Use this 2026 guide to find hands-on museums, distinctive places to play, and indoor waterpark fun across Minnesota. The hours, prices, and event dates below were verified October 20, 2026, so you can plan a family outing with fewer surprises.
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Minnesota is an easy state to explore one region at a time, with choices for both short outings and longer road trips. Here are practical picks for different ages, weather, and budgets. For more Midwest ideas, see our guides to Illinois and Missouri.
Twin Cities: Play, science, and downtown exploring
Start with Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul, a strong anchor for families with children roughly ages 1–10. Its recently refreshed galleries include hands-on pretend play, creative activities, and spaces for younger visitors. Hours are Tuesday–Thursday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. It is closed Mondays. Admission is $24.95 at the door, or $17.95 online when purchased a week or more ahead and $19.95 within a week. Children under 1 are free. Income-qualified families can get $5 All Play tickets.
For an unusual science stop, visit The Bakken Museum, set inside a historic mansion on the shore of Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis. Its electricity exhibits include hands-on static electricity activities. Hours are Tuesday–Thursday noon–4 p.m. and Friday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $11 for students, $10 for ages 4–17, and free for children 3 and under. It is best for about age 5 and up, though younger children may enjoy the Tesla coil shows.
Need room to move when it is cold outside? Edinborough Park PlayPark in Edina is a fully indoor, one-acre enclosed play park, with the giant Adventure Peak climbing structure, pool, and tot areas. Hours are Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is $10 per child ages 1–17; children under 1 and adults 18+ are free. Socks are required.
For an outdoor downtown break, Water Works at Mill Ruins Park is free and open daily. Its nature-themed Nature Play Lab sits among historic mill ruins near the Stone Arch Bridge, making it one of the state’s most distinctive urban playground stops. Check the park’s access update before you go.
Another budget-friendly anchor is Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul, which is completely free to enter with a voluntary suggested donation and no reservations needed. It is currently on its winter schedule, daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m., with the conservatory open to 6 p.m. most Mondays. The zoo and the Victorian glass conservatory pair well with a shorter museum morning.
Rochester and southern Minnesota
In Rochester, SPARK, The Children’s Museum of Rochester is a lesser-known hands-on stop located inside Apache Mall. The museum was formerly Minnesota Children’s Museum Rochester and rebranded after relocating in 2020. Hours are Tuesday–Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursdays until 6 p.m., and closed Mondays. Admission is $12 for everyone age 1+, $11 for seniors and military, $6 through its EBT/SNAP Play for All program, and free under age 1. On Toddler Thursdays, children 3 and under play free. A larger standalone facility is targeted around 2030.
In Mankato, the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota pairs indoor play with a farm-themed outdoor Backyard featuring agriculture exhibits and real crops. Hours are Tuesday–Sunday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Thursdays until 7 p.m., and closed Mondays. Admission is $13 per person age 1+, with children under 1 free.
Duluth and the North Shore
At Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, families can see otters, try interactive exhibits, and take a Lake Superior ship-piloting simulation. It is the only all-freshwater aquarium in the United States. Open daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m., it costs $20 for adults, $19 for seniors 62+, $16 for ages 3–17, and nothing for children 2 and under. Limited-income access tickets are $6/$4 in person. Parking is $10 for up to five hours.
The Duluth Children’s Museum is one of the nation’s oldest, founded in 1930, and now sits in the Lincoln Park arts district. Hours are Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., with last admission 30 minutes before closing; it is closed Sundays and Mondays. Admission is $10 per person age 1+, and free under 1. Socks are required, with pairs available on site for $2.50. Parking is free. Expansion into the second floor and rooftop is planned following an October 2026 executive director announcement.
Leave time for a lakeshore walk, too. Lake Superior’s shore offers a calmer change of pace between indoor attractions and is a lovely fit for a flexible North Shore day.
Train lovers get two wins in Duluth. The Lake Superior Railroad Museum at the historic Depot lets families climb aboard massive locomotives, with daily hours of 10 a.m.–5 p.m., admission of $14 for adults 14+, $7 for children 3–13, and free for ages 2 and under. From the same building, the North Shore Scenic Railroad runs heritage train rides along the lake, with the family-favorite Pizza Party Express at $38 for adults and $26 for children, and the Duluth Zephyr at $24/$12. Under 2s ride free in coach. For a dramatic outdoor stop, Split Rock Lighthouse near Two Harbors sits on a cliff above Lake Superior, open Thursday–Monday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. through January 4, 2027, with an $8 grounds pass and a $25 keeper’s tour.
Central and western Minnesota
The Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead is an offbeat family pick just across the Red River from Fargo. See the full-scale Viking ship replica that sailed to Norway in 1982 and a replica Hopperstad Stave Church. Hours are Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday noon–5 p.m., with free Tuesday evenings 5–8 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $8 for ages 5–17, and free under 5. Veterans pay $5; active duty is free. Guided stave church tours run April 1–December 31. Call ahead at 218-299-5511 to confirm tours, which may be canceled due to severe weather or cold.
A quick status note for Fargo-Moorhead families: the Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm permanently closed in 2021, and the Great Plains Children’s Museum is not yet open. For now, the Hjemkomst Center is the area’s family pick.
Indoor waterparks for cold-weather fun
Minnesota’s indoor waterparks make a winter outing manageable. Great Wolf Lodge in Bloomington, near Mall of America, occupies the former Water Park of America site and reopened as Great Wolf Lodge in December 2017. It is Minnesota’s largest indoor waterpark, with the new Crooked Creek lazy river. Day passes start at $30, may sell out, and a half-day pass runs from 4 p.m. to close. Children 2 and under are free. A Day Pass Bundle promotion adds select attractions through December 31, 2026. Parking is $10 per reservation, and outside food and coolers are not allowed. Waterpark hours vary by date, so check your visit date before booking. Overnight guests always have waterpark access included; nightly rates vary. Height rules matter here too: most major slides, including Alberta Falls, Otter Run, River Canyon Run, and Totem Towers, require a 42-inch minimum, and Slap Tail Pond requires 48 inches. Guests between 42 and 48 inches should wear a life jacket and ride with a supervising companion age 14 or older.
For a smaller, budget-conscious option, Three Bear Waterpark at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Brainerd/Baxter sells public day passes. Hours are Monday–Wednesday 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursday 4–9 p.m., Friday 4–10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Passes cost $20 plus tax per person Sunday–Friday and $30 plus tax Saturdays, with limited Saturday availability. Children 2 and under and spectators with a paid swimmer are free. Capacity is limited. Call 218-824-3232 to confirm availability for your date.
Duluth’s Edgewater Hotel & Waterpark is a classic family waterpark hotel with a four-story slide and one of the state’s least expensive waterpark stays. Overnight guests always have access. Day passes are not published, and availability depends on hotel occupancy, so call 218-728-3601 to check your date. Big Splash Indoor Waterpark at Arrowwood Resort is closed for renovation in 2026, with no reopening date announced. Cragun’s and Breezy Point have indoor pools for guests, but no verified public day passes.
Free and seasonal water play
Webber Natural Swimming Pool in Minneapolis is the first public natural, chemical-free, plant-filtered swimming pool in North America. It is closed for the season as of October 20, 2026. Its typical open-swim season runs June through Labor Day, with free lifeguarded swimming. Children 8 and under need an adult in the water; ages 9–12 need an adult in the facility.
Plan for Minneapolis splash pads next spring. They are free, but the 2026 main season ran June 11 through September 7, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., with preseason from May 23. The Commons downtown by US Bank Stadium is a handy pick. St. Paul splash pads were also free, with the 2026 season running June 13 through September 7, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Phalen Park combines a splash pad with a beach and playground. They are not open now, in late October. For summer details, check the Minneapolis and St. Paul park pages.
For another seasonal option, Battle Creek Waterpark in Maplewood reopened in July 2026 after renovation and rebranding from Battle Creek Waterworks. It is an outdoor summer waterpark for kids about 10 and under, open daily 11 a.m.–8 p.m., with last admission at 7 p.m. General admission is $9, or $7 after 5 p.m. Tot Tuesdays and autism-friendly Sunday mornings run 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Off-the-beaten-path events
Mankato’s Kiwanis Holiday Lights is a volunteer-run drive-or-walk display at Sibley Park, November 27–December 31, 2026. It is free with food-shelf donations. Expect live reindeer nightly and a light tunnel synced to 90.1 FM. Hours are Sunday–Thursday 5–9 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 5–10 p.m. Opening Night Parade is Friday, November 27 at 6 p.m. Santa visits Fridays–Sundays November 27–December 20.
The Minnesota Hmong New Year takes place November 28–29, 2026, at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul. This major celebration features traditional clothing, music, food, and ball-toss courtship games. Admission was not verified; check the United Hmong Family closer to the date.
For next year’s calendar, consider quirky Boxelder Bug Days in Minneota, a small southwestern Minnesota town near Pipestone National Monument. The festival is named for the town’s famous boxelder bug problem and features a parade, games, and food. It runs the weekend after Labor Day, so the 2026 edition has passed. Plan for September 2027.
Simple planning tips and budget anchors
- Book Minnesota Children’s Museum tickets at least a week ahead for the lowest listed online price. Check dates and time slots before leaving.
- Pack socks for Edinborough and the Duluth Children’s Museum. A spare outfit can also help after active play.
- Check the official schedule and call ahead for waterpark availability, particularly at Three Bear and Edgewater.
- For road trips, compare car rental discounts, flight deals, and travel stays. A kids’ car travel tray, travel games, neck pillow, flushable wipes, and mini first-aid kit can make the ride easier. For more advice, see our family road trip tips.
Easy budget anchors include free Water Works park, free Tuesday evenings at the Hjemkomst Center, free splash pads when they return in June, Webber Pool’s free summer open swim, and Kiwanis Holiday Lights with donations. For more packing ideas, try our family luggage guide. Pick the outing that fits your family’s day, and enjoy discovering Minnesota at your own pace.