Take a trip to…
831 Century Ave N.
Maplewood, MN 55119
*When you pull in, you almost feel like you are in the wrong place but I assure you when you walk in you will be welcomed warmly.
Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 11am-8pm
Sunday: 11am-6pm
Cost:
Adults: $11
Kids (3 – 12) Seniors (65+): $9
Kids 2 & under: Free
Pros:
- The staff is wonderful, very knowledgeable, and you can tell they love the animals.
- There is a big variety of reptiles, many I have never even heard of before.
- We were able to touch many different reptiles.
- Even though the place seemed small, we still spent 2 hours there and learned lots.
- They had several age appropriate scavenger hunts available at the zoo entrance, even an adult version.
Cons:
- Many of the enclosures are up high, so you will need to pick up your little ones quite a bit. They do have some steps you can move around but just come prepared to get a good arm workout.
- Just like at a zoo, there are going to be some reptiles you won’t see because they are hiding in their enclosure.
10900 Fountains Drive, Suite 130
Maple Grove, MN 55369
Hours:
Hours vary by day and for special events
Cost:
90 Minutes (Ages 4+): $26.99
120 Minutes (Ages 4+): $31.99
Junior Tickets (Ages 3 & under): starting at $14.99 limited access
CitySocks are required for all participants for $4.99, you can not use socks from other places like Urban Air (they must for insurance reasons). You can reuse their socks.
*Prices vary for events like Parent Night, Homeschool mornings, and Family Night
Pros:
- There are a variety of slides to try, my kids quickly found their favorites.
- They also had dodge ball, a swing and trapeze bar, air court, and zip rail.
- The staff were kind and present around the park.
- The place was kept neat and the bathroom was clean.
- They had plenty of seating around the park for non-participants.
Cons:
- None that we experienced.
2088 Larpenteur Ave. W
St. Paul, MN 55113
Hours:
Wednesday- Sunday: 10:00-4:00
Cost:
Museum Admission:
Adult- $15
Adult (65+)- $13
Youth (3-21)- $12
Planetarium Only:
Adult- $10
Adult (65+)- $9
Youth (3-21)- $8
Museum & Planetarium:
Adult- $21
Adult (65+)- $18
Youth (3-21)- $16
Pros:
- Lots of hands on exhibits, including a Touch & See Lab
- Friendly staff
- Beautiful nature dioramas with interactive screens
- The planetarium was a neat experience that we enjoyed a great deal.
Cons:
- Some exhibits or topics can be controversial, i.e. climate change
855 Phalen Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55106
other locations in: Bloomington, Minneapolis, Duluth
Hours (St. Paul location):
Monday- Friday- 10:00-10:00
Saturday-Sunday- 10:00-6:00
Cost:
Day Pass:
Adult: $24.00
Youth (ages 4-20): $20.00
Harness rental: $5.00/ person
Shoe rental: $5.00/ person (you can wear tennis shoes and avoid shoe rental)
*You will need to sign a waiver if it is your first time going. This can be completed online ahead of time.
Pros:
- They have several auto belays, which will automatically lower them down slowly off the wall so you don’t need to learn how to do the ropes.
- They have a variety of different skill levels.
- Staff are happy to help.
- They have homeschool discount days, for example, St. Paul offers a discount for homeschool students the third Wednesday of every month.
- A fun way to incorporate exercise. My kids LOVED doing this!
Cons:
- It is a bit of a drive.
22830 Sunrise Rd NE
Stacy, MN 55079
Hours:
Wednesday- 10:00-12:00
Saturday- 11:00-2:00
Cost:
Adult – $10.00
Child (ages 5-17) – $8.00
Ages 4 and under are free
Special Events may require different admission fee.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate.
Pros:
- You actually get to see wolves up close! My son is always bummed out whenever we go to a zoo that has wolves because 9 times out of 10 you can’t see the wolves. This places has several different packs of wolves that you can see and hear! Today, one of the workers got the majority of the wolves to start howling, it was awesome!
- They also have bears, bobcats, foxes, cougars, and raptors. When we have gone, you can usually see all of the animals.
- You can tell the workers love being there and they are willing to stop and talk to you about any of the animals.
Cons:
- Wear shoes that can be easily cleaned because there is poop on the walking paths, the workers do there best at cleaning up but there is still a chance to step in something.
Other info:
- They accept donations of meat that has not yet been spoiled. Check out their website or follow them on Facebook.
- They offer school programs.
- They hold events throughout the year.
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
10360 West River Road
Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
Hours:
Gateway Center building:
Monday- Saturday: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Sunday: 12-5 p.m.
Park:
Everyday: 5 a.m.-10 p.m.
This place was packed with outdoor fun. The play area is on the smaller side but my kids LOVED it! They ran around chasing each other, going down all the slides and running around on the Tree Top Trail. Then we found some fun walking paths in the woods and discovered a fort building area. After we explored the play area, we hopped on our bikes and rode over the Coon Rapids Dam and traveled around the many paved biked trails that were throughout the park. We ended our time in the Gateway Center building that had some live animals to look at (turtles, a salamander, fish, snakes, etc.), comfortable seating, educational displays about the wildlife in the park, and a small play area for kids.
Other general information: There are lots of bathrooms in the area that are clean and have baby changing tables. There are also lots of picnic tables and places to sit and watch your munchkins play. Enjoy the outdoors in a clean, fun environment!
Shoreview Commons Park
4580 Victoria Street
Shoreview, MN 55126
This park has everything you can possibly think of for your kids to have a great time. There is something for toddlers to teens and everyone in between. We spent a couple hours there and the only reason why we left is because we were all hungry. There are several different playgrounds that kids can climb, swing, run, jump, and slide on. There are paths to walk and soccer fields to play on. They even have a small skate park that kids can ride on with their skateboards, skates, bikes, or scooters (bring helmets). We decided that when we go again we would bring scooters and lunch so we can stay longer.
For parents, there is lots of seating (picnic tables, benches, and Adirondack chairs) available throughout the park. They also have bathrooms, water fountains, and a beautiful flower garden to walk through. You won’t be disappointed and neither will your kids.
Fawn-Doe-Rosa
2131 US Hwy 8
St. Croix Falls, WI* 54024
*it is just past Taylors Falls, MN
Hours:
Summer Hours (May 10th-Sept. 7th) Monday-Sunday 10:00-5:00
Fall Hours (Sept. 8th- Oct. 26th) Mon.-Thurs.- Closed, Friday-Sunday 10:00-5:00
Cost:
Adults: $11.50 plus tax
Children (2-12): $10.50 plus tax
Animal Feed: $2.50 a bag ($.50 coupon available online), $9.00 Souvenir Bucket
Pros:
- Lots of adorable animals to see, pet, and feed
- The grounds are clean and well taken care of
- They have lots of places to sit and enjoy the views
- Lots of picnic tables to sit and enjoy lunch outside the park
- Deer are wandering around freely to pet and feed
Cons:
- If you are not a fan of geese, just make sure not to make eye contact with them 😉
I know I usually recommend places in Minnesota, but this one isn’t too far of a drive to northwestern Wisconsin to Trego. My family and I decided to do an overnight on the Namekagon River, starting at Hayward Landing and making our way back to Jack’s Canoe Rental in Trego. We have rented canoes through Jack’s a few times and have never been disappointed. You can rent canoes, kayaks, and tubes plus the price includes shuttle service to the landing you want to start at, as well as life jackets.
The river is mostly calm with a few areas of class 1 rapids. The rapids are enough to add a little excitement and if you are a first-time canoer you may have some difficulty. However, I wouldn’t let it deter you from giving it a try, just do your best to avoid the big rocks. There are campsites sprinkled along the way, individual and group sites. Just be aware that they are first come first serve so if you are planning on camping make sure you take the first open campsite that is close to where you want to stop, otherwise you may end up doing what we had to do. We ended up paddling 25 miles out of 30 the first day because the groups sites we were shooting for were taken so we had to keep traveling further down the river. We ended up at a larger campsite that included several other campsites at Earl Park Landing. It worked out fine, but it was exhausting doing so many miles in one day.
It is a beautiful river to paddle down, and we saw lots of animals. We saw deer, beavers, turtles, eagles, chipmunks, and what we thought was a mink or otter. We traveled down this river when our son was around 6 months old, again when he was 3, and now is 11. So, if you come prepared and take the proper precautions you can certainly make this a fun family trip for all ages.
Jack’s Canoe Rental, N7504 Wagon Bridge Rd, Trego, WI 54888
telephone: 715-635-3300
Website: https://www.jackscanoerental.com/
Bunker Hills Regional Park
701 County Parkway A
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Hours:
Everyday from 11:00-7:00
Cost:
Daily Use Vehicle Permit to enter Bunker Hills Regional Park- $7 (cash preferred)
Regular
**They are a cashless facility**
General Admission- $20
*Tickets purchased online- $18.50 (does not guarantee admission, needs to be used by the end of the season)
Senior Citizens (Age 62+)- $16
Guest Under 18 months- Free
Twilight (After 4:00 pm)
General Admission- $16
Senior Citizens (Age 62+)- $14
Pros:
- Clean facilities
- A variety of activities
- They have cold water stations available for drinking water.
Cons:
- Food service is EXTREMELY slow.
- The concrete gets VERY hot.
Tips if you go:
- Arrive before 11:00, I recommend 10:45. They fill up fast and you have a better chance at getting a chair.
- Purchase tickets online, they have designated lines so you would be able to get in faster.
- Although the food was good, the service was VERY slow! Bring a lunch and leave it in a cooler in your car. No coolers are allowed in the facility. They do have picnic tables available outside of Bunker Beach, you will just need to get your hand stamped before leaving.
- If you have water shoes, wear them! The concrete can get very hot as the day goes on.
Burnsville Center
915 County Road 42
West Burnsville, MN 55306
Maplewood Mall
3001 White Bear Avenue N
Maplewood, MN 55109
Hours:
Monday- Saturday: 11:00-7:00
Sunday: 12:00-6:00
Last ticket sold one hour prior to closing.
Cost:
Ages 4 & Under: Free
Ages 5+: $16.50
Admission includes one small side feed cup
Pros:
- You can get up close and personal with lots of unique animals.
- You have the opportunity to purchase experiences where you can hold some animals.
- You get to feed and pet the animals.
- The staff is very friendly and you can tell they really love the animals there.
Cons:
- The prices get a little spendy in order to add other experiences or more food.
We are part of the East Central Regional Library.
There are 14 locations, we frequent Rush City, Cambridge, and North Branch locations the most.
We have started going to the library every couple of weeks since we started homeschooling. They offer a great deal to the community through various activities and programs that they hold at their various locations . We have participated in Lego Club, taken part in some classes held by some wonderful volunteers, and taken advantage of their vast array of books and DVDs.
Currently we are taking part in their summer reading program called “Color Our World”. On their website you can find their locations, what events they are holding at each location, and check out their online catalog.
5287 Otter Lake Road
White Bear Township, MN 55110
Building Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 9:00-4:00
Sunday: Noon- 4:00
Discovery Hollow Nature Play Area
5:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m., daily
Cost:
Free!
Pros:
- Lots of fun things for the kids to do (water and sand area, climbing area, trails, fort building area, garden)
- Free, donations are accepted
Cons unless you come prepared:
- hardly any shady spots- bring hats and/or umbrella
- not many places for parents to sit while kids play in the water/sand area- bring a chair
- be prepared for your kids to be covered in sand- bring towels, extra change of clothes
My kids have been here a few times and usually end up falling asleep on the way home.
Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tues., Wed., Fri., Sat., Sun.,: 10:00-5:00
Thursday: 10:00-9:00
Cost:
Parking- $10-$12
Admission- Free, unless you are attending a special event
Pros:
- It’s free!
- learning about various cultures through their art
- Discovery Days on certain Wednesdays, where learning stations are set up around the museum for students to interact with materials and museum staff.
Cons:
– There is so much art to see that it is almost impossible to see everything in a day.
Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday
Thursday 10:00-8:00, all other days 10:00-4:00
Cost:
Adults- $15
Seniors 65+, Veterans, Active Military, College Students- $12
Children ages 5-17- $8
Children age 4 and under- Free
Parking- $6
Pros:
- lots and lots of interactive/hands on exhibits
- kid friendly
- yummy cafe
- friendly staff
Cons:
I would recommend calling ahead during school months. We went when there were a couple of school groups there and many of the students were loud and overpowered the exhibits. We had to keep going back to certain exhibits waiting for the large groups to clear out so my kids could experience things.
Getting Out of the House
My goal each week is to try and get out of the house doing something with my kids at least once. We do schoolwork 4 days a week and leave one day open for getting out. Some of our more common outings are the local libraries, parks, walking trail, eating out for lunch, or going shopping. Here is a list of some other places we have been to so far in Minnesota:
- Eagle’s Nest
- Indoor play area
- 400 10th Street NW, New Brighton, MN 55112
- $9 for kids, adults are free
- Shoreview Community Center
- Indoor waterpark, indoor/outdoor playground
- 4600 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, MN 55126
- $14 for adults, $12.50 for kids (non-resident)
- Como Zoo and Conservatory
- 1225 Estabrook Drive St. Paul, MN 55103
- Voluntary Donation, $4 for adults, $2 for kids
- Fun Lab
- Family fun place with a variety of activities like a laser maze, virtual reality, arcade, etc.
- 10650 Baltimore Street, Suite 30, Blaine, MN 55449
- Different packages for play
- Wildlife Science Center
- 22830 Sunrise Rd NE, Stacy, MN 55079
- Visiting hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays
- $10 for adults, $8 for kids
- Tamarack Nature Center
- Discovery Hollow Nature Play Area, walking trails, etc.
- 5287 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township, MN 55110
- Free
- Movie Theater
- Sustainable Safari
- Small indoor zoo, with the opportunity to hold and feed animals
- 3001 White Bear Avenue N Maplewood, MN 55109
- 915 County Road 42 West, Burnsville, MN 55306
- $16.50 for 5+, offers homeschool days occasionally for a discounted price
- Autumnwood Farm
- Offers tours during the spring and summer months, has a farm store on site
- 19435 Granada Ave N, Forest Lake, MN 55025
- When we did a tour, it was $5 per person.
Here are places we want to try out:
- Snake River Fur Post
- Look at exhibits, take a tour, and walk the trails to explore the cultural, global, and economic story of the fur trade.
- 2551 Voyageur Lane, Pine City, MN 55063
- $12 for adults, $8 for kids
- Bell Museum
- Natural history museum and planterarium
- 2088 Larpenteur Ave W., St Paul, MN 55113
- Admission prices vary based on the activities you want to do.
- Snake Discovery
- A indoor zoo that features 75 exhibits of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
- 831 Century Ave N., Maplewood, MN 55119
- $10 for adults, $8 for kids
- Thunder Blades
- Skating rink
- 31516 125th St. , Princeton, MN 55371
- Admission varies based on the day
- Slick City
- Indoor slides and air court
- 10900 Fountains Drive Suite 130, Maple Grove, MN 55369
- Prices vary based on time
- Mill City Museum
- “Explore antique milling equipment, vintage advertising, and stories from the wheat farms, all at your own pace.”
- 704 South 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55401
- $15 for adults, $8 for kids
- Minnesota History Center
- “Explore Minnesota’s past through exhibits that feature authentic historical objects, hands-on experiences, and multimedia presentations.”
- 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. , St. Paul, MN 55102
- $15 for adults, $8 for kids
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
- Free
- They have Discovery Days on some Wednesdays where they put various stations around the museum that you can interact and explore with.
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
- 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403
- Free
Besides going places, I am constantly on the search for special activities. For instance, Light the Torch Adventures is holding a Knights and Fair Maiden event where kids can learn about medieval times at the Isanti County Historical Society. The local library also has lots of free events for kids to participate in like Lego Club and reading challenges. I usually find most of the events we participate in on Facebook, I would recommend joining homeschool groups for your state.
Where do you like to go with your kids in order to get out of the house?