Outdoor Play, No Way! Sometimes Minnesota doesn’t give us a hospitable outdoor environment. Never fear, find indoor play here — at home and indoor attractions.
We all know the realities of raising kids in the Minnesota: there’s got to be a place to go were we can escape the elements while still allowing those kids to keep playing hard. Our guides are packed full of indoor activities for kids, including playgrounds, waterparks, open gyms, playful coffee shops, storytimes, nature centers and other fun indoor outings to keep you entertained no matter the weather. Bonus, many of these venues offer indoor birthday parties!
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 INDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AT HOME
Want some ideas for indoor activities for kids that don’t involve packing up the kids and the travel gear that comes with? Our giant list of indoor games for kids has tons of ideas for every age.
- Family Fun Guide to Indoor Games at Home and Around Minnesota.
- 50+ Fun Physical Activities for Kids – Obstacle Course, indoor bowling, Simon Says & more.
- Indoor Fun at Home: No Energy, No Space, No TV, No Problem. Games that occupy the kids while mom relaxes on the couch!
- Top Board Games to Play with Preschoolers
- Guide to Family Boredom Busters
- How to Create Scavenger or Treasure Hunts
- Family Movies
- Rainy Day Activities at Home
- Arts and Crafts Throughout the Year
- Easy Sugar Cookies – Simple recipe, handy ingredients.
- At Home Science Activities for Kids
INDOOR PLAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS IN THE TWIN CITIES
Twin Cities Best Indoor Playgrounds, Play Areas and Bounce Houses
Our kids still need a place to burn off that extra energy when the weather isn’t cooperating. Enter our Twin Cities indoor play places list. We hope you can use it to find a new space to wear those littles out — and perhaps catch yourself a break. You’ll find something for all ages, including ninja obstacle course facilities, laser tag, dodgeball, basketball hoops, zip lines and more. Some parks, like Adventure Peak in Edinborough Park, even have tree-lined indoor trails and weekly concerts. The list has been divided into regions of the metro for ease of searching.Â
- Adventure Peak, Edina
- Be With Me Children’s Playseum
- Blast Indoor Playground, Eagan
- Brookview Backyard, Golden Valley
- Chuck E Cheese: 4 Twin Cities Locations
- Eagles Nest, New Brighton
- The Giggle Factory, Hudson
- Good Times Park, Eagan
- Grand Slam Sports, Burnsville
- Grand Slam Family Fun Center, Coon Rapids
- Hudson GNG Indoor Jungle Gym
- InnerActive Playground, Moundsview
- Lookout Ridge, WoodburyÂ
- Kids Empire, Bloomington
- The K.U.B.E., Plymouth
- Maple Maze, Maple Grove
- Millz House, Apple Valley
- MiniSota Play Café, Maple Grove
- Playground Plaza, Maple Grove
- Prairie Play Zone, Eden Prairie
- Pump It Up, Eden Prairie
- Rainbow Play Systems, Bloomington
- Snapology, Minneapolis
- Sky Zone – Trampoline Entertainment Center
- Tropical Adventures, Shoreview
- Urban Air Adventure Park, Apple Valley, Coon Rapids & Plymouth – Go-Karts, Bumper Cars, fun for the Entire Family
- Williston Treehouse, Minnetonka
- Zero Gravity Trampoline Park, Mounds View
Twin Cities Indoor Waterparks & Pools
We’ve gathered up a list of indoor pool and water parks around the Twin Cities where you can splash, slide and swim away the cold weather blues. Most of them offer swimming lessons as well.
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Open Gym for Little Kids
Sometimes you need a space big enough to hula hoop, play basketball, or ride around on a scooter toy. For options beyond indoor playgrounds for keeping younger children moving throughout the chilly months, check out our Open Play, Gym & Swim Spots for Tots in the Twin Cities. Most of these are hosted by community and recreation centers and offer either very inexpensive admission or FREE. Treat yourself and your little one to a (near) guaranteed nap time!
Open Gym for Bigger Kids
Bigger kids need a chance to run and play, too. You will find open gym offerings at many of our favorite gymnastics studios.
Kid-Friendly Coffee Shops & Cafes
We think this is one of the coziest of cozy indoor activities to do with your kids! Spend a chilly day in visiting one of these Twin Cities coffee shops with your little one(s) for both an indoor play space and a decent cup of joe. Kids can spread out in an area dedicated just to them!
Top Twin Cities Storytimes for Kids
Our list of toddler and preschool story times are hosted at highly kid-friendly venues around the Twin Cities. Most of these programs are completely free entertainment for your young ones and make a great indoor activity.
Libraries with Play & Learn Spaces
Play is critical in supporting storytelling, boosting vocabulary and encouraging kids to use their imaginations to work out real world experiences. “Play and Learn” spaces installed at several Twin Cities-area libraries make for a fun indoor activity.
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Baby Friendly Resources
Our list of infant outings has many options for indoor play. For instance, where in other areas of the country, a farmers market may be a year-round option, we suggest Midtown Global Market or an indoor Farmers Market as an alternative when the weather isn’t ideal. See our full list of baby-friendly outings here.
Indoor Fun at Twin Cities Nature Centers
Nature centers don’t hibernate during the winter; they’re open and welcome visitors to explore indoor activities, interactive exhibits and animal residents. Pick from more than two dozen scattered throughout the Twin Cities.
Museums & Historic Sites
Many Twin Cities museums and historic sites are wonderful places to spend a day indoors and many offers specific indoor activities for kids. We have a collection of highly kid-friendly ones all put together in one spot:
- The Bakken Museum
- Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)
- Minnesota Children’s Museum
- Science Museum of Minnesota
- Walker Art Center
- Weisman Art Museum
- The Works Museum
Family Fun at the Mall of America
The MOA in Bloomington offers plenty of indoor family fun, including an amusement park, attractions, retail shopping and dining opportunities without ever stepping outdoors.
- Mall of America Family Guide, Floor By Floor
- MOA Toddler Tuesdays
- Nickelodeon Universe
- Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium
- LEGO Imagination Center
- Crayola Experience
Indoor Mini Golf Options
We offer plenty of indoor golfing and arcade games in our Guide to Mini Golf Courses in the Twin Cities:
- Can Can Wonderland
- Grand Slam Sports
- Grand Slam Family Fun Center
- Moose Mountain Adventure Golf
- Rock of Ages Black Light Mini Golf
- Urban Air Adventure Park
- Victoria Burrow
Indoor Fun at Zoos
- Minnesota Zoo. The first time I visited the Minnesota Zoo, I didn’t even know there were outdoor trails. The indoor trails can fill a day. There is also an indoor play area – the Bee Hive.
- Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is always a beautiful experience regardless of the weather. The zoo has several indoor exhibits. However, you will need to walk outdoors to travel between them.
Movie Theaters
What better way to spend an afternoon inside than watching a family film. We rounded up the best movie deals in the metro area: Twin Cities Cheap Flicks: Cheap Movies at Riverview Theater + More Discounts.
Arcades and Virtual Reality
Extreme Weather Options
When the temperature extremes have got you down in the dead of winter and the most sweltering of the summer, where do you go? We offer these ideas for extreme weather indoor activities for kids.
- 28+ Days of Cozy Indoor Play in February
- 10 Free & Air-Conditioned Indoor Family Outings
- Minneapolis MN Recreation Centers
- St. Paul Recreation Centers
- Rainy Day Destinations in the Twin Cities
What do you do when you are stuck indoors with energetic kids? As you can see, there are plenty of fun and engaging activities to do indoors in the Twin Cities area. Feel free to leaev a comment with any ideas, inspiration or helpful hints for other parents.
Find hundreds more things to do with kids in Minneapolis & St Paul!
More Indoor Family Entertainment
