata (Dachshund Races!)
Car wash
Parker’s Lake Park
Grocery shopping
playground
Williston treehouse
Edinborough
Kids music Town Green Maple Grove
Fire Truck Museum
Old Log Theater
Stages Theater
Humane Society
Westwood nature center
Arboretum
Raptor Center
Dodge Nature Center

Campground/Get-Away
Things to do in the car
Sing
Alphabet game
Scavenger hunt
Watch movies
iPad
Books on tape/cd/mp3
Having kids read/follow along on maps
Make up songs & silly words
DVDs
Pretend car is boat/fishing role play
Road bingo
Counting games
20 (or 5) questions
Camp songs
Listen to kids music on CDs
Baking sheets with magnets

Summer Dates
Movie night
Maynard’s lunch
Any patio & wine
Concerts/live music
Bike ride
Twin’s game
Picnic in park
Lord Fletchers
Fishing
Walk around Lake Calhoun; eat on patio in uptown
Dinner downtown; walk on stone arch bridge
Weekend get-away (without kids)
4th of July
Saints gane

Rainy Day Activities
Paint – large boxes, paint, crayons
Play-doh (and/or make own)
Indoor camping
Forts
Bake
Indoor picnics
Beach night bath
Glow stick bath
Glow in dark bubbles
Medina Entertainment Center
Lifetime Academy
Indoor tents
Wii fit
Pump it Up
Painting
Crafts
Go to HOM furniture
Basement/garage exercises
Williston splash pad + 2 ft pool
Maple grove maze
Eagle’s Nest
Children’s Museum
Watch a movie
Sky Zone

Picnic Locations
Parker’s Lake 
Round Lake – Eden Prairie
Baker
Lake Rebecca
French Park
Minnehaha Falls
Downtown Wayzata
Excelsior
Local Parks
Elm Creek
Fish Lake Park
Hyland Park
Lake Harriet
Lake Calhoun
“Dinosaur Park” 
St. Paul riverbed/Ft. Snelling
Queensland park
Weaver Lake

Day Trips
Lake Calhoun
Amtrak St Paul – Wabasha (have one parent  drive to meet)
Teddy Bear Park - Stillwater (then continue up hill to have ice cream at Nelson’s)
Red Wing/Lake City
Lanesboro
St. Croix Falls
Duluth

Things to Have in Car
Books
Magnetic games
CD – book
DVD
Sunscreen
Swimsuits
Banda
Bug spray
Hats
Wipes
Water
Blanket
Towels
Diapers
Extra clothes
Pennies for fountains
Big umbrella
Bubbles
Collapsible cooler/bag
Sand toys
Water toys
Snacks
Lawn chairs
Travel items from Creative Kidstuff/Kiddywampus
Potty Chair