Beaver Falls County Park

Beaver Falls County Park, located in the beautiful Minnesota River Valley, is divided into two parts: the horse camp and the recreation area. The horse camp features wooded ravines, horse ties, manure bunkers and Beaver Creek. The upper half features the Beaver Creek Recreational Area. Both areas consist of shelters, restrooms, water, fire pits and ample multi-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Beaver Creek was formed when the Minnesota River Valley was carved into the landscape by the massive Glacial River Warren.

9 Family-Friendly Places to Paddle in Minnesota

Minnesota sits on the shores of Lake Superior — the largest of five Great Lakes — but the state actually boasts 11,842 lakes. With so many ways to get out on the water, it can be hard to decide where to launch your canoe or kayak. 

Here are our favorite family-friendly places to paddle, all of which can be accessed and completed in a day.

14 of the Best Places To Canoe & Kayak Near Minneapolis

Here's one thing you may not know about Minneapolis: It's an outdoor adventurer’s paradise, boasting some of the best kayaking and canoeing in the country. There are nearly 1,400 lakes in the greater metro area to choose from, alongside three major rivers — the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix — making Minneapolis the ultimate all-ability paddling destination.

Only have a day to spend? Here are 14 incredibly beautiful, not to mention accessible, places to launch your SUP, canoe or kayak near Minneapolis — and the outfitters that will help you do it.

Fresh Acres Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

Fresh Acres was founded in 2016 when two crazy corporate-types decided to take a leap into farming. Our mission was, and remains, to produce healthy, locally grown food to feed your family, as well as our own. In that vein, we purchase non-GMO seeds from carefully sourced seed companies, and we do not use harsh fertilizers and chemicals – we are not certified organic, but we grow in an organic manner. We also raise animals on the farm, closer to the way God intended them to be raised – they are free-range / pasture-raised, and we supplement with soy-free, transitional-organic feed.

Nowthen Threshing Show

53rd Annual Nowthen Threshing Show.

August 16, 17, & 18, 2024.

7415 Old Viking Blvd. NW, Nowthen, MN or six miles northeast of Elk River, MN. 

Featuring: Case, Vertical Engines & the 100th Anniversary of our Church!

Austin ArtWorks Festival

Free two-day event in Austin, Minnesota held annually each August...a celebration of visual, performing and literary artists, many with ties to Austin and the area. Check out the many vendors, exhibits, demonstrations, entertainment options, fun activities and food! Festival will be held in a variety of locations in Downtown Austin MN.
Hours: 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday.
For more information, call 507-434-0934.

Sever’s Fall Festival & Corn Maze

Mark your calendar for Sever’s Fall Festival. As always, the corn maze is JUST THE BEGINNING of the activities included in the Fall Festival admission. Here is a sampling of the other ways to keep your family active and entertained:

Obstacle Course: Physical challenges for the kids

Corn Pit and Extreme Corn Pit: With more than 10,000 bushels of corn in EACH!

The Gunflint Trail's Biggest Blueberry Contest

Come to Cook County, on Minnesota's North Shore, and enter the Gunflint Trail's annual Biggest Blueberry Contest!

From July 18 - August 10, 2025, take any wild-picked blueberry to one of the many weigh station locations on the Gunflint Trail! The three biggest berries of the summer will receive CASH prizes and bragging rights to all of your friends. Happy picking!