Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around the Twin Cities

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.

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.

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!

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. 

Located in downtown St. Paul, the Science Museum of Minnesota is the Upper Midwest's must-see, must-do museum.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.