State What?

Everyone around here is so helpful in telling us about things to do in the Twin Cities. And consistently, The State Fair, fell into the top 5 of most mentioned places to go/things to do.

Really? The State Fair? This place is chuck full of museums, parks, quaint towns, and the State Fair is at the top of the list?

Don't get me wrong. I have great memories of going to the Utah State Fair as a child - seeing the farm animals, wanting to touch all of the little bunnies but being told by my parents about the time my Uncle touched a bunny through a cage and had his finger bit off (literally, he has a partial stub for a finger), walking by all of the craft booths (which felt like the Quilted Bear on steroids), riding that spaceship ride where you stood against the wall and the faster it spun you were pulled up toward the ceiling, seeing all of the beautiful photography work, going through the little fun house, and of course seeing the traditional American Indian dances.

I really felt like I've seen it all, and thought, how different could a state fair actually be? But, then we heard it again...from someone else.

So, we thought, why not? And talked some of our fellow transplant neighbors to go with us. If nothing else, it'd be good people watching.

I was completely surprised with the entire experience.

Original Thought: Pick up advance discount tickets at the grocery store. No big deal, I'll just grab some milk and pick up my tickets.
Actually Happened: I had no idea there would be a designated check-out line ONLY for buying advance state fair tickets, and that I'd have to wait just to get them.

Original Thought: Pay five bucks and park in some lot relatively close to the fairgrounds.
Actually Happened: Research the entire transit and parking lot system throughout the city and surrounding suburbs to figure out where to park to catch the free shuttle to the fairgrounds.

Original Thought: See a few animals, maybe a few more on display than Utah since this is the Midwest.
Actually Happened: Spend 45 minutes in just the "Miracle of Life Barn" watching a baby cow that had just been born in the barn, enjoy it's first few moments of life. Pet all kinds of newborn farm animals (including the cutest little pigs!), and see all of the mamas-to-be lying in their stalls, just waiting to deliver (at this point, Max, who was looking at one of the very pregnant cows, turned to me and said, "mom, her tummy is big like yours was when Alexis was in it." Thanks, son, for comparing my tummy to a cow). Then head over to the horse barn where hundreds of horses are in their stalls, with the owners, welcoming you to visit and sometimes, pet the beauties (Max's favorite). Stop in the area for the rodeo and catch the tail end of a high school rodeo competition.

Original Thought: Grab a bite for dinner.
Actually Happened: View about every possible item fried and on a stick. Bacon, Twinkies, Snickers, Cheese Curds, Alligator meat, you name it. Decide on the unlimited chocolate milk (Max drank 4 cups!), a Texas BBQ on a stick (yum!), and munch on fresh made mini-donuts for dessert!

Original Thought: Walk to another part of the fairgrounds to let the kids see the tractors and go through a mini-pretend farm.
Actually Happened: Over a 20 minute walk to get to the other end of the fairgrounds! Spend another 20 minutes with the kids climbing on all of the cool tractors and trucks. Take kids through the mini-pretend farm (Alexis is very much a little helper, and the idea of feeding animals and putting food into the grocery store was a hit for her!).

Original Thought: See the bulk of the exhibits in a late-afternoon/evening.
Actually Happened: Realize how HUGE this thing really is!

After about 4.5 hours, Miss Alexis was worn out. So we headed home. As we pulled into our driveway, we ran into our next door neighbors (originally from MN, and have gone the State Fair for years), who rattled off a list of things that we didn't even get to. He then said, "the State Fair is something that takes a few years to figure out where to go and what to see - because you just can't do it all!"

Next year, I think I'll try some of those fried cheese curds.