They’ll WANT To Go To Bed

Your children.  I was referring to YOUR CHILDREN.  Sheesh.

It’s still cold outside, and will be for a few more months.  So where can you bring your kids to run around (thus expending energy, thus becoming sleepy-tired, thus going to bed when you tell them to), without turning the little dears into giant Popsicles?  Here’s the lowdown on great places to go in the TC for less:

1.  Indoor play areas in Minneapolis rec centers.  Some local gyms open up their space for free play, even providing toys and mats, plus tons of room for the kids to run around indoors out of the cold.  Most are free and available for kids ages 0-5.  The Minneapolis Park And Rec Centers have the best options (Google Minneapolis Park and Recreation for a complete list).

            a.  MacRae, open until 3/30 for kids 3-5 years old.

            b.  Keewaydin, open until 3/23 for kids 0-5.

            c.  Pearl Park, open until 3/23 for kids 0-5

2.  Indoor Playgrounds.  They offer climbing structures, slides, nets, lookout towers, obstacle courses – guaranteed to burn off tons of energy.  Open year-round, you’ll find many playgrounds at the local community centers (Google your city’s name, plus ‘community center,’ for a list of services and prices).  You’ll find many are free for adults – as adult supervision is required – and almost all are free for community center members.  Don’t forget, socks are a must!

            a.  Eagles Nest, New Brighton Family Service Center (my favorite).  1-12 years old, $5.00 admission, adults are free, free for members, and $3.00 after 6 PM.

            b.  Lookout Ridge, Woodbury Community Center.  1-12 years old, $5.50 admission, other discounts available on their site, free for supervising adults.

            c.  The Blast, Eagan Community Center.  18 months to 15 years old, $5.00 admission, adults are free, $2.50 after 5 PM.

3.  Indoor Waterparks.  Some community centers not only have indoor playgrounds, they also offer indoor water parks.  These are much cheaper than the mega-parks and hotel parks, and some are free for their members (Google search your town/city/suburb’s community center, plus ‘indoor water park’).

            a.  Shoreview Community Center, indoor playground AND water park.  Playground is $4.50 for kids 1-12.  The water park for non-residents is $8.25 for adults, $7.25 youth and senior, and residents pay $6.75 for adults, $5.75 youth and seniors.

            b.  Maple Grove Community Center, indoor playground and indoor/outdoor water park.  Maple Maze playground, 1-12 years, $4 resident and $5 non-resident.  And just $6.50 for non-residents, $5.50 for residents for the Grove Cove water park.

            c.  Maplewood, The Heights Indoor Water Park.  Daily rates for non-residents are $7.00 youth/senior, $9.00 adults, and residents pay $6 youth/senior and $7.00 for adults.

If you want to splurge on one of the huge, multi-activity water parks, I recommend Grand Rios in Brooklyn Park.  Rates are $10+ less expensive than that other water park (ahem, Water Park Of America, AHEM).  For example, it’s just $14.95 for a full-day pass to Grand Rios for March 5, and their peak rate is just $23.95, compared to $39.95 at THAT OTHER PARK WHICH WILL REMAIN NAMELESS.

Let’s keep the Comments love going strong – don’t let it die!  Tell us where you take your kids to run wild in the winter months.