Twin Cities Guide to Family Activities This Weekend: August 12-13, 2023

This summer has been awesome in terms of temperature! We’ve done more exploring than usual of new splash spots – go ahead and browse the finds in our complete TWIN CITIES ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BEST BEACHES, POOLS, WATERPARKS & SPLASH PADS or continue for more ideas:

Featured Minneapolis wading pool: North Mississippi Regional Park

MINNEAPOLIS WADING POOLS are fun, free and some are splashy and elaborate. We try to highlight a new location each week. Try the pool & playground at NORTH MISSISSIPPI REGIONAL PARK. It’s also very close to the CARL KROENING INTERPRETIVE CENTER if you’d like to pop in for fun exhibits and other nature play opportunities. 5116 N Mississippi Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55412.

Featured Twin Cities beach: Bush Lake Beach, Bloomington

We include our family favorites in our list of 20+ BEACHES, PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS TO TRY THIS SUMMER. Each week we’re excited to share a new beach one of our FFTC families has discovered – this weekend we’re highlighting BUSH LAKE BEACH in Bloomington. The parking fee continues to be waived this year so the beach is completely free to visit! Make a day of it by visiting the enormous HYLAND PLAY AREA “aka Chutes & Ladders” nearby. 9140 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington, MN 55438.

Featured outdoor swimming pool: Battle Creek Waterworks, St Paul

Swimming pools are always a hit for their slides and fun features. Have you tried BATTLE CREEK WATERWORKS WATERPARK in Maplewood yet? This pool is geared toward families with children 10 and under. There is a shallow water pool with interactive water play equipment and a separate activity pool with lily pad walk and swim area. For the grade school kids, there is a three story twisting waterslide. 2401 Upper Afton Rd E, Maplewood, MN 55119.

Featured Twin Cities splash pad: Shakopee Lions Park

Don’t forget that splash pads are a perfect place to cool off without the full commitment and cost of a day at the pool. This week we highlight the splash pad at SHAKOPEE LIONS PARK located right next to the FUN FOR ALL PLAYGROUND! 1103 Adams St S, Shakopee, MN 55379.

Search our giant list of the best 35 Splash Pads & Wading Pools in the Twin Cities.

Many outdoor pools in the Twin Cities offer special tot swim hours so littler ones can get some splash time in before the big kids arrive. You can find these tot swims at the following pools this weekend:

Saturday Tot Swims

• CASCADE BAY: Little Mates Tot Swim – select areas of the waterpark open from 9:30-10:30am. $6/child, one adult free. 1360 Civic Center Drive, Eagan, MN 55122.
• CRYSTAL COVE: Little Splashers Pool Time is for kids ages 7 & under to enjoy the zero-depth entry pool. 10-11:30am, $3/child, adults free. 4848 Douglas Dr N, Crystal, MN 55429.
• RICHFIELD OUTDOOR POOL: Kids ages 7 & under get the zero-depth-entry wading pool and water play equipment to themselves. 10-11am, $11/pp. 630 East 66th Street, Richfield, MN 55423.
• SANDVENTURE AQUATIC CENTER: Kids ages 0-6 can swim in the zero-depth entry pool and play in the sand beach. 9:15-10:45am. $5/child, adults free. 1101 Adams St S, Shakopee, MN 55379.

Sunday Tot Swims

• CASCADE BAY – Little Mates Tot Swim (see above)
• COMO REGIONAL PARK POOL: Tot Time swim is for kids ages 6 & under. 9:30-11am. $4/children and adults. 1151 Wynne Ave Saint Paul, MN 55108.
• HIGHLAND PARK AQUATIC CENTER: Tot time for kids 6 & under. 9:30-11am. $4/pp children and adults. 1840 Edgcumbe Rd, St Paul, MN 55116. 

Find our complete list of Tot Swims, including many that offer cheaper rates for this limited swim time.