Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around the Twin Cities - 2021
Best Places to Take Kids in the Twin Cities - 2021
The best places to take kids in and around the Twin Cities, based on KidsOutAndAbout's annual reader survey. But there is LOTS more to do in our area! 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! What is listed below are far from the only opportunities for family fun and learning; they're just what was voted this year.
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. Dodge Nature Center
With four metro locations in West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, and Cottage Grove, Dodge Nature Center provides nearby, easily accessible nature experiences for your whole family. Trails are free to walk, 365 days a year. Bring your children to explore woods and ponds, view wildlife, see animals on a sustainable farm, and pollinators on the prairie. Sign up online for nature programs and camps for kids.
3. 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.
4. Tamarack Nature Center
Tamarack Nature Center is a 320-acre preserve in White Bear Township. Play, learn and explore year-round!
5. 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.
6. Science Museum of Minnesota
Located in downtown St. Paul, the Science Museum of Minnesota is the Upper Midwest's must-see, must-do museum.
7. 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!
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. 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.
10. 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.
11. The Bakken Museum
The Bakken Museum inspires a passion for innovation by exploring the potential for science, technology, and the humanities to make the world a better place. Located on the West shore of Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis, the museum features interactive exhibits for all ages and exceptional STEM education programs.
12. 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.
13. Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Minneapolis Institute of Art is one of the leading comprehensive fine-art museums in the country located in a beautiful landmark building near downtown Minneapolis. With over 90,000 artworks, Mia’s collection includes art from six continents, spanning about 5,000 years. Plus, enjoy free general admission and a drop-in Family Center with kid-friendly books and toys! Current museum hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm, and Thursday, 10am-9pm.
14. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum welcomes, informs and inspires all through outstanding displays, protected natural areas, horticultural research and education. Our youngest guests especially enjoy exploring our Maze Garden, learning about nature through our summer camps and children's programming and connecting with wildlife and plant life on our 1,200 acres of gardens, rare plant collections and accessible trails.
15. Oliver Kelley Farm
Visit the historic 1860's farmstead and our modern Farm Lab area during your visit. Help with chores & learn about farming new and old! Public hours are weekends in May and September, Wednesday through Sunday Memorial Day through Labor Day. Open year round for groups of 15 or more by reservation.
16. SEA LIFE at Mall of America
EA LIFE is the world’s largest family of aquariums and includes SEA LIFE Aquariums in North America including SEA LIFE Arizona, Carlsbad, Charlotte-Concord, Dallas/Fort Worth, Kansas City, Mall of America, Michigan, New Jersey (opening soon), Orlando, and San Antonio (opening soon). From its origins in 1979 in Oban, Scotland, SEA LIFE now provides immersive marine experiences in nearly 50 locations in 17 countries around the world. We aim share our passion for the creatures of the oceans and to make our guests fall in love with them.
17. 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!
18. Crayola Experience
Crayola Experience is where the magic of Crayola comes to life! With 60,000 square feet of attractions, Crayola Experience is Minnesota’s most colorful family destination for interactive, creative play! Families typically spend 3-4 hours exploring our 26 hands-on attractions. Go on a wonderful, whimsical adventure with our unique experiences, such as star in your very own coloring page, name and wrap your very own Crayola crayon, embark on a 4-D coloring adventure, learn how crayons are made in a live manufacturing show, and so much more!
19. Discovery Hollow Nature Play Area
Play, dig, plant, learn, create and explore Ramsey County’s best nature play area! Conveniently located in Tamarack Nature Center’s back yard, Discovery Hollow lets you run wild in nature!
20. Good Times Park
The indoor Good Times Park brings the outside feel inside and features a well-equipped basketball court, turf field and 38ft inflatable jumper, while the Imagine & Build area features large soft units for construction play.
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
Children’s Theatre CompanyChildren’s Theatre Company (CTC) is the nation’s largest and most acclaimed theatre for young people and serves a multigenerational audience. Our mission is to create extraordinary theatre experiences that educate, challenge, and inspire young people and their communities. We are committed to creating world-class productions at the highest level and to developing new works, dramatically changing the canon of work for young audiences. CTC’s education and engagement programs annually serve more than 77,000 young people and their communities.
Top Sports Educator
FOSS Swim SchoolFrom water acclimation for babies to competitive stroke refinement and everything in between, our proven Swim Path™ curriculum, highly-trained teachers and pools designed for learning can help any swimmer reach their goal of graduating as a strong, well-rounded swimmer.
Top STEM Educator
Dodge Nature CenterWith four metro locations in West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, and Cottage Grove, Dodge Nature Center provides nearby, easily accessible nature experiences for your whole family. Trails are free to walk, 365 days a year. Bring your children to explore woods and ponds, view wildlife, see animals on a sustainable farm, and pollinators on the prairie. Sign up online for nature programs and camps for kids.
