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Places to visit…
Activity
General Information
**Address/Telephone** Hours/Admission
American Swedish Institute
With newly remodeled spaces, this 33-room historic house, museum and cultural center celebrates Sweden and Swedish-America with exhibits, programs and activities. Visit and imagine the immigrant newspaper-publishing family who built this mansion in 1908, learn how they and others made the move to the Twin Cities, and discover the dynamic community center they established in the heart of the city. A family-friendly booklet can help you explore the gardens, children’s corners, museum store, and handcrafted stone, plaster and woodwork of the Twin Cities’ only castle. The new Nelson Cultural Center addition will open in June 2012.
2600 Park Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55407 612.871.4907
Hours/Admission Information
Ard Godfrey House
Built in 1849, the Ard Godfrey house is the oldest remaining frame residence in Minneapolis. Located in the St. Anthony Falls historic Milling District, the house has been impeccably restored and is filled with furnishings and household items authentic to the period 1849 to 1853.
28 University Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 612.813.5300
Hours FREE
Bakken Museum
A center for education and learning that furthers the understanding of electricity and magnetism.
3537 Zenith Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55416 612.926.3878
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble have children's' Storytime and Activities at various locations across the Twin Cities. Check out their Online Storytime at The NOOK Blog, too.
Contact individual stores for Events at various locations across the Twin Cities
Bell Museum of Natural History
Displays a wide variety of animals from across the region and around the world.
10 Church Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 612.624.7083
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Como Zoo and Conservatory Attractions
1225 Estabrook Drive St. Paul, MN 55103 651.487.8200
Hours FREE Suggested Donation of $2.00/Adult $1.00/Child
Dodge Nature Center
Located on 320 acres in the heart of West St. Paul and Mendota Heights, Dodge provides a glimpse into the diverse and beautiful natural heritage of St. Paul. Through our prairies, hardwood forests, lakes, wetlands, miles of hiking trails, a working farm, orchard and bee apiary, Dodge offers a variety of unique experiences for people of all ages.
365 Marie Avenue W West St. Paul, MN 55118 651.455.4531
Sunrise-Sunset 7 days/week FREE
Eidem Homestead
Eidem Homestead, Brooklyn Park Historical Farm is a ten-acre living history farm, restored to the period 1890 – 1910. Homesteaded over a century ago, the farm was owned by the Eidem family for 82 years. Today, the farm is like a time machine, transporting you back to the turn of the twentieth century.
4345 101st Avenue N Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 763.493.8367
Seasonal hours vary FREE
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
When visitors step behind the rustic gates at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, they quickly forget they’re in the middle of the city. A meandering trail takes visitors deep into nature’s wonderland, the quiet accented with the sounds of birds, insects, frogs and wind in the trees.
Theodore Wirth Parkway and Glenwood Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55422 612.370.4903
April 1st—October 15th 7:30 a.m. to one hour before sunset FREE
Firefighters Hall & Museum
Vintage fire fighting equipment, and many items that can be touched, tried on (like helmets and boots) and slid down (a firefighter's pole) and climbed in (some of the trucks) make this a fascinating day out.
664 22nd Avenue NE Minneapolis, MN 55418 612.623.3817
Fort Snelling
Discover an 1820's military outpost once the focus of a small settlement but now at the center of Minnesota's Twin Cities metropolitan area. A full living history program with costumed guides is presented daily during the summer, and on weekends in May, September and October.
200 Tower Avenue St. Paul, MN 55111 612.726.1171
Foshay Museum & Observation Deck
The Foshay Tower is one of the most recognizable landmark in the Twin Cities. Utilities magnate Wilbur Foshay built this endearing homage to the Washington Monument in 1929. At 447 feet housing 32 stories, the Foshay Tower was the tallest building in the Midwest for 48 years. Visit the museum to uncover the remarkable story behind this unique skyscraper and it's eccentric creator. And view the city from the outdoor Observation Deck on the 31st floor.
821 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55402 612.215.3783
Gibbs Farm
Gibbs Farm is a historic site interpreting pioneer and Dakota life in the mid-1800s. Children will learn from costumed interpreters about Jane and Heman Gibbs and their children, their relationship with the Dakota of Cloud Man’s village, and the history of the farm.
2097 W Larpenteur Ave Falcon Heights, MN 55113 651.646.8629
Harriet Alexander Nature Center
The Harriet Alexander Nature Center is an oasis nestled within the borders of Roseville’s Central Park. The nature center provides protection for hundreds of animal and plant species. Our boardwalk and trails circulate through 52 acres of marsh, prairie and forest habitats.
2520 N Dale Street Roseville, MN 55113 651.765.4262
Hennepin County Libraries
Your local library offers many programs for children including storytimes, book clubs, homework help and more.
Library Locations & Hours FREE
Hennepin History Museum
The Hennepin History Museum is one of the Twin Cities' most unique social history museums. You'll find superb exhibits, a historic mansion setting and archival collections of priceless scholarly value. The Museum strives to promote an understanding of the relationship between Hennepin County's past and present and its contemporary suburban, urban and rural communities through collecting, preserving and interpreting the county's history.
2303 Third Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55404 612.870.1329
Hmongtown Marketplace
Located at Como Avenue and Marion Street in Saint Paul, Hmongtown Marketplace is a unique year round indoor-outdoor market and gathering place for the authentic flavors of the Hmong American community.
217 Como Avenue St. Paul, MN 55103 651.487.3700
Hours & Information FREE
Jackson Street Roundhouse Minnesota Transportation Museum
The Great Northern Railway’s historic Jackson Street Roundhouse, a former steam engine maintenance facility, provides a unique opportunity for kids of all ages to experience railroading in the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest.
193 Pennsylvania Avenue E St. Paul, MN 55130 651.228.0263
Hours/Admission information
James J Hill House
Rugged stone, massive scale, fine detail, and ingenious mechanical systems recall the powerful presence of James J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway. Guides lead tours that help you imagine family and servant life in the Gilded Age mansion.
240 Summit Avenue St. Paul, MN 55102 651.297.2555
The LANDING: Minnesota River Heritage Park
Step back in time to see what life was like for people who lived in the Minnesota River Valley 150 years ago. Costumed interpreters and authentic buildings help recreate late 19th-century life in Minnesota, a time when settlers were establishing farmsteads and villages on the frontier.
2187 Hwy. 101 E Shakopee, MN 55379 763.694.7784
Live on the Drive
A SUMMER EVENING CONCERT SERIES FEATURING LIVE MUSIC ON VICTORY MEMORIAL DRIVE.
3401 Xerxes Avenue N Minneapolis MN 55412 6:00pm–8:00pm June, July, August FREE
Lock & Dam #1
A Visitor's Center shows the history and mechanics behind the locks on the Mississippi. Visitors can walk out onto the locks for a close look and to see them in action.
5000 W. River Parkway Minneapolis MN 55417 612.724.2971
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Daily FREE
Metropolitan Library (MELSA)
The Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) is an alliance of over 100 public libraries in the seven-county Twin Cities metro, working together to bring the best library services and programs to you.
Various locations throughout the Twin Cities FREE
Mill City Museum
Built into the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill, Mill City Museum is located on the historic Mississippi Riverfront. Here, visitors of all ages learn about the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the river, and the city of Minneapolis.
704 South 2nd Street Minneapolis, MN 55401 612.341.7555
Minneapolis Farmers Market - Lyndale
Meet the people who grow your food! The Farmer's Market offers many local growers of produce, flowers, herbs, and more.
312 E. Lyndale Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55405 612.333.1718 or 1737
6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Daily FREE Many vendors accept EBT
Minneapolis Farmers Market - Nicollet Mall
300 South 6th Street Minneapolis, MN 55487 612.333.1718 or 1737
Thursdays 6 to 6 May to October FREE
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts enriches the community by collecting, preserving, and making accessible outstanding works of art from the world’s diverse cultures.
2400 3rd Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55404 888.642.2787
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Youth Programs
Minneapolis Park & Recreation offers many activities and programs throughout the city for children & youth.
Various parks throughout Minneapolis 612.230.6400
Price varies by program - some are FREE
Minnehaha Depot Minnesota Transportation Museum
The Minnehaha Depot, or Princess depot, is a jewel of days gone by on the Milwaukee Road railway.
Hwy 55 & Minnehaha Parkway Minneapolis, MN 55417 651.228.0263
Minnesota Air National Guard Museum
The Museum Airpark currently displays over 20 different aircraft. You will find fighters, transports, jets, trainers and helicopters. On open cockpit days, you can even sit in the pilot's seat!
670 General Miller Drive St. Paul, MN 55111 612.713.2523
Hours FREE Suggested Donation of $7/Adult $3/Child
Minnesota Children's Museum
At Minnesota Children's Museum, kids will have a blast discovering an exciting, immersive world that arouses their curiosity, increases their understanding, and ignites an appreciation for learning.
10 W 7th Street St. Paul, MN 55102 651.225.6000
Minnesota History Center
An interactive museum with both permanent and changing exhibits, the Minnesota History Center hosts concerts, lectures, family days and other special events throughout the year.
345 W. Kellogg Boulevard St. Paul, MN 55102 651.259.3000
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
The Arboretum features more than 1,000 acres of magnificent gardens, model landscapes, and natural areas-from woodlands and wetlands to prairie-with extensive collections of northern-hardy plants.
3675 Arboretum Drive Chaska, MN 55318 952.443.1400
Minnesota State Capitol
Visit the impressive Minnesota State Capitol, designed by American architect Cass Gilbert, and take your family on a self-guided scavenger hunt to discover 12 beautiful and important decorations in the building. Participants receive the Art Treasures in the Minnesota State Capitol booklet for free and kids receive a gold state seal and become Junior Art Historians upon completing the tour. Stop by the Information Desk to embark on the Art Treasures Tour.
75 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard St. Paul, MN 55155 651.296.2881
Minnesota Streetcar Museum
The Minnesota Streetcar Museum is a living history museum. A ride on one of our historic streetcars takes you back to the first half of the 1900s, the era of electric mass-transit.
Queen Ave & 42nd St S Minneapolis, MN 55410 952.922.1096
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a 14,000 acre refuge. There are eight refuge units strung along 34 miles of the Minnesota River.
3815 American Boulevard East Bloomington, MN 55425 952.854.5900
Minnesota Zoo
Experience grizzly bears, sea otters, tigers, monkeys and more at the Minnesota Zoo. Open 363 days a year, the Zoo features a tropical rain forest, marine center, northern tundra and a family farm.
13000 Zoo Boulevard Apple Valley, MN 55124 952.431.9200
Museum of Russian Art
An amazing, world-class museum that seeks to educate, enlighten and engage visitors through the art of Russia. The museum is a true community treasure and is the only museum in North America dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Russian art and artifacts. Exhibitions are changed 4-6 times a year; visit time and again. Free parking is available across the street at the Mayflower Church.
5500 Stevens Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55419 612.821.9045
Music & Movies in the Park
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board invites you to join your friends and neighbors in our parks this summer. Every year Minneapolis Music & Movies in the Parks offers more than 250 FREE concerts and movies featuring hundreds of talented local and regional artists and evenings with movies under the stars. Follow us around the city and rediscover our beautiful park system along the way.
Various Parks in Minneapolis
Movies start 15 minutes after sunset
Schedule FREE
National Park Service: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
In the middle of a bustling urban setting, this 72 mile river park offers quiet stretches for fishing, boating and canoeing. Other spots are excellent for bird watching, bicycling and hiking. And there are plenty of visitor centers that highlight the history and science of the Mississippi River. If you are interested in the Mississippi, this is a great place to start.
Various Locations
Hours/Seasons
North Mississippi Regional Park and Carl W. Kroening Interpretive Center
One may visit North Mississippi Park for the walk or the view, but picnic tables, grills, wading pool, playground and the boat launch/fishing dock at the south end of the park, make it a place to spend the day. A bicycle/walking trail extends along the entire length of the park where you can view areas being restored to native prairie and see a heron rookery on a mid-river island in the southern portion of the park. Bridges on both ends of the park connect to the east bank trails, too.
4900 Mississippi Court Minneapolis, MN 55430 612.370.4844
Northwest Airlines History Centre
Come discover the history of our own former Northwest Airlines. Staffed by former NWA employees, you can learn about it's humble beginnings in 1926 to it's merger with Delta Airlines in 2008.
8101 34th Avenue S Ste. B-747 Bloomington, MN 55425 952.698.4478
Pavek Museum of Broadcasting
Discover the history and science of broadcasting. Create your own radio broadcast in a real 1960's radio booth, or find your musical flair by trying the Theremin.
3517 Raleigh Ave S St. Louis Park, MN 55416 952.926.8198
Science Museum of Minnesota
The Science Museum of Minnesota is the most popular museum in the Upper Midwest. Featuring dinosaurs, Omnitheater & hands-on exhibits.
120 W Kellogg Boulevard St. Paul, MN 55102 651.221.9444
Hours & Showtimes
Admission Information
Discounts available for limited income families.
Sea Life Aquarium Mall of America
Discover the new SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium - the Largest Underground Aquarium in the World -providing close encounters with a vast array of creatures.
Mall of America 120 East Broadway Bloomington, MN 55425 952.883.0202
Wabasha Street Caves
Used as a mine, underground speakeasy, mafia hangout, and mushroom growing facility, these caves are now open for tours. Come see how these caves added to the history of St. Paul.
215 Wabasha Street S St. Paul, MN 55107 651.292.1220
Tour Times/Admission Information
Walker Art Center
Art Center which features contemporary visual and performing arts exhibits and programs.
1750 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55403 612.375.7600
Weisman Art Museum
Housed in a striking stainless steel and brick building designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Weisman Art Museum offers an educational and friendly museum experience. The museum’s collection features early 20th century American artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Marsden Hartley, as well as a diverse selection of contemporary art. A teaching museum for the University of Minnesota and the community, the Weisman provides a fresh, engaging arts experience through an array of programs and a changing schedule of exhibitions. WAM also offers artist talks, workshops, educational programming and a variety of other public programs that help make art accessible to all.
333 East River Road Minneapolis, MN 55455 612.625.9494
Westwood Hills Nature Center
160-acre natural area featuring marsh, woods and restored prairie. The preserve is beautiful throughout the seasons and provides homes for many animals including deer, fox, mink and owls. Westwood Naturalists conduct year-round programs to increase visitors understanding and appreciation of our natural world.
8300 W Franklin Avenue St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952.924.2544
Wild Rumpus Bookstore
Children's bookstore that offers book clubs for various ages.
2720 West 43rd Street Minneapolis, MN 55410 612.920.5005
Woodlake Nature Center
Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield, MN is a 150-acre natural area dedicated to environmental education, wildlife observation, and outdoor recreation.
6710 Lake Shore Drive Richfield, MN 55423 612.861.9365
The WORKS Hands-On, Minds-On Museum
The Works is a “hands-on, minds-on” museum that makes learning about science and engineering interesting, understandable and fun.
9740 Grand Avenue S Bloomington, MN 55420 952.888.4262
~created by Sam Woolever, Northrop Elementary School ~revisions by Donna Uggla, Loring Community School