# Visiting Minneapolis–St. Paul with toddlers and little kids: the plan

> The Twin Cities work for a family trip because there are two easy bases. St. Paul has the Children’s Museum, Como Zoo and the History Center, and Minneapolis has the Sculpture Garden and Central Library. Here’s how we’d spend one or two days with a nap in the middle.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- One- and two-day plans with a nap in the middle
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/visiting/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/index.md
- City guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/guide/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/llms.txt

## Top 5 can’t-miss spots

- **Minnesota Children’s Museum** (Downtown St. Paul): The first-morning pick in St. Paul. Go at opening and leave the stroller in the car if you can. Cost: $17.95–$19.95 kids. Site: https://mcm.org/
- **Como Park Zoo & Conservatory** (St. Paul): Go early and add the conservatory if it’s cold. Cost: Free. Site: https://comozooconservatory.org/ 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)
- **Minnesota Zoo** (Apple Valley): Give it a full morning and leave for nap. Cost: $19.95 kids, $25.95 adults. Site: https://mnzoo.org/
- **Bell Museum** (St. Paul campus): Late afternoon is the quietest time, which makes it a good after-nap stop. Cost: $12 kids, $15 adults. Site: https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/
- **Eastman Nature Center** (Dayton): A nature center with trails in the northwest suburbs. Cost: Free. Site: https://www.threeriversparks.org/

## If you have one day

1. **MORNING**: Minnesota Children’s Museum (Arrive at opening · Downtown St. Paul · $17.95–$19.95 kids). https://mcm.org/
2. **Nap**: Lunch in downtown St. Paul, then back for nap.
3. **AFTER NAP**: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory (Free admission · St. Paul · Free). https://comozooconservatory.org/

## If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

1. **MORNING**: Minnesota Zoo (Go early · Apple Valley · $19.95 kids, $25.95 adults). https://mnzoo.org/
2. **LUNCH**: Rainforest Cafe (Mall of America · Mall of America · Kids’ meal ~$9–$10). https://www.rainforestcafe.com/location/rainforest-cafe-mall-of-america-mn/
3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
4. **AFTER NAP**: Bell Museum (Quietest late afternoon · St. Paul campus · $12 kids, $15 adults). https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/

## Where to stay

- **Downtown St. Paul** (best for first-timers): Close to the Children’s Museum and the History Center, with Como Zoo a short drive away. Near Minnesota Children’s Museum, Minnesota History Center and Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.
- **Downtown Minneapolis** (for minneapolis): Close to the Central Library, with the Bell Museum a short drive east. Near Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Central Library and Bell Museum.
- **Bloomington** (for a zoo-and-mall base): Near the Mall of America and a short drive to the Minnesota Zoo. Near Minnesota Zoo and Richardson Nature Center.

## Easy restaurants near the big stops

- **Rainforest Cafe** (Theme restaurant, Mall of America): kids’ meal ~$9–$10, entrée ~$22–$30. https://www.rainforestcafe.com/location/rainforest-cafe-mall-of-america-mn/
- **Kyatchi** (Sushi and ramen, Minneapolis): entrée ~$18–$26. https://kyatchi.com
- **Animales BBQ Co.** (Barbecue, Harrison, Minneapolis): entrée ~$17–$23. https://animalesbbq.com

## Rainy-day backup plan

- **Minnesota Children’s Museum**: A whole morning of indoor play.
- **Bell Museum**: A full morning indoors.
- **Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Central Library**: Free and warm, with space to sit and play.

## Practical tips

- Parking, Minnesota Children’s Museum: Use the skyway-connected World Trade Center ramp at Wabasha and W 7th St. It’s $7.50 for 3 hours with the museum’s validation.
- Parking, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory: Several on-site lots plus street parking. A free seasonal shuttle runs on busy days.
- Parking, Minnesota Zoo: $10 per car, paid with your tickets.
- Parking, Bell Museum: Paid surface lot (UMN Lot 103) off Larpenteur Ave. Credit cards only.
- Strollers and accessibility, Minnesota Children’s Museum: Strollers are allowed, but some galleries ask you to leave them at the door.
- Strollers and accessibility, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory: No stroller rentals, so bring your own.
- Strollers and accessibility, Minnesota Zoo: Strollers rent for $12 single or $18 double.
- Changing tables, Minnesota Children’s Museum: Changing stations are in every restroom except the single-stall ones on the first floor.
- Changing tables, Minnesota Zoo: A full-size changing table in the First Aid Office, plus family restrooms.
- Best times to beat the crowds: Weekday mornings are the calmest bet at every stop. At the zoos, go at opening and plan to leave around nap.
- Skyways in winter: The World Trade Center ramp is on the downtown St. Paul skyway, so you can reach the Children’s Museum without going outside.

## Free and cheap wins

- **Minnesota History Center**: Free on Thursday evenings.
- **Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Central Library**: Free, with books, a children’s area and no ticket to buy.
- **Eastman Nature Center**: Free, with exhibits and short trails.
- **Richardson Nature Center**: Free, with exhibits and short trails.

All free things to do in Minneapolis–St. Paul: https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/guide/#free


## 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).
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## FAQ

### Is Minneapolis–St. Paul kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Minneapolis–St. Paul guide lists 20 places we checked for little kids, plus 8 free places and 7 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 3 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 4 library systems. This week’s list has 30 dated outings for ages 0–6. See [free things to do in Minneapolis–St. Paul](https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/guide/#free) and [this weekend’s list](https://littlesweekly.com/twin-cities/).

### What’s the best area to stay in the Twin Cities with toddlers?
Downtown St. Paul is the easiest base. The Children’s Museum and History Center are there, Como Zoo is a short drive, and downtown Minneapolis is a short ride.

### How many days do you need in the Twin Cities with little kids?
Two days covers the Children’s Museum, a zoo, the Bell Museum and a nature center. With one day, do Como Zoo in the morning and the Children’s Museum after nap.

### Do you need a car in the Twin Cities with a toddler?
Yes for the zoos and nature centers. The downtown St. Paul stops are walkable from a downtown hotel.