One feature buyers often love in Alexandria homes for sale and Arden Hills homes for sale is a working indoor fireplace. It can make those fall and winter nights peaceful, cozy and relaxing. Making sure your chimney and fireplace is ready for the season is essential, and it's the first step to operating your fireplace safely. Use these tips to enjoy your indoor fireplace safely.

• Look over the fireplace and any accessible areas of the chimney. Repairing the chimney isn't really a DIY job, but you can check that the damper is operational, look for any areas that might need repair in the firebox, and do a basic check for obstructions like debris or even animals.

National Fossil Day is coming up on October 13, and the Bell Museum is the perfect place to satisfy your curiosity about natural history. Exploring fossils is a great way to connect with the distant past, see what creatures were like millions of years ago, and inspire kids to learn more about science. The Bell Museum features exhibits on everything from ancient animals to space travel and has been in operation for nearly 150 years. The mix of education, science, art, and fun makes it an ideal place to visit for National Fossil Day this year in St. Paul.

• Bell Museum – 2088 Larpenteur Ave. W., St. Paul, MN 55113
  Established in 1872, the Bell Museum is the official natural history museum of Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota oversees it. The museum's mission is to inspire curiosity in all who visit, through hands-on experiences, education from a knowledgeable staff, and a vast collection of fascinating exhibits. It's a place where fun meets with learning, and it's all located around the corner from St. Paul homes for sale.

For many people, fall and apple orchards go hand in hand. Visiting an orchard gives you the chance to pick up fresh apples in exotic varieties you won't find at your local grocery store. As a bonus, you'll be supporting local farmers and sustainable farming practices. These five orchards are close to both Minneapolis homes for sale and St. Paul homes for sale, making them perfect places to stock up on apples and other fall produce no matter where you live in the Twin Cities area.  

1. Victoria Valley Orchard - 4304 N. Victoria St., Shoreview, MN 55126 
   Victoria Valley Orchard is an intimate, family-owned orchard near Shoreview homes for sale. The business dates back to the 1960s and has been proudly passed down through several generations since then. These days, they grow 21 varieties of apples, including uncommon options like Ginger Gold, Wealthy, and Shamrock.  
   
   You can buy any of these apples by the pound from apple crates kept stocked at the shop in front of the orchard. You'll also find delicious products like unpasteurized honey, caramel apples, and apple-related treats like crisps and pies. Guests do not currently have the option to pick their own fruit, but they are allowed to walk around the orchard and enjoy the beauty of the farm's well-kept grounds.

Moving is rarely an easy task, even if you're moving to new Victoria homes for sale just across town. Between sorting through belongings, securing moving boxes, and packing things up, the moving process can make you feel like you're losing your sanity. When you have to move in a hurry, feelings of anxiety and stress can escalate to feelings of panic.

If you're faced with a last-minute move, take a deep breath and don't get overwhelmed. There are things you can do to keep your sanity and get the job done in a pinch.

• Decide on Logistics
  First, decide if you're moving yourself or hiring a professional mover. While moving yourself to White Bear Lake Homes for Sale may keep costs down, organizing, packing, loading, and unloading will take you a lot more time. Take a look at your moving budget, then assess the amount of time you have to move. If time restraints make a self-move impossible, hire a moving company that can help with packing and logistics.