November 15, 2023

Top 10: Family Friendly Winter Activities in the Twin Cities

Winter in the Twin Cities can get pretty cold, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay inside until spring arrives.

There’s plenty of places to go and things to see and do around the Twin Cities, indoors and outdoors, for the entire family during the winter months. Here’s our list of the top 10 family friendly winter activities in the Twin cities.

1. Lil’ Explorer Thursdays | Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Every Thursday, Como Zoo hosts a free program from 10am-12pm, perfect for kids 1-3 years old.

Meet animal and plant visitors, see story time, play games and many other fun activities with a different theme each week! There are plenty of weeks left to find the perfect program for your family.

2. Ice Skating | Guidant John Rose MN Oval

At the Oval in Roseville you can ice skate indoors if it’s too cold or outdoors where you can take in the beauty of winter.

Outdoor ice skating at the Oval, the largest outdoor refrigerated skating facility in the world, is typically open until the middle of March [depending on weather]. Indoor ice skating is open all year round.

Credit: @fastfreddyferin

3. Play All Day | Smash Park

Smash Park houses family-friendly games like pickleball, duckpin bowling, arcade games, corn hole, and more – all under one roof. Weekly events and big parties are their thing. Plus, get renew your energy with comfort food from their scratch kitchen.

4. Cross-Country Skiing

You don’t have to get out of the Twin Cities to find cross-country skiing paths, they are closer than you think.

You can ski and rent skis at University of Minnesota Les Bolstad Golf Course, rent skis and snow-shoes from Roseville Parks & Recreation with groomed ski trails at Cedarholm Golf Course or ungroomed trails at Reservoir Woods.

Credit: @umnrec

5. Kids Events & Storytimes | Ramsey County Library – Roseville

The largest library in Ramsey County features some amazing family spaces to relax and get cozy on colder winter days.

Head over to the large children’s room and Children’s Reading Garden. Find what special events and storytimes are taking place on their monthly calendar.

Credit: @chel

6. Minnehaha Park | Minneapolis, MN

One of the prettiest spots in the Twin Cities, no matter the season, is Minnehaha Falls.

Take your breathtaking photos of the falls from afar, the steps going down to the falls are closed during the winter. Next, venture out into the 193-acre park on its 9.91 miles of trails lined with oak, elm, silver maple, basswood, hackberry, and cottonwood trees.

Credit: @j_tsu

7. Raptors of Minnesota | The Raptor Center

Discover what a raptor is, how to identify them in the wild, and meet the educational birds! Join a tour to learn all about the incredible work of owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles.

8. Go on a Virtual Adventure | Sandbox VR

Fell like you're living inside your favorite game or movie with Sandbox's futuristic VR experience for groups of up to 6 where you can see and physically interact with everyone inside. Choose from experiences like Star Trek, The Curse of Davy Jones, and more.

9. Family Fun Nights | Minnesota Timberwolves

Did you know that the Minnesota Timberwolves offer Family Fun Night tickets? Get your choice of four lower/upper level tickets, along with a chicken strip meal voucher.

10. Get Your Game On | GameZenter

What better way to spend a day than playing your favorite tabletop games and discovering new ones?

GameZenter boasts a large library of board games, card games, roleplaying games, miniature games, and everything in between. Use of the game library and open gaming center requires a $10 day pass for those over 12, but kids under 12 play for free!

What do you like to do with your family during winter? What did we miss? We would like to hear from you!

See what else is happening in the Twin Cities this winter on our calendar of events.

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