Things to Do in the Summer in MinnesotaVisit the Minnesota State Fair.Also known as the Great Minnesota Get-Together, this massive event has something for everyone: tasty food, fun rides, live music, attractions, and more. Dont forget to pick up some chocolate chip cookies and milk from Sweet Marthas! This annual event occurs for 12 days, ending on Labor Day.Stargaze in Voyageurs National Park.Due to the low levels of light pollution, Voyageurs National Park is an excellent spot to admire the constellations! Plus, this is the only water-based national park in the country.Go for a bike ride.Relax and get some exercise in the great outdoors! Two great paths for beginner bicyclists are the Canon Valley Trail and the Midtown Greenway.Take a boat tour of Lake Itasca.The great Mississippi River starts right here in Minnesota, at Lake Itasca! Although you could certainly hike around the lake or rent a canoe or kayak, why not take it easy with a boat tour? Youll learn about local wildlife as well as logging and Native American history.Visit a lighthouse.Numerous photogenic lighthouses dot the shores of Minnesotas lakes, and many of them have nearby parks and hiking trails. Take a day-trip to one of these beauties: Split Rock Lighthouse, Grand Marais Lighthouse, Two Harbors Lighthouse, Duluth North Pier Lighthouse, and Minnesota Point Lighthouse.Admire Minnesotas picturesque waterfalls.While youve got your camera out, stop by some of Minnesotas beloved waterfalls. Top picks include Minnehaha Falls, Ramsey Falls, Wolf Creek Falls, Gooseberry Falls, High Falls, Vermillion Falls, Minneopa Falls, and Minnemishinona Falls.Check out the North Shore.The north shore of Lake Superior is a wonderful spot to enjoy the natural beauty of Minnesota. Why not go fishing dockside? Or maybe you could hit the green at one of the areas many golf courses. There are also hiking trails, bike paths, and kayak rentals.Pick berries at a local farm.There are loads of pick-your-own berry farms around the state. Though the varieties depend on the farm and the season, you might be able to pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries. Some favorite spots include The Strawberry Basket (in Monticello), The Berry Patch (in Forest Lake), and The Blueberry Fields of Stillwater.Enjoy a lovely afternoon of learning.If you would prefer to spend your day indoors in the refreshing AC, why not check out a museum? Here are just a few of your options:Charles Lindbergh House & MuseumGreat Lakes AquariumLaura Ingalls Wilder MuseumMinneapolis Institute of ArtMinnesota Childrens MuseumMinnesota Marine Art MuseumPaisley Park (Princes home and studio)Red Wing Shoe Store & MuseumScience Museum of MinnesotaSPAM MuseumWalker Art CenterDelve deep into Niagara Cave.Another cool option (it remains 48 degrees Fahrenheit year-round), Niagara Cave is a 200-foot-deep limestone cave. It includes a 60-foot waterfall, an underground river, a gemstone mining sluice, and more.Cheer on the Minnesota Twins.Visit the beloved Twins home stadium, Target Field, in Minneapolis. Grab a hot dog and some Cracker Jacks and root for the home team!Go shopping at the Mall of America.Well, we say shop, but shoppings just one thing you can do at this absolute behemoth. In addition to stores, the Mall of America contains roller coasters, an aquarium, a movie theater, a comedy club, restaurants, and much more.Check Minnesota Monthlys calendar for local events.Embrace your local community by attending a festival or other social event. Here are just a few of the events occurring around the state this summer:Pan-O-Prog (July 9-16, 2023)Lumberjack Days (July 14-16, 2023)Minnesota Original Music Festival (July 19-23, 2023)There are so many fun things to do in the summer in Minnesota. Whats on your bucket list?The Shores of Lake Phalen is an assisted living community in a quiet, peaceful environment in Maplewood, Minnesota. We offer numerous health and safety amenities, fun events and activities, a friendly and accommodating staff, and much more. Schedule a tour of the community to explore our spacious apartments, elegant dining room, and more. We look forward to hearing from you! 

When a senior decides where theyre going to retire, there are many factors they need to consider. Its essential to find a place thats supportive of a retirees lifestyle. Practical needs should also be balanced with what makes retirement a joy. Minnesota is a great place to live, but is Minnesota a great place to retire? According to the experts, theres a lot for retirees to love about living in our favorite state.How Does Minnesota Compare to Other States?When determining what states are the most supportive for retirees, there are a lot of different factors to consider. Retirement experts agree that three specific criteria can make a big difference in your retirement experience:Affordability is key. Savvy seniors know that stretching a dollar is the key to a sustainable retirement, and moving somewhere with a low cost of living can help.Quality of life is also crucial. This metric includes fun activities and events for seniors, access to resources like shopping and public transportation, and environmental aspects like weather and crime rates.Access to health care is the final important metric. Because seniors usually have some health concerns related to aging, its essential to ensure they live where access to medical care is simple and sustainable.Minnesota comes out near the top of the list when you compare states to each other based on these criteria. In fact, according to a recent study on retirement, Minnesota was ranked the 8th best place to retire in the United States. Minnesota has a reasonable cost of living, a robust health system that seniors can rely on, and many different attractions and amenities that make it an excellent place for seniors to live.Minnesotas Cost of Living Is Reasonable for RetireesIf youre looking for an affordable place to retire, Minnesota can give you a lot for your money. Living costs like grocery and housing are consistently cheaper in Minnesota than in other states, and even urban areas like Minneapolis are surprisingly affordable.Senior Health Care in Minnesota Is Number OneMinnesota is consistently recognized as one of the best places in the United States for seniors to seek health care, and WalletHub named it the best overall state for senior health care access in 2023. Healthcare costs are lower than the national average, but the quality of the hospital systems and the overall health outcomes for seniors are still high.Minnesota Has a Lot to Offer a RetireeLiving in Minnesota might be an excellent way to save money, but what will your quality of life be like? Minnesota boasts all kinds of features that make retirement a joy for seniors. Youll enjoy breathtaking natural vistas, a rich culture of arts and local festivals, and some of the friendliest communities youll ever meet. And while the winter can be a challenge, if you move into a senior living community, the snow and ice wont be your problem to deal with._____Is Minnesota a good place to retire? If youre looking for a state that can give you a great quality of life as a retiree, look no further. Why not visit The Shores of Lake Phalen to see it for yourself?The Shores of Lake Phalen is an assisted living community in a quiet, peaceful environment in Maplewood, Minnesota. We offer numerous health and safety amenities, fun events and activities, a friendly and accommodating staff, and much more. Schedule a tour of the community to explore our spacious apartments, elegant dining room, and more. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you have a senior loved one in a memory care community, finding fun and engaging ways to help them reminisce is vital. For seniors with age-related memory issues, tactile props that engage their senses can help. A memory box is a box full of objects that can help seniors remember specific experiences, people or places, or just general things they enjoy. But what should you put in a memory box? These senior memory box ideas can help you get started.Memory Box TipsTheres no wrong way to build a memory box, but the following guidelines may prove useful:Ensuring the box is manageable for your senior loved one is essential. Pick something small and sturdy, like a shoe box.Because the five senses help our brains access memories, include items that incorporate touch, hearing, and smell. You can even include taste by adding small candies or other favorite treats.Add some extra fun to the memory box by decorating it with your seniors favorite colors, textures, 0r even a photo or two. Decorating a memory box can also be a great way to get little ones involved!Be sure to keep safety in mind when filling a memory box. Avoid items that can break easily, have sharp edges, or are heavy or difficult to hold.What Kinds of Memory Boxes Can I Make?When choosing items for a memory box, your imagination is the only real limit. However, it can be helpful to tailor a memory boxs contents to something that your senior loved one will remember fondly:Does your senior loved one have a hobby or two they enjoy? A hobby-themed memory box can be a lot of fun. Consider binoculars and bird feathers for a bird watcher or some tasty treats and cooking utensils for a home chef.A memory box themed around a special time in a seniors life can spark joy. Include a bottle of sunscreen and photos from a beach vacation, or decorations and trinkets related to their favorite holidays.A memory box can be an excellent project for a family to make for a senior loved one. Ask family members to add small items to help their senior loved one remember them, and be sure to include photos as well. You can also add items related to people you know your senior loved one will want to remember, such as a parents favorite cologne or perfume.Does your senior have blankets, clothing, or other soft and sentimental items you can incorporate into the memory box? For some seniors with age-related memory issues, a box of comforting textures can evoke peaceful times.SELECTED FOR YOU:  What Makes People HappyThese are only a few senior memory box ideas, but we hope theyll inspire your creativity. What will you put in your memory box?Are you looking for a community that provides a positive, healthy atmosphere where your loved one can live out their golden years? The Shores of Lake Phalen is an assisted living and memory care community in a quiet, peaceful environment in Maplewood, Minnesota. Surrounded by a gorgeous wooded setting between two lakes, our residence offers the accessibility of apartment-style housing with the atmosphere and elegance of a resort. We offer numerous health and safety amenities, fun events and activities, a friendly and accommodating staff, and much more. Schedule a tour of the community to explore our spacious apartments, elegant dining room, and more. We look forward to hearing from you!  For more information and help for your loved one please call The Shores of Lake Phalen at 651-273-3129 or visit our website at www.theshoresoflakephalen.com