Things to Do in Maplewood

Long rumored to be the home of eerie happenings, a lonely stretch along Highway 61 has begun to attract even more sinister attention with the arrival of The Haunting Experience on Highway 61. Drawing from the site’s fabled past—including tales of cannibalism and mysterious disappearances—three haunted houses illicit goose bumps by way of deranged clowns, men with chainsaws, and ghosts plagued by unfinished business and half-completed doctoral theses. While waiting to enter the spooky abodes, guests can fortify their spirits by a bonfire and munch on snacks from the Ghoulish Grill and frosty mugs at the beer tent. Aside from these terrifying attractions, guests seeking a tamer experience can venture through a corn maze during the daytime, solving clues hidden within its paths to win prizes.

Colorful retro lounge chairs and candlelit tables surround the twin grand pianos that rhythmically butt heads at the center of Bogart's Place Presents Double Ditty's. Every Friday and Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., crooners awaken the instruments by hammering out classic jazz standards and inspiring audiences to harmonize on nostalgic President's Day carols. In a shared space with Apple Place Bowl and Main Street Grill, Bogart's Place entertains visitors with varying acts throughout the week. At Apple Place Bowl, automatic scoring systems keep track of frames, allowing free hands to cradle Main Street Grill's half-pound burgers, buffalo-chicken wraps, and slices of pizza with custom toppings.

Taste of Stillwater's annual festival, established in 2011, directs the spotlight toward the palate-popular offerings of local wineries, breweries, restaurants, and food trucks. Throughout the daylong celebration, empty tummies shuffle from station to station filling up on samples of refreshing beverages and foods, fueling bodies to explore the festival grounds' shopping opportunities and to tour Saint Croix Vineyards. Families stake their claim on the lawn area with blankets, foldable chairs, and giant bronze statues of their great-grandfathers before they feast their ears on live music. Taste of Stillwater dedicates a portion of its proceeds to charities including Valley Outreach, a community-based nonprofit organization that supports low-income people with donations of food, clothing, and other necessities.

Water cascades over the precipice of a towering rock face, forming an elevated waterfall that overlooks the recently renovated 18-hole circuit at Malt-Tees Mini Golf. Featured in CBS Minnesota's Best Things to Do in Richfield, the course winds through a labyrinth of colorful gardens and flowing streams, which players navigate via a system of bridges and putter pole-vaulting challenges. After rounds, appetites piqued by celebratory putter-gnawing can find relief at the malt shop, which serves up malts, ice cream cones, espresso, soft drinks and light snacks.

At Claymate Creations, Anjee Mai Emerson celebrates her two passions: art and play. Inspired by her joy in creating sculptures, she uses her colorful creation haven to share that love with students aged 8 and older. She leads them in shaping polymer clay monster sculptures, motivating them to tap into their imaginations to bring one-eyed green gremlins or self-destructive socialites to life. In each three-hour playshop class or private party, up to six guests gather in this casual learning environment. Anjee encourages them to have fun playing with clay while they flex their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

She also showcases her own work throughout the studio, and sells her handmade monsters, earrings, magnets, and stationery at a handful of local boutiques.

Capital City Trolleys charters a fleet of vintage-style vehicles and trolleys, ushering up to 20 passengers through New Orleans's historical and picturesque streets. Certified drivers cart revelers to their desired destinations during chartered rentals, cultivating a memorable corporate outing or ride to the airport. For weddings, Capital can transport brides, grooms, and ring-bearing bulldogs around town in a classic 1952 Bentley Mark VI luxury car.