In Minnesota, family fun outdoors means embracing all four seasons. If you are on this page because you are looking for a new Twin Cities-area park, playground or nature center to explore, hundreds of entries can be found through our Parks & Playgrounds Search feature. Or, continue searching hundreds more ideas of things to do with kids in the Twin Cities through our Family Directory, including family outings, services, classes, camps, birthday parties and more.
Family Fun Directory of Things To Do with Kids:
Dakota County Library
Established in 1969, Dakota County Library has 10 branches spanning the southeast metro area of the Twin Cities.
- Burnhaven Library (Burnsville)
- Farmington Library
- Galaxie Library (Apple Valley)
- Heritage Library (Lakeville)
- Inver Glen Library (Inver Grove Heights)
- Pleasant Hill Library (Hastings) (Closed through Summer 2019. Interim location Westview Shopping Center, 1355 S. Frontage Rd.)
- Robert Trail Library (Rosemount)
- Wentworth Library (West St. Paul)
- Wescott Library (Eagan)
- City of South St. Paul Library
smARTpass from Dakota County Library
This library system is part of the MELSA library system, so it offers the smARTpass program, where library cardholders can checkout tickets to shows and museums. You can read a more detailed review of the program at the link above.
Storytimes at Dakota County Library
The various branches offer story times for babies and preschoolers with their favorite adult. Programs include age-appropriate stories, songs, and activities. While visiting, parents can pick up tips for fostering early literacy skills. Storytimes can be found on the libraries calendar of events.
Dakota County Library's LUCKYU Program
All branches keep a LUCKYU book collection for both adults and kids. The collection includes high-demand books by popular authors. If its on the shelf with the LUCKYU label, you can check it out without waiting in line and keep it it for one week — no renewals or holds.
Stream On Demand or Download Television Shows
If you are thinking about cutting the cord on pay-TV, a Dakota County library card can be another tool in the growing options for free entertainment. With Hoopla, card-holding patrons can instantly choose from thousands of titles to stream television shows, movies, music, e-books, comics, and audiobooks on their own device. You can also download something to watch when you are not online.
Online Research and Learning Tools Available with Your Dakota County Library Card
- BookFlix - Scholastic BookFlix is one of our favorite tools - this online literacy program let's you read books on your computer. Bookflix pairs video storybooks with related nonfiction e-books and then adds on some literacy games after the stories. I love this tool for reading-together time when I'm exhausted.
- Early World of Learning - Interactive learning site with games and beginning reading activities.
- Explora Kids - Elementary school-appropriate magazines, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and images.
- Explora Teens - Tween & Teen-appropriate magazine, journal, encyclopedia articles, and primary source documents, reference books and multimedia.
- Britannica Online Library Kids Edition - Articles and learning materials for upper elementary school students.
- Britannica Online Middle School Edition - Articles and learning materials for middle school students.
- Britannica Online Preschool Edition - Articles and learning materials for preschool students.
- Kids InfoBits - Gives K-5 children easy access to age-appropriate magazines, reference books, and newspaper articles.
- Mango Little Pim - Using video and practice cards, online courses provide building blocks for kids age birth–6 years to learn up to 10 different languages, including French, Spanish and Japanese — all with just your library card.
- Middle Search Plus - Contains full text for more than 150 popular, middle school magazines.
- TumbleBook Library - A collection of animated, talking picture books for kids. It also includes puzzles, games, audiobooks, and language learning.
What is the Family Fun Twin Directory?
This is the most extensive collection of companies, organizations, activities and places to find things to do with kids in the Twin Cities. Find things to do this weekend, things to do today, things to do with toddlers, things to do with teens. We have it all. Sort by indoor things to do with kids or outdoor things to do with kids. Find theater, music, water parks, aquariums, zoos, museums, seasonal fun.
Find the Answers to Your Questions. How much does it cost? What are the hours? Where can I find discount tickets? Where did my favorite store go?
We share Family Friendly Businesses. We work hard to keep it the most current and accurate parenting resource in the Twin Cities. Not just a blog for moms, we are a informational resource for families. This parent to parent list is perfect for dads, moms and grandparents to find fun things to do with kids year round.
This directory was made for families who live in the Twin Cities metro to connect with local businesses. However, visitors to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area will find our directory useful to learn more about venues with insider tips and details. Use this directory to find the best things to do with families in Minnesota's largest metropolitan area.
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