500+ Things to Do in Minneapolis & St. Paul with Kids

If your family is searching for fun things to do in the Twin Cities with kids, we’re at your service. Our team of three lives right here in Minneapolis-St. Paul and are your experts on the hundreds of fun ways to entertain, educate and spend quality time as a family.

Contrary to some opinions, Minnesota isn’t all about the weather. Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding area have so much to offer including beautiful lakes, incredible restaurants, and amazing museums and theaters. The metro area bustles with a vibrant arts community, sports fanatics, nature enthusiasts, literary minds, and family fun galore no matter the weather. It’s a wonderful place to raise a family; in fact, our team is very happily raising twelve children between us here in the Twin Cities.

We are thrilled to have you on our site and hope we can help you plan memorable outings with your family and friends.

Where to start?

• 1000+ categorized entries in our carefully curated Twin Cities Family Fun Directory

• Daily listings of events across the Twin Cities on our Twin Cities Family Events Calendar

We all know the realities of raising kids in the Minnesota extremities: there’s got to be a place to go were we can escape the elements while still allowing those kids a place to burn off that extra energy. Enter our Twin Cities Indoor Playgrounds and Play Areas list. We hope you can use it to find a new space to wear those littles out whatever the weather.

Indoor water parks and pools – Swimming indoors can be a wonderful way to squeeze in a workout during the frigid winter months in Minnesota. We’ve rounded up a list of indoor facilities around the Twin Cities where you can splash, slide and swim away the cold weather blues.

Water Fun Guide – As the line between late spring and early summer starts to melt away in the rising temps, it’s time to find a new splash spot in the Twin Cities. Look no further for a round up of outdoor swimming pools, beaches, water parks and splash pads.

Splash Pads & Wading Pools – Created especially for those with younger swimmers, browse these simple spots where you might beat the heat.

Twin Cities beaches – We’ve assembled 20 of the best Twin Cities beaches and swimming holes we think are worth checking out. But hurry; as we know all too well here in Minnesota, beach season doesn’t last.

There are places to play outside in the Twin Cities all year long as well as inside. Use our handy park & playground search feature to discover more than 750 places to be active with your kids.

Nature Playgrounds are a fun way for children to make connections to the natural world – which is essential to their  development and well-being. These inventive playgrounds provide opportunities for kids to dig, climb, build and problem solve. All of the green playgrounds are located within public parks or nature centers and are FREE to visit.

Nature Centers – The Twin Cities is liberally sprinkled with nature centers and outdoor interpretive centers – more than 25 havens of green space, habitat for wildlife and places to play with your kids. All of these resources are completely FREE to visit.

No matter the season – and we get to enjoy four beautiful ones in the Twin Cities – there are ways to entertain the family.

Ultimate Summer Guide – Beat boredom and fill your long school break days exploring the best the Twin Cities has to offer in the way of parks, swim spots, community entertainment and local festivals.

Fall Events Guide – It’s that glorious time of colored leaves, apple orchards, fall festivals, corn mazes and cooler weather. Oh, and pumpkin patches, too! Our Fall Family Guide will have you ready to jump into a new season in the Twin Cities.

Winter Survival Guide – Couldn’t we all use a little help getting through the long Minnesota winter with our kids? Our Winter Survival Guide has something for everyone, from those who want to get out and play in the snow to those who’d rather take a break from it.

Spring Events –  Minnesotans can’t wait to get outside and play in the spring weather! These months bring all the fun of outdoor egg hunts, maple syruping, nature play and festivals that welcome spring.

Museums & Historic Sites – The Twin Cities has a rich history and this is reflected in its high quality museums. Kids (and their parents) will appreciate how family-friendly they are, too!

Mini golf courses -Play a round outside in the beautiful summer weather or inside to escape the heat. Choose between classic courses and inventive courses; there’s something for everyone. We also listed deals and coupons for Twin Cities mini golf courses where we can.

Disc golf courses – A great FREE option at many parks in the Twin Cities and great for those tweens and teens who may have outgrown the playground.

Performing Arts Plan Ahead Calendar – We love finding kid-friendly shows, music and all the performing arts. We also recognize they take some pre-planning. We keep a running list of current and upcoming performances on this page so you can peruse ahead and pick your favorites.

The FFTC team parents 12 children collectively – we understand the need for ways to save while still getting out to experience what the Twin Cities has to offer in the way of family fun. Our Free & Budget page collects hundreds of ways to have fun experiences for less.

Twin Cities Kids Eat Free or Cheap List
Because dining out can be considered family fun…right? Our entries have been personally verified and are updated regularly. Time to plan that family dinner date!

Deals of the Week – We track the latest discounts, deals, and free ticket opportunities we can find in the Twin Cities. Plus, we highlight Groupon, Amazon & Goldstar discounts that interest families with children.

Suggested road trips from the Twin Cities – While we specialize in knowing about family fun in the Twin Cities, sometimes we branch out further with our kids to find family fun on day & road trips! We’re just getting started in this category, but we’re excited to be partnering with some destinations for family adventures only a day trip away.

Fun Things to Do At Home

• 75+ Indoor Games for Kids, categorized by age group
• Crafts we’ve enjoyed, and we know you will too
• Read aloud with your kids!
• Recipes that appeal to families
• 60 Outdoor Games for Kids, categorized by age group and type of game
• 45+ Physical Activities for Kids, categorized by age group

School Districts in the Twin Cities

Your school choice can drive every decision when it comes to buying a home. Michael has developed an exclusive search tool on his website to help you find available homes – that meet your specific requirements– in a particular school district or close to individual schools.

Looking for a home in a specific elementary, middle or high school boundary? Now you can easily find it.

Click here for the Twin Cities School Districts
OR
click here and type the name of the school under the “Search Twin Cities Homes for Sale”.

Click on the school name once you see it and it will show you the current homes available.