Brooklyn Park is a lively suburb located just north of Minneapolis, Minnesota. With a population of over 79,000 people, Brooklyn Park has plenty to offer families looking for entertainment, activities, and quality time together. From parks and trails to museums and entertainment centers, Brooklyn Park has something for visitors of all ages and interests.
This article will highlight 12 of the top things to do with family while visiting or living in Brooklyn Park. It covers a range of indoor and outdoor attractions, including parks, recreation centers, museums, and more. Whether you’re looking for year-round activities or seasonal fun, you’ll find ideas for making memories with your family in Brooklyn Park.
1.Visit the Park
Brooklyn Park is home to over 53 parks, offering plenty of opportunities to spend time outdoors with family. A top pick is Brookwood Park—spanning 40 acres, it contains wooded areas, open fields, a playground, and walking paths perfect for family strolls.
Other notable parks include College Park (baseball and soccer fields, plus a playground), Evergreen Park (trails, a recreation center, and athletic fields), and Palmer Lake Park (fishing, picnicking, trails). Pack a lunch or snacks to make a day of exploring one of Brooklyn Park’s scenic parks with the kids.
2.Partake in Recreational Activities
In addition to picturesque parks, Brooklyn Park contains indoor venues and centers prime for active family fun. The Brooklyn Park Recreation Center houses an indoor playground, arcade room, and gymnasium—ideal for children’s birthday parties.
The Recreation Center also offers youth sports, including soccer, t-ball, flag football and more. Families can sign the kids up to learn new skills and interact with peers. The Brooklyn Park Sports Dome has turf fields and hardwood floors for playing soccer, football, baseball, softball, and more inside during cold Minnesota months.
Lastly, families can lace up skates at the Brooklyn Park Zephy Arena to work on their figure skating skills or play hockey with the kids. The opportunities for staying active with family are endless!
3.Learn at Local Museums
Brooklyn Park contains several museums that make for intriguing and educational family days. The Hands-On Learning Museum stimulates creative building and play for kids focused on transportation, wellness, food, and performing arts. Popular exhibits include an ambulance, farmer’s market, and make-believe veterinarian clinic.
The World Food Program Museum neighboring it spotlights fighting hunger globally. Interactive exhibits teach about refugees, school meals, and food sustainability. Families gain exposure to different cultures while discussing solutions to food scarcity.
For aviation and history buffs, the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum showcases aircrafts and historical military artifacts. View a museum video before touring the hangar to maximize the experience.
4.Watch a Show
The Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center (BPCAC) delivers performing arts entertainment suitable for families. It houses the Stage Theater Company and PRISM Dance Theater. Multiple shows occur monthly, like musicals, dance ensembles, band concerts, and more. Their lineup features limited runs of popular shows families will enjoy together.
Additionally, the Champlin Brooklyn Park Community Theater resides at Champlin Park High School but welcomes all audiences. Their annual season includes a play or musical, often performed by students. Support young talent in the area when choosing this theater for a parents’ night out or weekend matinee with the children.
5.Pick Seasonal Fruit
Come August through October, Harvesting Happiness Berry Farm opens for picking strawberries, raspberries, apples, and pumpkins. Families can venture into the fields together, with kids excitedly finding the perfect pumpkin or tasting berries right off the bush. Hayrides, pony rides, goat petting, and a corn maze further the seasonal fun on weekends.
Packaged fruit, homemade doughnuts, ice cream, and hot apple cider make tasty treats to share, fueling your time picking fruit and playing outdoors. Fridays also host bonfires — the farm stays open late for s’more making, weather pending. It’s wholesome agricultural entertainment for families.
6.Celebrate at Community Events
Brooklyn Park supports a lively community and hosts seasonal events welcoming to families. The annual Ice Cream Social occurs each June in Palmer Lake Park serving free ice cream cones and showcasing local performers. Families also enjoy bingo, pony rides, petting zoos and other kid-friendly activities.
July ushers in the Brooklyn Park Bluegrass and Folk Festival at Hennepin Tech Conference Center. Local and national bluegrass acts perform while attendees picnic and dance. Kids’ craft areas and food trucks cater to families alongside the foot-stomping music.
Lastly, Brooklyn Park’s October Harvest Festival takes place at Brooklyn Park High School with carnival games, inflatables, dancing, laser tag, food, and more. Wear costumes and enjoy a mini fair favoring family bonding.
7.Shop and Dine
For retail therapy or casual dining, stop by Shingle Creek Crossing. This outdoor mall houses familiar stores like Old Navy, DSW, Best Buy, Michaels, and Barnes and Noble alongside dining chain restaurants like Chipotle, Starbucks, Noodles and Company, and Panera. Stroll together while popping into shops, then refuel at a restaurant perfect for kids.
If weather permits, snag patio seating at Granite City near the entrance. They serve appetizers and meals ranging from wood-fired pizzas to burgers to pasta. Kids love customizing mini pizzas from the special Galttiere’s menu. Families can share a chocolate brownie topped with ice cream while the kids sip on a smoothie flight.
8.Jump at Sky Zone
For high-flying family fun, Sky Zone Brooklyn Park offers wall-to-wall trampolines perfect for jumping and playing. Their main Court area allows free jump time, but families can also reserve spaces like the Foam Zone pit filled with soft blocks, the Slam Dunk Zone with basketball hoops, an area with angled trampolines, and a jousting area over a pit.
Younger kids find endless entertainment in the walled-off Court reserved for under age 7. Parents can even join the fun in specific areas. Sky Zone hosts regular Toddler Time sessions with less chaos in the building. Family members ages 6 and up can arrange battles playing laser tag with sensor vests. With flexible admission options, Sky Zone makes bouncing a breeze for energetic families.
9.Practice at Pro Kicks
Pro Kicks Brooklyn Park delivers a prime indoor spot for families passionate about soccer. It contains multiple fields, areas for skill building, batting cages, a concession stand, and more—everything needed for a fun practice or scrimmage. Parents can enroll kids in training programs or arrange private lessons.
Families also frequent Pro Kicks for open field time to kick the ball around together. Kids can develop coordination while passing with parents or siblings. Those more competitively minded may start up a match, while beginners use areas designated for practicing basics like dribbling. With sweeping space welcoming to all skill levels, a trip to Pro Kicks makes for engaging family bonding.
10.Play Games at Meet Zone
The Meet Zone Entertainment Center provides perfect indoor amusement for Brooklyn Park families when the Minnesota weather disappoints. Their massive arcade area features the latest games alongside classics like skee ball, basketball tossing, boxing, racing games, and air hockey. Parents can join in the gaming fun with kids racking up tickets to trade for small prizes.
Private bowling lanes keep families engaged for hours through open play or reservation. Billiards, laser tag, and a restaurant serving classic American fare like wings, sandwiches and salads round out Meet Zone’s entertainment options. It’s all-ages entertainment with activities suited for anyone in the family.
11.Tour Brookview Golf Course
Avid golfers or those simply curious can check out Brookview Golf Course operated by the Brooklyn Park Recreation and Parks Department. Visitors tour the pro shop stocking gear and apparel before entering the emerald green course spanning over 6,400 yards near scenic ponds and trees.
Golfers in the family can practice shots at the driving range while beginners try their hand at putt putt. Kids find entertainment driving around the loop in a golf cart or playing rounds of foot golf on select holes. Brookview’s picturesque scenery makes a stop worthwhile for outdoorsy families.
12.Splash at Aqua Adventures Water Park
Cool down with family at Aqua Adventures, an indoor water park connected to a La Quinta Hotel. Its kid-friendly amenities include tube slides, a lazy river, kiddie play zones, hot tubs, and a surf wave rider. Guests also enjoy an arcade room and concessions serving typical water park fare like pizza and Dippin’ Dots ice cream.
All ages find enjoyable attractions at Aqua Adventures. Parents can relax poolside while kids zoom down slides or splash on multi-level jungle gym equipment. Family tubes mean sharing lazy river rides. Though day passes are available, guests get the most value by booking an Aqua Adventures suite package. Stays balance water excitement with complimentary breakfast each morning.
Conclusion
The vibrant suburb of Brooklyn Park brims with diverse entertainment options suitable for memorable family days. From athletics to arts, shopping districts to seasonal harvest fun, Brooklyn Park’s array of activities builds bonds through shared interests. Embrace outdoor exploration together at the area’s scenic parks. Seek indoor amusement at lively venues accommodating families.
Create meaningful memories picking apples or perusing museums with kids. Brooklyn Park allows making the most of Minnesota’s dramatic seasonal changes. When winter hits hard, bring the family inside Sky Zone to jump for joy. Or learn about reducing hunger globally at the museum before picking summer berries. The possibilities for quality time with kids are endless.