Minnesota Children’s Museum Is a Must-Do This Summer
Do you know a place that somehow delights just as much on your tenth visit as it does on the first? For our family, that place is Minnesota Children’s Museum in downtown St. Paul. It’s our go-to when the kids are stir-crazy, when we need a change of scenery, or when we just want to spend time together in a space that sparks imagination. Every time we walk through those doors, my kids light up—and honestly, so do I.
The museum is a treasure trove of hands-on fun, creative exploration, and open-ended play. It’s full of exhibits that invite kids to climb, crawl, build, splash, imagine, and just be kids. There’s something so freeing about a space that says “yes” to play in all its forms. And this summer? The Minnesota Children’s Museum is better than ever.
🌟 1) Outdoor Fun in The Backyard
We always make a beeline for The Backyard during the warmer months. It’s one of the museum’s seasonal outdoor exhibits and the perfect place for large motor play and fresh air. My kids love this space, and there’s something magical about seeing them explore among oversized natural elements and utilizing their creativity with everyday items like tires and pallets.
This summer, it’s been transformed into Summer in the City Adventure Play—and it’s incredible. Think loose parts galore, oversized blocks, and oddball building materials that kids can use to create whatever comes to mind. My two built a rocket ship out of crates and tubes and spent nearly 40 minutes playing outside. It’s the kind of space that changes every time you visit, and that’s a big part of the fun.
🎲 2) Now Open: Game On!
The latest special exhibit, Game On!, is a huge hit in our house. It runs through January 4, 2026, and you won’t want to miss it. My kids couldn’t get over the larger-than-life game pieces—and I loved how every activity invited them to move, think, and create. They were totally immersed and didn’t want to leave the room.
Here’s what you can expect:
🍭 Candy Quest
Step into a fantasy board game world where kids are the heroes. They solve clues, dodge dragons, chat with trolls, and race to find stolen candy. My kids loved being “in the game” and getting to make their way through the life-sized path. They were running, laughing, and totally in their element.
🏌️♂️ Play in Motion
This section had my son cracking up as he tried to beat his sister at mini golf with the most bonkers course we’ve ever seen. There’s also a wacky ping pong table and a climbing-wall version of Twister that tested their flexibility in the best way.
🧩 (Un)Board Games
We all got in on these tabletop games. We tried Ginebig: The Snake Game, based on a traditional Ojibwe game, then moved on to Sketch and Guess, which ended in some very questionable dinosaur drawings. Wobble and Bobble brought out everyone’s inner engineer as we tried to keep the tower from tipping over—spoiler: it eventually did.
👶 Tot Spot
Though we’re past the toddler stage, I peeked in and it’s adorable as ever. It’s filled with soft textures, spinners, and rolling balls—all in a cozy area designed just for littles under two. A perfect intro to Minnesota Children’s Museum magic.
Because this new exhibit is there for a while, the museum is adding new experiences throughout the summer. We got word that a new game show-style word game is coming soon, along with some fun additions to the Candy Quest area for older kids. We’ll definitely be back to check those out!
🧭 3) Tried-and-True Favorites We Never Miss
Minnesota Children’s Museum is full of ever-changing fun, but it’s the permanent exhibits that families return to again and again. These tried-and-true favorites offer a perfect mix of hands-on play, creative exploration, and big energy moments. From the multi-story climbing adventure of The Scramble to the sensory splash zone and ping-pong ball launching of Forces at Play, each space brings something unique. Kids can dive into larger-than-life storytelling in Imaginopolis, step into real-world roles in Our World, create their own masterpieces in The Studio, and find clues and utilize creative problem-solving in Creativity Jam.
The gentle play space of Sprouts is a haven for toddlers, while Shipwreck Adventures invites curious kids to explore a sunken world. Lastly, Tip-Top Terrace gives you a birds-eye view of St. Paul, while allowing you to peek inside bird houses! Don’t miss the giant kaleidoscope and the mirrored frame-house. These dependable exhibits never get old and still deliver joy no matter how many times you visit.
Here are some highlights from our favorites:
This four-story climbing structure is visible from nearly every level of Minnesota Children’s Museum. Climbing towers, a giant spiral slide, and a 40-foot-high catwalk make it a great way to burn off energy.
Two words: ping pong. My kids can launch those balls through air tubes forever. There’s also an incredible life-size car wash area complete with water and bubbles. It’s messy, chaotic, and absolutely joyful.
Shipwreck Adventures is one of my kids’ favorite spots—they love turning the ship wheel in the sunken pilot house and maneuvering through the laser maze like real underwater explorers. The green screen dive site and hidden critters tucked into rocky coves make it feel like a magical Lake Superior adventure.
The Our World exhibit is like stepping into a mini city run entirely by kids, and mine take their jobs very seriously. One minute, they’re rushing out of the firehouse in full rescue mode, the next, they’re scrubbing a stuffed poodle in the grooming station or running a bustling taco stand.
The Vet Clinic is one of the most adorable exhibits. During one visit to Our World at Minnesota Children’s Museum, my kid was in heaven as she examined plush animals, read their X-rays, and diagnosed them with everything from a sore tail to a bad case of hiccups. She even redesigned the vet’s office in her notebook afterward.
Whimsical doesn’t begin to describe this space. This exhibit invites storytelling and pretend play in fun and imaginative ways! During one visit, my kids hosted a “bug tea party” here. Another time, they turned it into a bug rescue shelter. Anything goes.
🥨 4) Museum Traditions
Every trip ends the same way: a warm soft pretzel from Tomāto Tomäto, the museum café. We huddle around a table, compare notes on our favorite exhibits, and start planning our next visit before we’ve even left the building.
🎟️ The Fine Print
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Admission: Tickets are $19.95 each at the box office, or $17.95 when purchased online
ahead of time. -
Parking: Park in the World Trade Center Ramp and get validation at the front desk—$7.50 for the first 3 hours.
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Membership: Totally worth it. If you go more than twice a year, the membership pays for itself—and members get early access and fun perks.
💬 Final Thoughts
Minnesota Children’s Museum is more than a rainy-day solution. If you love curiosity, movement, and creativity in a way that feels joyful and effortless, a visit to Minnesota Children’s Museum should be on your Must-Do list this summer! It’s the perfect time to go—Game On! is unforgettable, The Backyard is exploration-ready, and the core exhibits remain as wonderful as ever. We always leave tired, happy, and already planning our next visit. What more could you ask for?
