Find New Adventures In Minnesota With These Engaging Experiences

Minnesota—where you can drive bulldozers for fun

Photo by mikeosphoto/Fotolia 

In our Land of 10,000 Lakes (or, if you are in Minneapolis, our City by Nature), there are dozens of things to do, whether it’s having a lake day, biking, or trying one of our award-winning restaurants. However, if you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path (literally), you might not know everything that Minnesota has to offer. While we don’t have exotic landscapes to trek, we do have beautiful lakes and forests to experience in new ways, whether you’re soaring over the forest or climbing your way to higher ground, or driving over it in extreme machines. Try out the following adventure experiences for a change of pace and for something new to do.

Kerfoot Canopy Tour and Adventure Park 

At Kerfoot Canopy Tour in Henderson—less than an hour from both downtowns—stealthily make your way through their three stories of 21 ninja-inspired elements at their newly opened Adventure Park. If you would rather glide through the park, try the ziplines—Kerfoot has the highest zipline point in the Midwest at 175 feet high. In addition, the park’s total zipline length is over one mile, making it also the longest total zipline in the Midwest. Visits can take up to two and a half hours, but can take less time with smaller groups. (For some other high ropes and challenge courses, check out Sand Creek Adventures in Jordan and Character Challenge Course in Park Rapids.) 

Extreme Sandbox 

Recreate your childhood memories in a more adult setting at Extreme Sandbox, where you can drive actual bulldozers, excavators, or wheel loaders instead of plastic, handheld ones. Based on the package you choose, you’ll get 20 to 30 minutes of instruction and between 30 minutes to 7 hours to drive the machinery. 

Drive a Tank 

Transport yourself to another world by visiting Drive a Tank in Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Here, you can learn about the history of war machinery and actually drive a tank and shoot a machine gun. Pay extra to drive over (and essentially crush them, too), although it costs a pretty penny. 

Ninja Warrior Open Gym 

Imagine you are on your favorite non-traditional athletic competition show by visiting Conquer Ninja Gyms. Although they offer classes and summer camps, open gyms let you explore your abilities on different obstacles as if you were on American Ninja Warrior. Wear your closed toe shoes and climb to your heart’s content (or until your body gives out) for up to an hour at a time. 

If these options aren’t enough for you, coming soon is iFly Minneapolis, where you can indoor skydive in a vertical wind tunnel, which simulates the feeling of an actual free fall.