Red Wing, MN Outdoor Activities

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.

For most of the year, the outer concourses of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome fill with the aromas of hot dogs and grilled onions to feed hungry fans during Vikings and Twins games. But from November through April, the smooth concrete floors of those same concourses become the skating surface for the Rollerblade RollerDome. Skaters have taken over the Metrodome every winter for decades, including in 1993, when Jonathan Seutter set a Guinness World Record there by skating 271 miles in 24 hours. The half-mile concrete loops provide the ideal conditions for speed skaters and beginners alike. On the upper level, experienced skaters get a cardio workout with separate alleys for speed skating and leisurely coasting. On the lower level, kids and novices can take their time while skating along to music spun by onsite DJs and really hip spiders.

On MN Pro Paintball's 10 outdoor fields, players can dart amongst towers and trenches to avoid the paint balls whizzing through the air. While participants duck and weave, certified guides supervise battles to ensure that combatants play fairly and wear their mandatory eye protection. The insured facility rents out traditional equipment or to avoid renting, enthusiasts can show their commitment by purchasing gear at the field's two pro shops staffed by factory-certified repair technicians located in Burnsville and Minnetonka.

Held aloft by 35 years of family tradition, Stillwater Balloon sends intrepid explorers skyward from a port just off the scenic St. Croix River. Friendly FAA-certified pilots operate each craft and readily answer any questions that passengers may have as they float through gorgeous views of the surrounding valley. The billowy, multicolored behemoths cruise at treetop level, allowing travelers to shake hands with monkeys. Private and semiprivate flights are the business's forte, but Stillwater Balloon also accommodates custom flights for backyard surprises or ultimate school pickups.

Discover your inner Davy Crockett with today's Groupon. For $5, you get admission to the 40th Annual Minnesota Sportsmen's Show any day from Wednesday, January 13, through Friday, January 15, at the Saint Paul River Centre. Gawk at great outdoorsy goods (RVs, motor homes, travel trailers, fishing boats), attend free fishing and hunting seminars, plan your next excursion, and witness a water-skiing squirrel purchasing a motor home.

Since 1970, Skateville Family Rollerskating Center has facilitated friction-free entertainment on a classic indoor wooden rink. Multicolored lights tumble from retro fixtures high above the skating surface, swathing skaters in incandescent hues and mirages of Mardi Gras beads. In addition to hosting guests during open-skate hours, the family-owned roller arena gathers classes and groups together for field trips and fundraisers. The snack bar's hot dogs and soft drinks keep skaters energized, and an onsite arcade keeps hands from whining about all of the foot-centric entertainment.