Minneapolis Attractions
Minneapolis Attractions
 | Children's Theatre Company 2400 Third Ave S Minneapolis, MN • 612-874-0800 The Minneapolis Children's Theater Company has an impressive claim to fame -- it's the only kids' theater to have ever won a Tony. Professional-grade shows like "Anne," "Robin Hood" and "A Christmas Story" are performed to delight of family audiences. A few years ago, the theater underwent a 45,000-square-foot expansion, and the space now offers classrooms and a special teen stage. Tickets sell out quickly, so reserve yours in advance. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Mall of America 8100 24th Ave S Minneapolis, MN • 952-883-8800 The massive Mall of America, which houses an aquarium, an amusement park and giant LEGO sculptures in addition to hoards of stores, is a bona fide family wonderland. There are more than 520 stores inside the mall, which is built in the shape of a rectangle with four sides of restaurants, food courts and shops framing a colorful Nickelodeon Universe theme park. You'll need tickets to ride the rides at Nick Universe, which looks so enticing -- with Nickelodeon characters walking amid vivid blue and green roller coasters -- that children will find it hard to resist. So plan on buying tickets. Another must-see mall attraction is the Minnesota Sea Life Aquarium. Sure, it's an aquarium inside a mall. But it's just as eye-opening and wonderful as any top-notch city aquarium, with more than 5,000 sea creatures swimming behind walls of glass and kid-friendly interactive exhibits. Other noteworthy offerings include a huge LEGO store, a 3-D movie theater, a bowling alley, a mini-golf course, an aerial park and an American Girl store. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Mill City Museum 704 South 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN • 612-341-7555 It's "the most explosive museum in the world," brags Mill City's marketing team. Located on the scenic Mississippi riverfront, Mill City Museum is a fun place for kids to learn about Minneapolis's fascinating history. Did you know that Minneapolis was, in the 19th century, the Flour Milling Capital of the World? Embark on an outing to Mill City Museum and you'll soon discover that Minneapolis's flour-caked history is a lot more interesting than it may sound at first to young ears (hint: there are explosions!). Mill City Museum is set in the reconstructed ruins of a 19th-century flour mill. The factory, originally the Washburn A Mill, exploded in 1874 and was rebuilt into what was, at the time, the biggest flour mill in the world. Today, the museum houses a bakery, an eight-story "Flour Tower" ride, a model demonstration of the famous 1874 explosion and more. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Minneapolis Queen Boom Island Park 700 Sibley Street NE Minneapolis, MN • 952-474-8058 It's tradition to take a paddle-boat cruise when visiting any city on the Mississippi River -- and Minneapolis is no exception. Embark on a leisurely sailing through St. Anthony Falls, the largest lock on the Mississippi and enjoy lovely passing views of downtown Minneapolis. Listen to guides talk about Minneapolis history while you munch on hot dogs and ice cream. Paradise Charter Cruises, the company that operates the Minneapolis Queen, offers a variety of tours for both kids and adults, including happy hour pizza cruises, sunset wine tasting cruises and sightseeing lock cruises (the latter, which usually takes place during the day, is best suited for young travelers). Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Minneapolis Sculpture Garden 725 Vineland Place Minneapolis, MN • 612-375-7622 You've probably seen photos of Minneapolis's giant spoon, Claes Oldenburg's "Spoonbridge and Cherry." It's one of the most photographed sites in the city, and it's the crown jewel of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The 11-acre garden houses more than 40 stunning works of sculpture, and regularly hosts outdoor concerts and educational activities. (We recommend calling the sculpture garden before your visit to see if any events will be taking place.) Free garden tours take place on the grounds from May through August. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Minnehaha Park 4801 Minnehaha Ave S Minneapolis, MN • 612-230-6500 You're on a city vacation, but that doesn't mean you can't grab some bikes and explore the great outdoors! Minnehaha, Minneapolis' most-visited park, provides scenic river views, and oodles of trails for biking and hiking. The highlight of the place is a gorgeous 53-foot waterfall. Fun Wheel Rentals, located in the park, offers bike and surrey rentals for families seeking to investigate the park's pretty landscapes. Fun Wheel also rents specialty bikes like two-person choppers or quad sport bikes (kids love these). Head to the Wabun picnic area for a relaxing outdoor lunch; here, you'll find picnic shelters, restrooms and a wading pool. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Target Field 1 Twins Way Minneapolis, MN • 612-659-3400 During baseball season, families flock to Target Field to watch the Twins face off against MLB rivals. The stadium is located in Minneapolis's downtown Warehouse District neighborhood, and it's a cinch to get to by train (there's a station right in front). On non-game days, guided tours are available of the ball park, which allow visitors to explore exclusive zones like the dugout and clubhouse seating areas. (Tours are also available on game days, but these don't give visitors access to the clubhouse and dugout areas.) Tour tickets are free for children ages 5 and younger. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | The Hitching Company 925 No. 5th St Minneapolis, MN • 612-338-7777 Book an educational, kid-friendly tour of the city with The Hitching Company, which provides horse-drawn carriage rides that depart from various spots in Minneapolis (Nicollet Island Inn or the Hyatt Regency Hotel, as well as Vic's Dining restaurant). Tours are priced per carriage, not per person, so rates are particularly reasonable for families. Carriages accommodate up to four people. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
Read more about Minneapolis Resorts Read more about Minneapolis Family Vacations
© Copyright 2012. The Independent Traveler, Inc.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
- Independent Traveler independenttraveler.com
- Cruise Critic cruisecritic.com
-
FREE Family Travel Newsletter -
Family Travel Tips (10 New)
– Family Planning and Tips
Sure, free drinks and complimentary Wi-Fi rank high on the lists of most desirable hotel perks among travelers in general, but when it comes to visiting with kids in tow, which hotel amenities are most revered by families? From onsite airline check-in to in-room babysitting and kid concierges, con...
Favorite family biking locales in North America combine stunning scenery with a relatively easy grid of bike trails and uncongested backcountry roads. All of these locales offer exhilarating rides, guaranteed to inspire all ages to travel on two wheels. Many of the cities on the list, like San Anton...
1. Celebrate a Historic Anniversary. Boston's historic Fenway Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this year -- the perfect time to take in a ballgame while enjoying the history of America throughout the city. Give your school-aged children an up-close and personal history lesson by visiting some ...
The unofficial start to summer is nearly here, and this May 25 to 28 weekend is filled with enticing deals for families. Get out there and start your summer!
Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Escape to the Colorado mountains for a two-night Memorial Day Family Escape at the Broadmoor. ...
There are few rites of passage as exciting as taking a child on his or her first camping trip. Families bond while roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, making shadow animals on the tent wall, chasing after fireflies and inhaling fragrant whiffs of pine. Whether you are an experienced camper from pre-...
1. The National Mall
There's no question that the National Mall, the two-mile strip of wide-open green stretching between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol and surrounded by Smithsonian museums and national monuments, is a must-see destination for kids. "The Mall," chock full of our nation'...
1. gogo Kidz Travelmate
If you're traveling with a child weighing less than 50 pounds, you won't want to leave home without this ingenious contraption that in seconds lets parents convert most car seats into a stroller. With the gogo Kidz Travelmate, there's no more lugging both a heavy car seat ...
On a recent ski vacation, my family of five traveled with five cellphones, three laptops, three iPads, two iPods and just for good measure, a GPS! Given the prevalence of electronic devices in our daily lives and our somewhat compulsive reliance upon them, taking a true vacation feels almost imposs...
The 1969 film, "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium," depicted a funny, but sometimes all too true, look at a tour group of Americans traveling through Europe so quickly they barely knew where they were and what they were seeing.
Today, tour groups are quickly becoming an attractive option for ...
When you think of an all-inclusive vacation, your mind goes straight to the Caribbean, doesn't it? But you don't need to leave the country to get an all-in-one vacation -- resorts in the U.S. also provide all-inclusive getaways with accommodations, meals, and activities all packaged in one easy pric...