🦦River Cliffs, Road Trips & Resin Pours

Plus, the perfect trip to Taylors Falls

Author

Joe Carmack
April 08, 2026

Highlight reel. Had to share a few highlight pics from our family’s big Spring Break road trip! While I might not suggest attempting 1,800 miles with four kids over seven days… we’ve got a great (much shorter) alternative in this week’s Up Yonder below.

Have a great weekend!

-Joe & Haley

Your Weekend Forecast

Thomas & Friends @ The Children’s Museum

ongoing

A familiar blue engine and his friends take over the gallery with hands-on train play inspired by the world of Thomas & Friends. Kids can climb into the cab, build tracks, load cargo, and explore places like Knapford Station and Sodor Steamworks while solving simple challenges along the way. It’s built for younger kids especially, mixing imaginative play with a little problem-solving and early STEM learning as they move trains, fix parts, and keep the railway running.

Hump Day Comedy Hour @ Gambit Brewing

4/15

Midweek reset, but with beer and people trying to be funny for your approval. Four comics rotate through quick sets, mixing seasoned locals with newer names figuring it out in real time. It’s short, casual, low stakes, and cheap enough that even if one joke bombs, you’ll survive just fine.

 

MSP Film Festival

4/8-4/19

If your idea of a good time is sitting in the dark for hours but feeling more cultured about it, this delivers. A packed lineup of international films, indie projects, and documentaries, plus panels, filmmaker Q&As, and the occasional industry person wandering around like they own the place. Spread across a handful of Twin Cities theaters, you bounce between screenings pretending you’re at Sundance.

 

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

ongoing

Live classical music without the stiff, overly formal feel. A smaller orchestra means you’re closer to the sound, with musicians often leading themselves instead of a conductor. Programs mix classics with newer works, and performances pop up across different Twin Cities venues.

 

International Festival of Minnesota

4/10 - 4/11

Basically a passport without the TSA nonsense. Dozens of cultures packed into one space with traditional food, dance, music, and handmade goods from all over the world. You’ll bounce from one country to the next in minutes, sampling, watching performances, and pretending you’re way more worldly than you actually are.

Lotus brings bold Vietnamese flavors into a relaxed neighborhood setting that makes dinner feel both casual and memorable. The menu leans into classics like fragrant pho, banh mi sandwiches layered with pickled vegetables and grilled meats, and shareable appetizers like crispy egg rolls and spring rolls. One popular choice is the traditional pho, a slow-simmered broth with rice noodles and herbs that’s comforting and deeply flavorful. The experience feels lively but welcoming, the kind of place where a long dinner conversation naturally stretches into another round of cream cheese wontons.

After dinner, shift gears from eating to creating with a hands-on class at Iron Roots Woodworks. This father-and-son-run shop hosts workshops where guests learn to craft their own wood or resin pieces, mixing colors, pouring resin, and sanding the finished project until it shines. The atmosphere is relaxed and collaborative, with instructors guiding the process so beginners feel comfortable jumping in. Part craft class and part date-night activity, it’s a chance to work side-by-side building something unique you’ll actually take home when the evening ends.

For this week’s Up Yonder, we’re keeping it close with a road trip to Taylors Falls, MN that somehow still feels like you got out of town. Cliffs, river views, and just enough to do without turning your day into a whole ordeal.

🗺️ Getting There

Taylors Falls is about as easy as it gets. Roughly 45 minutes from Minneapolis, straight shot east. Close enough that you’ll question why you don’t go more often. No road trip snacks required… but you’ll probably still bring them.

🥾 Things to Do

Start with Interstate State Park, because that’s why you’re here. The Minnesota side gives you cliffs, the world’s deepest explored glacial pothole to peer into, and easy trails that don’t require a full hydration strategy. Good for a relaxed walk or letting the kids burn energy without someone crying halfway through. Begrudgingly we’ll mention that if you’re looking for a longer hike the Badgers’ side of the border is a little better for it. Cross the bridge, get your steps in, then come back and never admit WI is better at anything.

After that, swing by the St. Croix Falls Dam. It’s quick but worth it. Loud water, solid views, oddly calming for something that looks like it could power a small country. If you’ve got decent weather, rent a canoe or kayak and get out on the river. Easy float, great scenery, and just enough effort to feel productive without ruining the rest of your day.

For food, you’ve got two solid paths. Go simple and pack a picnic for the park—plenty of spots near the Interstate campground sites where you can sit, eat, and stare at the river like you’ve got nowhere else to be. Or head into town and grab a table at The Drive-In Restaurant & Dairy Bar. Old-school burgers, fries, shakes. Nothing fancy, which is exactly the point.

🧭 A Few Tips

  • Wear decent shoes – The rocks and trails aren’t dangerous, but they’ll humble bad footwear quickly.

  • Cross the bridge – You came this far. Might as well take advantage of both states.

  • Bring cash or card flexibility – Small-town spots can be unpredictable.

  • Watch the river levels – Especially if you’re planning to paddle. Conditions can change.

  • Time it right – Early morning or weekday = way less people, way more enjoyable.

Taylors Falls is one of those places that doesn’t try too hard. Big views, easy access, just enough to do without turning into a full production. Close, simple, and somehow still underrated. Which, honestly, feels like it shouldn’t be possible anymore.

As always, happy trails!

-Haley & Joe

PS: If your 2026 plans include a new home, give us a call! We’d love to help. :)

Joe & Haley Carmack
LivingInMN.com