West Saint Paul, MN Outdoor Activities

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.

After years of introducing kids to bowmanship through the National Archery in the Schools Program, or NASP, father-and-son team John and Ryan Slate founded High Five Archery in 2008, continuing their mission to share their passion for outdoor sporting with their fellow families. Just as William Tell and his son Johnny teamed up to pierce the nation's apple trees, John and Ryan oversee High Five's indoor shooting range where compound bows launch practice arrows at targets in a safe environment. During private or group lessons, students improve their skills under the tutelage of instructors certified by NASP and Centershot—including John himself who helped lead White Bear Lake High School's archery team to multiple NASP Minnesota state championships. Elsewhere in the store, a pro shop equips marksmen with brand-name bows, arrows, and accessories alongside a stock of seasonal bait and the latest fishing gear, replacing outdated methods such as lures made to look like cans of Crystal Pepsi.

As the owner of the initials in DCW Riding Instruction's title, Diane Williams teaches aspiring riders how to safely and confidently command a horse in the styles of hunter, jumper, and dressage. Though her instructional style is laid-back, Diane never compromises on safety and always ensures that proper techniques and precautions are in place before moving on to more advanced parts of a lesson. She keeps energy levels high during each 60-minute block, packing the allotted time with a variety of exercises and the theoretical explanations for various components of style, such as keeping heels down, toes in, and hair in a slow-motion billow.

The relaxed, welcoming atmosphere at The Art Mill puts the focus on enjoying creativity instead of holding fierce golem-building contests. People of all artistic backgrounds will find an encouraging environment for clay slinging. Before constructing creations that will probably make you rich, an enthusiastic instructor built from clay will teach crafters the basics. Though instruction is geared toward beginners and intermediate-level artists, advanced talents are welcome to dust up. This isn't a full-fledged class, just a bit of expert guidance before you pound the provided three-pound clay lump into submission, which will likely resemble a bowl.