Free(ish) Activities to Enjoy With Your Kids in Minnesota

One of the hardest things about moving to Minnesota last September was leaving family behind. In particular, my 17-year-old granddaughter, who I had been seeing on a regular basis over the last 2 years.  

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She is going to be visiting Minnesota this Summer, and I’ve been thinking of things we can do with her on her visit. I went to a Facebook group to ask the question, and someone had already beat me to the punch.  

This person is going to be visiting soon with her kids and asked about some neat things to do. From the responses from members of the Facebook group, I found six free things that I’ll be able to do with my granddaughter from this list, how many of these have you done? 

Como Park Conservancy- 

They ask for a $4 Voluntary Donation for adults and a $2 Voluntary Donation for kids, but also say that you are welcome at the facility even if you choose not to donate. The money collected goes to help with the care of the plants and animals. Parking is free. 

 Minnehaha Falls Regional Park- 

This park features the Minnehaha Falls which is a 53-foot Waterfall, and is described as something you’ve got to see in person. But there is so much more to this park than just the waterfall, the park attracts over 850,000 visitors each year. You’ll find gardens, sculptures, a dog park, disc golf course, wading pool and more. There is paid and free parking available.  

SPAM Museum- 

There are FREE guided and self-guided tours each day around the museum. Plus, you’ll be able to access recipes, different varieties of spam and more. This museum features a gift shop among other features.  

 Minneapolis Institute of Art-

The museum features over 100,000 works of art, that spans 5,000 years. Free admission helps attract over a half million people through the doors of MIA each year.  

 Franconia Sculpture Park-  

They ask for a $5-$20 Parking donation to be able to continue to offer this park free for everyone. One of the great features about this facility is that it’s flat with gravel and grass pathways. So, if you have children in strollers, or someone who has difficulty with mobility, the area is designed so they should be able to enjoy the sculptures in this park. You are welcome to bring your dog as long as you keep it on a leash and clean up after it. 

 Munsinger Clemens Gardens-

The brick and winding pathways around the beautiful gardens make it easy to navigate an area that has been admired by so many for years. You should be able to take your time and admire the majestic views of what these gardens bring to life.  

 Here’s one that is free to visit, but will likely cost you, just by the design of what it is.  

Jim’s Apple Farm, also known as Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store, features something for every sweet tooth. And there’s more than just candy here, pies, soda’s, cotton candy, popcorn and more.  

You can click on each name to find the hours, address, and any other information that you might need to plan your trip. Again, even for the locations that ask for a donation, it’s still a pretty small amount, that you should still be able to go and enjoy making memories with your family.