Minnesota Children's Museum, Minneapolis

Kids need space to roam and explore the world their way, and that’s exactly what the Minnesota Children’s Museum delivers. With three floors of excitement, this place blends long-standing favorites with fresh, rotating exhibits. For the tiniest adventurers, there’s Sprouts-a soft wonderland perfect for little ones under four to climb, slide, and play with puppets. Bigger kids can scramble up four stories of fun, build fantastical environments in Imaginopolis, run a miniature carwash, or unleash their inner artist in the Studio. Dive into the history of “sunken” shipwrecks from Lake Superior, then hold your breath as your fearless five-year-old crosses the 40-foot-high netted catwalk.

Everything here is crafted with kids in mind, down to the child-sized handrails on the stairs. Even the youngest visitors have their own sensory playroom to explore. Twice a day, a cheery announcement rounds everyone up on the mezzanine for Big Fun: parachutes, carpet skates, stilts, and more big-movement toys hit the scene.

Just remember, they’re usually closed on Mondays.