Fourth of July Family Getaway in the Twin Cities Gateway
Fireworks, ice cream, waterparks, and more: this itinerary for a long Fourth of July weekend in the Twin Cities Gateway guarantees a fun time for the entire family!
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Kick off your Fourth of July weekend in the Twin Cities Gateway at the Ham Lake Freedom Festival. The family-friendly celebration held in Ham Lake Lions Park includes free kids activities like a firetruck and police vehicle display, inflatable slide and challenge course, and an obstacle course geared to younger children. Enjoy tasty food and beverages from local vendors, live music, and a fireworks display.
Sunday, July 2, 2023
Challenge the family to a friendly game at Lilli Putt in Coon Rapids, which has an 18-hole mini golf course, bumper boats, go-karts, and junior-sized kiddie karts for younger visitors. Try your luck at gem mining on old-fashioned wooden sluices, and grab some mini donuts from the on-site snack bar.
Next, cool off with an afternoon at Coon Rapids’ Bunker Beach Waterpark, the largest outdoor waterpark in Minnesota. Body surf three-foot waves in the wave pool, zoom down waterslides, and relax on the lazy river. Older kids can scramble up the climbing walls and balance on the wiggly water walk, and smaller kids can explore the zero-depth entry pool with play features.
Enjoy a sweet treat at Cullens Ice Cream in Coon Rapids, which serves 32 flavors of hand-scooped ice cream. There’s also a delicious selection of popcorn, retro sodas in glass bottles, and vintage and specialty candies.
Wrap up the day at the Coon Rapids 4th of July Celebration held at Boulevard Plaza. Check out the rides and games at the carnival midway, get your favorite fair foods, play some bingo, and rock out to live music.
Monday, July 3, 2023
Early July is strawberry season at Anoka’s Berry Hill Farm, where you can pick your own berries. Check Berry Hill Farm’s Facebook page for updates about strawberry availability, and remember to bring cash or check to purchase your haul.
Spend the afternoon playing at the Anoka Aquatic Center. Older kids can challenge themselves to the 12-foot climbing wall, 200-foot waterside, and the diving board, while little kids can splash around in the zero-depth entry pool and play structure with a tot-sized water slide and dump bucket.
Chill out at Two Scoops Ice Cream Shoppe in Anoka, which serves up super-premium Chocolate Shoppe Ice cream, with gluten-free and dairy-free flavors available. Try a banana split or brownie fudge delight sundae, or slurp down a classic malt or shake.
Prepare to ooh and ahh as Anoka’s 25th Annual Fireworks Display lights up the night sky over Castle Field at 10:00 p.m.—bring lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy a stellar show.
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Celebrate the nation’s birthday with ice cream at one (or both!) of Blaine’s delicious local ice cream spots. Treats is the perfect place for a picture-perfect cone, with a lineup of soft serve treats flavored with breakfast cereal. The menu also includes boba tea and dessert waffles with fun toppings. Big Dipper Creamery scoops up 52 flavors of housemade ice cream, crafting flavors ranging from double fudge brownie to butter pecan.
Finish your long Fourth of July weekend with Blaine’s fireworks show. The display starts at 10:00 p.m. at the National Sports Center and is sure to be spectacular.
Conveniently located to Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the ten communities of the Twin Cities Gateway (Anoka, Arden Hills, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Ham Lake, Lino Lakes, Mounds View, New Brighton, and Shoreview) offer tasty eats, trails and parks, recreational facilities, cultural attractions, and affordable hotels with free parking. Book your stay today!
