Looking for something to do at the spur of the moment? Our city is filled with fun and educational places to spend a day, an evening or an afternoon. Here are some that we love! Note: Admission and hours may change - check the listing's website for the most current information.

Connecting with Science....

The Works
This is a “hands-on, minds-on” museum that makes learning about science and technology interesting, understandable and fun. The Works' unique exhibits and educational programs are designed to delight visitors ages 5 to 15, demystify technology and inspire interest in the way things work. Check website or call (952) 848-4848 for special events.
Hours: Saturdays, 10am - 4 pm
Admission: $4.00 for adults and children over 2
Location: Edina Community Center, 5701 Normandale Road, Room 303, Edina, Minnesota, 55424

Comments: It is not huge, but it is filled with hands-on stations that demonstrate concepts such as pulleys, mirrors and light, weights, gears and sound. There is an area where kids can build cars and race them down a ramp and a room of bricks where they can build a huge fort. Great for an afternoon.

Minnesota Children's Museum
Kids can spend a whole day here if they don't get exhausted first. It is a fun filled place of hands on activities demonstrating concepts from the physical and natural sciences to the arts. It is best for kids between the ages of 2 - 9. Highlights include "Earth World" - where kids can crawl through an ant hill and visit live animals, "Our World" - where kids can play at a market, run a restaurant and deliver mail, and "World Works" - where there are water chutes, a light theatre, giant crane and more.
Hours: Tues. - Sun., 9 am to 5 pm; Fri.: 9 am to 8 pm; Monday(Mem. Day - Labor Day) 9am - 5pm
Admission: $7.95 ages 1 and older.
Location: 10 West Seventh Street, St. Paul, MN 55102.

Science Museum of Minnesota
This a great day event. This museum is a fun learning experience for everyone in the family - especially those who are four and older. In addition to the science exhibits, there is an Omni Theater, 3D Cinema, lots of hands-on activities and a collector's corner - where kids can bring in items, share their research and earn points that they can use to trade for other items.
Hours: May 4 - Sept. 4, Mon. - Thur., 9:15 am to 9pm; Fri- Sat., 9:15am - 10:00pm; Sun., 10:45am - 7pm
Admission: Between $6.50 - $16.50 depending on package. Kids 3 and under FREE. Check website for more info. Additional fees for special exhibits.
Location: 120 West Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55102

Connecting with Art....

Walker Art Center
Explore creative expression and various forms of contemporary art with your family. There are gallery and architectural tours. Check website for tour times and information on current exhibits.
Hours: Tues., Wed., Sat., Sun., 11am - 5pm; Thur and Fri., 11am - 9pm. Check holiday hours.
Admission: $8 adults, FREE for children under 12. FREE every Thursday evening (5 - 9pm) and FREE the first Saturday of each month.
Locataion: Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Walk in an outdoor garden filled with sculptures from artists from around the world. This 11 acre park is a great place for children to walk through, run around, touch and feel more than 40 works of art. What child wouldn't enjoy a visit to the now famous Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture or see the 22 foot glass fish sculpture, Standing Glass Fish, "leaping" in the conservatory.
Hours: Oudoor Garden: Daily, 6 am - midnight; Conservatory: Tues - Sat., 10am - 8pm, Sun 10am - 5pm
Admission: FREE
Location: 726 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN 55403 (next to the Walker Art Center)

Minneapolis Institute of Art
Galleries of art from different places in the world and different times in history. This is a great place to explore different forms of art with your family. The grand opening for their new extension is June 10 - 11th. Check their website for special exhibitions and events.
Hours: Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat, 10am - 5pm; Thur 10am - 9pm; Sun 11am - 5pm.
Admission: FREE. Some special exhibitions charge admission.
Location: 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Connecting with Nature....

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
What a wonderful retreat so close to home! This is a great place to go for a relaxing walk, to look for wildlife or learn something new about plants. There are extensive gardens to explore, a hands-on learning center, restaurant and giftshop. Check website for activities throughout the year.
Hours: Gardens: Daily, 8am - 8pm or sunset (whichever comes first). Building hours varies.
Admission: Adults $7, Children 15 and under FREE.
Location: Located about 4 miles west of Chanhassen on State Hwy. 5, just one quarter-mile west of the intersection of State Hwy. 5 and State Hwy. 41

Minnesota Zoo
Kids love animals! And this zoo is filled with them. Go see a dolphin or bird show. Or spend a chilly afternoon walking through the indoor Tropics trail filled with wildlife from the world's rainforests. See a movie at the IMAX and ride the Monorail around the zoo. Special this summer is "Africa: Summer on the Savanna" opening May 27th. This temporary exhibit will host animals such as giraffes, zebras and ostriches.
Hours: Summer Hours, Daily 9 am - 6 pm; Winter Hours, M - F, 9 am - 4 pm, Sat - Sun 9 am - 6 pm (Oct 1 - Apr 30, 9 am - 4 pm)
Admission: Age 13 and over - $12, Children under 13 - $7; Check website for package pricing.
Location: Located in Apple Valley about 20 miles south of the Twin Cities and just 10 minutes south of the Mall of America.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
If your kids are looking for gorillas, polar bears, lions, giraffes and seals, this is the zoo to visit. It is filled with animals that children love and it is very easy to walk from one exhibit to the next. . In addition to the zoo, Como Park contains a beautiful conservatory, picnic areas, gardens, golf course, amusement rides and paddleboats.
Hours: April - September, 10 am - 6pm; October - March, 10 am - 4 pm
Admission: Free
Location: 1225 Estabrook Drive, Saint Paul, MN 55103

Three-Rivers Park District
The district is a collection of parks around the Twin Cities metro area offering facilities for activities such as swimming, hiking, nature studies, fishing, picnicking, biking, play equipment and other outdoor activities. Go to Gale Woods Farm to visit a working farm, or to Carver Park Reserve for a hike through the woods. Some highlights:
Hyland Lake Park - Visit their 16,000 sq. ft Chutes & Ladders play area for tons of climbing and sliding.
Carver Park Reserve - Just west of Chanhassen, it's a great place for hiking, seeing wildlife(trumpeter swans summer here), and playing in their Habitats play area.
French Regional Park - Bring or rent a canoe and paddle through their canoe trail
Historic Murphy's Landing - Take a guided tour through historic buildings arranged to show how settlers lived long ago.
Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park - Visit a working dam on the Mississippi River. See the river upclose via the pedestrian walkway on the dam.
Lake Minnetonka Regional Park - Enjoy the beach and chlorinated swimming pond and play at the huge play area.

Visit their website for information on all of the parks, special events, hours and special fees.

Connecting with History.…

Alexander Ramsey House
Make a call on Anna Ramsey, wife of the first territorial governor, at St. Paul's Ramsey House. Guides dressed as her servants may even surprise you with a tour of the Victorian home and some fresh cookies. Enjoy a glimpse into family and servant life in the 1870s. One of the nation's best preserved Victorian-era homes, the Ramsey House features carved walnut woodwork, marble fireplaces, crystal chandeliers and many original furnishings. Pick up Victorian-era souvenirs in the Carriage House gift shop. (ph) 651-296-8760 or 651-296-0100 (reservations recommended)

Hours:
Year round: Tours-Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..
Summer Tours: June 1 - Sept. 28, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 1 p.m.

Admission: $7 adults, $6 Senior citizens, and $4 children ages 6-17. Free for children under age 6 and MHS members. Different fees may apply for special events.

Location: 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul

American Swedish Institute
Located in the historic Swan J. Turnblad mansion, this museum is the only castle in the Twin Cities. Designed to showcase Swedish culture, it features the Institutes collection of Swedish glass, decorative and fine arts, textiles and other items from Sweden. (ph) 612-871-4907

Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12-4 p.m.; Wednesday 12-8 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Admission: $6 for adults, $5 ages 62 and above, $4 ages 6-18. Children under six are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Admission is free the first Wednesday of each month. Admission is free for members of the American Swedish Institute.

Location: 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis

Hennepin History Museum
In an historic mansion, this museum focuses on the history and social evolution of Hennepin County, from music to bicycles, fashion, vintage signs, and puzzles. The Kids' City Gallery offers children the chance to experience county life from the 1800s to the present. (ph) 612-870-1329

Hours: Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 1:00-5:00 p.m.; Tuesday 10:00-2:00 p.m.; Thursday 1:00-8:00 p.m.

Admission: Adults $2, Kids & Seniors $1, Members Free

Location: 2303 3rd Ave. South, Minneapolis

Historic Fort Snelling
Discover an 1820s military outpost: Hear a musket fire, the cannon's roar, and the fife's shrill tunes. Take park in the fort's everyday life: Mend clothes, scrape a hide, or sing along with the soldiers. The full living-history program with costumed guides is presented on Wednesdays through Sundays during the summer and on weekends in May, September, and October. (ph) 612-726-1171

Hours: May 1 to May 29: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.;Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Memorial Day to Labor Day: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Sept. 5 to Oct. 30: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. .

Admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $4 children ages 6-17, free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Location: At the junction of Minnesota highways 5 and 55, St. Paul

James J. Hill House
Rugged stone, massive scale, fine detail and ingenious mechanical systems recall the powerful presence of James J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway. Guides lead tours that help you imagine family and servant life in the Gilded Age mansion. Completed in 1891, the red sandstone residence was the setting of the public and private lives of the Hill family. The James J. Hill House is a multiple-use historic house museum offering guided tours, educational programs, neighborhood tours, lectures, concerts, dramatic programs, art exhibitions and event rental facilities. (ph) 651-297-2555

Hours:
Year-round hours: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wed - Sat; 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sun. Guided tours every 30 minutes. Reservations recommended. Group tours available at other times by reservation.
Art Exhibit only: 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mon - Sat; 1 - 4 p.m. Sun

Admission: $8 adults, $6 senior citizens, and $4 children ages 6-17. Free for children under age 6 and MHS members. Different fees may apply for special events. Art Gallery only: $2

Location: 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul

Minnesota Historical Society
This is both the home base for the society that oversees 25 historical sites in Minnesota and the locations of its History Center Museum. Explore Minnesota's past through hands-on experiences and multimedia presentations. Families can check out a 24-ton boxcar and climb around a grain elevator-themed play structure. (ph) 651-296-6126

Hours: Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ; Wednesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. .
Library Hours: Tuesday, Noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and college students, and $4 for children ages 6 to 17. Free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Location: 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul

Mill City Museum
A hundred years ago the world knew Minneapolis as "Mill City." Come experience the multi-sensory, interactive lessons in flour milling within the ruins of the Washburn "A" Mill, a National Historic Landmark.
(ph) 612-341-7555

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday , 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open until 9 p.m. on Thursday); Sundays, Noon to 5 p.m.

Admission: Adults $8, Seniors and College Students with ID $6, Students $4, Kids 5 and under FREE

Location: 704 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis

Minnesota State Capital
Fun family activities including a self-guided scavenger hunt helping kids discover the important decorations in the building. (ph) 651-296-2881

Hours:
Year-round: weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. . Guided tours on the hour; last tour begins one hour before closing. Groups of 10 or more need reservations two weeks in advance. Other times available by reservation

Admission: General Tours: Free. Educational Programs: $2 - $4. Special Events: $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 children ages 6-17, free for children age 5 and under. MHS members receive $2 discount.

Location: 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul

Minnesota Transportation Museum
The Minnesota Transportation Museum is unique among its kind, with five operation sites (including the Jackson Street Roundhouse, Como-Harriet Streetcar, Steamboat Minnehaha, Excelsior Streetcar, and Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway) spread over a 75-mile area. (ph) 651-228-0263

Check website for hours of operation and admission prices for a specific site.

Location: Multiple locations in the Twin Cities

North Star Museum of Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting
The North Star Museum of Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting is operated by North Star Scouting Memorabilia, Inc. In the past 29 years our collections have grown to over 150,000 items. The artifacts come from across the world, cover the period from 1908 to the present and include items from Boy Scouting, Girl Scouting and Girl Guides. (ph) 651-748-2880

Hours: Summer Hours beginning May 2, 2006 - Tuesday - Saturday, 10 am- 5 pm

Location: 2640 E. 7th Ave., North St. Paul

Sibly House Historic Site
The tiny community of Mendota is nestled in a picturesque setting where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers meet. Here in one of the state's oldest settlements stand four simple limestone buildings from the era when the American Fur Company operated a regional trade with the Dakota, between 1825 and 1853. The home of Henry Hastings Sibley, the company's young regional manager, was begun in 1838. A noted monument since its period of construction, the house evolved during Sibley's 20-some years there, as the isolated Mendota trading post became part of a bustling territory. Sibley's office as first state governor is located in one ell of the home.

Tour three of the restored structures, including a fur company cold store from 1843 and the 1840 residence of longtime trader-turned-hotelier Jean-Baptiste Faribault. Experienced guides unravel stories of the fur-trade era, uncover memories of changes to the area and the structures, and lead visitors through the fully furnished interiors and exhibits. (ph)651-452-1596

Hours:
May 1 - Memorial Day: Sat 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sun 12:30 - 4 p.m.
Memorial Day - Labor Day: Fri, Sat, Mon 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sun 12:30 - 4 p.m.
Labor Day through Oct 31: Sat 10 a.m - 4 p.m.; Sun 12:30 - 4 p.m.
Winter and Spring: Group and Educational Tours on weekdays by reservation.

Admission: $5 adults; $4 for senior citizens, college students with ID, military, and adult group tours; $3 for children ages 6-17 and students. Free for children under age 6 and MHS members. Different fees may apply for special events.

Location: 1357 Sibley Memorial Hwy., Mendota

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