1. Make A Splash At Lake Harriet
With 67 acres of land and 344 acres of water, Lake Harriet is the perfect family spot. Visitors can catch a summer concert, bike or walk the trails, go canoeing, or hang out on one of the two supervised beaches.
2. Join The Milk Carton Boat Races At The Aquatennial
This annual outdoor event rolls around every July, celebrating the city’s famous lakes, rivers, and streams.
But if milk carton boats aren’t your thing, stick around for any of the other 70 or so events including parades, beach volleyball, a triathlon, and sand castle building. And don’t miss out on the Target Fireworks display for the finale.
3. Catch A Twins Game
Come to Target Field to watch the Minnesota Twins knock one out of the park with the whole family. Every game is fun for all ages thanks to kid-friendly events like Star Wars Day.
4. Sit At The Giant Pancakes In The Mill City Museum
And then tour the museum to learn all about the history and growth of Minneapolis, especially flour milling and the other industries that operated under the water power from Saint Anthony Falls.
5. Walk Along The Floating Boardwalk On The Quaking Bog
Tucked away in Wirth Park, you’ll find the Quaking Bog, a 5-acre acid bog that dates back about 3,700 years. It’s an incredibly unique natural phenomenon that leaves kids and adults both amazed.
The rest of Wirth Park is great for picnics, barbecues, hikes, and taking in some nature in the city.
6. Enjoy The Iconic Sculpture Garden
If you think that walking around the sculpture garden and getting your picture taken with the Spoonbridge is just for tourists, think again. It’s a great way to appreciate your beloved city for free.
7. Make It An Ice Cream For Dinner Night
There is no shortage of awesome ice cream joints in Minneapolis: Izzy’s, Sebastian Joe’s, and Pumphouse Creamery to name a few. The best way to find your favorite is to get out there and taste test them all. For science.
8. It’s Not Minneapolis Without Some Pond Hockey
If you’re afraid of how well you’re going to adjust to winter in Minneapolis, don’t worry. There are plenty of activities to keep you warm, the most popular of which being pond hockey, a Minnesota institution.
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9. Come Out For The Dragon Boat Races On Lake Phalen
Need an excuse to cross over to St. Paul for the afternoon? The Dragon Boat Festival and races Lake Phalen Park is an annual event brings together the Twin Cities, featuring celebrations of diverse Asian Pacific cultures.
10. Hit The Trails
If you like off-roading, then you’re lucky to be in Minnesota. With over 1,000 miles of trails for all-terrain vehicles varying from leisurely to challenging, you’re in for a world of trail-rated fun with your teens just outside the city.
11. Break Free From The Chains Of The City
The Oliver H. Kelley Farm is a popular place outside of Minneapolis for families to see the farming cycle, meet the animals in the barn, help work the gardens and fields, and more.
Get connected with nature and history in one visit, and plant the seeds of environmental awareness in the next generation.
12. You Can Still Enjoy The Rainy And Cold Days
Edinborough Park is a massive indoor park in Minneapolis where kids can climb, slide, bounce, swing, jump and play the day away no matter the weather. Admission is free for adults and just $6 for kids over two years old.
13. Foster A Love Of Art
Visit the Minneapolis Institute of Arts with the older kids to explore the amazing works of art on display or bring the younger kids during Family Day to let them unleash their inner artists.
14. Make Some Vintage Memories At The Drive-In
A short drive out to Lake Elmo will take you to the Vali Hi Drive-In Theater where the movies are cheap and the memories are priceless.
15. Play A Game Of Volleyball At Lake Calhoun
Split the family up into teams and get to the volleyball courts at Lake Calhoun when you’re looking for some quality time together in the sun.
16. Catch A Movie Together At The Riverview
Affordable movies, a vintage feel, and some of the best theater popcorn you can get your hands on–all this is waiting for you at Riverview Theater.
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17. Dance Around The Maypole
Feeling Swedish? You will during the Swedish Midsummer Celebration held by the American Swedish Institute, full of fun for the whole family.
18. Guthrie Theater Is An Excellent Thespian’s Day Out
Bring the older kids out for a night at the Guthrie for a Broadway-quality stage production. Backstage tours are also available for anyone who is interested in the behind-the-scenes.
19. Get Up Close With The Wildlife
Pack the pajamas and head to the zoo where the whole family can stay overnight and find out just how the lion sleeps.
20. Become Puppeteers
Head to the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre to learn how to make your very own puppets and get inspiration. Then you can show them off by prancing them around in the May Day Parade with the other puppeteers.
21. Head Down Stream Together
Take advantage of living in a city with so many lakes and rivers by hopping in a kayak and grabbing a paddle. Above the Falls Sports provides rentals so you can tour your city from the view of the Mississippi together without breaking the bank.
22. Pack A Picnic And See The Falls
Pack a picnic or grab some food at Sea Salt in Minnehaha Park where you can spend the day hiking the trails and enjoying the gorgeous scenery of the falls.
23. At Elsie’s, They Bowl, You Unwind
Where else can you go to watch a game, scarf down some deep fried mac n’ cheese, order a pitcher of beer, and bowl a few rounds as a family? Elsie’s is age-appropriate for kids but still entertaining for adults, making it a great hangout spot on family night.
24. A Mall So Big, It Deserves Its Own Country
The Mall of America is in Bloomington, not Minneapolis, and no, you won’t find yourself here very often thanks to crowds. But at just a 20 minute drive away, there’s no way to resist the power of a mall that has an amusement park inside of it.
Kids love their time here and there’s plenty for them to do while you sit and drink your latte.
25. Lace Up Your Skates And Hit The Ice
Come to the Walker Art Center the first Saturday of the month in the colder weather to enjoy free admission for outdoor skating among the awesomely artsy Minneapolis landscape.
In the warmer months, take the skates off and enjoy a round of miniature golf.
26. Ride Bikes Down The Greenway
The Midtown Greenway is an awesome way to take a safe bike ride in the city together where you can enjoy over five miles of traffic-free routes.
Bonus points for the bike shop along the way which comes in handy for the unfortunate breakdown. Inline skaters, runners, and pedestrians are welcome on the Greenway, too.
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