Wow, what a cool train museum, ESPECIALLY for young kids. This place brings me back to my days of…read morehaving a train as a child, but watching my kids interact with the trains is the best part. If you have young kids (under 8 or so), this is a wonderful place to take them, and if you live nearby, consider a membership. Here's a summary of the cool aspects for kids: 1) Almost all the trains are interactive. There are buttons kids can press to start trains, and also start other aspects of the displays, like turning on lights, making cars go, helicopter blades spin, and even a roller coaster go (yes you read that right!). 2) There's so many trains, my kids would walk around for hours if I let them. 3) They change aspects of the displays often, so even if you visit a lot, there's always something new to look at. 4) There's three tables with large Lego trains and Brio trains, we always end here and my kids play endlessly with them. 5) There's a few other cool things like a scavenger hunt, a couple "racing" tables, and night trains (have not been yet but looks cool). 6) The bathroom is clean and set up for kids. All in all, this is a phenomenal place to bring kids, and even if you don't have kids, it's great for people who are kids-at-heart!

We came in time for the night train display. I have to say they "bring it" for this event. The…read moretrains are fun and they even had live music. There were many staff and volunteers on hand, including a train doctor. If you look closely at the displays, there are some (not literal) Easter eggs. They have a gift shop too with hats, whistles, books, and postcards. My kid actually lasted an hour and then it was too much. Many of the displays were hard to read in the dark, so if you're there for more of a museum experience, go during day hours. Overall a good experience. You can see the love and care put into the displays.

This is such a fun activity to do as part of an outing to Lake Harriet, especially with kids! While…read moreit's only a 15 minute activity, it's a TON of fun, and both of our kids loved every minute. It was also really neat to learn more about the streetcar lines from the volunteers, and to see a little bit of the area that's hard to visit on bike or foot. The price is super reasonable at $3 per person (babies are free). While I would not make a special trip here just to ride the street car, it's an awesome additional activity to eating at Bread and Pickle, walking around the lake or kayaking/boating on it, or playing in the playground!

Disclaimer: I am an (unpaid) volunteer streetcar operator (i.e. driver) for the Minnesota…read moreStreetcar Museum. The actual Museum is in Excelsior, but there are two locations that have a streetcar you can ride. If you would like to be transported back in time, I recommend a ride on a streetcar at either Lake Harriet (the "Harriet-Como Line") or in Excelsior. I can speak to the streetcar experience at the location at Lake Harriet, since that's where I volunteer. The ride starts and stops near the lakeside pavilion, at 42nd Street and Queen Avenue South. There is train depot from which you can buy tokens (currently $2.50 for a round trip -- kids under four are free), souvenirs, and some candy. You can use a credit card to pay, but cash is not accepted. There are currently two Streetcars in operation. One was built in 1908 and was used until the Streetcars were discontinued in 1954 in favor of buses. The more "modern" streetcar was built in 1947. The Excelsior location has other models. The best part about driving a streetcar is to see the smiles on the faces of the children. Parents and grandparents delight in sharing this experience with younger people and also enjoy a cool breeze on a hot Minnesota day. This ride is something that routinely surpasses the expectations of riders. Round trip tokens can be purchased at the Depot (called the Linden Hills Station), and they are the original tokens used when the streetcars ran. Drop your token into the faire collector box by the driver and pick a seat. The trolly goes to Lake Bde Maka Ska and back. Feel free to depart at Bde Maka Ska and return later (no extra charge). You will then continue back past the Depot and stop at the "Car Barn" where the streetcars are parked at night). It will then return to the Depot for the end of the ride. A ride is approximately 20 minutes long.

We had driven by this museum countless times over the years and were so glad to finally check it…read moreout. The museum used to be an old San Antonio mission style church constructed in the 1920's. It was really cool how it was converted into a museum. The museum houses art from both pre and post Soviet Era. They had a really amazing visiting exhibit called the Violins of Hope that featured violins crafted and played by Holocaust Jews. It was a great day to spend the morning.

This is a focused, unique but not peculiar museum. They have handsomely repurposed a church,…read morecreating several gallery spaces. The anchor paintings in their permanent collection are worthy, plus they feature several sets of Russian nesting dolls, most of which featuring cats--which is cool. We caught their outstanding show of USSR propaganda posters. The objects are interesting (most are in great condition) plus the wall text is illuminating. Definitely worth a visit.

Great idea! Fortunately I was gifted tickets to the 2025 GLOW Festival and it's the group you go…read morewith that will make this fun. Like all events, it's all about perspective. I'm local to Saint Paul and I love a quiet St. Paul activity. We went on a Friday evening which I believe was opening night and it was dead!! Contrary, I liked it. We took an Uber which relieved us of any parking stresses and because this was a quiet event the uber prices were on point. I don't think this experience is worth the normal ticket of $27 but if you're looking for something to do, go for it. This event would start to be spendy with kids as each activity inside costs money. For example, the marshmallow fire roasting station is $6, the slide with the tubes is $3.75, carousel is $5, hot chocolate is $6, the zip line is $15, etc. Contrary, Santa was onsite most of our evening and the visit has no cost. The entire CHS field is lit up with lights ranging from Christmas trees, polar bears, moose, and varying little stables for the kiddos to pop in and out of. There are basic concession stands, a warming house with a bar a couple of local vendors, a giant slide and zip line. There is holiday music playing and attendees roam the arena. Tons of photo opportunities! The night we went it was pretty warm with no snow so I do believe that snow would make this a very different experience. Fun fact: My group was able to witness a couple get engaged. Congratulations to those two!!

TLDR: Great for families with younger kids, lots of things for them to look at, run around and do;…read moreparking is limited and expensive. I had no idea this holiday festival was a thing! I wasn't sure what to expect and brought my adult daughter with me to see what it was all about. If you have young children or a person who loves looking at holiday lights, this is the place to stop by. Luckily, the night we went, it wasn't too cold, but there really wasn't much for us to do other than walk around and look at the light displays. Neither of us was drinking cocktails that night, so we didn't take advantage of the cocktail lounge, but did get our picture with Santa Claus. The little houses all around the field are super cute. They had great music playing and a "fireplace" image displayed on the Jumbotron. In the same area as the cocktail lounge, there was a makers market. I saw people who purchased concessions from the normal concession stand areas, but we didn't get anything from there either. We parked on the street using the app, and it was ridiculously expensive for being a Friday night and I booked a few hours, not knowing how long we would be in the festival. Turns out it only took us about 45 minutes to walk around. Not sure if I would pay to go back. I think it's a kind of thing that I'm not sure the experience changes much year to year.

Visited this hidden history gem with family, learned more about Fleming Field, learned you can set…read moreup a ride on a historical plane and funds go toward the museum and maintaining the planes. So fun watching them depart and return!

They have a great museum with very cool airplanes. And the volunteer staff is incredibly friendly…read moreand helpful! And their hanger dance was amazing, everyone dressed up and there were so many people swing dancing that it spilled out off the hanger.

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.

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!!

Another Hidden Gem: Noerenberg Memorial Gardens Review…read more Noerenberg Memorial Gardens is another secret I should have discovered sooner! As someone who lives nearby I stumbled upon it while planning a bike ride and it felt like I found a hidden oasis. The gardens really do live up to being a place of tranquility and fresh air and are a far cry from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The accessibility of the Noerenberg Memorial Gardens is a big plus. Being close to the Dakota Rail Regional Trail makes it a great destination for cyclists. I highly recommend incorporating it into a bike ride. The ride itself adds to the experience, you get to transition from the activity of cycling into the peacefulness of the gardens. This seamless transition makes for a more immersive and rewarding visit. The garden itself is beautiful. The attention to detail in the landscaping is obvious and it's visually stunning and calming. What struck me most was the quiet. Being right next to a busy road and yet it's so quiet. It's amazing how well the gardens filter out the noise and you can fully immerse yourself in the sounds of nature: birdsong, rustling leaves and maybe the gentle lapping of the nearby lake. It really feels like stepping through a "portal of tranquility" and instantly washing away stress and feeling peaceful. The atmosphere is what sets the Noerenberg Memorial Gardens apart. It's a place for quiet contemplation, a space to breathe deeply and reconnect with nature. Whether you want to read a book, meditate or just wander and take in the beauty around you this garden is the place. Feeling surrounded by beauty is both uplifting and restorative. Beyond the aesthetics the gardens offer learning and inspiration. Discovering places like this is valuable learning regardless of whether school is in session. Seeing the different plant species, appreciating the artistry and just soaking in the peacefulness can spark curiosity and deepen your connection to the natural world. It's a reminder that learning can be found everywhere and not just in a classroom. The Noerenberg Memorial Gardens are more than a garden but it's an experience. It's a must see for anyone looking for a peaceful escape. Proof that nature can heal and inspire and a reminder to slow down and appreciate what's around us.

Located right by lake Minnetonka, the Noerenberg Memorial Gardens is a intriguing memorial which…read moreI had the opportunity to partake in a walking tour offered by Three Rivers Park. Through walking through and visiting the eye-catching boathouse architecture and the historic barn which is part of the estate, I learned about the history of the memorial which was originally developed around 1890 by Frederick Noerenberg, a brewer who was one of the first entrepreneurs to establish a year-round home at Lake Minnetonka. Although the family house was torn down and the will was to just preserve the estate the overall feel of the property is still defined by the non existent house. A little disappointed that there are no actual garden with flowers, but the landscape is still stunning and calming that I would like to revisit on my own time.

Nice museum focusing on north and west Lake Minnetonka and Mound in particular. The highlights for…read moreus were the Tonka toy exhibit, the Andrews sisters memorabilia, and information on local Native American burial mounds.