# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Minneapolis–St. Paul: the parent guide > The Twin Cities are strong for little kids: two zoos, a children’s museum, the Bell Museum, free nature centers and a library system that treats storytime like a core service. - Last checked: 2026-10-18 - 20 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/guide/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/index.md - Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/visiting/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/llms.txt ## Kid-friendly restaurants ### Animales BBQ Co. (Harrison, Minneapolis) - A Minneapolis barbecue spot. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: sandwiches (service charge included) ~$17–$23 - Hours: Wed–Fri 4–9pm; Sat 11am–9pm; Sun 11am–8pm - Kids usually order: Mac and cheese, Fries, Sandwiches - Good for: Barbecue on a weekend; it opens at 11am Saturday and Sunday. - Skip if: you need lunch midweek. It opens at 4pm Wednesday to Friday. - Price source: https://animalesbbq.com/menu (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://animalesbbq.com ### Kyatchi (Minneapolis) - Sushi with a real kids menu, so even a picky eater gets something warm. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: ramen ~$18–$26 - Hours: Mon–Thu 4–9pm; Fri 4–11pm; Sat noon–11pm; Sun noon–9pm - Kids usually order: Kids ramen, Sushi combo, Chicken meatballs with rice - Good for: Sushi with a real kids’ menu; book on Resy. - Skip if: you want an early weekday lunch, since it opens at 4pm Monday to Thursday. - Price source: https://kyatchi.com/minneapolis-kingfield-kyatchi-food-menu (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://kyatchi.com ### Rainforest Cafe (Mall of America) - Jungle-themed dining at Mall of America, with animatronic animals and indoor storms. - Price level: $$$ - Menu prices: kids’ meals ~$9–$10, entrées ~$22–$30 - Hours: Mon–Sat 11am–9pm; Sun 11am–7pm - Good for: Kids who love animatronic animals and indoor storms; kids’ meals are about $9–$10. - Skip if: the fake thunder will scare your toddler. - Price source: https://www.rainforestcafe.com/location/rainforest-cafe-mall-of-america-mn/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.rainforestcafe.com/location/rainforest-cafe-mall-of-america-mn/ ### Matt's Bar (South Minneapolis) - A Minneapolis bar known for the Jucy Lucy. The cheese inside is very hot. - Price level: $ - Good for: A Jucy Lucy for you. - Skip if: you’re feeding a toddler. The molten cheese inside is very hot. - Website: https://mattsbar.com ## Indoor play & trampoline parks ### Minnesota Children's Museum (Downtown St. Paul) - Several floors of play for young kids in downtown St. Paul. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: Everyone 1 and up $17.95–$19.95; Under 1 free. Online price; $24.95 at the door - Good for: A whole morning of play; under 1 is free and online beats the $24.95 door price. - Skip if: you arrive late. Go at opening. - Price source: https://mcm.org/tickets/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://mcm.org ### Nickelodeon Universe (Mall of America) - An indoor theme park inside Mall of America. - Price level: $$$ - Tickets: Unlimited-ride wristband $52.49. Point passes from $4.25 · Walking in is free; wristband $41.99 on Deal Days - Good for: Ride-ready preschoolers; walking in is free and wristbands drop to $41.99 on Deal Days. - Skip if: you’d pay $52.49 for a toddler who’ll ride three things. - Price source: https://nickelodeonuniverse.com/tickets/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://nickelodeonuniverse.com ### Sky Zone Minneapolis (Minneapolis) - Indoor bouncing for snowy months. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: per jumper, 120 min $28.99. GLOW $33.99 - Good for: Bouncing in the snowy months. - Skip if: your little one is overwhelmed by crowds and noise. - Price source: https://www.skyzone.com/minneapolis/ways-to-play/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.skyzone.com/minneapolis/ ### Marjorie McNeely Conservatory (Como Park) - A warm glasshouse at Como Park for a cold Minnesota morning. - Price level: Free (donation) - Tickets: Free. Suggested donation $8 adults, $5 kids - Good for: A warm, free glasshouse on a cold morning. - Skip if: you need somewhere to run. - Price source: https://comozooconservatory.org/visitors/visitor-map-hours/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://comozooconservatory.org ## Amusement parks, water parks & pools ### Valleyfair (Shakopee) - A big amusement park in Shakopee. - Price level: $$$ - Tickets: Day tickets from $37.99; 2 and under free. Online price; $64.99 at the gate - Good for: Summer rides; 2 and under are free and online tickets beat the gate. - Skip if: you’re paying the $64.99 gate price. - Price source: https://valleyfair.enchantedparks.com/passes-and-tickets/park-admission/daily-tickets/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://valleyfair.enchantedparks.com ### Como Park Zoo (St. Paul) - A free zoo in St. Paul, next door to the seasonal Como Town amusement park. - Price level: Free - Tickets: Free. Suggested donation $8 adults, $5 kids - Good for: A free, compact zoo for toddlers, with the conservatory next door. - Skip if: you want a big zoo day. - In their words: “the fact that they're at least there and providing that public service and making it for free is a nice thing. And it's great for families” (A panelist on City Cast Twin Cities: “African Food Across the Twin Cities, In Defense of Como Zoo, and the Future of George Floyd Square”, Dec 2025: https://twincities.citycast.fm/podcasts/african-food-across-the-twin-cities-in-defense-of-como-zoo-and-the-future-of-george-floyd-square) - Price source: https://comozooconservatory.org/visitors/visitor-map-hours/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://comozooconservatory.org ### Minnesota Zoo (Apple Valley) - A big zoo in Apple Valley. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 3–12 $19.95; adults 13–64 $25.95. Parking $10 - Good for: A full morning; ages 3–12 are $19.95. - Skip if: you forget the $10 parking or try to see it all. - Price source: https://mnzoo.org/planavisit/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://mnzoo.org ### Lake Nokomis beaches (South Minneapolis) - Free city beaches on Lake Nokomis for summer swimming. - Price level: Free - Good for: Free summer swims. - Skip if: it’s not summer; there’s no swimming. - Website: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/parks-destinations/parks-lakes/lake_nokomis_park/ ## Museums, zoos & farms ### Science Museum of Minnesota (Downtown St. Paul) - Hands-on science on the Mississippi in St. Paul. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 4–17 $24.95; adults $34.95; Under 4 free. Includes one Omnitheater show - Good for: Kids 4 and up; under 4 is free and tickets include an Omnitheater show. - Skip if: your toddler is scared of the dark, big-screen theater. - Price source: https://smm.org/visit (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.smm.org ### Bell Museum (St. Paul) - Natural history and a planetarium on the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 3–21 $12; adults $15; 2 and under free. Planetarium extra - Good for: Pointing at animal dioramas on a quiet late afternoon; 2 and under are free. - Skip if: you want hands-on play; it’s dioramas and a planetarium. - Price source: https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/admissions/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu ### Gale Woods Farm (Minnetrista (about 40 min)) - An educational farm in a regional park west of the cities. - Price level: Free - Tickets: Free to walk the grounds - Good for: A free farm walk about 40 minutes west. - Skip if: you need indoor backup. - Price source: https://www.threeriversparks.org/location/gale-woods-farm (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.threeriversparks.org/location/gale-woods-farm ### Minneapolis Institute of Art (Whittier) - A free art museum. Check hours before you go. - Price level: Free - Tickets: Always free - Good for: A free indoor wander. - Skip if: your toddler needs to touch things. - Price source: https://new.artsmia.org/visit (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://new.artsmia.org/visit ## Staycation spots ### JW Marriott Mall of America (Bloomington) - Connected to Mall of America, so winter weekends stay indoors. - Price level: $$$ - Good for: A winter weekend that never goes outside. - Skip if: you want to explore the cities. - Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mspjw-jw-marriott-minneapolis-mall-of-america/overview/ ### Arrowwood Resort (Alexandria (day trip, about 2 hrs)) - A resort on a lake in Alexandria. - Price level: $$ - Good for: A lake resort about 2 hours away. - Skip if: you’re only free for one night. - Website: https://arrowwoodresort.com ### Afton State Park (Hastings (about 40 min)) - Campsites and hiking trails near the St. Croix River. - Price level: $ - Good for: Camping and trails about 40 minutes out. - Skip if: you need flat, stroller-friendly trails; it’s hiking country. - Website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00100 ### William O'Brien State Park (Marine on St. Croix (about 45 min)) - Riverside camping on the St. Croix. Lake Alice and its swim beach are closed for repairs until about fall 2027. - Price level: $ - Good for: Riverside camping on the St. Croix. - Skip if: you want to swim; the Lake Alice beach is closed until about fall 2027. - Website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00283 ## Free things to do - Marjorie McNeely Conservatory - Como Park Zoo - Lake Nokomis beaches - Gale Woods Farm - Minneapolis Institute of Art - Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Central Library - Eastman Nature Center - Richardson Nature Center ## Best for under 3s - **Minnesota Children’s Museum**: Play areas made for young kids. - **Bell Museum**: Animal dioramas that toddlers love to point at. - **Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Central Library**: Board books, floor space and storytimes for the littlest. - **Como Park Zoo & Conservatory**: Easy and compact, with the conservatory for cold days. - **Minnesota Zoo**: Ages 0–2 were free on our listing. - **Eastman Nature Center**: Small and calm, with nature at toddler pace. - **Richardson Nature Center**: Small and calm, with nature at toddler pace. ## With a baby or a 1-year-old ### Baby and lap-sit storytimes - **Baby Storytime** (Hennepin County Library): Wednesdays at 9:30am · Brookdale branch. Birth to 24 months. For children from birth to 24 months and their caregivers. https://hclib.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Baby Storytime** (Hennepin County Library): Saturdays at 9:30am and 10:15am · Eden Prairie branch. Birth to 24 months. For children from birth to 24 months and their caregivers. https://hclib.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Baby & Me Storytime** (Ramsey County Library): Thursdays at 10:30am · Maplewood branch. Babies and toddlers. Share stories, songs, rhymes, and engage in play with your baby at this storytime designed for the youngest learner. https://rclreads.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Baby & Me Storytime** (Ramsey County Library): Fridays at 10:30am · Mounds View branch. Babies and toddlers. Share stories, songs, rhymes, and engage in play with your baby at this storytime designed for the youngest learner. https://rclreads.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Baby & Toddler Storytime** (Saint Paul Public Library): Thursdays at 10:30am · George Latimer Central Library. Babies and toddlers. Literacy begins at birth! https://sppl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Family Storytime** (Saint Paul Public Library): Tuesdays at 6pm; Saturdays at 10:30am · Hamline Midway branch. Families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers https://sppl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Storytime for Babies and Toddlers** (Dakota County Library): Thursdays at 9:30am · Farmington Library. Babies. Read, play and sing along with your young child in this interactive storytime designed for newborns, babies, and toddlers. https://dakotacountylibrary.libcal.com/calendar - **Storytime for Babies** (Dakota County Library): Tuesdays at 9:30am · Heritage Library. Babies. Read, play and sing along with your young child in this interactive storytime designed for newborns and babies. https://dakotacountylibrary.libcal.com/calendar - **Baby Storytime** (Washington County Library): Thursdays at 11am · Bayport Public Library. Let's sing, play and read with babies! https://washcolib.libcal.com/calendar/events - **Baby Storytime** (Washington County Library): Mondays at 10:30am · R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury). https://washcolib.libcal.com/calendar/events ### Babies get in free - **Minnesota Children's Museum**: Under 1 free. https://mcm.org/tickets/ - **Valleyfair**: 2 and under free. https://valleyfair.enchantedparks.com/passes-and-tickets/park-admission/daily-tickets/ - **Bell Museum**: 2 and under free. https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/admissions/ ### Changing tables and nursing rooms - **Minnesota Children’s Museum**: Changing stations are in every restroom except the single-stall ones on the first floor. - **Minnesota Zoo**: A full-size changing table in the First Aid Office, plus family restrooms. ### Stroller notes - **Minnesota Children’s Museum**: Strollers are allowed, but some galleries ask you to leave them at the door. - **Como Park Zoo & Conservatory**: No stroller rentals, so bring your own. - **Minnesota Zoo**: Strollers rent for $12 single or $18 double. ## Library storytimes - **Hennepin County Library and Saint Paul Public Library**: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Baby, toddler and family storytimes at branches across Hennepin County and St. Paul. https://www.hclib.org/ - **Ramsey County Library**: Weekly at 5 locations; Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, mostly mornings, plus an evening session. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby & Me Storytime (Thursdays 10:30am, Maplewood) and Family Storytime (Mondays 6:30pm, Roseville), with more at Mounds View, New Brighton and White Bear Lake. https://rclreads.bibliocommons.com/v2/events - **Dakota County Library**: Weekly at 8 locations; Tuesday–Friday, mostly mornings. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Storytime for Babies (Tuesdays 9:30am, Heritage Library) and Storytime for Babies and Toddlers (Wednesdays 10am, Wescott Library), with more at Farmington Library, Inver Glen Library, Kaposia Library and Pleasant Hill Library and other branches. https://dakotacountylibrary.libcal.com/calendar - **Washington County Library**: Weekly at 8 locations; Monday–Friday, mostly mornings. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Storytime (Mondays 10:30am, R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury)) and Sing and Play: Baby Storytime (Mondays 11:15am, Wildwood Library (Mahtomedi)), with more at Bayport Public Library, Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake), Lake Elmo Library and Oakdale Library and other branches. https://washcolib.libcal.com/calendar/events ## Happening this week - **Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Minnesota Zoo** (5:30–11pm (Fri–Sat until midnight)) at Minnesota Zoo. Adults $23–$30, children $19–$26, ages 0–2 free; parking $10. https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/#e-jack_o_lantern_spectacular_at_the_minnes - **Beavers and Botanicals at the Bell Museum** (10am–4pm) at Bell Museum. Included with admission. https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/#e-beavers_and_botanicals_at_the_bell_museu - **Pajama Storytime with Drake Callender (Sun Ray)** (Thu 6–6:30pm) at Saint Paul Public Library – Sun Ray. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/#e-pajama_storytime_with_drake_callender_su - **Twin Cities Harvest Festival & Maze** (10am–6pm) at Twin Cities Harvest Festival & Maze. $20 all-inclusive; under 36 inches free; free parking. https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/#e-twin_cities_harvest_festival_maze - **Saturday Vibe: Puppet Storytime (George Latimer Central)** (Sat 11am–12pm) at Saint Paul Public Library – George Latimer Central Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/#e-saturday_vibe_puppet_storytime_george_la Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/index.md ## Holiday pages - [Santa in Minneapolis–St. Paul: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/santa/index.md) - [Christmas lights in Minneapolis–St. Paul for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/christmas-lights/index.md) ## About this list - Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city. - How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## FAQ ### Is the Minnesota Children’s Museum worth it for a 2-year-old? Yes, as a morning outing. It’s built around play areas for young kids, so you can follow your toddler instead of a plan. Leave before nap. ### What are the best free things to do with little kids in the Twin Cities? Nature centers like Eastman and Richardson, library storytimes and the Minnesota History Center’s free Thursday evenings cost nothing. Check each listing above. ### What can we do in the Twin Cities with a toddler when it rains or snows? The Children’s Museum, the Bell Museum, the History Center and Minneapolis Central Library are all indoors, and branch libraries run storytimes on weekdays. ### Are there pumpkin patches near the Twin Cities? Yes. Sever’s Fall Festival, Fall Harvest Orchard and Aamodt’s Apple Farm are marked as fall spots above, with pricing from this week’s listings. ### What’s good for babies and kids under 3 in Minneapolis–St. Paul? Minnesota Children’s Museum: Play areas made for young kids. Bell Museum: Animal dioramas that toddlers love to point at. Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Central Library, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory and Minnesota Zoo are also easy with a baby or toddler. Free for the littlest: Valleyfair (2 and under free) and Science Museum of Minnesota (Under 4 free). See [best for under 3s](https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/guide/#under3). ### Where are the free storytimes in Minneapolis–St. Paul? Hennepin County Library and Saint Paul Public Library: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Ramsey County Library: Weekly at 5 locations; Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, mostly mornings, plus an evening session. Dakota County Library: Weekly at 8 locations; Tuesday–Friday, mostly mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Twin Cities weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/). ### How do you choose the places in the Minneapolis–St. Paul guide? Every one of the 20 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 14 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/). ### Is the Como Park Zoo free? Yes. Admission is free (suggested donation $8 adults, $5 kids). We checked this on [its official site](https://comozooconservatory.org/visitors/visitor-map-hours/) on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go. ### How much is the Minnesota Children's Museum for a toddler, and who gets in free? Under 1 free; everyone 1 and up: $17.95–$19.95 (online price; $24.95 at the door). We checked this on [its official site](https://mcm.org/tickets/) on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.