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 a neighborhood gem! I took my two year old nephew there and we had the best time. Tons of…read morefire trucks, equipment used throughout the years and an awesome kids area with uniform items to try on and fire truck cabs turned into interactive spots for kids to drive while watching a video of a local truck driving out of the station on a call. As an adult, I'd go back on my own as well. It's an awesome local spot to check out with anyone into trucks or firefighting, young or old.

Perfect place for a child's birthday party and plenty of stuff for adults to see on the history of…read morethe Minneapolis fire department

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.

I missed the day again. That one day where you can actually go inside the Witch's Hat. Maybe its…read moretwo days, actually... I missed them both. The Witch's Hat is one of those landmarks that's right under your nose (you can see it from 94), but most people don't pay it much attention. It's especially witchy when it's summer when the water tower looks like a giant witch is in the trees (or that the trees themselves are wearing a hat) from a distance If, like me, you can't figure out when they will let you inside (one of them is around Memorial Day), it's still worth a visit because the views of the skyline stunning. And it's 102 years old. Respect your elders, especially when those elders are witches.

Cool view with a lot of history. great view of the city either day or night but like why couldn't…read moreit just be open to the public? You would think you would be able to go up for an even better view but nope. But even from the vantage point not too bad of a view of Minneapolis.

Another one of my favorite hiking areas in Minnesota. Multiple different trail options going north,…read moresouth, east, or west. Trails range from easy to moderate in difficulty. If you head across the pedestrian bridge, the two trails that way are easy and flat, but long. I didn't find a loop and ended up so far away, hours later. On a different day, I discovered two other trails that do loop around and those became my go-to trails; both moderate in difficulty. The MN National Wildlife Refuge area is doing a lot with this area too. There's a kid-friendly area with interactive activities for kids and families, along with a take-a-book-leave-a-book stand. The facilities are very well kept and were always clean and stocked whenever I visited.

Nice walking area and good place to be with nature while still being just outside the cities- very…read moreclose to MOA/MSP airport. There is a trial loop, but when we went it seems the trials were flooded so that wasn't an option. It was still nice to be outside and see some birds. Seems like the place is well maintained and including the bathroom which was open. I'm looking forward to going back this spring and summer.

This is so cool! The city easily could have demolished this whole area and created a new…read moreriverfront, but instead they chose to honor these 19th century ruins. Flour is what put Minneapolis on the map as an export, and these ruins were once mills that used the power of St Anthony Falls to run. Definitely worth a visit if you're into archaeology, city history, or just want a place to walk with a pleasant view.

Mill Ruins Park in downtown Minneapolis is so named because it still contains the remnants of the…read morefloor mills (powered by the Mississippi River) that made 19th century Minneapolis the 'Flour Milling Capitol of the World', opening in 2001. It overlooks the Mississippi River, has the Mill City Museum, and is the South gateway for the Stone Arch Pedestrian Bridge. I stopped by on a cold March afternoon, and had a chance to explore it a bit, making note of places I would look at more closely on a warmer (and less wet) day.

Ice Ice Baby....We braved the Minnesota Ice Castles tonight at a casual -2° because apparently we…read morelove our child more than feeling our faces. Multiple layers were not optional; they were a survival strategy. That said, our kiddo had an absolute blast and honestly forgot it was freezing the moment she hit the slides and tubing hill. Nothing felt too wild or intimidating, which made it perfect for kids. The ice sculptures, caverns, and tunnels are genuinely beautiful, and wandering through them feels a bit like stepping into a sparkly frozen fairy tale, just one where your eyelashes might freeze together. There are fire pits to thaw your soul, a food truck and every staff member we met was friendly and cheerful, which is impressive given the temperature. My only hesitation is the price. While the experience is fun and well done, it feels a bit steep for the amount of time and content, and I truly think a lower price point would make it feel like a better value and bring in even more families. Now, if you tell me all proceeds are going toward getting the bad ICE out of Minnesota, I will happily keep donating without a single follow-up question. Cold toes aside, it was a fun, memorable winter outing, especially for kids. Going home now so we can be #fueledbyramen

Winter Outdoor Event & Family Friendly, Private Parties for 6-8 people…read more *Weather Dependent* Open late February- Early March Food truck, fire pits, lights, slides, tubing, ice/snow sculptures, ice bar- alcohol and non alcoholic, music, fire show, cornhole, maze Live music on Thursdays Lots of seating around Hours: 5:30pm- 9 or 10pm depends on day Tickets: Bought our tickets online- cheaper online (There is peak and off peak pricing). Buy tix in advance- might sell out Ticket info: *0-3 years old: Free admission, ticket is not required *4-11 years old: Child Admission ticket required *12 years old or older: General Admission ticket required *Ages 55+ use code "senior26" to receive 15% discount on all tickets purchased **Military & First Responders Discounts** *25% off tickets purchased through VetTix *Code "Hero26" to receive a 15% discount *Need to show ID* Ticket time slot is for entry time- helps with traffic flow but can stay as long as you want (most people stay about an hour) We went around 7:30pm on a Thursday and it was perfect timing- not too busy. We stayed until 9pm. Parking: Free parking is available in the Robin Lot. Enter the Fairgrounds off Hoyt Avenue into Gate 3. Bathrooms: outhouses Tips: Bar does NOT take cash, *Wear boots*, bring hand warmers, no re-entry

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.