Minnesota Zoological Garden
13000 Zoo Blvd
Apple Valley, Minnesota 55124
Phone: (800) 366-7811
The Minnesota Zoo currently has about 2,300 animals, with 105 animals representing 15 species on the United States Endangered Species Act list. The zoo also has a monorail to view parts of the zoo, and IMAX theater and many other programs for children.

Lake Superior Zoological Gardens
72nd Avenue West & Grand Avenue
Duluth, Minnesota 55807
Phone: (218) 733-3777
Come visit animals from around the world. Start your journey by looking into the depths of the two-story Diana Monkey exhibit. From here you can travel as far as your own backyard or the land down under. As you walk the paths and peer curiously into our naturalistic exhibits, be sure to notice the beauty around you with majestic pines and a waterfall cascading into Kingsbury Creek and the lush growth of wild flowers. During the warmer months, the Children's Zoo offers an opportunity for up close contact with some of our barn yard friends including goats, donkeys, and a llama.

International Wolf Center
1396 Highway 169
Ely, Minnesota 55731-8129
Phone: (218) 365-4695
TTY Relay Service - (800) 855-2880
The International Wolf Center advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wild lands and the human role in their future. The Center's Ely facility offers a variety of educational programs for adults and families. Afternoon, weekend and week-long visits include howling trips, radio tracking, snowshoe treks, family activities, dogsledding, videos, presentations, flights over wolf country, demonstrations and hikes. Programs are custom-designed for groups of all ages. The center hosts online curriculum and games as well as on site workshops and adventure learning opportunities for kids, adults, and the whole family in Ely, Minnesota. Come for a few hours to enjoy our daily programs or plan a trip around a special wolf event.

Erickson's Petting Zoo
11890 Hope RD SE
Osakis,Minnesota 56360
Phone: 320-762-0184
Erickson's Petting Zoo offers a petting zoo with a wide variety of animals and birds on a 90-year-old farmstead that use to be a farm used for milking cows. Along with farm animals and birds, there are pony rides, and in the fall season they offer a pumpkin patch, 2 corn mazes, and trolley rides.

St. Paul's Como Zoo
1250 Kaufman Drive
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108
Phone: (651) 487-8201

National Parks

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
Located in Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota
Phone: (651) 290-4160
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a narrow corridor of land on either side of the Mississippi River extending from Dayton, MN on the north boundary through the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and downstream to Hastings, MN. During the summer months, park staff participate in many local celebrations of the river. Organized, ongoing activities include Big River Journey for school kids, the Birding Boat, and a variety of entertainment and learning venues throughout the year. Other activities include, hiking, nature walks, wildlife viewing, boating, climbing, swimming and more.

Voyageurs National Park
International Falls, Minnesota
Phone: (218) 286-5258
The park lies in the southern part of the Canadian Shield, representing some of the oldest exposed rock formations in the world. This bedrock has been shaped and carved by at least four periods of glaciations. The topography of the park is rugged and varied; rolling hills are interspersed between bogs, beaver ponds, swamps, islands, small lakes and four large lakes. In the summer, naturalists offer interpretive walks, evening programs, children's activities, canoe trips, a Junior Ranger Program, and North Canoe Voyages. In winter, a candlelight ski, a snowshoe hike, or a starlight wolf howl. Attend a class on making snowshoes and walk out on the snow with your own pair.

Museums

Lake Superior Railroad Museum and North Shore Scenic Railroad
506 West Michigan Street
Duluth, Minnesota 55802
Phone: (218) 733-7590
See the historic trains and then take a ride on historic trains.

The Museum of Questionable Medical Devices
Located in Historic St. Anthony Main
201 Main St. S.E.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Phone: (612) 379-4046
Dubbed "The Quackery Hall of Fame" by the Copley Wire Service, the museum is the world's largest display of what the human mind has devised to cure itself without the benefit of either scientific method or common sense. It comprises the major collections on loan from The American Medical Association, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, The St. Louis Science Center, The Bakken Library, The National Council for Reliable Health Information and is supported by the The Phrenology Company of Golden Valley, Minnesota.

Bell Museum of Natural History
On the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota at the southwest corner of 17th Ave. (Church St.) and University Ave. S.E.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Phone: (612) 624-9050
In addition to the dioramas, a wide variety of changing exhibitions and beautiful wildlife art enrich our understanding of the natural world. Make tracks to the Touch & See Room...and bring your curiosity! Here you'll learn about nature by touching turtles, stroking snakes and animal skins, peeking inside skulls, and handling other wonderful objects from nature.

Minnesota Air Guard Museum
P.O. Box 11598
Minneapolis, St. Paul, MN 55111-0598
Phone: (612)713-2523
View the sleek and mysterious Blackbird and appreciate the unique and colorful history of the Minnesota Air Guard. Vintage to near-current aircraft, artifacts, memorabilia and photographs tell the story.

Minnesota Children's Museum
10 West Seventh Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55102.
Phone: (651) 225-6000
Minnesota Children's Museum is at the heart of where fun meets learning. It's where kids can touch, climb, splash, crawl, push, pull, and press it all! Children ages 6 months through 10 years and their adult guests can explore six galleries packed with extraordinary hands-on adventures.

Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W. Kellogg Blvd
St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
Phone: (651) 221-9444
Explore interactive displays and hands-on exhibits about topics ranging from Diplodocus digestion to river ecology, and discover how and why museums collect the things they collect. Be dazzled by the vivid graphics and animation of the 3D Laser Show. Travel to the farthest reaches of the universe as Omni theater films take you on fantastic journeys–perhaps millions of miles into space or to the depths of the ocean. Get involved in intriguing science demonstrations and enjoy unique theater presentations. Be surprised by what the Science Museum of Minnesota has in store for you!

Minnesota Transportation Museum
193 Pennsylvania Ave E
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Phone: (651) 228-0263 or (800) 711-2591
Streetcar, steamboat and train rides and exhibits.

Theme Parks, Amusement Parks & Water Parks

The Park at The Mall of America
Located at the intersection of I-494 and Cedar (77)
Bloomington, Minnesota
Phone: (952) 883-8600
The world's most famous beagle welcomes you to the largest indoor themed amusement park. You'll find over 25 rides and attractions, great places to eat, three entertainment stages and several specialty shops. It's seven acres of year-round excitement in the heart of Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Park at the MOA has a wide range of attractions from our family game center and video game arcade to our remote control cars and boats. It's fun that keeps your feet on the ground.

ValleyFair
One Valleyfair Drive
Shakopee, Minnesota 55379
Phone: 1-800-FUN-RIDE
Valleyfiar has rides and attractions for the whole family. The entire family will enjoy Challenge Park which features four different attractions: RipCord© , Adventure Golf, Go-Karts and Bumper Boats. The facility also features a clubhouse with snack bar and arcade games. Valleyfair’s Berenstain Bear Country is designed for children under 54" tall. It provides an acre of indoor and outdoor attractions taken straight from the pages of the famous children’s book by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

Family Activities

If you know of a family activity in Minnesota, let us know and we will add it here.

Summer - Family Vacation Hot Spots (Beaches, Lakes, etc.)

Historic Bluff Country
Harmony, Minnesota 55939
Phone: 1-800-428-2030
Come to enjoy antiquing, bicycling or hiking on the Root River State Trail or the Harmony-Preston Valley trail. Join in local celebrations, settle in for a picnic in the park and an evening concert, or retreat to the cozy comfort of an elegant bed and breakfast. Explore our three state parks, tour a fish hatchery, or take a step back in time with a visit to our museums and historic sites. Canoe or kayak the Root River, motor the Mississippi, or take in a few rounds of golf. Get hooked on trout fishing and experience our varied winter activities. Take a trip underground in the only caves in Minnesota or tour the region's Amish community. Shop for unique gifts and sample the wide range of culinary delights.

Detroit Lake - Fishing, boating, picnicking and restaurants. Located on Interstate 10, 45 miles east of Fargo.

Leech Lake - Fishing, boating and camping. Located in the Chipewwa National Forest, this is the largest resort lake in northern Minnesota. Points of interest include Stoney Point Recreational Area and the Last Chippewa Battle Point. Located off Minnesota State Route 371 in Walker.

Pine River Lake - Fishing, boating and camping. Located in Crow Wing State Forest at the Headwaters of the Whitefish Chain Lakes.

Upper Red and Lower Red Lakes - An Indian Reservation surrounds most of the two lakes, however there is a small recreational area is located in Waskish off Minnesota State Route 72.

Winnibigoshish Lake - Fishing, boating and camping. Several recreational sites surround this lake in the Chippewa National Forest. Located in the Middle of Minnesota along U.S. 2.

Superior National Forest - In far northeastern Minnesota. There are many recreational areas within the forest, most of them along a lake. Many of them offer boating, canoeing, fishing and camping. Many parts of this area is accessible off U.S. 61 northeast of Duluth and Minnesota State Route 1.

George Washington State Forest - There are many recreational areas within the forest, most of them along a lake. Boating, canoeing, fishing, camping and nature walks. Located about 35 minutes north of U.S. 2 on Minnesota State Route 35.

Mille Lacs Lake - Camping, boating, picnicking and hiking. This is one of the largest lakes in central Minnesota. Other Points of Interest include a State Indian Museum off U.S. 169 and Wealthwood State Forest on the northern shoreline.

During summer months some of the Winter Park links below will show you summer activities that are available at the parks.

Winter - Family Vacation Hot Spots (Ski Resorts, etc.)

Ski Gull
Baxter, Minnesota 56425
Phone: (218) 963-4353
Downhill skiing, snow boarding, ice skating, and even cross country skiing all in one convenient location on the beautiful shores of Gull Lake just minutes from Brainerd/Baxter. Not only will you have a great time when you get here...the drive out is beautiful too.

Buena Vista Ski Area
County RD #15
Bemidji, Minnesota
Phone: (800) 777-7958
Buena Vista is Northern Minnesota's premier ski area by winter and rugged western destination in the summer. Often referred to as the top of the world, Buena Vista's peak overlooks nine lakes and sits atop the Continental Divide.

Giants Ridge Ski & Golf Resort
Biwabik, Minnesota 55708
Phone: (800) 688-7669
Resort offers one of the finest resort-style golf courses in the Midwest, mountain biking, a variety of winter sports activities, including skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling, and all of the charm, culture and history of northeastern Minnesota's Iron Range.

Spirit Mountain
9500 Spirit Mountain Place
Duluth, Minnesota 55810
Phone: (800) 642-6377
700' Vertical Drop; 24 Runs (7 easiest, 8 more difficult, 9 most difficult); 2 Half-Pipes and 3 Terrain Feature Areas; Elevation: Base= 620' Summit= 1,320'; 175 Skiable Acres of Terrain; 5 Chairlifts, 2 Handle Tows; Longest Run, Four Pipe, is 5400 feet.

Afton Alps Recreation Area
6600 Peller Ave. S.
Hastings, Minnesota 55033
Phone: 1-800-328-1328
Afton Alps has skiing and snowboarding for everyone. Nestled in the rolling hills of the St. Croix River Valley and surrounded by the Afton State Park on three sides, Afton Alps is the place to ski in the Midwest. Winter at Afton means snow and excitement all day and night.

Andes Tower Hills
4505 Andes Road SW
Kensington, Minnesota 56343
Phone 1-877-542-6337
Choose from one of 15 runs, ranging from Easiest to Most Difficult. For the snowboarding fan, check out our Half Pipe and Terrain Park. Don't like to downhill ski or snowboard? Then check out our cross country trails. We have over 15k of classical or skating trails. We even have 1.0km of lighted classical trails for night skiing. Even if you're a first-timer, you can attend our ski school and let us teach you how to ski or snowboard. For those who don't ski or snowboard, there is the tubing park. With over 150 tubes and many runs to choose from, there truly is... Winter fun for everyone!

Powder Ridge Winter Recreation Area
Kimball, Minnesota
Phone: (800) 348-7734
Sking, tubing, ski schools and other fun stuff for the family.

Lutsen Mountains
Box 129
Lutsen, Minnesota 55612
Phone: (218) 663-7281
You can ski 72 runs on four sprawling mountains, enjoy endless activities, and choose from an exceptional collection of lodging.

Mount Kato
20461 Hwy. 66
Mankato, Minnesota
Phone: (800) 668-5286
Mount Kato is the place to go for Skiing, Snowboarding, Snow Tubing and Mountain Biking. It is located one mile south of Mankato in the scenic Minnesota River Valley. Mount Kato offers spectacular scenery and recreation all year round. Year Round Fun & Excitement!

Steeplechase Ski and Snowboard Area
Rt. 1 Box 168A
Mazeppa, Minnesota 55956
Phone: (507) 843-3000
Steeplechase greets you with an array of trails and slopes that are guaranteed to "knock your socks off"! Seventeen runs (12 for the 2000-2001season), from "gentle cruisers" to challenging black diamonds will make your adventure more fun than ever at Steeplechase. And . . . to keep you coming back, we've installed a state of the art, high-tech snowmaking system to keep the trails and slopes in top shape all season long.

Hennepin Parks
12615 County Road 9
Plymouth, Minnesota 55441
Phone: (763) 559-9000
Hennepin Parks offers more than 70 miles of groomed trails at eight sites. Everyone from beginners to experts can enjoy our trails. Four parks offer lighted trails for evening skiing.

Wild Mountain Ski/Snowboard Area
Taylors Falls, Minnesota 55084
Phone: (800) 447-4958
Wild Mountain Ski & Snowboard area offers 100+ acres of winter fun only an hour from the Twin Cities. Twenty-three runs of various terrain, beginner, intermediate and advanced. Bumps, steeps and groomed white carpets...its all available at Wild Mountain.

The Hyland Ski & Snowboard Area
Phone: (952) 835-4250
Hyland is located five minutes from the Mall of America, just south of Interstate 494 and Highway 100 in Bloomington, Minnesota. The ski area is nestled within the 1000 acre Hyland Park Reserve. Hyland is known for some of the best snowmaking and grooming in the Midwest.

Welsh Village Ski and Snowboard Area
Welch, Minnesota
Phone: (651) 258-4567
With over 40 trails, a half pipe, terrain park, a learning center area and a double black diamond run, we offer something for everyone.

Helpful websites and services

If you know of a website or company that is helpful to families traveling to Minnesota, let us know and we will add it here.

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