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Family Activities in the Twin Cites (Minneapolis/St Paul)

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Fun Things to Do for Kids and their Families in Minneapolis and St. Paul Area

Ever begin to run out of ideas for things to do with your kids or loved ones? Well look no further! I'm compiling a list of fun activities in the Twin Cities area.

The page includes categorized listings of fun things to do with the family, broken down by price. Everything from free to $10, or more, dollars per person.

A big challenge is coming up with things to do, on the spur of a moment or when funds are low.

As far as the Twin Cities are concerned, the biggest challenge isn't finding something the kids will enjoy doing, it's figuring out how to fit it all in.

There is just so much to do!

These are upcoming events for the family

From Explore Minnesota

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Free Things to Do

Free (or some times a donation)

These are the free things to do.

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory provides a balanced combination of fun, family and education. It's mission is to inspire our public to value the presence of living things in our lives. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is open 365 days a year and admission is free. Guests are invited to make a voluntary donation to help care for the plants and animals. Suggested donation is $2 for adults and $1 for children.
Mall of America: Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
*Most retail stores are closed Easter, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Summer Mall Hours (May 31 - August 30, 2008)
Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Baker Park Reserve: Located on Lake Independence, Baker Park Reserve's 2,700 acres offer diverse outdoor activities in natural surroundings. You can golf at Baker National Golf Course, explore a creative play area, picnic and swim, or bicycle on paved trails that wind through meadows and forest. Visit for the day, stay overnight in the campground or plan a retreat to the Baker Near-Wilderness Settlement, a secluded log-cabin village. In the winter, the park offers 12.9K of cross-country ski trails.
Minnesota Transportation Museum: The Minnesota Transportation Museum invites travelers of all ages to experience the changing world of transportation.
Eden Prairie Center's Soft Play Area: For all of you south-suburbanites, check out the soft foam play area at Eden Prairie Center! It's located on the lower level near Kohl's and has a Minnesota-living theme. Some of the play structures include a snowmobile, tent, hills and jet ski.

It has a nice balance of taller climbing structures for the preschool crowd and lower structures for the younger tots. Bring the kids there to enjoy Minnesota without any pesky mosquitoes!
Choo Choo Bobs Train Sore: This Grand Avenue train store is chock full of fun and toys! It hosts free storytimes at 10 a.m. on select Tuesdays and Saturdays - Engineer Paul usually hosts them each week, but it's best to call or check the schedule in the website's Events section before your visit.

Even on non-story days, the store is a place for free fun; there are train tables (with surrounding benches for parents) located in the rear of the store that are open for play during business hours.

They also offer birthday party packages in their train-themed party room for a reasonable price.

2050 Marshall Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-646-5252
Hennepin County Library - Birth to 6 - Storytimes: Family Storytime at Hennepin County Libraries

For children age 2 and up. Share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement with your children. No registration required.
Imagination Saturdays - Michaels Craft Stores: Michaels Kids Club meets each Saturday at Michaels stores; kids ages 5-12 are invited to join one of four 30-minute sessions at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., or 11:30 a.m. Typically, projects cost $2 per project, per child. However, some Saturdays are free for the whole family.

Multiple Metro Locations!
Minneapolis Institute of Arts: Admisssion is always free, every day, except on Mondays when it's closed, at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minneapolis. On select Sundays, they host Family Days, which feature special activities for families to enjoy together! Otherwise, browse one of their many permanent collections or temporary exhibitions.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; open until 9 p.m. Thursdays. Closed Mondays.
Minneapolis Movies in the Park Series: Free movies in the park. Watch movies with your loved ones for free, while sitting under the stars.

*Bring a comfortable seat, but not a lawn chair (more like a beach chair). It really keeps your back/butt from hurting.
U.S. Pond Hockey Championships: This fun and free event occurs every winter in January.

"Hockey. The way nature intended. Outdoors in the crisp winter air, skate blades gliding on the fresh ice below, with the sounds of clacking sticks and the smell of grilling bratwurst filling the air. " - Sounds enticing, doesn't it?

Located on Lake Nakomis at 4955 W. Lake Nokomis Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Events at the Minnesota State Capitol - MNHS.ORG: Tons of free events at the state capital. They rotate events monthly. Hourly tours are free as well.

Location:
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul MN 55155

Phone: 651-296-2881
Midwest Mountaineering: Demo Kayak and Canoe for Free: Test-paddle boats for absolutely Free.
We bring the boats, paddles, and personal flotation devices.

Walking Twin Cities

by: Holly Day, Sherman Wick

Amazon Price: $9.34 (as of 02/14/2012)

Cheap Things to Do

$1 to $9 per person

The Landing - Minnesota River Heritage Park: Tour only - $6/person
Cost increases from here as you add more options, such as a lunch or hayride.
Science Museum of Minnesota - Minnesota's Favorite Museum: Exhibits Only
Adult - Cost from $11.00
Child (4-12), Senior (60+) Cost from $8.50
Minnesota Children's Museum: Ages 1 - 101: $7.95 (If you're under 1 or over 101 years of age, sorry)

On December 12, 1981, the first children entered the original Children's Museum, known as "Minnesota's AwareHouse," in downtown Minneapolis. A picture of the original Children's Museum, Minnesota's AwareHouse. They experienced the wonders of hands-on children's museums. Each child who visited the Museum over the years has found creative, colorful, educational, safe environments to explore and discover exciting galleries and programs based on sound principles of learning.
Foshay Tower: $7 per person

Built in 1929 at the then-astronomical cost of $25 million and modeled on the Washington Monument, the Foshay was the brainchild of plumbing magnate Wilbur Foshay, who went to prison for fraud a year after it was built. The Foshay was the city's crowning glory before the IDS Tower, and even today the opulent art deco lobby is breathtaking in its extravagance.
Bell Museum: Adults: $5
Children 3-16: $3
Children under 3 years: Free
Seniors 62+: $3

The James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History was established by state legislative mandate in 1872 to collect, preserve, skillfully prepare, display, and interpret our state's diverse animal and plant life for scholarly research and teaching and for public appreciation, enrichment, and enjoyment. Its governance belongs, by state legislative designation, to the University of Minnesota.
St. Paul Saints Baseball: General Admission
Adult $5.00
Youth (14 & Under) $4.00
Bleacher Reserved
Adult $8.00
Youth (14 & Under) $7.00
Minnesota History Center: At the History Center's museum, enjoy lively exhibits that feature such varied objects as an authentic birch bark canoe, a printing press from the early 1800s, Minnesota Twins' World Series memorabilia, Burma Shave signs, a recreated barbershop and a windmill straight off the farm.

$10 adults, $8 seniors and college students, and $5 children ages 6-17. Free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.
The American Swedish Institute: In 1908, the Turnblads-a Swedish immigrant family-completed the construction of their castle-like mansion on Minneapolis' Park Avenue. Just twenty-one years later, they gave it all away to the community, founding the museum and cultural center that would become the American Swedish Institute.

Admission
$6 for adults,
$5 ages 62 and above,
$4 ages 6-18 and full-time students with ID.
Children under six are admitted free with an adult.

Admission is free for members of the American Swedish Institute.
The Bakken Museum - Home: The Bakken Museum inspires a passion for science and its potential good by helping people explore the history and nature of electricity and magnetism.

The Bakken Museum got its name from Earl Bakken, who co-founded Medtronic in 1949. Bakken was born in 1924 and grew up in Minneapolis and received his training in electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota.

Admission

Adults $7
Students & Seniors $5
Children younger than 4 and members are FREE

Groupon: Get the Best Deal in New York Today!

More Expensive Things to Do

$10 to $25+

These are the more costly adventures. Hopefully you get what you pay for!

Minnesota Zoo: Age Zoo Only Zoo/Imax Theatre
3-12 $8.00 $14.00
13-64 $14.00 $21.00
Valley Fair Amusement Park: Regular
(Ages 3-61 & 48" & taller in shoes) $36.95
Junior/Senior
(3 years & older and less than 48" tall in shoes, or 62 years & older) $14.95
Minnesota Indoor Water Parks (including Hotels): All of the indoor water parks in Minnesota.

Costs, hours of operation and locations vary.
Rent a Canoe or Paddle Boat on Lake Calhoun: On July 5, 1911 Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles were linked by canal. The gentle waters and picturesque setting that this effort made possible created an excellent opportunity for canoeing and kayaking.Please call (612) 823-5765 for more information on canoe, kayak and paddleboat rentals.