MEA (now called Education Minnesota) is October 17-18 which means NO SCHOOL for Minnesota students, and there’s a ton of fun you can find here in the Twin Cities and beyond. Here are my guides to local fun and road trips near and far!
This guide is sponsored by Eco Chico Kids Resale Boutique in West St. Paul!
Read about my visits to Eco Chico here! It’s mom-owned too!
Check them out for affordable, quality kids’ clothing, baby equipment, toys and more! They even have teen and maternity clothing.
They are located at:
Signal Hills Shopping Center
1201 S. Robert St.
Suite #7A
West St. Paul, MN
Plus there’s a lot of family fun in West St. Paul! Here are some highlights:
- Visit Thompson Park playground (above) -A must for beautiful up to date playground, pavilion, picnic and grilling areas, alongside a scenic pond and trails.
- Dodge Nature Center – Beautifully conserved trails and nature scapes, offering education, hands on experiences, and family events for all ages.
- The West St. Paul Dome – Exactly that – a big dome! It’s great for free/open play on rainy days and in wintertime
- Micho Love – an ice cream shop just a few steps away from Eco Chico
- Baskin Robbins
- Harmon Park Splashpad
- Antique Mall on Smith Ave
- Splatter Paints at Signal Hills – splatter paint to make art!
- Friday morning Farmers Market at Signal Hills
- And many more places to see!
Highlights for MEA in the Twin Cities:
Pumpkins and a Pumpkin Tree! Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska. Check out artful displays, including a Pumpkin Tree, Pumpkin Key identifying 400 varieties of pumpkin and squash grown by staff at the Arboretum’s Horticultural Research Center.
Curious George– now through January 5th at the Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul. Climb into the imaginative world of Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat in this playful exhibit based on the beloved children’s books and inspired by the animated television series on PBS Kids. Get up close with the most curious little monkey and follow his lead as you engage in math, science and engineering activities modeled after Curious George’s own adventures.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT – Save the MOST on Minnesota Children’s Museum tickets with my exclusive code. Just go to mcm.org and use my code TCFM to save $3 per admission on tickets! You can also use that code to save $20 on a membership as well.
See my above guide for all the ways to save money on admission at the Minnesota Children’s Museum!
Valleyfair Tricks and Treats! Read about our visit and get discounted tickets here.
Valleyfair has also brought back ValleySCARE! Get discounted tickets here.
See a concert! Landmark Center, St. Paul. There is a FREE Saint Paul Civic Symphony Concert on Sunday, October 20th.
Enjoy The Great Pumpkin Trail in Wyoming, MN! It’s about 30 minutes north of the Twin Cities and it’s a trail you walk decorated with lighted pumpkins! Save 15% with my code.
Want scary? I recommend Onionhead’s Revenge at the Mall of America! Watch my video after we went through it last year!
Explore a new playground! I have a variety of Twin Cities playgrounds listed here!
Como Zoo – Always free, though donations appreciated. In St. Paul.
Visit a library! Libraries are full of books and movies, but also storytimes and other special events!
Scheels – Located in Eden Prairie, this store is like an amusement park. It has a ferris wheel, aquarium, candy store – lots of fun! We visited when it opened in 2020 and things that were closed then (like the ferris wheel) are now open!
See my Ultimate Guide to Twin Cities Fall Family Fun for more ideas:
Use this FREE printable “Frugal Fall Activities for the Whole Family”
For events happening this month and ongoing:
Twin Cities Deals & Events Calendar
This calendar includes local events (& deals!) for the current month, and is updated regularly.
Staycation & Short Trip Ideas in Minnesota
Austin, MN – We had a perfect weekend getaway here! Only 2 hours south of the Twin Cities and with a FREE SPAM Museum, nature center and more.
Duluth, MN – I grew up here, but visit here often with my kids. I’ve written many recaps of our visits including Spirit Mountain, Glensheen Mansion, the Vista Fleet, North Shore Railroad and Great Lakes Aquarium.
Great Wolf Lodge in Bloomington – We stayed here twice and love how there’s so much to do on-site!
Radisson Blu Hotel at the Mall of America – We also stayed here twice and love how it’s so nice and connected to the Mall of America for unlimited fun.
Lanesboro, Minnesota – Visit Big Springs Farm in Lanesboro and save 20% on admission! We went there this year and loved it.
Stillwater, MN – Just east of the Twin Cities, it makes a great day trip or weekend getaway. We go here all the time and here’s what to do with kids.
Shafer, MN – You have to stop at the free Franconia Sculpture Park! Less than an hour from the Twin Cities.
Bigger Road Trips within the Midwest!
Bismarck, North Dakota – Read about my visit and 12 Must-See Attractions for Families Visiting Bismarck, North Dakota.
Gulf Shores, Alabama! My husband and I went here for our honeymoon but it’s a great place to bring families! Enjoy the warm, white, sandy beaches and many activities. October is the perfect time of year to go as the temperature is ideal. Read my post: 12 Unique Things to Do in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama.
Kansas – From Animals to Oz to Ziplining: Plan this Epic Family Trip to Northeast Kansas!
St. Louis, Missouri – So much is free including a zoo and science center. Read my guide: St. Louis with Kids: Our Visit and Guide to an Amazing Family Trip.
Quad Cities (Iowa and Illinois) – The Quad Cities have many unique things to do! They’re about 6 hours from the Twin Cities and they include several cities on the Iowa and Illinois border. This is where we went during MEA last year (2023). We enjoyed unique fun like riding a Channel Cat Taxi on the Mississippi River. Read about our visit here!
Shipshewana, Indiana! We just went here this summer but fall is an awesome time to go. I wish I were there right now! It’s in Amish Country and it’s just beautiful and so welcoming. There are many things for families to do too! Here is my blog post about our visit: 11 Must-Do Family Adventures in Shipshewana, Indiana.
Visiting a national park and have a 4th grader? Sign up for the FREE National Parks Pass and get free admission.
Guides!
The Ultimate List of Minnesota Family Fun
This lists tons of places a family can find fun in Minnesota, organized alphabetically by category! Cities/locations are included.
Originally created as a list by one of my readers, I then expanded this list and published it here. Then another reader created an interactive spreadsheet for me to include! It’s all here:
Twin Cities Discount Guide for Families
All the ways you can save money at places all around the Twin Cities, compiled here.
Free or Discounted Admission Programs for Limited Income Families in Minnesota
Do you or or a family member receive assistance such as WIC, Medical Assistance, or SNAP? You may qualify for free or discounted admission to many places in Minnesota, plus other benefits! This is a complete list of what you may be eligible for.
Free Minnesota Printables, LiveCams and Activities to Do at Home
Originally written at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but updated, this lists tons of free Minnesota-based resources online. There is plenty to keep kids busy from home here!
Hidden Gems for Families in the Twin Cities
My guide to fun, unique places around Minnesota many don’t know about!
Freebies for Kids & Families in Minnesota
After blogging for the past 13 years and posting about one freebie after another throughout that time, I realized there were so many it was worth compiling into a single list, and here it is!
100 Things for Kids to Do at Home When Bored (Written by My 12-Year-Old!)
This popular list was written by my 12-year-old when she was bored one day – I asked her to write a list of all the things she could do!
Want more?
Boredom Busters are here to save the day and keep your kids busy and off of screens!
To get these FREE printable posters (which you can print on 8-1/2 x 11 paper), just SIGN UP FOR MY FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER HERE!
Get this and other FREEBIES INSTANTLY by signing up here!
(If you’re already on my email list, check your inbox!!!!)
Note: If you have any issues with accessing your free printables, email me at twincitiesfrugalmom@gmail.com.
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)