I tried to look on the bright side when our toddler decided my day was going to begin at 3:00 a.m. At least there wasn’t any chance of turning off the alarm at 6:00 and sleeping through the bright-and-early Rainbow Foods Easter egg hunt! We’re personal friends of their Easter Bunny so I had promised the kids would be there, baskets in hand.
After loading up on a lifetime supply of chocolate eggs, TourDad and I herded the kids home to take a quick power nap before Hunt #2 commenced at the James J. Hill House in St. Paul. It was a crummy day for an egg hunt on the lawn – as most of the grass was still covered in melting snow – but the kids had their boots and game faces on.
We warmed cold fingers inside the railroad magnate’s historic stone mansion once the baskets were filled. This was the part of the festivities I was most looking forward to, a chance to wander the first floor of the opulent home. It had been years since we’d taken a formal tour. This time our kids had attention spans long enough to get a good look at all the incredible woodwork and period furnishings. The event also included kid-friendly snacks, an Easter-themed storytime, and a demonstration on the Hill House’s own pipe organ.
We’re hoping the toddler is now wiped out. All that egg-citing Easter fun is guaranteed to get me a decent night’s sleep, right?
For the Files: The James J. Hill House Easter Egg Hunt is an annual event for caregivers and their children ages 2-7. Admission is $6/person or $4/person with Minnesota Historical Society membership. Reservations are recommended (we were turned away last year). Information about year-round tours of the historic site can be found here. Various branches of Rainbow Foods offer a free egg hunt each year for kids ages 2-8, but you’d better be early risers to enjoy it. The hunt begins at 7:30 a.m. (and includes coffee and donuts for parents).
About the Author: Anne Kingston is the Owner and Founder of Tourmoms.com.