Recently, I shared the first half of our weekend of family fun in Mankato, MN with you! It was so good, I had to divide it into two posts! So, now my favorite parts: ice cream and state parks….and more!
Mom & Pops
Our family’s favorite food is barbeque, but a close second would be ice cream! When we knew we were visiting Mankato, we knew we had to find some great ice cream! And great ice cream we did find! After enjoying Rib Fest, we headed to Mom & Pops in downtown Mankato! This locally owned ice cream shop features only the very best ice cream. They feature 32 flavors of Chocolate Shoppe super-premium hand scooped flavors! What does super-premium mean?! This means less than 50% less air is pushed through the ice cream than other brands! And let me tell you, you can definitely tell! This is some of the very creamiest ice cream I’ve ever had!
Not only is the ice cream delicious, but the owners have done an impeccable job rehabbing the historic building that their shop is housed in! The building was originally built in 1856 and I love that they have kept some of the historic touches like the exposed block walls!
Our picked flavors varied from vanilla to coffee Oreo (yes, I said coffee Oreo) and it was to die for!
If ice cream isn’t your thing, check out their homemade gelato or sorbet, or grab a coffee or a 1919 Root Beer (which is bottled by Schell’s Brewery in nearby New Ulm)!
Minneopa State Park
I can’t speak for T and the boys, but I can say that our visit to Minneopa State Park outside Mankato, MN was probably my favorite part of our trip! Nothing we did was bad, but for me, this was the icing on the cake! We started by exploring the Bison Range and Seppmann Mill and then moved to Minneopa Falls to not only enjoy the waterfalls, but also the trails around them!
The Bison Range in Minneopa State park were reintroduced to the wild recently. They get to roam the 330 acres of the park and visitors are invited to drive through the range on the paved trail. We, however, were not lucky enough to catch a sighting. We tried hard to no avail! But, the trail also takes you to Seppmann’s Mill.
Seppmann’s Mill was donated to the state by Albert Seppmann in 1905. The windmill, which is located in the northwest corner of the park was constructed in 1864 as a wheat mill. In 1890, the windmill was hit by a tornado and the arms were not replaced because it was not profitable to operate a windmill any longer. The view from the Seppmann Mill and it’s nearby lookout give you a great view of the Bison Range. We recommend bringing binoculars, so you can hopefully spot the beautiful beasts!
Minneopa Falls
A short drive to another part of Minneopa State Park you’ll find a concrete trail to Minneopa Falls! Take the trail and when you see the first one, you’ll be impressed! Keep walking the trail to see the main fall and your breath will be taken away! A bridge across the falls divides the two main falls and gives access to both sides! We had a great time following the paved trail and then going off trail to the bottom of the main falls!
Both sets of falls are gorgeous and the sound of the rushing water is soothing! I really could have sat and watched the falls for quite awhile, but we had more great things to do!
Explore Downtown
There are tons of great shops in downtown Mankato to explore as well as the entertainment! However, we feel you need to take the time to explore the murals and art dedicated to the Native Americans from this area!
Plus, you can’t go wrong with the trail that runs along the Blue Earth River and it’s view at night!
There’s so much to do in Mankato, MN it’s a great destination for a family fun weekend or longer! Get ice cream or check out Minneopa State Park! Whatever you do, we’re guaranteed, you’ll have a great time!
Check out more fun in Mankato!
Kayaking in Mankato, MN with Bent River Outfitters
Family Fun Weekend in Mankato, MN – Part 1
Thank you to Visit Mankato for hosting us on our trip. All thoughts & opinions are authentic and 100% my own. Please see the Disclosure Tab for more details!
Coffee oreo ice cream sounds like a dream. I haven’t spent much time in Mankato -I had no idea they had a waterfall.
It’s gorgeous! I’d love to go back in the fall! I actually didn’t know it was there until our visit either.
All of your Mankato posts are making me want to plan on weekend getaway there for our family and this post is probably my favorite in the series. I’m a huge sucker for a local ice cream shop and I too love exploring state parks. The Minneopa State Park and Falls look really neat. I’m pinning this post for future family vacation ideas!
Your family would have a blast there! There is so much great stuff to do!
I’m like you – I love visiting a state park and it often is my favorite part of a trip. If it has a waterfall, I’m ecstatic. The more I read about your trip, the more I want to visit!
It’s a fantastic community and I wish we had had more time to explore! I think you would love it!