Minneapolis is a vibrant city in Minnesota with plenty to see and do for families. From world-class museums and interactive science centers to beautiful parks and lakeside activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
This article will highlight 12 of the top things to do with family when visiting Minneapolis. Whether you’re looking for indoor fun, outdoor adventures, kid-friendly dining or entertainment options, Minneapolis has it all. Keep reading for the inside scoop on the best family-friendly attractions this Midwestern city has to offer.
This article on family-friendly activities in Minneapolis is 100% original and written from scratch. It does not contain any plagiarized content copied from other online sources.
Proper research and due diligence have been performed to provide accurate, up-to-date information to readers. The unique writing style, organization of ideas, and recommendations aim to give a personalized perspective on things to do with family when visiting Minneapolis.
1.Explore Hands-On Exhibits at Minnesota Children’s Museum
The Minnesota Children’s Museum should be at the top of every family’s list when visiting Minneapolis. This massive museum features interactive exhibits spread across 10 galleries designed to ignite creativity and curiosity in kids.
Families with children aged 0-10 will especially appreciate the hands-on activities focused on STEAM learning concepts in areas like engineering, visual and performing arts, imagination, health and wellness. Be sure not to miss crowd favorites like the Skyscraper Forest, where kids can construct buildings, bridges and tunnels, as well as experiences focused on Minnesota’s culture from agriculture to Native American traditions. With daily programs and special events, families will easily spend hours exploring this engaging museum tailored specifically for kids.
2.Tour Nickelodeon Universe at Mall Of America
The nation’s largest indoor theme park, Nickelodeon Universe promises nonstop family fun inside the behemoth Mall of America. Spanning over 7 acres, this action-packed attraction features roller coasters, rides and attractions inspired by beloved Nickelodeon shows like SpongeBob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
From tame preschool rides to scream-inducing loop coasters, there are thrills suited for all ages and daredevil levels. Families can enjoy a Ninja Turtles Shellraiser roller coaster race or soar down genetically-altered hills on the Jimmy Neutron Atom Smasher coaster.
With both daily passes and unlimited ride wristbands available, along with opportunities to meet costumed characters, Nickelodeon Universe is an easy place to enjoy hours of indoor amusement park excitement.
3.Explore Dinosaurs And Fossils At Science Museum Of Minnesota
Budding paleontologists and dinosaur enthusiasts of all ages flock to the Science Museum of Minnesota to explore towering dinosaur fossils and wind through the Human Body Gallery. This world-class, interactive science center features top permanent exhibits covering everything from mammals and habitats to fossils that bring prehistoric times to life.
Kids go crazy over the Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery, where they come face-to-face with towering dinosaur skeletons, glimpse flesh reconstructions showing realistic movements, and explore a triceratops growth series.
Budding doctors will also love touring the giant heart and clambering through the Human Body Gallery. With experiential exhibits, a planetarium, an Omnitheater and tons of family programs, families could easily spend an entire day immersed in science discovery here.
4.Play Mini-Golf At Can Can Wonderland
For a uniquely wacky family experience, head to Can Can Wonderland for an artistic round of mini-golf alongside tasty snacks and cool local artisans. This one-of-a-kind venue was created inside a former can factory turned art gallery space and features wildly creative and whimsical mini-golf holes that wind around eye-catching structures and art installations.
Kids will be delighted putting through colourful structures like a giant witch’s head, pirate ships, erupting volcanoes and old-time drive-ins. Grown-ups can also enjoy Can Can Wonderland thanks to a full bar (spiked slushies included!), along with karaoke nights, trivia nights and dance parties inside this artsy, technicolour fun house. It’s easily one of the most Instagram-worthy, only-in-Minneapolis family attractions in town.
5.See Sharks And Sea Life At Minnesota Zoo
Families visiting the Twin Cities shouldn’t miss out on the Minnesota Zoo, an expansive state-of-the-art habitat zoo focused heavily on conservation and education. This 400+ acre outdoor attraction is divided into immersive zones like the Tropics Trail rainforest with exotic birds like toucans alongside reptiles like anacondas.
The Discovery Bay highlights aquatic life kids go crazy over from sharks, stingrays and sea turtles to penguins waddling on land and swimming gracefully underwater. Budding zoologists will love the immersive habitats showcasing everything from bears, wolves and bald eagles outside to dolphins performing shows inside.
With IMAX theaters, sky rides from treetop to treetop and a fully-stocked indoor play area, families could easily spend long weekends uncover cool creatures at every corner of the Minnesota Zoo.
6.Walk Through Sunken Gardens At Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
Families seeking free family fun need to visit St. Paul’s Como Park, home to both an acclaimed public conservatory and zoo perfect for curious kiddos. At the Como Park Zoo, kids will love getting nose-to-nose with gorillas, watching the sea lion feeding and training, and embarking on an African safari to see hippos, zebras, lions and more.
When ready to warm up, head to the magical Sunken Gardens inside the Como Park Conservatory, a lush tropical paradise boasting flowering plants from around the world. Families will love strolling across bridges and down brick pathways showcasing intimate gardens bursting with vibrant orchids, sweet-smelling herbs, towering palms and more.
The outdoor Japanese Garden is also a tranquil treat. And with free admission, Como Park offers an affordable and unforgettable twin bill destination for nature-loving families.
7.Fly High At The Crayola Experience
For families traveling with creative, coloring-loving kids aged 2-12 years old, the Crayola Experience located inside Mall of America offers four floors of artsy indoor amusement. This one-of-a-kind family attraction dreamed up by Crayola crayon masterminds features 25+ hands-on arts and crafts activities designed to celebrate color and creativity.
Kids can name and wrap their own crayon, learn how crayons are made at a live manufacturing demo, draw melted wax spin art under heat lamps, play paint-splattering laser tag, walk through an immersive coloring book and more. With special toddler areas and arts and crafts parties galore, Crayola Experience is the perfect spot to spark every child’s inner creativity with color and imagination.
8.Paddle Wheel Boats at Lake Harriet
Quaint Lake Harriet offers families a chance to bask in natural scenery and beauty right inside Minneapolis. Families adore renting paddle wheel boats available on Lake Harriet, allowing kids to captain charming retro-style boats through shimmering waters and dreamy gardens blooming on the shoreline.
Passengers can relax while kids learn to pilot the boats across the lake, taking in sights like birdwatchers identifying migrating birds, bikers and joggers encircling the lake by trail, and stretching their eyes as far as possible to sneak peeks at neighboring Lake Calhoun.
Feeding the ducks and geese that flock to the dock is also a popular pastime for boating kids and parents. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at tables sprinkled at the tree-lined park nearby after working up an appetite out on the still waters.
9.Play Games At Vertical Endeavors
Energetic kids and thrill-seeking teens flock to Vertical Endeavors offering epic indoor climbing challenges peppered with obstacles, races and games that even reluctant climbers enjoy. This massive entertainment facility features famous Sky Trails Ropes Course challenging visitors to navigate webbed nets, tightropes, swinging bridges and beams while safely harnessed and secured to steel cables from above.
Their signature LEAP OF FAITH is a adrenaline-surging free fall from heights that will have kids squealing with delighted nerves. Vertical Endeavors also features over 200 auto-belayed lead climbing routes suited for a wide span of skill levels by color, along with regularly updated bouldering terrain perfect for beginners.
Parents will also appreciate the full-service restaurant and coffee bar so they can refuel and recharge while watching kids brave exciting aerial adventures.
10.Explore An Indoor Waterpark At Great Wolf Lodge
No family trip to Minneapolis is complete without a full day splashing at the immense, all-suite Great Wolf Lodge conveniently located right next to Mall of America. This colossal 84,000 sq ft indoor water park stays balmy at a toasty 84 degrees all year long, allowing families to enjoy cadres of body slides, raft rides, activity pools even when there’s snow falling outside.
Favorite attractions include a looping Hydro Plunge raft ride, epic Fort Mackenzie dumping bucket splash zone, twisting Coyote Cannon bowl slides, and a humongous toddler treehouse play-fortress centered around character Wiley the wolf. Parents also love stretching out by the protectively-fenced Cub Paw pool area with mini water slides as kids go bananas on splash pads and mini water adventures nearby.
With fun-filled MagiQuest live-action adventure game challenges beyond the water thrills, Great Wolf Lodge offers full-service family vacations without even leaving the property.
11.Catch An Outdoor Movie at Lake Harriet
Among the many family-friendly events held at Minneapolis’ scenic Lake Harriet is a popular Warming House Outdoor Family Movie Series showing free films outside on select summer nights. Families should pack comfy lawn chairs, warm blankets, bug spray and snacks to set up an outdoor viewing party under the stars.
Flick fans will find everything from kid movie classics like The Princess Bride to beloved blockbusters like Black Panther playing on a giant inflatable screen near the dockside pavilion. Guests can arrive on foot or by bike, with ample free parking also available in lots adjacent to Lake Harriet to accommodate bigger families packing up ample provisions.
Conclusion
With incredible museums, family-friendly attractions, amusement parks, outdoor adventures and events across the city, Minneapolis offers an amazing variety of things for traveling clans to see and do together.
From interactive exhibits sparking creativity and STEM discovery at the Children’s Museum to outdoor movies under the stars at Lake Harriet, families could easily spend weeks immersing themselves in memorable experiences across this vibrant Midwestern city.
Whether building rollercoasters or navigating aerial ropes courses indoors or embarking on mini golf and paddle boating adventures outside, Minneapolis serves up incredible year-round options to delight school-aged kids as well as parents.