Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around the Twin Cities
Every May and June, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. This is our page where we showcase the winners from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. (Click here for the full list of nominees).
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! Get great ideas here on KidsOutAndAbout.com... check out the calendar on our home page, visit the Everything That's Free page, and sign up for our FREE weekly e-newsletter!
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1. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
One of the last FREE zoos in the United States, Como is home to a wide array of animals and plants and welcomes visitors 365 days a year. Located right next to Como Town Amusement Park, Cafesjian's historic carousel, and Como Park, the Zoo and Conservatory are great fun for visitors of all ages.
2. Minnesota Zoo
You “herd” right! Llamas have come to the Minnesota Zoo. This summer walk among free-roaming llamas as part of the Minnesota Zoo’s special summer 2019 Llama Trek exhibit. While you’re there, explore miles of outdoor and indoor trails, discover more than 500 species of animals that call the Minnesota Zoo home, and learn about the Zoo’s conservation efforts around the world. Created by the State of Minnesota in 1978, the Minnesota Zoo has spent the last 41 years working to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife.
3. My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Twin Cities area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them to the list of the best places to take kids this year!
4. Minnesota Children's Museum
At Minnesota Children's Museum, children will have a blast discovering an exciting, immersive world that arouses their curiosity, increases their understanding, and ignites an appreciation for learning.
5. Science Museum of Minnesota
Located in downtown St. Paul, the Science Museum of Minnesota is the Upper Midwest's must-see, must-do museum.
6. Minnehaha Regional Park
One of Minneapolis' oldest and most popular parks features a majestic 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs, and river overlooks, attracting more than 850,000 visitors annually.
7. Afton Apple Orchard
We have 225+ beautiful acres producing delicious Minnesota grown strawberries, raspberries, pumpkins and 15 different varieties of apples that can be picked or bought by our customers at the peak of perfection. Huge corn maze in the fall!
8. Bunker Beach Water Park
Bunker Beach is Minnesota's largest outdoor water park. Located just minutes from Minneapolis and St. Paul, we are your destination for summer fun in the sun!
Bunker Beach now features six towering waterslides, a 900’ lazy river, leisure pool with climbing wall, a zero-entry pool with water play structure, a creative sand play area, and as always, Minnesota’s largest wave pool.
9. Valleyfair
Valleyfair is where families come to play the Minnesota way! The Twin Cities’ family amusement park offers towering coasters, Planet Snoopy, and the area’s premier waterpark for safe outdoor fun.
10. Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater
A vintage bowling alley, restaurant, and cabaret theater committed to supporting local and organic agriculture. Open 8AM to 2AM everyday, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night eats.
11. Elm Creek Park Reserve
It's like the backyard of your dreams. Elm Creek park offers miles of hiking & biking trails, a chlorinated swim pond, an off-leash pet exercise area, Chalet, snowmaking in the winter for tubing, cross-country skiing & snowboarding and so much more.
12. Bell Museum
The Bell Museum is Minnesota’s state natural history museum, founded in 1872 and serving learners of all ages for over 150 years. Visit our world-renowned wildlife dioramas, the hands-on Touch and See Lab, and tour the cosmos in the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium.
13. St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints Baseball Club has provided family entertainment to the Twin Cities since 1993. Known for their outlandish promotions, the Saints are the only team in baseball with a live pig as its mascot (for the 2014 season, the pig is named Stephen Colboar - past swines have included Mackleboar, Justin Bieboar, Brat Farve, Hammy Davis, Jr., Garrison Squeallor and Boarack Ohama), and an 80-year old nun who gives massages in the stands.
14. American Swedish Institute
Step into a world of adventure and imagination at the American Swedish Institute (ASI), where Nordic culture and art comes alive in the most thrilling ways for the whole family! At ASI, there's something special for children of all ages. For the youngest members of your family, indulge in the wonder of "Kids at the Castle" programs, summer camps, and birthday parties designed to engage and inspire. Immerse your family in the Nordic spirit with Swedish language classes tailor-made for children, offering engaging group activities that foster linguistic development while building lasting friendships. Parents can enjoy a delightful lunch with kid-friendly food at FIKA Café – ASI’s enclosed courtyard is the perfect green space to let kids run loose and play.
15. Children’s Theatre Company
Children’s Theatre Company excites the imagination with world-class family-friendly theatre.
“Quintessential 5 yr. old reactions: wide eyes, lots of giggles, empathy for Lisa, talking non-stop on the way home - everything you hope for in a first live theater experience.” – CTC Patron at Corduroy
“You know it's good when we bring them back to their mom and dad and they are so excited to tell them everything.” – CTC Patron at An American Tail the Musical
The 2023-2024 Season includes Cookin’, Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Carp Who Would Not Quit and other Animal Stories, Alice in Wonderland, Babble Lab, and A Year With Frog and Toad. Tickets for kids start at $15.
16. Mall of America
Since opening its doors in 1992, Mall of America has revolutionized the shopping experience of tens of millions of visitors a year. A leader in retail, entertainment and attractions, Mall of America is one of the top tourist destinations in the country and is known around the world. Mall of America hosts more than 400 events a year, ranging from concerts, to celebrity appearances and fashion shows. Each year, 40 million people from around the world visit the mall, generating nearly $2 billion each year in economic impact for the state.
17. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, a top visitor attraction in the metro area, is more than 1,200 acres of gardens and tree collections, prairie and woods and miles of trails.
18. Nickelodeon Universe
Located in the center of Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe® is home to seven acres of unique attractions, entertainment + dining options. Meet the Nickelodeon characters, experience spine-tingling rides, visit unique retail shops + much more! Whether you are a roller coaster enthusiast or just along for the ride, we have something for everyone. You can even book your next birthday party at Nickelodeon Universe!
19. Tamarack Nature Center
Tamarack Nature Center is a 320-acre preserve in White Bear Township. Play, learn and explore year-round!
20. SEA LIFE at Mall of America
SEA LIFE at Mall of America is a public aquarium located in the Mall of America. Discover thousands of creatures in 1.3 million gallons of water at Minnesota's biggest aquarium. Dive beneath the waves with Minnesota's only underwater tunnel full of sturgeon, sawfish, sharks, sea turtles and more.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in three categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: Zenon Dance School
Founded in 1983, Zenon Dance School has been teaching the Twin Cities dance community for 40 years providing high quality dance instruction for avocational to professional dancers in a diverse curriculum. Housed in two beautiful studios on the fourth floor of the Cowles Center for Dance in downtown Minneapolis, Zenon offers four sessions of classes per year with 20-30 classes offered per session, annually dancing with over 2,000 recreational, pre-professional, and professional dancers. Zenon’s youth program offers dance classes and camps for movers aged 3 – 14 years. Each class welcomes a specific age group to develop confidence, explore creatively, and build movement skills in a fun and nurturing environment. All abilities and levels of experience are welcome!
Top Sports Educator: FOSS Swim School
Our learn-to-swim program is executed better and more consistently than any other program following our lead. Our reputation for solid technique, well trained instructors, creative curriculum and delivering predictable quality has produced over 80,000 swimmers since 1993.
Top STEM Educator: Science Museum of Minnesota
Our STEM education team is excited to bring back old favorites and introduce new themes available for grades 1 through 6. Topics include art, biology, carpentry, chemistry, coding, engineering, magic, paleontology, space, and more.
