10 Must-Dos When You’re in Shakopee, MN
Attractions range from horse races to Minnesota's largest candy store
Check out these must-do attractions, activities and dining in Shakopee, MN.
In This Article
Ride the North Star
Visit Valleyfair amusement park for its 60 rides and attractions, including the North Star, the Corkscrew, the Renegade, Steel Venom and the Soak City water park. Valleyfair is open from May through late October.
Face the Music
Attend the Prior Lake Rotary Club’s Lakefront Music Fest, which takes the stage for two nights every July at Lakefront Park. One night is devoted to country music and one night features classic rock. More than 20,000 spectators attend the festival.
Let it Ride
Watch all the paint-swapping, fender-bumping action of Saturday night racing at Elko Speedway,
a 3/8 mile, high-banked, asphalt, oval track that has provided stock car excitement since 1964. Racing divisions include super late models, thunder cars and legends.
Want S’more? Check out more fun things to do in Shakopee
Horse Around
Bet the thoroughbreds during horse racing season at Canterbury Park, open Thursdays through Sundays from early May to Labor Day. The facility also houses a year-round, 24-hour Card Casino that offers Texas Hold ‘Em, blackjack and more.
Visit Mid-1800
See how people of the Lower Minnesota River Valley lived from 1840-1890 at The Landing, an interactive museum in Shakopee. Highlights include guided tours, a grist mill, a rustic inn, scenic river trails and a former ferry crossing.
Hope You Win
Plan some playtime at Mystic Lake Hotel Casino, which is currently adding a nine-story hotel tower that will bring its room total to 766. Mystic Lake is also upgrading its convention center, with construction scheduled for completion in late 2017.
Grab a fork and dig into Scott County’s local flavor.
Catch Their Drift
Go outdoors and enjoy snowmobiling and cross country skiing at Cleary Lake Regional Park and Minnesota Valley State Recreational Area. For those who also like mountain biking, Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve offers hilly terrain and lush forestland.
Act Like A Kid
Indulge in some sweet treats at Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store, located in Jordan on Highway 169. Goodies include 80 flavors of licorice and a whole wall devoted to bacon products, among them bacon chocolate bars and bacon gum.
Faire Thee Well
Party like it’s 1599 at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, which depicts life in 16th-century England. The past comes to life every weekend from mid-August through the end of September. The festival celebrates its 47th season in 2017.
Take Your Pick
Join the outdoor fun at Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard, where you can find great apples, strawberries and pumpkins for sale from spring to late fall. Located off Highway 169 just outside Jordan, activities include wagon rides, bonfires and a corn maze.