For most kids in Minnesota school ends this week and unless you they are enrolled in camp or summer school you have 3 months to keep them entertained. I put together a list of some fun things to do around the Twin Cities over the summer. Most of the activities are outdoor activities, some are free and some do cost money.
- Take a trip to Rice Park and have the kids find and count all the Peanuts statues in the park
- Play a round of mini-golf at Adventure Gardens in Richfield
- Head to Lake Calhoun – here you can enjoy several beaches, rent canoes or paddle boats
- Visit Choo Choo Bob’s Train store the kids love it here but it is fun for adults too
- Ride on an old Minneapolis street car and check out the Minnesota Street Car Museum
- Why not step back into the 1800′s and visit Historic Fort Snelling this can be a fun learning excursion for the entire family
- The Minnesota Zoo is an great place to go in the summer as all the outdoor exhibits are open
- Como Park is a nice smaller zoo and they have a small childrens amusement park and mini golf
- South of the Cities in Shakopee you can spend the day at Valley Fair Amusement Park
- Head down to Target Field and catch a Twins game – take the light rail, maybe spend some time in downtown Minneapolis
- The Wabasha Street Caves are also an interesting and educational experience
- Attend some Minneapolis Aquatennial events in July, maybe enter the milk carton boat race and have the kids build the boat
- Summer is baseball season, why not attend a St. Paul Saint’s game
- Nothing beats swimming when the temperatures are hot, the Apple Valley Aquatic Center is a great outdoor swimming and water park area
- If you get just outside the city limits there are all kinds of pick your own berries farms. Let the kids help pick some strawberries or raspberries
- The kids will get a kick out of an old fashioned drive in like the Galaxy Drive in in St. Louis Park – even the family dog will get a free 1 scoop ice cream
- It is about the time of year where the farmer’s markets get started, teach the kids how to find and buy healthy foods grown locally
- Visit a Snuffy’s Malt Shop for an old fashioned burger and malt experience
- How about a drive in movie theater, they are almost extinct but you can still try the Vali-Hi Drive In
- Contact your local library for summer childrens reading programs
- Contact your city park board for events in your local parks such as puppet shows or story time
- The last thing to do before going back to school, and this is every year, attend the Minnesota State Fair
