Check out these ideas for a great Minnesota "Staycation" from some of our listeners!

Park Hopping -Jan, Cold Spring

We used to pack the kids up and 'park hop". You need to get in touch with towns in a 40 mile radius of yours and check out playgrounds -- pack a lunch and have a great day! My kids are in college and still tell their friends that we did this! Nothing like these memories!

Two Rivers Park -Denise, Sauk Rapids

Our family has enjoyed Two Rivers Park and Campground just passed Royalton. For $10 tube it's a good afternoon and you can bring a picnic along too.

St. Cloud Campground -Jeremy, Milaca

This year with a tighter budget, our family of 6 is headed to the St. Cloud campground. We are going during the week and saving money that way and then we will take advantage of all the free things that St. Cloud has to offer.

Leech lake -Heidi, St. Cloud

I used to go to a campground on Walker, MN called Shores of Leech Lake. We spent every summer up there almost every weekend and always the 4th of July. It sits just around Walker Bay and the beach is so sandy that you feel like you're at the ocean. The swimming is wonderful and the fishing and boating is even better. The couple that owned it when I was little have since retired, but their son and his wife have taken it over and he remembers when I used to camp there years ago. It is really a beautiful place and I have several framed pictures of the sunsets over Leech Lake. Now about 20 years later, my husband and I have been taking our 2 boys there, to the very spot I used to camp. It is an amazing camping area and fun for the entire,family, but the most unique part about it is I have so many memories there and I'm so blessed to be able to share new memories with my own children and still talk about all the fun I had as a little girl sitting on the same beach and having the same amount of fun as an adult with my own family. You can't get much better than that right here in Minnesota.

Lutsen -Cheryl, Avon

During the peak fall foilage season we drove up the North shore to Lutsen Mountains. It's about 4 hours up and 4 back....but it was well worth the trip! There we took a gondola ride up to the summit and had a breathtaking view of Lake Superior and the sawtooth mountain range.

Ramsey Falls -Linda, Waite Park

I'd suggest Ramsey Falls because the park is beautiful, and the waterfall is breathtaking. The waterfall has interesting colors around it, with a golden brown rocks and sand above the falls, and bright green moss at the sides. It's very family oriented with a little zoo you can walk around, a really nice playground, and terrific camping. For mom and dad, there's a great golf course. The river and falls offer a lot of opportunities to see the beauty of God's creation, and there are plenty of well marked trails. The park is near Redwood Falls, MN and about 2 1/2 - 3 hours from St Cloud..

Grand marais -Shari, Annandale

Our favorite place to visit in MN is Grand Marais. Grand Marais is way up north past Duluth along beautiful Lake Superior. It is a cute town, with lots of shops and restaurants. Near the surrounding area there are lots of great hiking trails like Temperance River, Cascade Lodge, and Tettegouche. Split Rock lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls are on the way to Grand Marais along the scenic North Shore. My husband and I went there on our honeymoon there and we stayed at Cascade Lodge. It was a gorgeous place with great cabins and a great restaurant. You should go visit up there sometime, you wont regret it!! We love it and hope to travel there this summer!

Home Sweet Home! -Leslie, Foley

A true "stay at home vacation"... invite people to camp out at your house - everyone brings some thing to share for supper - you make a big breakfast in the morning and provide yard games and a bon fire at night. We did this last year and it was a great time. We are planning another one this year.

Bunker Hills Campground -Laura, Sartell

Bunker Hills Campground in Coon Rapids is a great place for a weekend getaway that's not too far of a drive. There are lots of trails for hiking and biking, as well as the wave pool and horseback riding.

Various -Linda, Greenfeild

My favorite staycations are visiting different MN cities that you never get to do. Like going to New Ulm and touring the Schell Brewing Co, shop the German stores for the day, Stillwater is another town fun for the shopping and you can even get a trolley tour of Stillwater as well as visit the Joseph Wolf Caves there. In St Paul if you like a little mystery and history, go to the Wabasha Street Caves. You can also do a tour through them and learn the history. Sometimes learning about your area can be as fun as going somewhere else. And the state parks are always fun for a camping trip. There is alot to do in MN!

Leech Lake -Nick, St. cloud

I have grown up going to the Walker area on Leech Lake. There are tons of camp grounds and resorts. The shopping is great and plenty of outdoor activities to do. Some of my greatest memories of childhood are there.

Elm Creek Park -Jeremy, Milaca

Our family enjoys Elm Creek Park in the Osseo/Maple Grove area. They have a swim beach with filtered water and a huge playground. A family pass for the summer is $20.

Peqout Lakes/Nisswa -Tanya, Rice

My favorite spot is the Pequot/Nisswa area. Our family growing up used to go to a resort called Upper Hay Hide-away in Pequot Lakes. All the kids would play at the beach or fish all day long until our parents drug us in for meals. On rainy days we'd go to the world of Christmas in Nisswa, or the little shops in town, like the old time cand stores. We'd also go to Paul Bunyan Land, and Minnesoda fountain in Park Rapids, which is a 50's malt shop. The area has so much fun to offer, and timeless shops that kids don't get to see around this area!

Como Park -Stephanie, Sauk Rapids

Como Zoo in St. Paul has always been a favorite of our family. They have a great variety of animals, nice places for an afternoon picknic and nice walking paths. You can\'t beat the price, FREE!!! I like to donate something, just to make sure we keep it around for next year.

Higher Ground MusicFest -Keith, Foley

For the last 3 years our family's favorite vacation was at Higher Ground in Winsted Mn. It is really fun because it has something for the whole family. Our kids get to enjoy the inflatible village. For the adults you have all of the great Cristian music that you hear on the radio. I can not forget to mention that you can come & go to listen to which ever band that you would like & never lose your seating place. My whole family also likes to be by a camp fire. If you are a listener of Spirit 92.9 you are welcome over to have smores & visit with other listeners. Iknow that my kids love it because they have been talking about going back since we left last year. I really enjoyall the people that I have ben able to meet over the last 3 years. People from Canada to Kansas, Mi..

Two Harbors -Debbie, Little Falls

My favorite spot to be in Minnesota is Two harbors. I I love the ore docks and the views of Lake Superior. Just a short trek up the shore is the famous Betty's Pies and the Split Rock Light house! And don't forget the drop off of Palasade Head. I think that the best thing about the area though are the waterfalls.Gooseberry Falls, the two High Falls (on separate rivers), the Temperance River cascades, Caribou Falls (my favorite!!), Cascade Falls, Devil's Kettle. Minnesota is such a BEAUTIFUL state to live in!

Jolly Rogers Campground -Kristin, St. Cloud

 WE USED TO TAKE OUR KIDS CAMPING EVERY YEAR AT THE "JOLLY ROGERS" CAMPGROUND UP IN NISSWA . THE OWNERS ARE ALL ABOUT FAMILY. THE BEACH WAS ALWAYS CLEAN AS WELL AS THE GROUNDS. ITS ALSO NICE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE SHOPS IN NISSWA WHILE IN THE AREA.

Jordan KOA -Debbie, St. Cloud

My new favorite vacation spot is at the KOA campground in Jordan, MN. Even if you don't have an RV or camper, not to worry, they have several one and two room cabins available for rental. Plus, they have an indoor swimming pool, so if the weather isn't perfect, there's always swimming. On the weekends, they have activities going on from hayrides to karaoke to ice cream socials and kids activities. If you want to get away from the campgrounds, there's Emma Krumbee's about 10 mile south, where there's a restaurant, gift shop, and apple orchards. Back a few miles in Shakopee there's always Valley Fair and Canterbury Park, and if you go in August or September, the Renaissance is close by. And another advantage, it isn't a long drive to get (about 1-1/2 hours from St. Cloud). we will be going back there.

Logging Camp museum -Claudia, St. Cloud

Located near Grand Rapids, MN the Forestry Interpretive Center\'s Logging Camp is a "live" museum that is open in the summer from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday beginning on Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. However, due to budget reductions beginning on July 1, they may have to limit their hours of operation so I recommend that you call ahead. You can reach them at 218-327-4482. You can also check their schedule on the internet at www.mnhs.org. My children loved seeing what life was like in a logging camp back in the late 1800s.

Jeffers Petroglyphs -Bernette, St. Cloud

Last summer we went to the Jeffers Petroglyphs. It was amazing looking at the ancient indian drawings and wondering about the people who drew them. Also within a few miles are 2 waterfalls and the site of the Younger Bros. gang capture.

Carlos State Park -Laurie, St. Joseph

Carlos state park has the most incredible campground. Grassy, level, wonderful beach right by the campsites, and amazing walking trails cut out of God's creation....it's a great state park, and only 1 hr from St Cloud.

George Crosby Manitue State Park -Mark, St. Joe

My favorite vacation spot is george crosby Manitue State park. This rugged nature filled state park is on the north shore. I love it because it has a lot of opputunity to get closer to God and not alot of people know about it.

Riverside Resort -Elaine, Waite Park

A fun filled vacation for our family was at Riverside Resort in Richmond, MN. There is something for everyone...Riverside Rabbit mascot and coloring contest for the little ones, sand volleyball for teens (or any age!), bon fires, swimming, water skiing, fishing, relaxing. They have nice cabins with air conditioners, decks, all the comforts of home. Sunday mornings there are worship services on the lawn. Our children caught their first fish there, learned to swim, and made new friends. It's truly a family place.

Camp Lebanon on Cedar Lake! -Linette, St. Cloud

It is a camp dedicating to helping Christians have a "safe" place to go and relax... the beach is awesome! They also have a great camp for students.

Red Wing-Shannon, Clear Lake

We love to visit Red Wing...it is a neat little town that has old city charm. Going by the river is a bunch of fun boats. They are huge. In central Minnesota you don\'t see those to often. Red Wing has fun antique shops, pottery, home of the Red Wing shoes Downtown has neat, one of kind shops. There is hiking available. It is a place that is gorgeous when the leaves are changing, around MEA weekend in Minnesota. It is a short drive from central MN, about 2 hours.

Amazen Farmyard -Jennifer, Becker

Every year we enjoy going to the Amazen Farmyard in Eden Valley, MN.
Amazen Farmyard has a petting zoo, maze, and huge slide!

Federal Dam Campground -Sarah, Clearwater

This one is Close & Cheap! Federal Dam Campground on Gull Lake near Brainerd is a GREAT campground that my family has been visiting for years! At the campground itself, you can fish at the dam, play on the playground, and hike through Indian burial grounds.Also, there are lots of fun things to do close by or you can just spend time on beautiful gull lake! And the part I like the most is that the campsites are CHEAP!

Lake of the Woods -Deb, St. Joe

Lake Of The Woods, Baudette We to go to Baudette to enjoy the natural beauty of nature, for the great fishing on Lake of the woods Rainy River & to enjoy the beautiful wildflower trails. It is so peaceful & relaxing.

Three Bear Lodge -Renee, Little Falls

Our favorite Minnesota vacation day spot is Holiday Inn Express- Three Bear Lodge in Brainerd/Baxter! A great place to have fun! The Best part is the 1,000 gallon splash bucket! For the older kids there's the water slides. For the younger kids there's the children's tree house, lazy river, and the activity pool. And for the adults there's the hot tub. There is also a family hot tub with cooler water. Three Bear also has a great snack shop. The staff and lifeguards are all very nice. The day price was reasonably priced.

Harmony -Dori, Sauk Rapids

Harmony, MN  You can tour the Amish farms, very interesting, buy some food and crafts from the farm, many bike trails in area. Bed and Breakfast or camping. A nice day trip or weekend.

El Rancho Manana -Karen, Melrose

El Rancho Manana is only 90 minutes from the Twin Cities. 8 miles south of Avon. The campground is set up to accommodate 120 grassy and shadey sites for tents to RV\'s. They have 25 miles of scenic hiking and mountain biking trails. Also horseback riding trails. Lots of crafts and kids stuff along with special themed weekends. Like Carribbean adventures which include treasure hunts and pirates. Indoor bath facilities, gameroom, paddleboats, fishings boats. horseshoes and volleyball. So much for the family to choose from. The nights are amazing. The horses come right up to the fence and are a very friendly. You ought to hear the frogs at night. Amazing. We discovered this little piece of heaven 4 years ago.

Teddy Bear Park -Julie, St. Cloud

If you have little ones that LOVE to run and jump and burn off excess energy then a great day trip is Teddy Bear Park in downtown Stillwater. The play area has only one gate in so it is secure. There are benches under a covered area for the parents to relax, lots of other little ones for them to make new friends, and great resteraunts within walking distance when you want a break. If you go as parents, one of you can always walk down the street (less than a block) to lots of shopping with antique stores, fun gift stores, and an incredible kitchen store. The riverfront is just a few blocks from the park and provides a scenic place to picnic or relax while watching the boats on the St Croix River. The kids will love watching the drawbridge go up and down for the boat traffic. There is lodging downtown if you want to make it a weekend destination, otherwise it is just a short drive for an enjoyable day trip.

Taylor's Falls! -Aaron, St. Cloud

Every fall my family goes to Taylors Falls on the MN/WI border. We enjoy the beautiful St. Croix river and walking trails. It doesn't cost much more than a half tank of gas and food for the day!

Redwood Falls! -LeAnn, Sartell

Ramsey Park in Redwood Falls is beautiful! There are over 200 acres of trails, a waterfall, a free zoo, playground, and picnic shelters. And it's only about 2 hours from St. Cloud!

Brainerd Lakes Area! -Janelle, St. Stephen

We found Sullivans Campground and Resort in Brainerd. It is a beautiful place with a nice beach and indoor pool. It is right by the Paul Bunyan trail and Nisswa, which has lots of cute little shops!

Ash River Trail in Orr! -Stephanie, Long Prairie

We enjoyed our stay at Sunset Resort. We had a cabin on the Ash River. If you truly want to experience God's majesty through the beauty he has given us, you will definately want to see this place!

Forestville Mystery Cave State Park! -Linda, Greenfield

You can camp, hike, fish, and go into the cave. We also went to the Niagara caves down the road in Harmony.

New London/Spicer! -Jill, Sartell

We went to the Little Crow water skiing show...it was fabulous! We were home in time to stop for a treat at DQ!

Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls! -Lesa, Cold Spring

We spent the day at Wild Mountain, an outdoor water park in Taylors Falls. It is only about a 2 hour drive, and the kids had fun on the water slides, lazy river, go-karts, and alpine slide!

Lake of the Woods! -Dawn Marie, Cold Spring

It's a wonderful drive up to northern MN to fish on Lake of the Woods! You can also take a tour of Polaris Industries, it is amazing to see how they build their products!

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park! -Christopher, Big Lake

When we do want to get out and about, our first choice is usually camping. One of our favorite places is Mille Lacs Kathio State Park. There's plenty to do like hike, bike ride, canoe, fish, and climb the fire tower!

MN Zoo! -Shannon, St. Joe

We absolutely love going to the zoo, and it makes for a great day vacation!

Fort Snelling! -Jody, St. Cloud

We recently planned a "Mystery Trip" for our family to Fort Snelling in St. Paul. On the way, we gave the kids clues, and our oldest figured it out half way there. We got to see soldiers marching, firing muskets and a cannon, and blacksmiths in action!

Hibbing! -Michelle, Rice

We recently visited the Greyhound Bus Museum in Hibbing. It was actually pretty cool! The kids were having so much fun going through buses made from 1950-Present!

Duluth! -Cheryl, Foley

Recently we took a day trip to Duluth.  We watched large ships come and go from the pier, walked the Lake walk, and even enjoyed a train ride along beautiful Lake Superior!

Weekend in the Cities! -Branddie, St. Cloud

We went to a Vikings game, stayed at a hotel with an indoor water park, and spent a day at the State Fair. It was one of the most fun packed weekends of our lives!

Salt Lake! -Vince, St. Cloud

My wife and I visited Salt Lake...the only salt lake in MN. It is located on the MN, SD border town of Marietta.There is a State Park, unique bird life...and it is easily a day trip!

Belle Prairie Park! -Joy, Holdingford

Past Little Falls off 371 is Belle Prairie Park. There is a great picnic area, loads of bike trails, and beautiful scenery!

Walnut Grove! -Kristin, Sartell

After reading some of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, we traveled to Walnut Grove, MN and camped in our tent.  We toured the Wilder museum, went to Plum Creek and saw the family's dugout, and watched the Wilder Pageant in the outdoor ampitheatre. It was alot of fun and the kids learned alot about pioneer life!

Itasca State Park! -Pam, Richmond

We went to Itasca State Park and saw the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It is a beautiful park, you can camp there, and our family really enjoyed walking across the headwaters of the Mississippi!

Shady Rest Resort! -Elizabeth, Foley

This year our family went to the Shady Rest Resort where we set up our tent and enjoyed the peace and quiet of nature. God allowed me to see that, though the great conveniences of life are nice, they are not the most important things nor are they necessary to make life more enjoyable!

Buyck! -Lora, Rice

We fished 3 lakes up there. Each had their own unique landscaping. It was great to see how God created the scenery around each individual lake!