Minneapolis City Guide: Unique Local Experiences

Midtown Global Market

Lake Street and 10th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
(612) 872-4041
www.midtownglobalmarket.org
Hours: 7am-8pm (daily)
Price: Free
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

The Midtown Global Market has a reputation for great food and diverse entertainment. With a wide range of specialty groceries, you can take home local fare or enjoy a meal at the market. If you don’t come hungry, you will still leave happy after visiting some of the arts, crafts, and specialty stores.

Wild Rumpus
2720 West 43rd Street, Minneapolis, MN
(612) 920-5005
www.wildrumpusbooks.com
Hours:
Monday, Saturday: 10am-5pm
Tuesday-Friday: 10am-8pm
Sunday: 12pm-5pm
Price: Free
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

Part independent book store, part independent petting zoo, Wild Rumpus is a fascinating place for visitors of all ages. With a wide variety of books, you can read to your grandchildren in the store while they explore the fuzzy friends that inhabit Wild Rumpus — from Amelia the chinchilla to Pimiento the chicken.

The Lake Harriet Elf
Lake Harriet Drive, Minneapolis, MN
www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/19117
Hours: Dawn to dusk (daily)
Price: Free
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

Lake Harriet is a beautiful outdoor space to do some walking, biking, and skating that never gets as much attention as its big brother, Lake Calhoun. But Harriet has a hidden treasure of her own that grandchildren will love to search for: The Lake Harriet Elf. A tiny elf door is carved into the base of a tree, not far from South Oliver Avenue. As legend has it, children who leave a note for the elf will receive a reply note within a few days!

Padelford Riverboat Tours
Plato Boulevard West and Dr. Justus Ohage Boulevard, Minneapolis, MN
(800) 543-3908
www.riverrides.com
Hours: 12pm and 2pm (daily), call ahead for specialty tour times
Price: Children (ages 3-12): $8, Adults (ages 13-64): $16, Seniors (ages 65+): $16
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

Take a riverboat cruise on the mighty Mississippi and see some of the greatest sights in the Twin Cities—including Pig’s Eye Cave, Pike Island, and the historic Fort Snelling. These 90-minute tours run twice daily, though Padelford offers a variety of specialty tours, like the Sunset Dinner Cruise, that include full meals in the ticket price.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (pictured above)
725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
(612) 375-7600
www.garden.walkerart.org
Hours: 6am-12am (daily)
Price: Free
Age Range: Baby, Toddler, Preschooler, Elementary, Tween, Teen

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, located a stone’s throw away from the Walker Art Center, is a beautiful and sprawling testament to outdoor art and sculpture. Sculptures like the infamous Spoonbridge and Cherry are stretched over 11 acres of green space.

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