Fun fall activities to try out in the Twin Cities

Fall is officially here, and the cool weather will soon arrive. So grab your coziest sweater and explore some of Minnesota’s best fall attractions. 

If you travel up near the Twin Cities, you can expect beautiful, spooky, and, expectantly, fun times to go around. 

Find your way through a corn maze. Nothing screams fall more than entering a corn maze on a crisp day. Corn tends to be harvested around this time, enriching the experience. To dive into this fall festivity, visit Sever’s Corn Maze, based in Shakopee, MN. Sever’s additionally offers a zoo area with exotic animals, zip lines, live music and much more!   

Glance at sparkly pumpkins. Imagine being immersed in a sea of glowing pumpkins as you sip your favorite warm beverage. This could be your reality if you visit the Minnesota Zoo’s yearly Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular event in Apple Valley. Talented artists carve stunning images on pumpkins, which are then displayed on a long path and lit up. Halfway through the trail, expect to see a food and beverage stand serving seasonal delicacies.     

Walk through haunted houses.  If you are brave enough to step into a dark, creepy building with scare actors jumping out before you, visit one of the Twin Cities’ many haunted attractions. Some popular places to get a fright are Valley Scare, Scream Town, The Dead End Hayride, and Nowhere Haunted House.   

View beautiful fall sceneries. Watch the vibrant leaves fall to the ground as the season officially changes at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum or in Minnehaha Park. Each offers magnificent natural scenes that will make you want to take a picture. At the Arboretum, you can see pumpkin and scarecrow displays, hike through a trail, and buy some yummy fresh-grown apples. Minnehaha offers walking trails, a beautiful view of the falls, and a seafood restaurant open to lunch and dinners.

Tour historical buildings with a spooky twist. Minneapolis and St. Paul are home to an array of historical sites, and many say some are haunted. If you dare, book a tour of the Candlelight Ghost Tour hosted by Minneapolis Trolley Tours. During the tour, expect to hear scary ghost stories of those who haunt each historical site you pass.    

Travel back to the age of the Renaissance. Have you ever wondered what life was like in medieval times? If so, take a trip to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee. Each weekend that the festival is open, there is a theme of costume one can voluntarily wear, making the experience very eccentric but appealing. There is an activity for everyone at the Renaissance, whether you’re into crafts or watching dogs race each other in costumes. They also have a variety of foods and drinks to keep you busy for hours so hurry to attend as the festival’s last weekend will be Sept. 27-29. 

If you need a break from schoolwork and want to go on a memorable adventure, don’t hesitate to take a trip to the Twin Cities this fall and check out one of these incredible attractions.

Photo Caption: Fall is officially here and the cool weather will arrive soon so students exploring Minnesota’s best fall attractions in the Twin Cities can expect beautiful, spooky and fun times to go around. (Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis/Lane Pelovsky)

Write to Tina Dolan at dolatinaj@gmail.com