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Martin Luther King Jr. Day seemed an appropriate time for our family to visit the Minnesota History Center, which currently features the acclaimed 1968 Exhibit through February 20, 2012.  Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis in June of 1968 and his death and the impact he had on America culture is one of the many seminal events of that year chronicled in the multimedia, interactive exhibit. As with all MHC’s displays, 1968 is a unique and effective blend of fascinating historical material for adults as well as a fun and meaningful way for kids to learn about our State and Nation’s past.

In wondering through the exhibit, it’s hard to imagine a more turbulent time in recent American history. In addition to Dr. King’s assassination and the subsequent riots that swept across the country, the Vietnam War, Tet Offensive and anti-war movement is well-documented,  both in terms of historical context and also the impact it had on everyday lives. To illustrate a classic MHC learning tool, the exhibit has a full-sized “Huey” helicopter on display, with a video projected inside the craft,  featuring archival footage and people from this area sharing their stories of the war.

Told within the context of a month by month timeline, the exhibit also tells the stories of the assassination of Bobby Kennedy, the Democratic National Convention, the rise of feminism and the 1968 Summer Olympics among other major events of that year.

In spite of the weightiness of these topics, lighter aspects of American life are also chronicled, such as the look of a common American living room, music, fashion, technology and other cultural imprints.  For children, there’s the chance to try their hand at a rotary telephone, typewriter, phonograph and other relics from the area. One highlight was the chance to create their own custom album cover, which can be emailed as a keepsake.

We had a chance to visit a couple of the other ongoing exhibits at the History Center. Weather Permitting is always a favorite. My kids can’t get enough of the “tornado house,” a  re-creation of 1960′s basement with a multimedia presentation of what it was like to experience a tornato that ripped through Fridley in 1965. Even Minnesota’s Greatest Generation offers kid-friendly displays and activities, including a period pinball machine and interactive drugstore soda fountain.

The 1968 Exhibit is around for another month at the MHC before it takes to the road for a national tour, check it out with your family, you won’t be disappointed. For more information on the exhibit, including timelines, a blog and videos, go to the1968exhibit.com. For more on the Minnesota History Center including tickets, hours and location, go to minnesotahistorycenter.org.

My recent blog regarding the Minnesota Transportation Museum piqued my interest in yet another Saint Paul-based, history of transportation-inspired attraction, The Twin City Model Railroad Museum. Taking advantage of our last day of winter break from school, my kids and I visited the museum on a Tuesday morning last week. Other than a couple of grandparents escorting their children’s children while their parents toiled away at work, we had the place to ourselves.

Founded by a club for model train enthusists that has been around for more than 75 years ago, the museum is an expansive model railroad exhibit that features detailed replicas of the Twin City’s railroad industry during it’s heyday in the 1930′s, 40′s and 50′s. There’s the Minneapolis water front complete with the flour mills, Stone Arch Bridge and St Anthony Falls among other recognizable features. Saint Paul’s railroad past is depicted in representations of the Mississippi Street Roundhouse, the Midway switching yards and the Northern Pacific Como repair shops, which is now Bandana Square, home to the Museum. Weaving its way through the exhibit is an electric street car line, modeled after the Twin City Rapid Transit Company’s street-car system, which operated in Minneapolis and Saint Paul from 1891-1954.

Every Saturday night, through February 25, the Museum’s popular Night Trains event affords the chance to view the exhibit in the evening with the lights turned down and the trains, buildings and streetscapes lighted in full glory. The Toy Train Division is a new attraction available on weekends and features rotating exhibits and interactive displays for kids, such as the Thomas the Tank and amusement park layouts.

In addition to the exhibits, the Museum offers a number of artifacts and archival photos from Minnesota’s railroad history. The Museum also includes a gift shop and children’s play area that will keep the disinterested and younger children occupied while the grown ups and enthralled kids explore the model trains. My children were pretty entertained for the hour plus that we were there, one shooting video of the various trains, the other playing with the wooden train sets.

Located on the second floor of Bandana Square (which is listed on the National Register for Historic Places), the Twin City Model Railroad Museum is open Tuesday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 1o a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from Noon to 5 p.m. Admission fee is $6, children under 5 are admitted for free. For more information, go to tcmrm.org.

With the Holidays in full swing, you have one last weekend to visit one of the most unique Holiday attractions in the Twin Cities, Santa’s Train Shop at the Jackson Street Roundhouse in Saint Paul. This annual event concludes December 17 and 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The historic Roundhouse is all decked out for Christmas, and offers a great lineup of activities for kids, and adults, including appearances by the man himself, Santa Claus. In addition, you can ride on board the Christmas Train; one of the museum’s working trains decorated in the holiday spirit that travels along the tracks that run along the grounds of the Roundhouse. The Greater Midwest Lego Train Club and New Brighton Connection Model RR club have a fantastic model train set up that mesmerizes and fascinates children. Plus, there’s music, kid’s crafts and refreshments.

The Jackson Street Roundhouse is a part of the Minnesota Transportation Museum, which also operates the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway in Osceola, WI and the Minnehaha Depot in Minneapolis. The Roundhouse is a former steam engine maintenance facility for the Great Northern Railway. Not only is it an amazing museum of railroad history in the Upper Midwest, but it is also a working restoration facility, with volunteers (many of them former railroad workers) laboring on historic and vintage locomotives.

Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $8 for students (5 to 15 years old) and seniors, and $5 for kids 5 and under. There is an  additional charge for pictures with Santa. The Roundhouse also has a gift shops with unique items available to knock off a couple of names from your Christmas list.

For more information on the Jackson Street Roundhouse and the Minnesota Transportation Museum, visit mtmuseum.org.

WinterSkate, downtown Saint Paul’s annual outdoor ice skating venue, opened this past weekend for the start of the holiday season. WinterSkate is a great way to experience Downtown Saint Paul, particularly during the holidays. We visit WinterSkate a number of times each year. My kids have honed their skills on this ice, especially early in the season when other outdoor rinks are unavailable. We’ll bring grandparents and other guests to enjoy the surroundings and watch our kids strut their stuff. With the amazing architecture in this area, the sound of holiday music and a diversity of participants, this is one of the more unique places to be in the Twin Cities.

The mechanically chilled sheet of ice, located in the shadows of the beautiful Landmark Center in Landmark Plaza, is available for free public skating all winter through the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. No skates? Don’t worry, skates are available to rent for only $2. Open skating is available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week, and open later on weekends, 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 9 p.m. on Sunday. A warming house offers beverages and snacks.

In addition to WinterSkate, Rice Park, located kitty corner from the ice rink, is decorated in full holiday glory this time of year, featuring a gigantic Christmas tree adorned with 15,000 LED lights.

Although WinterSkate and Rice Park are destinations of and by themselves, our family parlays outdoor skating Downtown with visits to nearby coffee shops, one of our favorite restaurants, or shopping at Macy’s or another our other preferred shops such as Heimie’s Haberdashery. Also, special events take place throughout the holidays that make Downtown Saint Paul a unique place in December. Landmark Center offers the Holiday Bazaar in the main cortile, December 1-3. Saint Paul’s multiple theaters offer great shows this time of year, including the Ordway‘s Cinderella.

For more information on WinterSkate with directions and links to other things to see and do in Saint Paul, go to wellsfargowinterskate.com.

My wife and I celebrated our 15-year wedding anniversary this week by dining out with our children. Not the most romantic way to celebrate I know, but we’ve never let the fact that we have children interfere with one of our most cherished activities, dining out. The key of course has been to find restaurants that cater to kids. This doesn’t mean Chuck-E-Cheese’s or McDonald’s; it has to appeal to the adults as well. Rather, the key ingredients to a good kid-friendly restaurant are atmosphere, menu and the speed in which the food is served.

That being the case and with deference to the 651.com foodie Juleana Enright, here is my first foray into listing kid-friendly restaurants for families looking for dining ideas Saint Paul:

Sakura
In the case of our anniversary dinner, we chose Sakura in downtown Saint Paul. This may not be the kind of restaurant that comes to mind for family dining, but they do meet most of our kid-friendly requirements: large open space with plenty of booths and windows, fun food like Edamame, miso soup and bento boxes, served quickly with chopsticks, and free boxes of cookies for desert. We often add a stroll through Rice Park after dinner as a part of the experience.

The Chatterbox Pub
The key to The Chatterbox in Highland Village as a kid-friendly restaurant is obvious the moment you walk in the door, games. With throwback video games from Atari and Nintendo, plus classic board games like Battleship and Sorry!, it’s easy to see the appeal for kids. The kid’s menu includes strawberry lemonade and home-made mac and cheese, big favorites. Coupled with a funky decor and staff, this eatery is always near the top of the list for our kid’s choice of restaurant.

Champps
All Champps are relatively kid-friendly, but Tuesday’s are Kids R Kings night at the Champps located on West 7th Street. Not only do kids 12 and under eat free (with the purchase of one adult meal), but Fred the magician roams the restaurant performing magic tricks and making balloon animals, all while telling jokes. Plus, there’s bingo with prizes from Creative Kidstuff. Popcorn, free desert and helium filled balloons all add to the over indulgence.

Day by Day Cafe
A favorite breakfast spot, the Day by Day’s appeal for children is in the buckets of toys lining the shelves of this funky West 7th Street restaurant. Most of them appear to be broken and discarded by other children, but our kids can’t resist sorting through them as if they’re treasured favorites. The menu features the venerable Mickey Mouse pancake. Warning, there may be a short wait for a table on weekend mornings, but your kids will appreciate what’s inside.

That’s it for now, stay tune for future recommendations.

We finally had the chance to experience an incredible hiking trail in Lillydale-Harriet Island Regional Park, The Brickyards of Saint Paul. The trail winds through the former site of the Twin Cities Brick Company, which was in operation for 80 years, up until the 1970′s. As a result, the area is an interesting mix of former industrial site, natural reclamation and the efforts of the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation department to turn this into user-friendly, historic nature walk.

The trails offers a couple of paths, one leads to fossil beds where collecting is permitted with a permit. We chose the trail that leads to the Bruce Vento Scenic Overlook. The trail head begins off of Water Street/Lillydale Road, south of Harriet Island from a large parking area known as the Fossil Ground Parking Lot. The head is not well marked and wasn’t obvious to us until we walked up to the interpretive sign and map that marks the beginning of the trail.

The unpaved trail starts off gradually, but gets steeper the further along you go. Much of it is lined with crushed stone and brick, with shallow gullies created by runoff exposing clusters of mortared brick and flagstone. The path runs through fairly dense woods, so it remained cool even on an unseasonable warm day. Along the way, hikers are exposed to remnants of the Brickyard including a brick kiln (where the bricks were fired) and several quarries, as well as caves and trickling streams and waterfalls. Interpretive signage dots the trail offering maps and narrative history of the Brick Company, Pickerel Lake, and the town of Lillydale, in addition to geological information.

The end of the line delivers panoramic views of the Mississippi River valley at the Bruce Vento Scenic Overlook. Large blocks of stone strewn about the overlook offer a place to sit, soak in the surroundings and catch your breath for the trip back down the bluffs.

Our family is by no means hiker or outdoorsy types, but enjoyed the experience very much. Our 8 and 5 year old kids handled the trail with relative ease, as did our new 4-month-old Goldendoodle puppy “Junior.” We saw several other families passing by along the way, some with children younger than ours, all seemed to be enjoying themselves. A casual hike up and down the trail, with several stops to explore along the way, lasted probably an hour and a half.

Here is a PDF of the trail map and parking (and another). There are no restrooms or water (though Junior enjoyed several opportunities to wade and drink from streams), so plan accordingly.

Sure the Fair is over, kids are back to school and the white shoes are put away (I defer to The651 fashion writer Jana Peloquin on that), but there are still a number of ways to enjoy the last remnants of summer weather in Saint Paul as we transition into fall.

Padelford Excursions Offer Views of the Mississippi River Corridor

One way is to enjoy a cruise along the Mississippi River with the Padelford Packet Boat company. Plying the waters of the mighty Mississippi for more than 40 years, the Padelford operates out of Harriet Island, across the river from Downtown Saint Paul (also home to the Minnesota Centennial Showboat). The Padelford offers narrated sightseeing tours through October. During the summer season, cruises are at Noon and 2 p.m.; however, during the fall season, an afternoon cruise is offered at 2 p.m., with weeknight Margarita and sunset cruises, plus lunch and brunch cruises on weekends.  The fall cruises are especially popular as the seasons change along the banks of the River, and the Padelford affords one of the best ways to view fall color in the area.

The cost for riverboat excursions vary based on the type of cruise. The 2-hour Fall Sightseeing tour is moderately priced at $20 for adults $10 for children. Sunset Dinner, Lunch & Lock (travels to Minneapolis and back), Sunday Lunch cruises range from about $25 to $40.

The tour departs from Harriet Island with spectacular views of downtown Saint Paul. The boat travels north on the River and meanders past a number of interesting sites along the beautiful Mississippi corridor. Although this stretch of the River is now part of the Mississippi National River Recreation Area, elements of its industrial past and current river traffic are apparent throughout the journey. Some of the highlights include the recently renovated Saint Paul Municipal Grain Terminal, the long abandoned Island Station Power Plant, a swinging train bridge (still in use), the Schmidt Brewery, grain elevators, the Watergate Marina and more. The sightseeing cruise stops short of historic Fort Snelling and the confluence with the Minnesota River, but you still catch glimpses of the old fort as the boat reverses direction. Heading back into Saint Paul, the journey offers great views of Downtown Saint Paul (the sunset cruises are especially spectacular) and the city’s riverfront: Upper Landing Park and Headhouse, The Science Museum of Minnesota, Raspberry Island and the Saint Paul Yacht Club to name a few.

Island Station Power Plant

Scenic Vista Along the River

The Anson Northrup and Betsey Northrup Converge at the Harriet Island Landing

The narration offers anecdotes about the River and Saint Paul’s past, through the familiar voice of the ubiquitous, recently retired local news anchor legend Don Shelby. Long stretches of the cruise travel through scenic areas of the River, where no structures are present to elaborate on. Those who are looking for more information along the way or who are not familiar with Saint Paul and the Mississippi may appreciate additonal narration. The Padelford also offers snacks, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, etc., in addition to a full bar.

Passengers Enjoy Views of Downtown Saint Paul

I have enjoyed a variety of sightseeing and chartered cruises on board the Padelford and it never disappoints. On my most recent excursion on an overcast day last week with my 8-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter, most of the 75 or so passengers on board seemed engaged, comfortable and entertained. However, the experience may not be ideal for younger children; once we got past a trip to the snack bar, my children were getting restless half way through the trip. Once they settled in, we enjoyed spending time together in a unique environment.

For more information on the Padelford Packet Boat Company, go to riverrides.com

Although the Minnesota State Fair is right around the corner, it is worth remembering that Saint Paul’s own amusement park, Como Town, is open daily through Labor Day and on weekends through October 2.

Como Town is situated on the campus of Como Zoo and Conservatory and is about as kid-friendly as it gets, with more than 18 rides suited for children of all ages. Unlike other parks in the Twin Cities, it is especially appropriate for small children, with a number of rides available for kids as young as two-years-old. However, there are still a couple of rides that are thrilling enough to keep the older kids entertained as well. My 8-year-old is right in the Como Town wheelhouse, with most rides enticing enough, with a few too sedate and a couple to scary. Parents are permitted to ride as well and in some cases, chaperones are required with the smaller kids.

Some of the highlights include the Tilt-A-Whirl (which never gets old), the Fire Brigade (spraying a water cannon), Frog Hopper (bouncing 18 feet in the air) and the Driving School, where the kids get to cruise around the driving school course, accelerating, stopping and steering on the own. Upon exiting, the young drivers are rewarded with a mock license, a big hit. There are other attractions such as the Hodge Podge Park jungle gym and Splash Zone fountain area. There are also skill games and games of chance, face painting and tattoos, plus caricature drawings and souvenirs.

Como Town offers little in the way of food. Hot dogs and corn dogs were the only items of substance, otherwise it’s snacks and treats. However, since the park is seamlessly connected to Como Zoo, other more substantial foods options are available a short distance away. Also, I saw a number of families bringing in their own food to eat at picnic tables or other seating areas.

Admission to the park is free (as is the case with the Zoo and Conservatory), the cost is for rides and other games. Tickets and passes can be purchased at various levels; rides cost anywhere from 4 to 18 points, each point is $.22. We opted for the unlimited ride wristband, but I’m not sure we used up the equivalent in points in the 3 hours we were there.

Parking is always challenging at Como Park. There are lots located throughout the greater Park area, as well as on surrounding side streets. We had the luxury of attending on a weekday morning and were able to find parking within a couple of blocks on a side street. A shuttle is available on weekends.

For more information on Como Town, go to www.comotown.com.

Viking training camp starts Sunday and the State Fair is only a month away, yet if you need reminders (as I do) that we are still in mid-summer, six great family-friendly music events remain in the Minnesota History Center’s Nine Nights of Music, including tonight’s appearance by  Twin Cities Honky Tonkers, Trailer Trash.

Now in its 15^th year, Nine Nights of Music is an outdoor music series featuring a rich and culturally diverse lineup of entertainment, every Tuesday night through August from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The events include dance instructions from the Tapestry Fold Dance Center from 6:30 to 7 p.m., followed by music from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The History Center provides a beautiful setting for an outdoor music venue with panoramic views of Saint Paul and the Minnesota State Capitol. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, a blanket or picnic as a part of the festivities. Food and beverages are also available from the History Center’s Café Minnesota. Admission the History Center’s Museum is free during the event. In the advent of rain, which is a possibility tonight, the performances are moved inside to the auditorium.

For more information on the Nine Nights of Music, check out the events section of mnhs.org.

As we are on the cusp of a classic, long, mid-summer heat wave, families looking for ways to cool off may want to consider the recently renovated Highland Aquatic Center in Saint Paul.  As a 12-year resident of Saint Paul, I had not ventured to the notorious Highland Pool, but the new incarnation is impressive and a kid’s water haven and, I assume, much more convenient the parents.

The $2 million in improvements, completed in time for the 2011 season, are substantial: a 200 foot long, 25 foot high water slide and landing pad, new locker rooms, showers and family changing rooms, refurbished box office with additional admission windows and shade from the sun, new concessions area with a spacious kitchen and seating area, and a new parking lot and landscaping.

In addition to these improvements and the Olympic-size swimming pool (I noticed teenagers hangout in the deep end!) the Center features a children’s activity pool with “age appropriate” children’s slides, interactive water geysers, and a water basketball area.  There’s a whale bone splash pad. For more advanced swimmers, try the state’s first aquatic climbing wall in the diving well that also has two, one-meter diving boards and two drop slides.

Admission fees are reasonable, $4.50 and $5 for kids, $6.50 for adults, $6 for seniors. Family rates and season memberships are also available.

Keep in mind, the Highland Aquatic Center is not for the faint of heart. My kids and I visited mid-day during the week and it was packed. The pool side reclining chairs were taken shortly after the pool was open to the public. As a result, there was nowhere to sit to watch my kids swim, the only other option was the picnic tables baking in the sun. In spite of the new digs, there was still a long wait at the concession stand, and the lifeguards are rather stern regarding who can swim where and with what.

None-the-less, my kids have had a great time at the Center and I expect a couple more return visits this summer.

In spite of my petty criticism of the lifeguard crew, a huge kudos is due for their great and important work in keeping the swimmers safe. On one of our visits, a young kid unknowingly jumped off the diving board into the diving well area (experienced swimmers only, no swim vests, no goggles!) and was clearly drowning. The quick, calm and efficient work of the lifeguard in that area and the others who rushed to the scene, turned a scary situation into a routine event. Thank you!