Fawn-Doe-Rosa Wildlife Educational Park (10-minute drive): Step into a real-life nature adventure at Fawn-Doe-Rosa Wildlife Educational Park, where a 17-acre wonderland brings you face-to-face with over 20 species of wildlife. Imagine strolling through serene trails as gentle deer wander freely by your side, eagerly nibbling carrots or seeds from your hands (available for $2.50 a bag). It’s not just deer—goats, miniature ponies, and fluffy rabbits wait in the petting area, ready for your attention. Beyond this, you’ll encounter fascinating creatures like Arctic foxes, lynxes, and river otters in beautifully maintained enclosures. Additionally, the farmyard brims with chickens, pigs, and geese, while a peaceful pond teems with waterfowl. Add a pony ride or pause at a shaded picnic spot to fully embrace this one-of-a-kind wildlife experience​. Trollhaugen Ski Area (15-minute drive): Trollhaugen Ski Area offers an action-packed winter playground spread across 90 acres with 24 groomed trails and 4 dynamic terrain parks. Known for its thrilling variety, Trollhaugen features 29% beginner runs, 43% intermediate trails, and 28% advanced slopes, making it ideal for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. Its longest run stretches 2,500 feet, complemented by a vertical drop of 260 feet. Adventurers can also enjoy night skiing across the entire resort, with trails illuminated until 3 a.m. on Fridays. For a change of pace, the resort boasts a 10-lane tubing hill and a Nordic ski trail stretching 2.5 kilometers. Summer brings a zip line park and an aerial challenge course with over 120 elements, ensuring year-round activities. Plus,  Trollhaugen is known for their terrain park, rated the 3rd best in the Midwest Region by TransWorld Snowboarding Magazine! An absolute must-visit for winter sport enthusiasts! The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (13-minute drive): The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is a breathtaking expanse of nature stretching over 255 miles of federally protected waterways along the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers, offering activities like kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and winter sports. For paddlers, multiple access points and routes cater to day trips and multi-day expeditions, with outfitters like Wild River Outfitters and Taylor's Falls Canoe & Kayak Rental providing rental equipment and guided tours. Anglers can fish for species such as smallmouth bass, muskellunge, and trout, with areas like the Namekagon River featuring shallow, gravelly sections perfect for fly fishing​. Hiking trails with scenic views of the river include the Interstate State Park trails and the groomed Trego Lake Ski Trail in winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, river otters, and endangered freshwater mussels, adding to its ecological richness. The St. Croix Festival Theatre (13-minute drive): The St. Croix Festival Theatre offers a rich variety of performances throughout the year, showcasing a mix of classic plays, contemporary works, and unique special events across its multiple venues, such as the Franklin Square Black Box Theatre and the Historic Auditorium. Popular productions include the Next Stage Series, which features original and dynamic shows such as “Heck”, a musical comedy, and “CommedAI”, an improv show blending physical comedy and AI-driven performance. Other productions include “The Wolves”, a play exploring the coming-of-age experience of high school girls, and “A Christmas Carol”, a festive retelling of the Dickens classic. Additionally, the theatre has brought a variety of musical acts to the stage, including performances by the Twin Cities Flamenco Collective, which showcases passionate Flamenco dance and music, and Hiroya Tsukamoto, whose masterful fingerstyle guitar performances offer an emotional and cross-cultural journey. Interstate State Park (15-minute drive): Interstate State Park, located along the St. Croix River, showcases dramatic landscapes and rich geological history. Explore the Pothole Trail to see the one of the world’s largest glacial potholes, the 60-foot-deep Devil’s Parlor, or descend into the side-opening Bake Oven Pothole using built-in stairs. For panoramic river views, head to Sandstone Bluff Overlook, accessible via the steep Sandstone Bluff Trail, or climb to Eagle Peak, which rises 120 feet above the valley. Canoeing and kayaking on the St. Croix offer an unforgettable experience as the river winds through steep sandstone cliffs and lush forested valleys, with launch points at Lake O' the Dalles and various spots along the river. For those who want to try rock climbing, Tourist Rock is an excellent choice along with many other sandstone formations (permits required). Anglers who want to reel in a trophy catch can target smallmouth bass, northern pike, and walleye at Osceola Landing or near the lower campground. Lake O’ the Dalles also features a swimming beach and picnic shelters with barbecue grills. Trails like Skyline Trail and Silverbrook Trail offer scenic hikes through forests, wildflower-filled meadows, and past landmarks like Silverbrook Falls and an old copper mine.