The Terrarium

Join the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and return to the 16th century. With 16 stages of live performances, thrilling jousting matches, and over 100 artisan booths, there's never a dull moment. The festival features seven themed weekends, so keep your calendar open and dress up in your favorite Renaissance gear for the whole experience. King Henry and his royal court invite you to their authentic 16th-century European village, where you can enjoy various stages of exciting entertainment. Over 250 artisans will display and sell handcrafted wares, making it a truly unique shopping experience. You'll also interact with memorable characters wandering the village streets and watch live armored jousting throughout the day.

Visit the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, the most prominent American national wildlife refuge near an urban area, to explore the stunning beauty of the Minnesota River Valley. The sanctuary offers eight units and a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, birdwatching, and hunting. In addition to being a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts, the refuge also serves as a thriving urban refuge that welcomes diverse communities with meaningful connections, educational opportunities, and recreational experiences. Its primary goal is to bring people, communities, and wildlife together while preserving the wildlife habitat in the Minnesota River Valley.

Explore a unique and fascinating experience at the Wabasha Street Caves, an event hall in the sandstone caves on the south shore of the Mississippi River. This historic site has a rich history dating back to the 1800s as a mining site. Later, it converted into a mushroom farm and eventually became a Restaurant Casino and Gangster Hotspot during the prohibition era of the 1930s. Today, Wabasha Street Caves is the only restored Gangster Era site in Saint Paul. The Historic Cave Tour allows you to explore the extensive caves carved into the hillside. You will uncover the site's history, including an unsolved gangland murder at the casino, as you see bullet holes and hear stories of ghostly activity. Wabasha Street Caves offers weekly "Down in History" Tours and seasonal themes throughout the year, such as The Original Saint Paul Gangster Tour, Haunted Halloween, Ghosts & Graves, and special group tours.

The Weisman Art Museum is a must-visit destination for enthusiasts exploring unique and insightful art pieces that reflect cultural heritage and history. The museum houses over 17,000 art exhibits displayed in relevant cultural, social, and historical contexts through touring exhibitions, symposia, and special events. In collaboration with over 50 university departments, the museum showcases interdisciplinary projects that reflect the ideas of a great university. The museum's touring program also aims to serve rural communities' cultural and educational needs in the Upper Midwest and beyond.