Stillwater, Minnesota, USA

Stillwater, the "birthplace of Minnesota" lies on the St. Croix river about 30 minutes east of St. Paul. And while the town is best known as a haven for antiquing and romantic couples getaways there is plenty of fun to be had with your children in tow.

A tour of the Joseph Wolf Brewery Caves is informative for you and an exciting adventure for your little ones. After all, it's rumored that the Stillwater caves were used by gangsters to hide money and liquor back when St.Paul was a safe haven. The tour is interesting and you will be amazed at how clear and still the water is below the ground.

If a larger body of water is more along your interests you'll want to book a cruise on one of the historic paddlewheel boats that cruise the St. Croix River. A luncheon cruise is just the right length for getting your young ones to slow down. The river will relax them and the kid friendly lunch buffet includes deli meats & cheeses, fruits, salads and cookies- which are best eaten with a river view. If you're very lucky you will get to go under the lift bridge. (If not there are great places to view the bridge from the river banks. My daughters were fascinated...)

Landlubbers (and history buffs) will enjoy the hour long trolley tours. The driver will keep you entertained with stories of lumberjacks and the Lumber Barons who built some of the town's greatest houses.

If shopping is more your thing there is plenty of it. Along with antiques and artisans you will find wonderful boutiques. My girls really loved Doozie, which is filled with anything your little (or big) princess could want. From crowns and jewels to clothing and bags this is a store to find everything you must have that you didn't know you wanted.

Another great store is Autumn Cottage. It's a home furnishings store that will leave you wishing your home was larger, and their kids' store is just as fabulous. The nostalgic feel of so many of their items will leave you wishing you had more room in your car to take it all home! I found a wonderful Map of the USA puzzle in it's own little carrying box. Fun and educational.

And, before you leave, make a stop in Lily's Grill and Malt Shop. Just don't wait until the kids are starving because there is always a wait to be seated at this landmark restaurant. It's located on the corner of Main street just a couple blocks up from the lift bridge.

Tip: Stillwater is very hilly. Make sure to bring a stroller or backpack for when the littlest ones get tired.

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Car Rental Tips

Renting a car in a foreign country for the first time can be very confusing. What do you need? How do you get the best deal? Do you rent on your own or use a package deal? I have a few tricks for you to keep in mind.

1) Do your homework. You need to check all your options when you are traveling. You want to get the best deal but you also want a vehicle that will fit your needs. A cheap small car probably won’t work for a family of 4 with luggage for a week.

2) Always pay in your local currency when possible. It will keep you from paying foreign transaction fees and you will probably pay less than the conversion rate.

3) Try to pick up your vehicle away from airports. This is especially easy in large cities with great public transportation (London, Paris, Rome, Dublin, New York, etc). It’s simple supply and demand- more people pick up cars at airports, therefore the rates can be higher.

4) In a foreign country by the CDW (collision damage waiver). Your auto insurance won’t cover an accident and CDWs are relatively cheap.

5) Let a car hire company search the best rates for you. And then search for yourself. Use any discounts you may have (credit cards, AAA, etc.).

6) Know how to drive a manual transmission. You will most likely pay more for an automatic.

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Visiting Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America

Believe it or not we actually ventured in to the Mall of America with the sole intention of visiting the new Nickelodeon Universe.

The nice thing about this theme park is there is no admission. You can walk through without paying a dime. If you want to ride... Well, that will cost you. We bought a "Comet Package" (35 points) for $31.50 plus tax. Because the average ride is 3 points this pass didn't last long. If you plan to spend an entire day at the mall or if you have older children I would splurge on the Unlimited Ride Wristband for $29.95 each.

Nickelodeon Universe has all your favorite Nick characters hosting their own rides as well as a few "old favorites" like the Big Rigs and the carousel. Our first order of business was to find the Backyardigans. But as we were making our way through the park we saw Dora- live and in person!

There are two spots in the park where you can meet your favorite characters, give them hugs and have your picture taken. Brenna was very excited to meet Dora!

Caelan... Well, not so much...

After saying goodbye to Dora we found the Backyardigans Swing-Along.

And then the Big Rigs.

This was followed by a classic carousel and then the El Circulo del Cielo (ferris wheel) with Dora.

These four rides consumed our points (and Doug got to ride the Big Rigs free with Caelan and we both rode the carousel free with the girls)- they go fast. Luckily, for our girls, that was enough and we got to go on with our day.

Helpful things to know:

• There are 7 rides that allow a chaperone to ride for free with small children.


• Tickets can be purchased at self serve kiosks with a credit card. If you prefer to pay cash you have to brave the largest Nickelodeon retail store in the country or guest services.


• There are two restrooms in the park itself as well as two ATMs.


• Within the park there are 3 places to eat: Eats (a wide variety of foods), Caribou Coffee and Kemps Ice Cream Cafe.


• You can shop at 5 Nickelodeon stores- including the flagship store with the most Nickelodeon merchandise you'll find anywhere!


• If your teens are too cool for the rides there is a huge arcade with all the hottest games.

If you're looking for better food than you can find in the park or upstairs at the food court allow me to suggest the California Cafe. It is just upstairs from Nickelodeon Universe (their patio overlooks the park) so you don't have to go far. The food is exceptional (the Chicken Tostadas and Salmon Enchiladas we had were so fresh and yummy!) and the kids meals (presented in a bento box) are healthy and kid friendly.

And if you've got a budding architect in your family be sure to spend some time at LegoLand, right next to Nickelodeon Universe. You can play with Legos, buy Legos in bulk and marvel at the Lego creations.

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International Driving Permits

This is a really handy tip if you will be traveling in a country where you don't speak the language very well (because you should always speak just a bit- even if it's only "thank you").

AAA offices can set you up with an International Driving Permit for $15. It's valid in over 150 countries and contains your name, photo and driving information in 10 languages.

Hopefully you never need it but if you do happen to get involved in an accident having identification available in the native language of the country you are visiting sure can't hurt!

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Russia's Grizzly Coast at the Minnesota Zoo

A very good friend of mine was quite involved in the building of this new exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo and she was kind enough to invite us up for the preview before it opened to the public.

As she gave us a guided tour we were able to see how much thought went in to making this an interactive experience. The exhibit is filled with rock formations perfect for climbing and viewing the animals, caves to explore, dinosaur bones to dig, bubbling mud and geysers. It's wonderful.

Let's begin with the sculpture directly outside the exhibit:

What child wouldn't want to run right in to those fountains and hug a bear or climb the rocks? And that's just what it's there for... a refreshing way to cool off on a hot day. (Don't believe me? They sell swim diapers in the gift shop next door.) So be sure to bring a change of clothing. (Of course it isn't quite so fun when it's chilly out!)

As you enter the exhibit through tunnels be sure to stop and check out the topographical sign. It's magnificent (and I'm not just saying that because my friend made it).

It really gives you a great idea of the region you are "seeing" and the native homes of these animals.

Throughout the exhibit you will notice the "rock" ledges that are just right for climbing up to see the animals. And lots of information about the history of the region. Not to mention tons of photo opps!

The geysers and bubbling mud are fascinating and digging for dinosaur bones is great fun! (Don't worry, the "bones" are steel, the kids can't hurt them!)

My favorite, by far, was the sea otters. They just seem like such fun, playful critters. Take a little zoo tour with the video below. The close up of the grizzly is awesome.

In addition to this great exhibit you can also visit: Discovery Bay- touch a shark or a ray in the estuary exhibit and view sea life "underwater" Minnesota Trail- it's a walk through the north woods filled with gray wolves, coyotes and river otters Northern Trail- a wooded trail with tigers, caribou, moose, Sichuan takin, camel, and Asian wild horses. It's back this way that you will also find a great play area.

Tropics Trail- Lemurs and Gibbons fill the trees Family Farm- cows and pigs and goats. It's like being on a "real" farm. The Minnesota Zoo is huge - it's an all day event! Be sure to bring your walking shoes! But if you get tired there is a monorail that provides a "tree top tour" of the Northern Trail for $4 per person. Kids love the train and it's a great break for your tired feet!

Other things that are good to know:

• There are 9 restrooms/diaper changing areas located throughout the park.


• There are also 3 family restrooms.


• One nursing area is available in the Minnesota Trail restroom.


• There are 5 ATMs.


• Strollers and wheelchairs can be rented.


• If you get hungry




• There are two lakeside picnic areas outside the zoo if you want to pack a lunch


• Grizzly Coast Cafe has ethnic Russian foods as well as "zoo food" like hot dogs and hamburgers


• Call of the Wild has Asian entrees, grilled foods, salads, sandwiches and pizza


• Zoo Cafe features Caribou coffee, bakery items and ice cream


• Tiger Treats has subs, salads, pizza, ice cream and cold beer


• Family Farm House has home-cooked "farm" meals


• GIfts & Other Goodies




• Timber Lodge Traders is the "main" gift shop. Everything is here. They even have a "build a zoo animal" similar to Build a Bear


• Water Works Market has all your aquatic goodies


• Central Plaza Gifts has Grizzly Coast souveniers as well as necessities like hats, sunscreen and cameras


• You can even get an airbrushed tattoo.


• You can find information on admission, opening times and directions by clicking this link.

We can't wait to make a return trip and see more! (Many exhibits were closed the night we visited as the focus was on the new exhibit.)

If you're making a trip to visit the zoo (really a great midwest trip) you might be interested in these articles:

Residence Inn close by in Eagan, MN- a great place to stay with kids
Cossetta's Italian Market- a must if you are in St. Paul
California Cafe- you'll be so close to the Mall of America, you'll surely be visiting. This is, in my opinion, the best place to eat if you're there.

Also be sure to click the category archives to the left for more info on Minneapolis, St. Paul and Minnesota.

Family Travel Tips
Minneapolis

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Doolin- Harbour View B&B and Gus O'Connor's Pub- and the Burren

Our final days in Ireland were spent in the wonderful rooms of Harbour View B&B in Doolin.

Harbour View is a purpose built B&B and all I can say is: what a great job they did! You can tell just how much thought went in to making this an inviting guest house. The rooms are spacious and comfortable with large en suite bathrooms. All rooms are on the ground level and many have a great view looking over the town and out to the ocean. Cathy Normoyle, your gracious hostess, says you can see the Aran Islands on a clear day. (We didn't have a clear day when we were there so I can't claim to have seen them). Most of the bedrooms sleep two and a couple even sleep three. The beds were very comfortable and a cot is available upon request. All rooms have coffee and tea service and a lovely sitting area for gazing out the large windows at the breathtaking view.

Upon entering you will see an inviting sitting area with a large TV and fireplace. When we were there Cathy's beautiful son was enjoying Nickelodeon- my girls hadn't seen Dora in almost a week; they were overjoyed!

The dining area is through the sitting room and toward the back of the house. It is a lovely open room with a center buffet of cereals, cheeses, yogurts, fresh baked breads or scones, milk and juice. Cathy serves a full Irish breakfast that will keep your energy up well in to the afternoon. There is no highchair available, so be sure to bring your trusty travel booster.

Harbour View is an easy hour from the Shannon airport so it makes a great final location for your travels and Doolin is a wonderful base for touring the Burren.

Burren is derived from the Irish word boirreann, meaning a rocky place and, well, the description is spot on. I actually joked with Doug that this is the place they grow the rocks for all the stone fences in Ireland.

Plan the better part of a day to meander through the rocky landscape. You'll want to stop at Polnabrone Dolmon and marvel at the strength it must have taken to maneuver the rocks into position. The sheer size of this tomb is difficult to imagine until you stand beside it. This is the most accessible dolmon in the Burren so you may see a lot of tour buses. They don't stay long and tend to be on similar schedules so wait them out for a less crowded self tour.

The Burren has hundreds of megalithic wedge tombs, dolmons and ring forts, so a visit to Burren National Park is worth your while.

A great stop while in the Burren is Lisdoonvarna, famous for it's matchmaking festival every September and the Spa Wells Heath Center with it's Victorian pump room.

If you haven't viewed any round towers the Kilmacduagh Monastery near Gort should definately be on your list. Even if you have the history of the settlement and the legends that surround it are worth your time. A note from the linked website: Visitor's are encouraged to begin their exploration by walking over to Tower View Villa B&B across the street to get the master key for the locks on the buildings. There is a 5 deposit and a short history of the site is available from the innkeeper, Lily, for 2.50. Grab a copy of this guide before getting started. It will be invaluable as you wander through the buildings.

Once back in Doolin you have quite a few amusements to keep you occupied. I highly recommend at least one evening at Gus O'Connor's Pub. If you visit during high season you'll find music every night. Otherwise you may have to wait until the weekend. But Doolin is known for it's traditional Irish music so you won't be disappointed. The musicians sit in a booth- it's called a session- which makes it very informal and easy to join in. There is no set time so try some of the best fish & chips I've ever tasted or the huge bowl of steamed mussels, grab a pint, join in the craic and relish in a true pub experience.

Because it is a pub you will not be waited on. Head up to the bar to make your drink and food orders (and to grab menus) and chat with the bartender.

If you have nice weather spend some time wandering through Doolin and stopping in the craft and jewelry shops. And don't pass by the music shops- this is the heart of Irish traditional music.

If you are heading to the Cliffs of Moher from Doolin you will surely see Doonagore Castle on the edge of town.

This gorgeous 16th century tower house is privately owned and, therefore, not open to the public. It's absolutely stunning and on a sunny day the reflection from the tiles on the conical roof are brilliant.

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