My interest in Historic construction methods and materials often brings me to some interesting, and…read morealot of times off the path locations. The St Cloud area was, and still is one of the Country's largest suppliers of granite. When you love things such as old cobblestone streets, and old stone buildings as much as I do, sometimes you begin to wonder about what different types of stone were quarried and used the most in your area. While St Cloud is by no means a small city, the museum, as well as where the former and present day quarries are is off the path a bit. I was blown away by the exibits at this museum, I'd been expecting just a small museum with small displays. Instead the exibits were huge, and they have a 2 story tall interactive exibit on the quarry's. There was alot of other Central Minnesota history covered with big exibits as well. If you're out in this area and are intersted in Minnesota History, or are a fan of old tyme construction materials I'm sure you'll find this to be a great museum. I think this would be a fun museum for kids as well.

If you're from out of town, you should make the time to check out the Stearns History Museum. It…read morehas exhibits that are surprising for a mid-size town museum. Unfortunately, for those of us who live in the area, the exhibits seldom change. As a result, if you were to go here repeatedly, you'd end up seeing the same thing. Having said that, there are things to recommend. The park surrounding the museum has nice walking paths that are great for a summer afternoon walk. Inside, you'll find a fairly elaborate exhibit of granite quarrying (common to Granite City). You'll also find a nature exhibit that features the flora and fauna common to Central Minnesota. Our children enjoy this section of the museum. There are other exhibits as well, but I'd like to keep some of it a surprise for you to find when you visit. In addition, one of the gold mines at the museum for locals is the library which has extensive materials and resources for doing family research, especially if your family has ties to Central Minnesota. You could spend hours here researching and learning about family members from the area.

Our family has had an annual pass for several years and both of our boys love coming here…read more Their favorites are the big slides and laser game. They also enjoy the variety of rooms/areas and rotating exhibits that the Minnesota Children's Museum has. Great place for kids of many ages!

Always such a fun time here! My kids are 5 and 7 and have been coming here for years. We got the…read moremembership so it's worth it. We don't live too far so we can come quite often. They usually have deals around the holidays. $20-$30 off so that's what we usually do for memberships. Parking is pretty simple here, I like that they have a ramp, it does cost a few dollars and you have to get it validated but it beats having to find street parking. It's usually not too crowded when we go so finding parking is not bad. The ramp goes right to the elevator. We like how they have multiple levels of fun. They switch it up enough that the kids like exploring the new exhibit. They like their familiar exhibits too. We usually spend 2-3 hours here and it tires the kids out. If it's your first time there you may want to bring extra clothes and shoes in case the kids get wet. They have a few areas where kids can play with water and depending on how messy the kid is you might need spare clothes. My kids love the art exhibit and always spend a lot of time creating masterpieces there. They also have a baby area so if you have little ones feel free to bring them! They do have a small cafe with snacks and drinks so if you do get hungry you can buy food. There is also a subway right outside the museum. A lot of people will pack lunches and snacks and you are free to eat in the museum. It's a nice location by lots of restaurants so if you want to go out after it's a good option too.

We have never been here before but I've known about it for years. We were invited for a birthday…read moreparty which we didn't even know they did but it was so much fun. They had a private room with an activity for the kids. You are allowed to bring in food and drinks but make sure you don't make a mess. They provided plates and silverware. You only get the room for a couple hours. It was pretty busy with other parties that day we went but the museum itself wasn't too crowded. Kids are allowed to stay until museum close if they would like. Great place for older kids, can't really picture babies and toddlers here. Great place for kids to learn STEM skills and get off the tablets. Not so much for running around since the place isn't too big. I could see my kids spending many hours here. Perfect for my son and daughter since they love building things. Their favorite was the rocket launch and legos. I love the decor here! It's so bright and colorful. The bathrooms are great! So clean and individual stalls. The sink reminds me of elementary school so there was that nostalgia. They offer memberships and you can come try it out first, individual tickets are $14 and that can be applied to membership if you liked it. Lots of parking. Building only has one small sign outside so it's a bit inconspicuous.

Easy to get to and the place feels clean and cared for. This is important when your kids are…read moretouching everything. Though not as big as I was expecting, it wasn't overcrowded on a Saturday late morning into afternoon. There are many different activists where your kiddos can learn through play--from power/electricity to building to music and more. They have party rooms that you can use which was awesome to have a place to eat and celebrate the birthday boy. The staff was receptive and attentive to both the parents and kids. You can just come an play, book a party or get a membership, and they have summer camps too. During the party the kids got to do a fun activity too!

Excellent adventure for children, especially in fall…read more We went with our homeschooling co-op. Was a great opportunity to showcase bits and pieces of historical farm life. They have some beautiful livestock, and overall a scenic farm. My advice -- (1) be sure to bring a stroller with nice, large wheels so that you can pass through some rocky trails and long grass. (2) bring some food and a picnic blanket. This farm is the perfect place for a family picnic, and (3) bring lots of water. There is a beautiful trail that you'll want to take advantage

I came here for a special event called Tour De Farm, which is a farm to table picnic. The concept…read moreis simple, you eat on the farm a meal which is prepared only from ingredients from the farm. A 3 year old pig was the special guest of honor for the day and she played an important role in most of the dishes. Tour guides from the historical society dressed in time period costumes to give the tours which really gave the whole thing a special ambiance. They also had a horse drawn trolley to take guest around and show them the vast acres of farm land. Animals from pigs, cows, chickens and horses where all there and what makes this farm so special is it is purely educational. No food is sold from here, it is only used to teach people about farming so if you want to experience a farm go to the website find out more about how to take a tour. It's inexpensive, pretty close to the city and great for kids!

We got a family membership as a gift last year (2024) and both of our kids love coming here…read more There are a variety of interactive activities for kids (and adults) of all ages. Our boys' favorite activity is the one you get to race against professional athletes, T-Rex or TC Bear! It's great that the Omnitheater shows are included in our membership.

One star less only because the science museum had "event rates" for the Grand Casino Arena, when…read moreyou're clearly going to the Science Museum as a family... Anyway, it was a great day with plenty of old staples like viruses and physics and weather. We visited the Skin exhibit which was pretty cool and they had a new sports exhibit too that the kids and adults had a blast at. Perfect for a winter escape!

We have been going to Be With Me since it opened. My kids love it. The staff are wonderful and…read morethere is always something new. We stopped going to the Children's Museum because this is much closer and way more fun. They offer memberships which is great if you can go several times a month. We highly recommend!!

This was such a waste of money. 12 dollars per person (kids and parents too!) is really steep…read moreconsidering it's pretty much just a bunch of play zones full of plastic toys. Nothing really does anything interesting, and you can't play creatively (a shopping cart at the vets office etc) Because They are really particular about having the pieces stay in each zone. I understand why that helps them for clean up, but it is a very frustrating experience for a small toddler who doesn't understand the arbitrary rule of why you can play with a toy in one place but not another.

So much fun! Lots of learning and fun activities. Went for an event…read more Had a child with me. So many activities for kids! She had so much fun, learned a lot about animals, constellations, the environment and more Food: catered by event- Delicious tacos and dessert. Multiple meat options, veggie, Vegan options and gluten friendly as well Parking: Metered parking - had discounted parking. There are a few lots you can park at. One at museum and a few others. We had a shuttle pick up available at the further lots through the events Highly recommend for children but also very interesting for adults! Don't miss the planetarium or the Woolly Mammoth!

Love this museum! My two six year old twins really love this place. I also love this museum. It was…read moreso much fun so many cool things to see. Planetarium was fun as well Minnesota night skies was very interesting. Thank you!

I'm a sucker for the historical society sites and this is no exception. They have some great…read moredisplays in the building and the tour of the fort was informative. The staff was friendly and quite tolerant of curious children. We had the tour to ourselves when we went so had no issues hearing and asking questions. Afterwards we took some trails down by the river and back to the building. Their t-shirts were cute and cheap so we bought one for each member of the family.

The North West Company Fur Post is located west of Pine City proper off of Exit 169. It is an…read moreofficial museum of the Minnesota Historical Society. Apparently, a local farmer found remnants of a fur trading post on his land and contacted the Canadian branch of the North West Trading Company, to get the official plans; and from there, a complete replica of the fur trading post was built. In the interpretive center, the story was told from the perspectives of the Native peoples who hunted and skinned the pelts; the British traders who brought together goods from all throughout the world to trade for the fur they wanted, and the French-Canadian Voyageurs who were the brawn behind the whole apparatus. The story also doesn't shy away from the fact that several intermarraiges took place and how they were resolved for the wives and children when the overseers left their posts and married within the church. (Apparently intermarraige was frowned upon by the Hudson Bay company but allowed and even encouraged by the North West Company and the XY Company whch they acquired). From the museum, we were led out by a person reenacting the Native perspective. She showed us the various animal pelts caught at the post, and how the Native people travelled a 100-mile radius throughout the seasons to fish in summer, hunt and trap in fall, survive the winter, and obtain sugar bush in the spring. She then led us down the path to the fur trading post, explaining room by room, how the post was run, from the youngest 14-year old voyageurs to the junior accountants to the post managers. It was amazing how many moving parts there were in the fur trade, and how the business was run down to every little detail. There is a chance to walk down to the river, or go on a 1/2 mile nature walk. Events also take place at the post all year long -- there are even snowshoes hanging for winter events. It was a very interesting museum and a year-round event center. It is certainly worth the detour if you want something to do in the area.

My wife and I were out with my aunt and uncle from California and we needed something to do on a…read moreSaturday before my brother got married. We decided to go see Charles Lindbergh's child house home and it was a treat! It was 7 bucks a piece for a great tour of his residence. The tour was about an hour and a half long and was by far the best historical house tour I have taken, and I have probably done about 15 or 20 of them. It is one of my wife and mine favorite things to do together. Go to lunch in a new town, look around, and tour an old historic place. We learned a lot about Lindbergh and the residence was on a beautiful plot of land right on the Mississippi. The car he had was fully restored in the garage from the 20's and in pristine shape. If you are ever in the St. Cloud area, go 40 minutes north and take this tour! One of the best ever so far in Minnesota.

The facility is supposed to be open for visiting and tours. It wasn't until after we arrived and…read moresaw that the house is not open during the week. Very disappointing

FAMILY FUN DAY at the The Bakken Museum!!! We had an unexpectedly great time. Each of us enjoyed a…read moredifferent aspect of this unique place: - My teen son loved the interactive, tech-inspired exhibits - I loved the beautiful Gothic/Tudor architecture and the history of the families that lived in the mansion throughout the years -Hubby loved the calming outdoor spaces and medicinal gardens - Our tween daughter loved her scavenger hunt for Lego people that were hidden throughout the museum From their website: The Bakken Museum inspires a passion for innovation by exploring the potential for science, technology, and the humanities to make the world a better place. Located on the West shore of Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis, the museum features interactive exhibits for all ages and exceptional STEM education programs. Make movies in the Spark exhibit, meet the mother of science fiction in Mary & Her Monster, and test out some of Ben Franklin's favorite experiments in the Electricity Party Room.

A total gem - The Bakken Museum hits hard, not only from…read morethe buzz of learning something new but from how fresh everything feels. Never thought I'd skip this spot for years, even though it's near my usual bike trail. Not just another exhibit hall - it sparks real wonder, like flipping on a light in a dark room. You walk out seeing things differently, especially those hidden powers running behind everyday life. Finding it tucked where it is? Unexpected. Sure, I've passed by loads of times, pedaling right past without stopping. But now? No way am I sleeping on it again. Right when I walked in, it hit me - this place was different, almost magnetic. No question about it, the highlight had to be the West Wing Mansion. It's more than just walls and floors - it's like a snapshot from the past, carefully kept alive. As I moved through the graceful halls, packed with old tools and exhibits, history came alive. Best part? Learning stuff didn't feel forced - it flowed naturally with everything around. The museum isn't about flashy displays - it shows what makes each item tick, telling stories of wild breakthroughs or the clever people who made them happen. Then comes power - yeah, electric juice. Those sections on how electricity works? Totally mind-blowing. Sure, I liked science before, yet this place cranked up my curiosity big time. They break down tricky ideas using simple words, fun visuals, so you actually get it without zoning out. One moment I'm looking at basic ideas, next I'm stuck on complex setups - each exhibit pulled me in. Not just scanning signs, but actually sensing electricity through sound, touch, sight. Walked out knowing way more about how this invisible push shapes everything - from turning on lights to nerves firing in your arms. Totally didn't expect to run into something that matched a story from my English lesson. Keeping details quiet so you can discover it yourself, yet realizing then and there: stories, creativity, facts - they're all tangled up in real life. On top of that, it deepened how I saw things, making the experience stick in my mind like a real-life story. What stands out is how well everything's put together - clearly, care went into reaching different kinds of people. At The Bakken Museum, you get what good exhibit planning looks like in action. Things to touch and try, but nothing flashy or fake-feeling; facts served straight, never too much at once - it just works. Workers knew their stuff, genuinely excited, which lifted the whole vibe. Curious about how science shaped life? Head to The Bakken Museum - it'll grab your attention no matter who you are. It might just do it better than school, it sure did for me! This isn't just for nerds or kids; it's for anyone who likes surprises. You'll learn stuff without feeling like you're studying, laugh a bit, maybe jump when something zaps. Honestly, few places deliver this much fun with electricity - real and metaphorical. Skip waiting around like I did. Just go.