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

The Twin Cities' most popular places to take kids in 2026

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 for 2026 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!

2026 Top 20 Places to Take Kids

Minneapolis / St. Paul

 

Top 20 Ranking

Category Winners

1. The Works Museum 2. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory 3. Minnesota Zoo 4. Minnesota Children's Museum 5. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum 6. Children's Theatre Company 7. Science Museum of Minnesota 8. Tamarack Nature Center 9. Afton Apple Orchard 10. Centennial Lakes Park 11. Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary 12. Lake Harriet Park 13. Mall of America 14. Minneapolis Institute of Art 15. Minnehaha Regional Park 16. Minnesota Twins 17. SEA LIFE at Mall of America 18. The Bakken Museum 19. Bell Museum 20. Discovery Hollow Nature Play Area

Arts Educator: Children's Theatre Company Sports Educator: St. Paul Urban Tennis STEM Educator: Minneapolis Parks Neighborhood Naturalist Program

© 2026, KidsOutAndAbout.com. This information may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of KidsOutAndAbout.com.