2018 Twin Cities Spring Break Guide

Sticking close to home with your crew this Spring Break? (Same here. Hence all this research.) Craft a fun staycation for your own family in the Twin Cities with the following ideas:

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Thanks to our Spring Break Guide Sponsor Glow in One Mini Golf.

Glow in One Mini Golf is an 18 hole indoor family owned mini golf course under BlaCklIghT! The cost for a round of golf is just $7.50 for adults and $6 for kids 4-17. Kids golf free Mondays and Tuesdays with a paid adult. We also offer great rates for parties, groups, and events.

We are located in the Blaine Town Center.  Check out our website, like us on Facebook, or give us a call at 763-777-9577.

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Spring Break in March?

3/8/18: Kids Club: Spring MAKE Camp | participating TC Michaels locations – find yours for spring break schedules, classes run in March & April | 30-minute sessions, 10am-noon | $2-$5 per project | Select Michaels locations are hosting weekday Kids Club crafts for kids ages 3+ in addition to their regularly-scheduled Saturday morning crafts. To find a store schedule near you click here.

3/9/18: Can Can Wonderland | St Paul | $10-$14/pp | Open Thurs-Fri starting 11am and weekends at 10 | Offers mini golfing at the coolest course in town. Each artist-designed hole is an attraction in itself, entertaining all ages while you’re waiting in line to putt. Plus, there are vintage arcade games and a malt shop. You’ve got to see it to believe it.

3/10/18: Second Saturdays at TPT: Neighbor Day with Daniel Tiger | Twin Cities PBS, St Paul | 8-11am | Activities are all free but reserving a time slot is required.

3/11/18: Family Day: Pop! | Minneapolis Institute of Art | 11am-5pm | Pop-art inspired activities for all ages throughout the galleries. FREE.

3/12/18: Pre-K Days: Searching for Spring | Base Camp, Bloomington | 9am-12pm | $10/parent-child pair | Go hunting for clues that spring is on its way, play games indoor and out, and join in stories and crafts. Aimed at ages 2-5.

3/13/18: Ballet Tuesday | Landmark Center, St Paul | 12pm | Excerpts from the classics; perfect for budding ballerinas. FREE.

3/14/18: Spring Break at the library | Don’t forget about your local library! The branch locations are packed full of FREE events to take advantage of during spring break. The handy MELSA tool dateBOOK allows you to use one engine to search for activities at 7 county library systems and the St Paul Public Library:

• Storytimes for all ages
• Sing, Play, Learn! with MacPhail
• Children’s Museum of Minnesota Smart Play Spots
• The Brain Box: Space to Make – for teens (Ramsey County locations)
• LEGO Build Clubs
• smARTpass – free or discounted tickets to area attractions
• Arts, STEAM, and cultural entertainment

3/15/18: Free Thursday Nights | Walker Art Center, Minneapolis | 5-9pm | Admission is waived – a great opportunity to visit as a family.

3/16/18: Junior Jump Time | Rockin Jump Trampoline Park, Eagan | 9am-12pm | $12/child, $4/additional sibling | Have you checked out one of the newest, shiniest places to fly in the metro? Wall-to-wall trampolines, a ninja challenge course, soft play area, climbing wall and lots more to keep all ages entertained and active over break.

3/17/18: St Patrick’s Day Celebrations | Whether or not you identify as Irish, there’s fun for all throughout the weekend, including a parade in each of the Twin Cities and an Irish Celebration at Landmark Center.

3/18/18: MapleFest Weekend | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska | 9am-3pm | $15/pp ages 13+, under 13 admitted free | Hike the maple trail to learn about the syruping process, then get a taste of the sweet stuff in the Sugarhouse. Special brunches full of fresh maple goodies will take place on the weekend for an additional charge (reservations recommended). For more maple syrup family events, try our Maple Syruping with Kids in the Twin Cities list

3/19/18: Tropics Waterpark & Tropical Adventure Indoor Playground | Shoreview Community Center | Special Spring Break waterpark hours can be found here | day pass: $7.75-$10.25/pp, $32-$39/family • Pretend you’re on vacation in the tropics! A day pass includes both admission to the waterpark and indoor playground. For more places to splash inside until summer, try our list of Twin Cities Indoor Waterparks & Pools.

3/20/18: “Earth, Moon & Sun” | Como Planetarium, St Paul | 5:30pm | $5/pp | Take a tour of the solar system with a family-friendly planetarium show. Shows offered most Tuesday evenings. A 7pm show follows that is suitable for older kids and adults.

3/21/18: Preschool Bunny Festival | Heartfelt, Minneapolis | 10:30-11:45am | $18 for the first child/adult pair, each additional child $10 | Meet a live bunny, craft, and other activities. Also held March 20. Advance registration required.

3/22/18: Lil’ Explorer Thursdays | Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul | Ongoing Thursdays through April 2018, 10am-noon | Hands-on activities, manipulatives, art projects and games perfect for the 4 & under set. Explore a different theme each week. FREE. For more ideas, consult our Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Spring Checklist.

3/23/18: The Farm Babies have arrived at the Minnesota Zoo so go love up some newborns on the Wells Fargo Family Farm. If the weather cooperates, the Zoo boasts a couple really cool nature-themed playgrounds that are also included in the price of admission. $12-$18/pp plus parking.

3/24/18: Twin Cities Easter Egg Hunts & Activities | No exaggeration here, folks. According to our roundup, we’ve got 25 different egg hunts going on this Saturday alone throughout the Twin Cities. Check our link, grab your basket and get hunting!

3/25/18: Free Family Fun Day | Richardson Nature Center, Bloomington | 3-4pm | Programming runs ongoing Sundays in a trio of parks run by the Three Rivers Parks District. This is just the beginning of all the exploration that can be done within MSP’s park systems. To get started, try our 10 Things for Kids: Richardson Nature Center & Hyland Park, or browse our list of Twin Cities Nature & Outdoor Interpretive Centers.

3/26/18: Tail Time | Wild Rumpus Books, Minneapolis | 10:30am | Arrive early if you want to get a decent spot at this popular story time. Stick around to see how many critters (yes, animal critters) you can spot slinking around the store! For more of these events try our Top Preschool Storytimes in the Twin Cities.

3/27/18: FREE & Cheap movies – FREE Spring Break movies at Paragon Odyssey 15 (Burnsville), Plaza Maplewood hosts $2 Tuesdays, daily $2 matinee movies at Riverview Theater in Minneapolis, daily $2.50 matinees at Hopkins Cinema 6.

3/28/18: Preschool Open Gym | Gleason’s Gymnastics School, Eagan | Wed & Fri, 9:30-11:30; Fri, noon-2pm | $8/child or $10/family | If the good weather isn’t aligning for spring break, work wiggles out at Open Gym where they can run, bounce, tumble and climb to their heart’s content. For more indoor opportunities see our 13 Open Play & Open Gym Spots for Tots.

3/29/18: Kids Entertainment at Edinborough Park | Edina | 12pm | Ongoing Thursdays, free family entertainment is scheduled in the indoor park’s amphitheater. Make a day of it with an afternoon at Adventure Peak, the metro’s largest indoor playground and, for further ways to work the wiggles out, check our list of Twin Cities Indoor Playgrounds.

3/30/18: Spring Into Farming | Gale Woods Farm, Minnetrista | 9:30am-2:30pm | $6/pp | Meet spring babies, cook in kitchen, explore on your own or through educator-led programs. Drop in as you wish and dress to be outdoors.

3/31/18: Drop-in Playtime in the Discovery Center | Snapology Minneapolis | Unlimited play for $8 per child | Open Fri 10am-8:30pm. Find other hours at the link | Guaranteed to entertain with opportunities to build with LEGO bricks, K’nex and other materials.

Spring Break in April?

4/1/18: Gideon & Agnes Pond Open House | Pond Dakota Mission Park, Bloomington | 1:30-4pm | Suggested donation of $2/pp | Drop by this quiet park, a stone’s throw from the bustle of the city, for historical activities and re-creations ongoing Sundays.

4/2/18: Minneapolis Parks School Release Days | Recreation centers host special hours 3/31-4/7 from 12-9pm during spring break. Rec opportunities include open gym times, Night Owlz teen time, field trips and classes in art, baking, sports and nature. Check the link to register for programming.

4/3/18: Free Tuesday Nights | Minnesota History Center, St Paul | 3-8pm | Explore the highly interactive and kid-friendly exhibits – FREE for the whole family.

4/4/18: Tots and Trains | Jackson Street Roundhouse, St Paul | 10am-noon | Family rates available |  Play with train tables and new display additions, create a craft to take home, and listen to train-themed story time. Caregivers can enjoy coffee and treats.

4/5/18: Throwback Thursdays | Cheap Skate Roller Center, Coon Rapids | 6-9pm | $3/pp admission plus $3-$4/pp skate rental | Throwback prices and tunes! For more rink locations, try our 6 Twin Cities Roller Rink Family Deals.

4/6/18: Twin Cities Nature & Interpretive Centers | April doesn’t always want to commit to spring in Minnesota. However, nature centers across the metro offer the best of both worlds — nature play areas and trails to hike outdoors AND engaging indoor exhibits. We have two dozen of these wonderful centers dotting the Twin Cities; find a new place to explore at the link.

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