Sticking close to home with your crew this Spring Break? (Same here. Hence all this research.)
Why spring break? Because a Minnesota winter wrapping up is worth celebrating. Craft a fun staycation “Spring Break Trip” for your own family whether you have big kids or little kids. Be tourists right in the Twin Cities!
Spring Break in March in the Twin Cities?
March 6-13, 2022
Ideas for the first week of spring break in the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area! Many of these activities you can do all month long.
Rockin Jump Family Flight Time
2015 Silver Bell Rd #195, Eagan, MN 55122
Families take flight every Sunday night during this special promotion. Even my big kids can’t get enough of the trampolines, ninja course, sport courts, climbing wall and play equipment. Up to 5 members can reserve a one-hour block for just $40! Must reserve a time in advance. March 6 & 13, 2022, 4-7pm.
Have kids 6 & under? Rockin Jump offers a special Junior Jumpers time at 9am Sundays & Fridays, $12/first child plus parent.
First Free Sundays at Minnesota Children’s Museum
Free days are BACK at the museum and we’re super excited about it! Explore the exhibits, including Thomas and Friends admission-free the first Sunday of each month thanks to Securian Financial. Reservations required. March 9, 2022, 9am-4pm.
Can Can Wonderland Miniature Golf
755 Prior Ave N Suite #004, St Paul, MN 55104
The quirkiest mini golf course in the Twin Cities is open to entertain you over spring break! Each artist-designed hole is an attraction in itself, entertaining all ages while you’re waiting in line to putt. Plus, there’s a HUGE vintage arcade, a malt shop and an on-site brewery. Open Thurs-Sun, March & April 2022. $13-$15/pp.
It’s always balmy at Como Zoo & Conservatory
1225 Estabrook Dr, St Paul, MN 55103
March weather not cooperating for outdoor plans? Stay as toasty as the tropics wandering the indoor gardens and exhibits. The animal enclosures are heated, too. Please note that reservations are a must. FREE, donations appreciated.
So much more than shopping at SCHEELS!
8301 Flying Cloud Dr., Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Who knew you could spend the day being entertained at the sporting goods store? This generation’s variety features a 65-foot Ferris wheel, mini-bowling, a candy shop, archery range and arcade. No trouble getting the teens to join me on this outing! Visit anytime.
Bell Museum Star Party
Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota 2088 Larpenteur Ave W, St Paul, MN 55113
Explore the night sky with the aid of pros and a telescope on the museum’s outdoor observation deck. Recommended for families with kids ages 7+. FREE, but please register. March 11, 2022, 7-9pm.
St Paul Chamber Orchestra Free Family Music
We’re excited for the return in March of SPCO’s free family programs including Xplorchestra! Introduce kids ages 5-12 to classical music in an interactive, storytelling style. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. (March 12 & 26, 2022).
March 14-20, 2022
Ideas for the second week of spring break in the Twin Cities!
Jackson Street Roundhouse Tots & Trains
193 Pennsylvania Ave E, St Paul, MN 55130
Got kids who love trains? They will adore this place. It’s filled with train stuff to tinker with, play tables, craft and storytime. March 16, 2022, 10am-12pm. $7-$11/pp.
Minneapolis-St Paul St Patrick’s Day Parades & Celebrations
- Saint Patrick’s Day Irish Celebration – A day of Irish culture with music, dance and vendors. March 17, 2022, 11am-5pm. $5/pp.
- Saint Paul St. Patrick’s Day Parade – The parade starts at Mears Park and ends with a post-parade party at CHS Field, with musical entertainment provided by The Northerly Gales and Tim Sigler. 12pm.
- Minneapolis St. Patrick Day Parade – The parade will start at 6pm, followed by a Blarney Blast at Murzyn Hall. The Parade is FREE. Blarney Blast is $10/ages 12+ and $5/ages 6-11. Free for 5 an under.
For more ways to celebrate the Irish holiday, see our list of Twin Cities St Patrick’s Day events.
Outdoors brought in at Good Times Park
3265 Northwood Cir #100, Eagan, MN 55121
We love Good Times Park in Eagan for its indoors-but-outdoor feel: soccer turf, multi-level basketball hoops, huge jumping pillow, play equipment and ability to entertain a wide range of ages. Open daily, 7am-9:30pm, $9/pp ages 1-17. Admission is bought online in advance, space is limited.
Maple Fest at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Dr, Chaska, MN 55318
Your ticket includes all-your-can eat pancakes with fresh maple syrup and admission to the Arboretum – this is a wonderful place to explore with kids! For more maple syrup family events, try our Maple Syruping with Kids in the Twin Cities list. March 19, 2022. $11-$21/pp, reserve in advance.
Urban Expedition: Peru
Landmark Center, 75 5th St. W, St Paul MN 55102
Travel the globe and learn about a new culture without hopping a plane! Experience through music, food, crafts and exhibits. March 20, 2022. 1-3pm. FREE admission!
Science Museum of Minnesota
120 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55102
The Science Museum has announced that, beginning March 14, 2022, they will open 7 Days a Week, just in time for Spring Break. Visit the dinosaurs or catch a movie at the Omnitheatre. Find tickets here.
March 21-27, 2022
Ideas for the third week of spring break in the Twin Cities!
Design your own Twin Cities scavenger hunt
Design your own scavenger hunt throughout the Twin Cities using our big list of hunts we’ve collected. These mostly take place in public parks so they are completely FREE.
Preschool & up Open Gym
2015 Silver Bell Rd #180, Eagan, MN 55122
A trip to Gleason’s for open gym is an instant mood-lifter. The kids will love the opportunity to bounce on trampolines, scoot through obstacle courses, and play on the gym equipment. Register in advance for a discount. And hey, teens and tweens! There are open gyms for you, too. March 23 & 25 or ongoing Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11:30am & Fridays only 10am – 12pm. $8/child or $10/family (or $10-$15/door).
Joy of the People Free Play Pick up Soccer
890 Cromwell Ave #1515, St Paul, MN 55114
This safe, monitored unstructured time allows kids to participate organically in a healthy environment. Held at the Held at the South St Anthony Park community center. Register online. March 24, 2022. 3:30-6 pm, FREE.
For further ways to work the wiggles out, check our list of Twin Cities Indoor Playgrounds. Have the kids bounce of someone else’s walls for a change!
IT’S TAPPING TIME!
Harriet Alexander Nature Center, 2520 Dale St N., Roseville, MN 55113
A FREE event of outdoor activities — with tours and stations for identifying maple trees, tree tapping, sap cooking, and sampling maple flavor. Craft kits to take home. March 26-27, 2022. 10am-4pm on Saturday and 12-4pm on Sunday.
March 28-31, 2022
Head for the tropics at Shoreview Community Center
Swim your cold weather cares away at Tropics Indoor Waterpark – with its new Bamboo Bay addition. Add on a run through Tropical Adventure indoor playground to give your day an extra boost of warm-weather vibes. Daily passes to the Shoreview Community Center are available for $45/family of six or can be purchased individually.
Throwback Thursdays Rollerskating
3075 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Skate to throwback prices and tunes. Just $6.99 to skate plus skate rental fee (or bring your own). March 31 or ongoing Thursdays, 6-9pm. For more rink locations, try our 6 Twin Cities Roller Rink Family Deals.
Bell Museum Expanded Hours
2088 Larpenteur Ave W., St Paul, MN 55113
Visit the Bell Museum during special spring break hours: Tuesday, March 29-Sunday, April 3, 10am–4pm. (Also 4/5-4/10). Drop in or purchase advance tickets: $9-$17.
Spring Break in April in the Twin Cities?
So many Easter egg hunts in the Twin Cities!
Easter is celebrated Sunday, April 17 in 2022. We keep a GIANT master list of all the Easter egg hunts in the Twin Cities, organized by region of the metro area. Browse it to plan ahead for some Easter fun in April!
April 1-3, 2022
Love Cats? Visit the Cafe Meow!
2323 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
My daughter absolutely loves cats but mean old mom isn’t up for having a pet. Our solution? We book an hour at this sweet rescue coffee shop and she gets a fix without extra responsibility. On spring break this week? Kids over 6 (with a parent) can play with the kitties and sip a warm beverage. 11am-7pm, $10/pp.
Spend Spring Break at the library
Your local library is a perfect place to spend a morning or afternoon during your spring break! The branch locations are packed full of FREE events to take advantage of during spring break, and occasionally your local library includes some special programming for your local school district.
- Storytimes for all ages
- 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
April 4-10, 2022
Troll Tale Cave Tours for Kids
Wabasha Street Caves, 215 Wabasha St. S, Saint Paul 55107
A tour of the caves tailored especially for kids with a “troll” guide, craft and photo opp. $8/kids, $10/adults. 11am-12pm. Tours for kids are available April 4-8, 2022.
Open Rock Climbing at Base Camp
6202 Bloomington Rd, St Paul, MN 55111
Base Camp has 16 unique indoor natural rock climbing routes to choose from. Try your hand at archery, too. Book a slot in advance, space is limited. $10/youth ages 5-18 w/ adult to belay. April 5, 2022, 6-9pm.
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.
Learning is anything but dull at Minnesota History Center
345 W Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102
There’s never a dull moment for kids here, we promise; the museum takes special care to install exhibits that are highly hands-on and kid-friendly. Read about our all-ages favorites for families here. Thurs-Sun, 3-8pm, $12. Reservations required.
Special Science Studio Hours at the Bakken
Bakken Museum, 3537 Zenith Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Join The Bakken Museum for Spring Break with special week-day Science Studio hours. Timed tickets: $6-$11. Tuesday-Friday, April 5-8, 2022; 10am-4pm.
Discover New Bike Trails
Spring can make you want to get the bikes out from winter storage and explore. Anne has mapped out her favorite bike paths for a family ride:
Day Trip Ideas for the Whole Family
Are you looking for a day trip during your Spring Break? Wanna get away but not for an extended period of time or at a large financial cost? Try one of these ideas.
Lake Superior and the North Shore
You can explore Lake Superior in Duluth or along the North Shore.
However, it’s really good to head up there with a short itinerary. There are so many things to do that it’s really easy to become overwhelmed and turn around without doing anything. (Ask me how I know).
For Duluth, I recommend the Great Lakes Aquarium and Canal Park’s Mariner’s Museum.
Along the North Shore, you could drive all the way to Grand Marais or not. There are lots of fun places to pull up and enjoy the lake along the way to Two Harbors. (Remember to bundle up. It will be chilly.)
Southern Minnesota and the Mississippi River
We have been traveling to Rochester and heading in southern Minnesota quite a bit these past few months. We are starting to discover some of the fun things to do in the area. Check out Red Wing, Wabasha, or Albert Lea. If you wanted to head west, explore New Ulm.
Looking for the right summer camp for your kiddos this summer?
We’ve got the best included in our 2022 Guide to Twin Cities Summer Camps.
Got an event you want to share? Find our submission form and guidelines here.
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Another great place is REM5 virtual reality lab in St. Louis Park. Check their website for hours and reservations. We’ve been there once with our twin 10-year-olds and now going back again soon. It is very open and wasn’t crowded at all when we were there on a Sunday. It’s fun for kids (school-aged, I’d say) and adults alike.
Thank you, Nichole. This sounds fun. We will need to check it out.