"Always Something to Do!" Minnesota by SurfingLuvr

If you are a shopaholic, you have found the place for you! Where I grew up in Maple Grove, MN, there is a shopping area called The Shoppes and The Fountains at Arbor Lakes. It is the largest outdoor shopping center and 2nd largest aside from Mall of America (MOA) which is also in MN.

Gooseberry Falls National Park, MN

I grew up going to Temperance River and Gooseberry Falls for camping and family trips. We would go fishing and swimming at Temperance River where the mouth of the river meets Lake Superior. Gooseberry Falls was a trip that involved hiking, swimming and usually our family photo that ended up as a christmas card! There are different levels to the falls, some more dangerous than others, but as long as you are careful, they are always fun.

Sun setting over Lake Minnetonka

Lake Minnetonka is one of the most popular areas for boating in Minnesota. Families, like my own, make it an all day event to take the boat out in the morning, have lunch at Lord Fletcher's or at Maynard's, go back out on the water and go tubing, cruise around, or just park the boat and go swimming. When cruising around on the lake, there are channels into all these different parts of the lake, through which most are no wake zones, and you notice how everyone that passes you waves to you or says hello. Everyone is so friendly because they are as happy to be out there as you are. At the restaurants, there is almost always live music and always great food and just a great atmosphere all around.

• In a nutshell:Not just snow and ice!