Fun family-friendly activities in the Twin Cities

kids ministry
Written By Jessie Trebesch

Are you looking for fun places to take your kids in the Twin Cities area?

We have been, too, so we wanted to share some fun ideas we’ve tried as well as some that we’re hoping to try in the future!

Libraries

We love libraries! Many of the local ones have kids programming, and some of them have great kids play areas as well! Here are some of our favorites:

  • Rogers library - good for elementary book selection, some larger kids’ toys (think play kitchen), but a very small play area (seats 4)

  • St Michael library - great song and story program through ECFE on Thursdays from 10-10:30 during the school year; also has good book selection for elementary kids (less for board books), and more seating space, but tends to be busier than Rogers and doesn’t have many toys other than a few table top sensory toys to borrow

  • Brooklyn Park library - great large play house, “Lite Brite” type peg wall, and large set of pneumatic tubes along a wall for fun scarf play for kids! They have a decent book selection and plenty of seating as well.

  • Maple Grove library - we’ve heard it is typically pretty busy, so we haven’t tried it with our group, but it does have a large space.

Community Centers

Community centers and other organizations often host events and activities throughout the year. Not all activities are free, but they typically offer a variety of options and price points.

  • Friday Parent/Tot Time at the Maple Grove Community Center

  • Dome Days at the STMA dome in the winter

Parks & Splash Pads

Parks are a great option when the weather is favorable, and splash pads add some extra fun in the heat of the summer!

We love the large community parks in the area, including these ones:

  • Town Center Park - playground, picnic area, and splash pad in St Michael

  • Andrews Park - playground, sports fields, and splash pad in Champlin

  • Elm Creek Park Reserve - trails, playground area, various picnic areas available (typically need to be reserved at a cost), and swimming area in Maple Grove

  • Northwoods Park - playground, large covered picnic area, sports fields in Brooklyn Park

  • Orono Park - beach, playground, splash pad, covered picnic pavilions, nature play area, and a skatepark in Elk River

Zoos

Zoos are so fun with kids! Yes, you sometimes need to plan your whole day around it, and you have to pack more supplies, but if you plan appropriately, it can be a blast!

Here’s what we recommend bringing:

  • sunscreen and sunhats, comfortable shoes

  • layers for going in and out of buildings (and to take into account changing weather)

  • lunch and snacks (to keep kids full and happy, and to save money)

  • swimsuit and towel if you go to a zoo with a splash pad

  • change of clothes if necessary for messy kiddos/splash pad adventures

Other things to consider:

  • If you’re bringing multiple kids, it can be helpful to review a map ahead of time and pick out activities to save time and arguing later (there never seems to be enough time to do it all, so consider having each kid pick out a goal activity or two)

  • Most zoos have some timed events or exhibits, and these can be fun (or sometimes not as fun; experiences vary), but it’s hard to fit in multiple, so consider your time wisely

  • Going with a group is fun, but it also means a greater number of opinions to take into account. If you go with a group, it might be worth discussing priorities ahead of time or establishing time for individual families to break off for some different activities and meet at a communal spot later on.

Nature Centers

  • Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley - the interactive and educational elements in their exhibit are so interesting for kids, and they can learn about local wildlife! There’s a fun light wall kids can play with, lots of buttons to push on various things, a microscope to look at different materials, and tanks with different small animals inside to observe.

  • Eastman Nature Center in Dayton - this nature center would be better suited for warmer months, as there isn’t quite as much indoors to entertain kids, but our group had fun playing with what was there (think puzzles and puppets, plus some small exhibits)!

  • Westwood Hills Nature Center in St Louis Park - our group had fun here as well, looking at animals and exploring trails (though much of them aren’t paved, so if you’re pushing a stroller, that’s something to consider). The indoor exhibits were fun for the kids of various ages.

  • Mississippi Gateway Regional Park in Brooklyn Park - connected to the Coon Rapids Dam, this sounds like it has a lot to offer like bike trails, wildlife to see, a nature play area, and an observation walkway on top of the dam.

Special Town Events & Festivals

We love checking to see what the cities and towns in the area have for their special events and festivals throughout the year! You can find these typically on your city’s website under events.

Some that we’ve loved have included:

Farmers Markets

While we might think of farmers markets as places we go just to shop, they can be fun experiences for the whole family, too! Kids enjoy people watching, and there’s no shortage of that at farmers markets. There also might be samples to try, new foods to take home, or other fun amenities. And bonus, many farmers markets are held at or near parks!

Events & Activities with Churches

Of course, we would be remiss if we failed to mention events we host (and similar ones you could check out from other churches in the area).

  • MOPS groups (gatherings are on the last Friday of each month, and we have a group for our moms of preschoolers to connect and plan the details of our get-togethers!)

  • Family Fun Days in the park — each July, our church plans some outdoor games and grilling to take advantage of the beautiful weather

Jessie Trebesch
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