Recommend a place for family gateway with small kids (Minneapolis: how much, buy)

[greg1970]

Hi, I am reading way too much about Minnesota recently. We are from Bartlett, IL. I am going to organize a 3-4 day road trip to some family friendly location in MN, maybe near Minn/St.Paul in late August. Two girls, 2 and 4 (soon 5 I am told often). With the 4 year old we can do much more obviously. I read a lot on the nearby state parks, but we would need some cabin I guess. Sometimes private campgrounds have lots of stuff for kids to do. My secret goal is to do a lot of driving around the cities to see what I read a lot about (Stillwater, Northfield, Minnetonka, Apple Valley, Mound, even Rochester, etc.). We will not mind to drive to some attraction and then simply spend time on playgrounds. I could also bike with the older one in the seat.

Can you recommend attractions, activities and places I should research more, please? Where do you take your 4 year olds on weekends?

Thank you very much, Greg

[golfgal]

There are 2 zoos, both very different from each other so they are very worth doing with little kids. Nick Universe at the Mall of America is a great place for little kids too. It would be a good rainy day activity. They would probably be mesmerized buy Underwater World (or whatever it's called now) at MOA too. The Children's Museum in St. Paul is also a must do. The various parks around in the towns you are considering are also great places to run off energy after riding in the car. One place that doesn't get mentioned much here is the Bell Museum. I remember going there as a kid and loving it. It's been a lot of years since I have been there but worth looking into as it is a touch and see museum.

I don't know of any private campgrounds in the metro area that would have what you want. Tent camping with toddlers doesn't sound like fun to me

[Mdcastle]

The Root River and Grand Rounds trails are the obvious choices for bicycling, depending on if you want rural or urban. The best spot on the Root River trial is in the Lanesboro area, the best spot on the Grand Rounds is the Chain of Lakes area.

[fromupthere]

Check out Minneapolis Southwest KOA | Camping in Minnesota | KOA Campgrounds for a place to camp.

[golfgal]

Also, late August is State Fair time. Now, it depends on how much you like pushing strollers through crowds but there is a lot for little kids there, especially the animal barns, petting zoos and the midway.

[fromupthere]

^^ Not to mention a vast amount of foods on a stick!

[sholomar]

stop at Wisconsin Dells along the way if you've never been there, that's a prime destination for little kids, though it's better to go in the off seasons if one plans to stay at one of those overpriced resorts like the Kalahari.