Light Rail Transit

My boys have only been on a subway when we went to Chicago when they were 4 and almost 7, and this summer when we went to Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

We used to have to hold them back. They did understand that they couldn't be anywhere near the blue pad.

New All Over Again

When we went on the Light Rail Transit in Minneapolis and Saint Paul it was like it was new all over again to them.

They didn't try and out run the train. They were excited though. 

Isaak longed to stand. Most of the time Travis said, "Sit your butt down! People only stand if they have to!"

So he sat in the back, as far from us and he could get. 

Mica didn't care where he sat, as long as it was away from Isaak. 

If there were people that were a little mentally unstable we made them each sit with us. As my sister describes it: Mentally unstable people are very similar to stable people (whatever that is). They just say what they are thinking out loud. Stable people keep their thoughts mostly to themselves. 

Mica usually picks to sit next to Travis, and Isaak usually picks to sit next to me. 

Funny Story:

One day we had cheese burgers for breakfast. You kind of do what you have to when you're camping. Food won't keep forever. 

We were all sitting around the fire. Travis asks Mica, "Do you want bacon on your cheeseburger?" Mica said, "Yes please." He grabbed the bacon, and put it on top of his cheeseburger bun. Mica's totally an airhead, but super smart in school. We all looked at his cheeseburger with bacon balancing on his bun, and could not stop laughing. 

This is them laughing once again about the cheeseburger with balancing bacon.

Do you have a subway where you live? We don't have one in Omaha, Nebraska, or in Kansas City, Missouri. I miss being able to hop on them. When I lived in Atlanta, Georgia I only rode busses and Marta - their subway. 

WW: @mallofamerica in Minnesota {Linky}

I'm a bigger shopper than my boys, but not as big as my sisters or other girls I know.

We knew if we went to Minnesota that we'd have to go to Mall of America. It's an iconic place. We didn't want to make it an all day thing though. 

Parking:

They have FREE parking. The fast train links up to it.

We spent the morning at Fort Snelling, the afternoon at Mall of America, and the evening at Minneapolis Institute of Art. A worker at MIA said we're crazy, and hardcore. Let's just say that Isaak and Mica were DONE. I had a blister on my foot that indicated I was DONE. BUT I loved all the places. I don't think I would have changed things. Possibly do Fort Snelling a different morning. My husband likes to pack all our time as full as possible. It was handy having the fast train hook up.

Eating:

We had reservations to Rainforest Cafe. We rushed to go eat. Then, for some reason we looked at the brochure only to see the map thinking it was outside of the Mall of America. I was annoyed because the boys were set on eating there. In another way happy because online people said the service wasn't great, and it was expensive. The place we ended up going to had crappy service too. It took way too much time to get our food! I wanted to eat at a place we don't have in Omaha, Nebraska. Looking back I would have gone to their food court. Lots of choices there!

Cupons:

Online they do have a coupon book. If you're a shopper, that may be something to invest in. It's $10, and full of savings. We didn't get it.

Shopping:

I didn't want to freak the boys out by going into all the stores. I said, "Ok we're only going to go into stores that we don't have in Omaha." Even after saying that we skipped a lot of stores.

L.L. Bean - I know the catalog, but have never been in the store.

 

Paper Source - Kansas City has one, but it's not in Omaha. They have fun things in there.

Chapel Hats - I know they shouldn't have tired them on (lice), but dang they had fun. They look like Elton John, only younger. 

Crayola Store - The boys had fun with their computer that did a drawing of a photograph. 

Lego Store - We've been in them in other cities. Mica drooled over $300 and up sets that I'd never buy. I do have to say that The Stranger Things set looked pretty cool. Just not $200 cool. 

 

 

 

There were some other fun stores we went in. I have to say that I'm proud that I didn't buy a whole lot. There was a bee shop that had all things to do with bees, a shop that had fun socks, a shop that had cool shirts. I do wish we found some artsy local shops in Minnesota. I found that, that's what I was longing for. There is an art district, but we ran out of time to go there.

Favorite Store Front:

Rides:

Isaak's so like me. He said, "Mica we don't have to go on rides. Mom and Dad spent enough money on us." I always thought that way. Are we cheap, or practical?

Mica's like Travis. He said, "Don't be so cheap. We should get to do some rides, and pick out whatever Lego set we want. We are on vacation." My reply, "Ummm no!"

Log Ride:

Close Up - OMG Mica's face!

They weren't too excited about the swings, but after they went on different rides, this one was just the right amount of tickets.

Are you a shop till you drop kind of person?

Disclaimer: This is not a paid review. I got no compensation, for writing this post. All opinions are my own.

WW: Fort Snelling #historic @Fort_Snelling #trip #vacation #minnesota

We almost skipped going to the Historic Fort Snelling on our trip to Minnesota. 

Besides my Grandpa that was in the Navy, Travis and my family were never really in the military. It was rated as a great spot to visit in Minnesota. We decided to spend the morning there.

There was a subway that went that direction, but we did have to walk a bit to get to the area where we needed to be. Thankfully Travis had the map up on his phone. Even the security guard didn't know how to get to our destination by walking. Do look at a map on their website if you plan on going.

Cost:

Adults $12
Seniors and College Students $10
Children 5-17 $6
Children 4 and Under FREE
Native American's FREE
MilitaryVeterans and Family FREE

Hours:

CLOSED Monday
10-4 Tuesday-Friday
10-5 Saturday and Sunday

History:

They start out by showing you a movie. Native American's lived on the land before the Army built buildings there. For awhile they tried to live in the same space, until a war broke out. The Army killed most of the Dakota and Ojibwe Natives. When Fort Snelling was rebuilt they tried to keep intact what it was like before the Civil War took place. Not to offend anyone, but I'd have to side with the Native American's. I feel for them. Caucasians have taken so much from them.

Fort Snelling:

We had a bit of a walk before getting to the main fort. There were a lot of old doors and windows on buildings.

Outside Fort Snelling there were people planting a 3 Sister Garden: Corn, Squash and Beans. Travis has planted a 3 Sister Garden for about 3 years now. It was a little late in the planting season, so I hope it grows for them.

Bang!

They had a re-enactment.

Store:

Many of the smaller things in the store they dug up from the ground. They did find Chess pieces.

There was a lot of trade, and importing that went on even in those days. Coffee, Tea, Tobacco and more came from different areas.

Animals were killed for their skins. They used the skins to make top hats. The hats were dyed a color. I asked if they used Walnuts to dye them, and the lady there wasn't sure. The animals they usually used were muskrats and beavers.

They were pretty sure they knew where the cash register was based on the fact that there was a lot of coins found in one spot when they were digging. 

Fort Snelling:

 We got to climb up the round building.

 This was out view:

Hospital:

I took a particular interest in the hospital area. There was a lot to see. I have/had 7 nurses in my family.

Hospital beds lined a wall.

Hospital supplies were set out to see.

Do you see the branch? That's willow branch. They used to mix it with hot water, steep it for a willow tea. It was their Aspirin. Travis has made me some for an evening drink. He mixes honey in it to make it taste better. It does have an Aspirin taste.

Pharmacy:

General's House:

The General had much more than everyone else. A nice house on the bottom, but upstairs wasn't as nice. It was just for sleeping. Fine China was even downstairs. I have to admit I could have cared less about the fancy stuff. I liked the upstairs better.

Outside was a lookout spot:

Kitchen:

The kitchen was hot! During those times they didn't have air to circulate. Slaves cooked and cooked, for many people. I loved the kitchen. In some ways I'd like to have it. I bet pizza and breads taste freaking great!

Do you like old things? 

Disclaimer: This is not a paid review. I got no compensation, for writing this post. All opinions are my own.