Add Como Park to Your Family Vacation Plans in St. Paul, Minnesota

If you're planning to take your family to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul this summer, be sure to plan at least one day in St. Paul's Como Park. For over 100 years this beautiful area has served the people of the Twin Cities, and your family will love it too.

Como Park includes a zoo, a conservatory, a lake, a lakeside pavilion, an 18-hole golf course, an amusement park and four ball parks, as well as playgrounds for the little ones and paved paths through the landscaped lawn and trees: something for everyone.

Como Zoo is a delightful zoo. The newest exhibit is a polar bear habitat, built for $15.35 million and opened on June 3, 2010, called the Polar Bear Odyssey. The Odyssey is home to twin polar bears Buzz and Neil. The bears are loving their home, with 13,410 square feet of outdoor living space, a large holding area, a den for cubs, and of course, pools. It has already received the 3 Diamond Award from Polar Bears International - only the second zoo in the world to receive that honor.

The kids will love watching Buzz and Neil from the Outpost, a climate-controlled structure that lets visitors see the bears close up, with underwater views of them splashing in their pool and playing in their stream, cliffs, and digging pit! From outdoors, you can get as close as 20 feet, and see the entire habitat. Of course, the bears aren't the only animals in the zoo, so make sure to take a little time away from this popular attraction to see the rest of the inhabitants!

Another favorite spot in Como Park is the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. This glass-domed, climate-controlled conservatory is a bright spot of greenery and flowers in the harsh St. Paul winters, but it's just as lovely in other seasons. It was built in the park in 1915, and like the zoo, is free to visitors. It's a great spot to catch your breath and take in some beauty. Both the conservatory and the zoo are open all year round.

If your kids are getting antsy, take them to Como Town, a family amusement park within Como Park. It has over 18 rides, including a Splash Zone (perfect on hot summer days). There's no entry fee, and you can chose to pay just for the rides you want or get unlimited ride bands or packages for costs from $10 to $100. Como Town is open from March through October.

Hot? Head for Como Lake. Swim, hang out on the beach, fish from the pier, or rent a paddleboat. There are also walking trails around the lake. Tired, hungry, or both? Stop at the Como Lakeside Pavilion for the full-service restaurant, and if you get there on the right day, you may be treated to a free concert or play.

Before you leave, visit Cafesjian's Carousel. It was installed in Como Park in 2000, but the carousel was built in 1913 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. After serving many years at the Minnesota State Fair, it was purchased by the city of St. Paul, and eventually made its way to the park. The carousel has 68 horses in four rows, all hand-carved and hand-painted, beautifully restored and maintained, that go up and down as the carousel turns, and two chariots for children with physical disabilities. It also has a fully restored Wurlitzer organ, replacing the original organ destroyed in a fire in 1939. Whether you ride the carousel, or just admire the beauty and the history, it's truly a must-see at Como Park.

(Sources: http://www.thefamilytravelfiles.com/ezine/articles/545/ , http://www.visitsaintpaul.com/, http://www.ourfaircarousel.org/, www.comozooconservatory.org , http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?nid=1070 )