As snow falls and the cold wind blows, it can be tempting simply to stay inside, underneath a warm blanket, watching Netflix for the remainder of winter. You certainly wouldn’t be alone – the number of movies and TV shows watched when the weather turns cold rises exponentially.
But cabin fever is a real thing, and, at some point, the kids are going to want to get out, stretch their legs, run, jump. play, and maybe see something new – or they’ve just spent too much time in front of the television). Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do this indoors for those days when it’s just too cold to get outside.
Here are a few indoor adventures for snowy Minnesota winter days, and the way-too-hot-and-muggy summer days as well.
6 Indoor Family Outings in the Twin Cities
Grand Slam
2941 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433 • www.grandslamcoonrapids.com
About a half-hour drive from the heart of Minneapolis, Grand Slam’s got your family fun covered. They’ve got 45,000 square feet of family fun to be exact. Activities include a multi-level laser tag arena, 18-hole mini golf, play zone, batting cages, bumper cars and an arcade complete with tickets and prizes. And with great prices on everything, you can experience it all.
2017 Prices:
- Deluxe Walk-in Pass, $18.95
- Laser Tag, $4.95/ pp / game
- Mini Golf, $4.95/ pp / round
- Bumper Cars, $1.95/ pp / ride
- Batting Cage, $1.75/ 18 pitches
- Play Zone, $5.95/ pp / 11 & under
Mill City Museum
704 South 2nd St., Mpls, MN 55401 • www.millcitymuseum.org
Discover some Minnesota history while exploring the museum atop what’s left of the world’s largest flour mill. Make it a fun adventure with scavenger hunt PDFs that you can download from www.millcitymuseum.org/scavenger-hunts. Get a pre- or post-museum briefing by seeing “Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat” movie. While the weather is nice, be sure to check out the surroundings and perhaps even book a walking tour to get the inside scoop (of flour).
2017 Admission Pricing:
- Adults: $12
- Children (5-17 years): $6
- Children (0-4 years): FREE!
- Seniors (65+ years): $10
- College Students with ID: $10
Mall of America
60 E Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425 • www.mallofamerica.com
Sure there’s shopping, but if you haven’t visited the MOA in a while, you’ll be in for a surprise. Nickelodeon Universe offers a range of ride types from roller coasters to the Big Rig trucks for the tots. Want to see the park from above? Walk the Dutchman’s Deck Adventure Course featuring the tallest Sky Trail® rope course in the world! Head to the basement of the mall to Sea Life, an aquarium with sharks, turtles, and more. Then head up to the top floor of the Mall to SMAAASH, the ultimate gaming and entertainment destination, with the multi-level go karting experience SKY KARTING. Finally, head back to the Nickelodeon Universe area and FlyOver America, a flight simulation ride that puts you right above the some of most spectacular sights in America.
2017 Pricing:
- Nickelodeon Universe All Day Wristband: $35.99 / pp
- Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium: Adults $24.25 / Kids 3-12 years – $17.25
- Sky Karting: $25 / pp / 6 min
- FlyOver America: Adults – $16.95 / Kids under 12 – $12.95
Minnesota Transportation Museum
193 E. Pennsylvania Ave., St. Paul, MN 55130 • www.transportationmuseum.org
Travel back to the old days of transportation, where road rage and rat races were non-existent. The museum features interactive activities and on Saturdays ride a real train. Learn about the ways of the past in the historic exhibits and 50 historic train cars. Experience a significant part of Twin Cities History. Tickets are available at the door and on their website.
Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W. Kellogg Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55102 • www.smm.org
Get your science on at the Science Museum of Minnesota, where they make learning new things, fun and engaging. There’s always something new to experience at the Science Museum with changing exhibits and special events. As always you can discover and learn about dinosaurs, the human body, math the Mississippi River and more. Be sure to see what’s playing at the Omnitheater, the screen is huge and makes you feel completely immersed.
Museum and Omnitheater 2017 Pricing:
- Non-member Adult: $24.95
- Non-member Child (4-12 years): $18.95
- Children (0-3 years): FREE!
- Seniors (65+ years): $18.95
Edinborough Park
7700 York Ave. S., Edina, MN 55435 • www.edinamn.gov
Feel like you’re outside anytime of year! This indoor park has a G-I-A-N-T park complete with a 30-ft tall oak tree, climbing wall and of course, slides! Too giant for your little one, have no fear, there’s a little park specifically for kids 4 and under, padded, netted and full of sized-right slides, climbs, and crawls. After an adventure in the park, head over to the indoor pool or see what’s happening at the indoor amphitheater stage!
2017 Pricing:
- Daily PlayPark Admission: $7.50
- Daily Pool & Track Admission: $7.50
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