Youth activities: trips

Theme parks, zoos, a museum and an aquarium are among the fun and educational trips available for youths during FMCA's Saint Paul Convention. As the convention draws near, please refer to the Youth Activities Schedule for dates and times.

Here are the attractions youths will be visiting.

Valleyfair Amusement Park
www.valleyfair.com
Valleyfair is the largest amusement park in the upper Midwest, with more than 75 rides and attractions, including six thrilling roller coasters, the Power Tower, a variety of family rides, live toe-tapping entertainment and Whitewater Country Waterpark. 

Science Museum of Minnesota
www.smm.org
Come for great hands-on approach to science, learning and entertainment! Featuring innovative exhibits, a convertible-dome Omnitheater, a brand new 3D Cinema, a world-class collection of fossils and artifacts, and a nine-hole miniature golf course that is open seasonally. The museum also boasts the popular Experiment Gallery, an Egyptian mummy, an authentic Mississippi River towboat, and other interactive exhibits and displays for all ages. 

Nickelodeon Universe
www.nickelodeonuniverse.com
Nickelodeon Universe® is the nation’s largest indoor family theme park and features seven acres of unique attractions and entertainment. Meet the Nick characters and experience new rides including the SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge, Avatar Airbender, Splat-o-Sphere, Rugrats Reptamobiles and more. 

Water Park of America
www.waterparkofamerica.com
Soaring 90 feet above the Twin Cities skyline, Water Park of America entertains both the young and the young at heart. Surf on Minnesota’s only Flow Rider Surf Simulator, catch a wave in the Lake Superior wave pool or challenge your fears in America’s longest indoor family raft ride at 10 stories tall and over a mile long. 

Minnesota Zoo
www.mnzoo.com
The Minnesota Zoo brings conservation, education and entertainment to life. The Zoo, situated on 500 wooded acres, is home to more than 1,000 animals representing 390 species. New for 2008 is Russia’s Grizzly Coast. It features grizzly bears, sea otters, leopards and wild boars. 

Underwater Adventures® Aquarium
www.sharky.tv
See more than 4,500 living sea creatures and touch real sharks at the world’s largest underground aquarium. With ocean tanks winding under Mall of America, the Underwater Adventuress® Aquarium has been named the “World’s Best Shark Encounter” by the Discovery Channel. 

Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Observatory
www.comozooconservatory.org
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory offers a year-round close-up look at the wonders of the plant and animal kingdoms. Como Zoo exhibits primates, gorillas, giraffes, lions, sea lions and much more. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory houses a spectacular collection of rare tropical orchids and palms, as well as five stunning year-round flower shows. In the warm season, visitors can take in the authentic Japanese Garden, Sparky the Sea Lion shows and the Enchanted Garden.