There are so many great things to do in Minnesota! Check out my list of favorites below. Enjoy!
Amusement Parks
ComoTown (St. Paul @ Como Zoo) Tilt-a-whirl, kiddie rides
Nickelodeon Universe (Bloomington @ Mall of America) roller coaster, kiddie rides
Valleyfair (Shakopee) rollercoasters, tilt a whirl
Arcades
Chuck E. Cheese’s (Woodbury, West St. Paul) arcade, games, pizza
Dave and Buster’s (Maple Grove) arcade, games, food
Grand Slam (Burnsville) arcade, batting cages, mini golf, laser tag
Time Out (Maplewood @ Maplewood Mall) arcade, skeeball
Bowling
Flaherty’s (Arden Hills)
Park Grove Bowl (St. Paul Park)
PINZ (Oakdale)
Sun Ray Bowling (St. Paul)
Camping
Afton State Park (Afton)
Boundary Waters Canoe Area (Ely)
Gooseberry Falls State Park (Two Harbors)
Grand Marais Municpal Campground (Grand Marais) indoor municipal pool
Jay Cooke State Park (Carlton)
Lake Elmo Park Reserve (Lake Elmo) pool, playground, fishing pier
Splitrock Lighthouse State Park (Two Harbors)
St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park (Hastings) beach, playground
St. Croix State Park (Hinckley) fire tower
William O'brien State Park (Stillwater) hiking trails, nature center, fishing pier, geocaching
Events
Bacon Bash (River Falls) bacon festival, bacon themed food, September
Bentleyville (Duluth) giant Christmas light display, cocoa, cookies, popcorn, all December
Cheese Curd Festival (Ellsworth) cheese curds, food trucks, music
Fisherman's Picnic (Grand Marais) food, music, crafts, August
Grand Ole Days (St. Paul)
Hastings Car Show (Hastings) Saturdays
Holiday Train (Cottage Grove) train w/Christmas lights
Holidazzle (Minneapolis) Christmas festival, December
Irishfair (St. Paul @ Harriet Island) dancing, music, exhibits, food
Minneapolis Aquatennial (Minneapolis) July
MN State Fair (St Paul @ State Fairgrounds) food on a stick, rides, August
North St. Paul Car Show (North St. Paul) Main Street-every Friday night in summer
Red Bull Crashed Ice (St. Paul) February
Renaissance Festival (Shakopee) annual renaissance festival in the fall
St. Paul Farmer's Market (St. Paul) Saturday's
St. Paul Winter Carnival (St. Paul) various winter events, February
Strawberryfest (Cottage Grove) rides, food, June
US Pond Hockey Championship (Minneapolis)
Washington County Fair (Lake Elmo @ fairgrounds) animals, rides, food, August
Woodbury Days (Woodbury) rides, food
Ice Cream
Cup N Cone (White Bear Lake) cheap ice Cream
Grand Old Creamery (St. Paul)
Izzy's (St. Paul)
MN Nice Cream (Stillwater)
Nelson's (Stillwater and St. Paul) huge portions!
Selma’s (Afton)
The Warming House (Cloquet)
Museums/History
Cathedral of St. Paul (St. Paul)
Children’s Museum (St. Paul) exhibitions, play areas
Fort Snelling (St. Paul) fort, visitor center
Lake Superior Marine Museum (Duluth)
Lake Superior Railroad Museum (Duluth) train depot
Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Minneapolis) paintings, sculpture
Minnesota Arboretum (Chaska)
Minnesota Discovery Center (Chisolm) museum of the iron range
Minnesota History Center (St. Paul) historical exhibits
Minnesota State Capitol (St. Paul) Free tours
Science Museum of MN (St. Paul) museum of science, exhibits
Soudan Underground Mine (Soudan) mine tours
Swedish American Institute (Minneapolis)
Twin City Railroad Museum (St. Paul @ Bandana Square) model trains
Walker Art Center (Minneapolis) paintings, sculptures
The Works (Bloomington) physics and science museum for kids
Nature Centers
Carpenter Nature Center (Hastings) hiking trails, animals
Discovery Center (Oakdale) hiking trails
Maplewood Nature Center (Maplewood) pond, trails, animals
Richardson Nature Center (Bloomington) hiking trails, pond, animals, raptors
Tamarack Nature Center (White Bear Lake) walking trails, play areas
Orchards/Corn Mazes/Hayrides
Aamodt’s Apple Orchard (Stillwater) apples, winery
Afton Apple Orchard (Afton) apples, corn maze, hayrides
Axdahl's (Stillwater) pumpkins, corn maze, hayrides, horses, goats
Country Sun Farm (Lake Elmo) corn maze, hay rides, petting zoo, treats
Eveland Family Farm (Andover) hay rides, food, pumpkins
Pine Tree Apple Orchard (White Bear Lake) apples, winery
Sever’s Corn Maze (Shakopee) corn maze
Whistling Well Farms (Hastings) apples, pumpkins
Zywiec’s (Cottage Grove) flowers, plants, hayrides, cider, pumpkins
Paintball
Splatball (Minneapolis) indoor paintball
Splat Tag (Hudson) outdoor paintball
Parks/Playgrounds
Battle Creek Park (Maplewood) pool, playground, hiking
Cottage Grove Ravine Park (Cottage Grove) lake, fishing pier, trails
Enger Park and Tower (Duluth)
Hamlet Park (Cottage Grove) trails,basketball, skatepark
Highlands Park (Cottage Grove) splash pad, basketball, ice rink, tennis court
Hyland Play Area "Chutes and Ladders" (Bloomington) massive playground, lake w/paddleboat and canoe rental
Lake Elmo Park Reserve (Lake Elmo) pool, camping, playground, trails, fishing pier
Lookout Ridge (Woodbury) indoor playground
Minnehaha Park (Minneapolis) hiking trails, waterfall, bike rental
Mounds Park (St. Paul) playground, trails, Indian burial mounds, great view
Walton Park (Oakdale) playground, basketball, tennis, skatepark
Teddy Bear Park (Stillwater) outdoor playground
Silver Lake Park (North St. Paul) swimming beach, 2 playgrounds, great slide, tennis, fishing pier
Restaurants
Agave Kitchen (Hudson) Keto menu available
Akita (Woodbury) sushi and hibachi
Brasa (St. Paul) rotisserie chicken, beef
Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter (Stillwater) German food
Gordy's Hi Hat (Cloquet) burgers
Matchstick (Stillwater)
North Pole (Newport) breakfast, lunch
Pier 500 (Hudson, WI) great patio
Red Cow (St. Paul) burgers, beer and apps
World's Best Donuts (Grand Marais) seriously best donuts anywhere
Yarusso Bros. (St. Paul) Italian
Roller skating
Saints North (North St. Paul) roller skating, laser tag, mini golf
Skateville (Burnsville)
Wooddale Fun Zone (Woodbury) roller skating, laser tag
Shopping/Toys/Bookstores
Gunflint Mercantile (Grand Marais)
Patina (St. Paul, Woodbury) gifts, collectibles
Red Balloon (St. Paul) bookstore
Skiing/Snow Tubing
Afton Alps (Afton) skiing, snowboarding, tubing, golf
Badlands Snow Tubing (Hudson) snow tubing, 4 hills
Green Acres (Lake Elmo) snow tubing, 2 hills
Lutsen Mountains (Lutsen) skiing, alpine slide, gondola
Spirit Mountain (Duluth) skiing, snowboarding, rollercoaster
Welch Village (Welch) skiing, snowboarding
Wild Mountain (Taylor's Falls)
Sports
MN Lynx (Minneapolis @ Target Center) WNBA Basketball
MN Timberwolves (Minneapolis @ Target Center) NBA Basketball
MN Twins (Minneapolis @ Target Field) MLB Baseball
MN Vikings (Minneapolis @ US Bank Stadium) NFL Football
MN Wild (St. Paul @ Xcel Center) NHL Hockey
St. Paul Saints (St. Paul @ CHS Field) minor league baseball
Waterparks/Pools
Bunker Beach Waterpark (Andover) outdoor wave pool
Cascade Bay (Eagan) outdoor waterpark
Maplewood Community Center (Maplewood) indoor pool, gym
Tropics Water Park (Shoreview @ Shoreview Community Center) indoor waterpark
Waterpark of America (Bloomington) indoor wave pool, slides
Zoos
Como Zoo (St. Paul) zoo, amusement park (Como Town), and conservatory
Hugo Animal Farm (Hugo) petting zoo, animals
MN Zoo (Apple Valley) zoo, Imax Theater
Sea Life Minnesota (Bloomington @ Mall of America) indoor aquarium
Misc.
Club Just Jump (Woodbury) lots of inflatables
Home Depot (most locations) craft kits for kids once a month, Saturdays
Krueger's Christmas Trees (Stillwater) Christmas tree farm, wagon rides, Santa
The Little School (St. Paul) best daycare/preschool in Minnesota!!
Minnesota's Largest Candy Store (Jordan) candy, sodas
Skyzone (Oakdale) indoor trampoline park
Superior Whitewater Rafting (Carlton, MN) whitewater rafting
Vertical Endeavors (St. Paul) Indoor climbing wall
