Have you ever tried to spell Faribault without looking at the word? Then once you see how it’s spelled, have you tried to pronounce it and then been immediately corrected because you blew that too? Yeah, that was me a few weeks ago before I really dug into the planning of our summer road trip to this adorable little Minnesota town. I’m proud to say that, once I got the ball rolling on the reading and research (with help from the wonderful people at the Chamber of Commerce), I learned that the city has a wonderful variety of family-friendly activities, a rich history, and that it is pronounced “FAIR-BO” and the “R” is between the “A” and the “I.”
There. Now that we got that figured out, we can move on to the fun stuff. How did our family spend 36 hours in Faribault, Minnesota? Well, let me tell you…
With its history of wool, flour and sawmills, a dominant fur trading industry, the important tributaries of the Straight and Cannon Rivers, and influences from Germany, the Dakota Sioux Indians and their French Canadian Founder Alexander Faribault, the city of Faribault has held on to many of the elements that make it the historic staple of Rice County. One of those elements is their downtown – with numerous buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The main roads are pristine and clean, well-landscaped and very welcoming overall.
Our family started the trip by doing a quick overview of Central Avenue, the “main street” of Faribault with adorable bake shops, gaming stores, a boutique or two, and other small businesses worth calling out individually (keep reading:)). You’ll know you’re in the right spot because Central Ave. is bookended by two Tilt-a-Whirl chairs, both from 1926. Why, you ask? The Tilt-a-Whirl was actually invented in Faribault, that’s why! Children everywhere can say, “Thank you, Faribault” for that dizzying chair of absolute nausea (spoken like a true mom, right?).
RICE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Our first stop of the trip was to the Rice County Historical Museum. While history often does not hold the attention of my littles, this place was really very cool! It costs $3/adult and $1/kid to see the museum and we spent about 45 minutes browsing the exhibits, learning the history of Faribault and sitting in the old one-room school house. Highlights were the large topographic map showing the layout of the city pre-highway, a few of their famous “celebrities” including portrait artist Grace McKinstry and Heismann trophy winner Bruce Smith, and the replica “Main Street” that shows a timeline of history of small town Minnesota – from an 1880s train station to an old dentist office to an early 1900s toy store (my kids thought the dolls were “creepy”….they kind of were) to a 1920s house. But their favorite part was the one-room schoolhouse found outside, along with a church and a log cabin. It was very eye-opening for them to see what school was like back in the “olden days.” The idea of sitting in the same classroom as their siblings and learning alongside all kids from kindergarten to eight grade blew their minds. It was good for them to see and I think put some perspective on those “hard” school days they have.
After the historical society, our kids were famished (already), so we treated ourselves to some root beer and burgers at the A&W down the road. The Faribault A&W has the fun window-side service where your food comes out on a tray that hangs on your car door. Very retro. Very unique for the kids. Very much hit the spot.
THE UPPER EAST SIDE
My kids love to do art (some more patiently than others), so when we told them we were going to The Upper East Side paint studio to paint a tote bag, they were all next-level excited! This adorable shop is right on Central Avenue (next to Crack of Dawn Bakery…lucky ducks) and offers paint parties of all kinds, including kids birthday parties and date nights. We were welcomed by owner Suzanne who gave us a tour of the place, offered water and snacks, and gave us each a cute apron and our tote bag. The back room is where the creativity happens! She showed us an example of the dragonfly painting we were going to recreate on our own tote bags and talked to each of our kids individually asking them about their interests, hobbies and summer plans. She was SO kind and has worked in the art business for years, along with renting out an Airbnb directly upstairs from the studio.
My children verge on perfectionists so it was really lovely, as a mom, to be able to breathe easier through the entire painting session because Suzanne was verbal about free expression – make it the way they want to make it. Nothing had to be perfect. My daughter even made her sky yellow! She praised my oldest’s teeny tiny dragonflies and even continuously told my youngest that his tote was absolutely beautiful (he did not listen to one instruction and made about 4 million thick-coated paint circles, but it was its own kind of beautiful). She was genuine and motivating and sincere and welcoming. We would come back here again for sure to do a canvas, wood, a wine bottle, a tote, or more. Prices range from $20-$35/person depending on group size, age, product, etc.
After our painting class, which took about 90-120 minutes, we cruised around downtown again, popping into a couple boutique shops and a game store to buy some Pokemon cards (because what’s a vacation without Pokemon cards?). We had to decide where to stop to grab a bite to eat and decided on The Depot Bar & Grill. The Depot is located down on the railroad tracks and their outdoor patio actually sits directly alongside the tracks (yes, it’s loud when the train goes by). It is a unique stop for kiddos and the food was really good too – their kettle chips with homemade ranch were an instant favorite in my book!
RIVER BEND NATURE CENTER
The temperature was starting to rise so we thought we’d head to the the River Bend Nature Center to cool off in the river water. The visitor center was closed the day we were there but is normally open 7 days a week. We parked at the main parking lot and grabbed the first main trail we could find. It took us down to the turtle pond and a couple cool bridges, eventually finding our way to the bend in the river where we took off our shoes and cooled off a bit from the ankles down. From this same parking lot, you can also go left and play at the outdoor nature park called “Kids in the Wild.” You could also rent geocaching devices or bring a fun picnic lunch to enjoy near the prairies.
Water shoes would’ve been a wise choice for the river portion of this trek, and don’t forget bug spray and sunscreen.
FARIBAULT LAKERS BASEBALL GAME
Faribault is home to the State Amateur Baseball League team – The Faribault Lakers. So we decided, how better to spend a gorgeous Friday evening than at the baseball field? It was an adorable stadium right next to the aquatic center with concessions (Busch or Miller Lite, anyone?), metal bleachers, a gorgeous sunset skyline, and some fun players to watch! We left with a few innings left because it was getting late, but The Lakers were winning 9-0, so we figured it was safe to assume a W at that point. They play a majority of the summer and you can get your tickets at the gate for only $3/person. See their full schedule here.
GRANDSTAY SUITES
Our kids always get their second winds when we arrive at a hotel, and our stay at the GrandStay Suites in Faribault was no different for them, especially when they saw the swimming pool, playground and basketball court out back. The hotel had a great two-bedroom option with a pullout sofa in the main room plus a kitchen and dining area. It was perfect for our family of five and everyone had a very comfortable night’s sleep.
BASILLEO’S PIZZA
The hotel had a good listing of local food places from which you can pick up, so we decide as a family that it was a good night for late-night pizza. So after swimming, we ordered Basilleo’s Pizza and shot some hoops while scarfing the homemade sauce and made-from-scratch dough on our giant pizza. Needless to say, everyone went to bed exhausted, happy and full.
FARIBAULT FARMER’S MARKET
The next morning was a Saturday, so I crept out of bed quietly at 6:30am and snuck out to check out the Faribault Farmer’s Market. It was misting so my expectations were low, but there were actually five or six vendors that showed up at Central Park. Someone told me it’s usually more robust and the hours from June-October are Saturdays from 7am-noon. That day, they were selling rhubarb, homemade breads, pastries, knitted crafts and some other miscellaneous vegetables. I spent the $5 I had on some challah bread (I have a weakness for challah bread – write that down.) and left happy with my purchase. And slightly damp.
CRACK OF DAWN BAKEHOUSE
It was my goal this weekend to make ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE I stopped at Crack of Dawn Bakehouse so I decided, since I was already kid-free, I would pop over there to pick up some goodies – most importantly to get my birthday boy a caramel roll with pecans fresh off the presses. Walking inside, there are a few seats to choose from and a little shop with cute gifts, journals, prints and other trinkets. Then you get to the good stuff. Man, I’m such a sucker for baked goods (*curses herself internally). First – always worth noting – the young kid working behind the counter was quite possibly the nicest, most pleasant and effervescent employee I’ve ever encountered in all my years of going to early morning bakeries. He placed a white chocolate pistachio cookie, a caramel roll, a chocolate scone, and a warm cinnamon bun into my to-go box, and it’s a darn miracle that anything was left in that box by the time I got back to the hotel. Must. Go. Here. That’s all I’m going to say about that.
After everyone rolled out of bed, ate their goodies and got dressed, we headed out with hopes of renting bikes for a trip down the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail from Rent N Save. Unfortunately, weather was just not on our side so we called an audible and headed to Bashers to do some morning bowling. While there was nothing particularly noteworthy or different about this bowling alley, it was a nice spot to kill some time, have fun, crush your freshly-minted 13-year old son by, like, 30 points, and wait out the rain.
JANNA’S MARKET GRILL
After bowling, we drove back to Central Avenue and grabbed a light bite from Janna’s Market Grill. I knew by the storefront sign and logo alone that I was going to love this place. Janna’s is a newly renovated modern day deli meets walk-through marketplace serving individually-packaged meals, hot lunches, healthy snacks, and a bakery. Our family stockpiled salads and wraps like it was our job and our youngest was happy with their chicken tenders and a box of grapes. It was super clean and warm inside with big windows, natural lighting, and a decor and style that would make Joanna Gaines jealous. And the food hit the spot after all that pizza and road trip snacking we had been doing. Janna also runs “Finally a Gift Store” – an adorable gift shop just down the street that sells everything from books and stationary to apparel to bath soaps and food items and home decor. I would’ve spent a lot longer in this store, but….kids.
Worth mentioning – my husband got oddly excited when we drove past the Faribault Woolen Mill store, so we pulled in just to take a peek. This mill has been around since the Civil War days and their history and craftsmanship are untouchable in the world of wool mining. They do offer tours but it didn’t sound very kid-friendly so we skipped it. But he perused the shop and felt some incredibly comfortable throw blankets, beach towels, bags and even apparel.
FARIBAULT FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER
The rain cleared out and the time finally came for the part of our getaway the kids looked forward to the most – the Faribault Family Aquatic Center! We are suckers for a good swimming pool, especially one with lots to do. This one did not disappoint. Just upon entering, I knew it was going to be fun for them. My hesitancy is always what my youngest can and can not do (and where he can and can not wear his life jacket). I got all the rules down and we immediately gave him a swim test with the front office. He had to do a simple swim lap successfully without a life jacket and was able to obtain a wristband which allowed him on nearly everything. In a nutshell:
- Waterslides: You’re supposed to be 48″ or more to ride them. They let us go down the blue one with a life jacket, but not the yellow one.
- Drop Slide: No life jackets allowed; must be 48″ or taller.
- Diving Board: Any age and you can wear your life jacket (yay!)
- Climbing walls: No life jackets allowed, but any age is allowed.
- Lily pad walk: Any age and life jackets are allowed.
You are not allowed to bring in any outside food or beverages but they do have a concession stand with typical concession stand options. It was not busy at ALL when we were there so we had the pick of the litter for beach chairs. Snagged a few over near the water slides because it gave us a good birds eye view of all the various areas of the pool without losing anybody. The lifeguards all seemed very nice and it was well cared for an cleaner than a lot of community pools and rec centers we have been to.
There is a tot time open an hour before the pool opens to the public many days. Check their online schedule to see upcoming hours before heading out the door. They do have life jackets available to borrow, lockers available for use, and a cool sand pit area for kids who may not be huge fans of the water.
Daily admission per person is $6 (Can you even believe that price!!??), and the evening rate (5-8pm) is only $3.50. I mean, the price and activities alone make this aquatic center worth the 45-minute drive from my house! We were so happily surprised by the entire place – even I got in the water (and did the drop slide – I don’t even know who I am anymore). I think we spent a total of four hours here and the kids still didn’t want to leave.
I have to take a minute to give a shoutout to my oldest son who turned 13 on this trip. This photo of him is so definitive of who he is – our joyful, patient, inclusive and sensitive spirit, cheerfully enjoying whatever it is you put in front of him (but especially good food). Parenting him has been my highest honor. Happy 13th birthday, Coen. I hope you enjoyed your swimming and – even more so – your giant burrito and fried ice cream! We love you.
EL TEQUILA MEXICAN
The last stop of our whirlwind trip to Faribault was a birthday dinner for the big guy – his dinner pick was Mexican food so we asked around and found out that El Tequila slightly outside of town was the heavy favorite. While it has five Minnesota locations now, it is family-owned, crazy authentic, and Faribault was where it all began. While I enjoyed a watermelon margarita, we all devoured their complimentary chips and salsa (yes, we had seconds). The birthday boy got a giant burrito, fried ice cream and a serenade from the staff. I think that will be a memory he will take with him for quite some time.
Our meal at El Tequila was the grand finale to our Faribault adventure. We piled into the car with full stomachs (yet again), but didn’t mind because we knew the drive ahead of us was short and sweet. That’s one of the huge pluses of Faribault – you don’t have to travel for hours on end to get there from the Minneapolis area. So much fun without all the road trip fuss.
My suggestion for your summer bucket list with kids is to learn to spell Faribault, learn to pronounce Faribault, and to GO VISIT FARIBAULT. Have fun and tell ’em MinneMama sent you!
