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Hi everyone..
We will be up in the Minneapolis area (Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, and in the city) the first weekend of June (niece and a nephew graduating high school). We are looking for some fun yet educational things to do Friday during the day (possibly Saturday as well) that don't cost a ton of money. We will be staying in Eden Prairie

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Sheila

eta... DD is 7 and DS is 5

It isn't cheap (although coupons help), but my DDs' favorite part about our trip to Minneapolis a few years ago was the aquarium. http://www.mallofamerica.com/attractions/view/sea-life-minnesota-aquarium

Our science museum rocks

http://www.smm.org/

You don't have to see the King Tut exhibit there right now (that is pretty pricey, although interesting). There is a lot of other stuff to see and do if you just get general admission tickets. The Omnitheater is also good, of course -- would recommend booking those tickets a day or two ahead of time to make sure you get the times you want if you choose to do that.

Although the museum is over in St. Paul, it is pretty easy to get to from Eden Prarie (which is south of Minneapolis, and the museum is on the south side of St. Paul).

We also really like the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

http://www.artsmia.org/

Science museum and MIA are 2 of our favorite destinations too! Mill city museum downtown Minneapolis and MN history center downtown St. Paul are fun too. If you want something outdoors, the sculpture garden near the Walker art museum (which is great) is a great way to spend a couple hours. Como Zoo and conservatory is free (donations only), you can be outdoors at least part of the time, and right in the city.

I was also going to say, there are MANY events going on that weekend in town. Our neighborhood in St. Paul is having an art fair on the 4th of June, Flint Hill Children's festival is going on in St. Paul (we love this! Happens to be walking distance from the Science museum so you could hit both.)

http://www.ordway.org/festival/

Grand Old Day on Grand Ave in St. Paul
http://www.grandave.com/grandoldday/

Probably more stuff too!

It's a great time of year to come here! Hope the weather's good for you.

I second the Flint Hills Children's Festival. Very fun. Lots of great shows, very inexpensive if not free. And Grand Old Days (as some of us native St. Paulites still like to call it, though it's just one day).

The Bakken Museum of Electricity is also fun, and it's right on Lake Calhoun in Uptown Mpls, a nice little area. Bakken Museum

Also a fun children's museum downtown st. paul. Your 7yo may be aging out of some of the stuff: MN Children's Museum

Also, MN Zoo. Seuss on the Loose will be happening when you're here: MN Zoo

Or Como Zoo is free: Como Zoo and Conservatory

I'm not a local, but Ds and I enjoyed
The Bakken Museum - thebakken.org
devoted to electricty and magnitism, when DS was 10.
I has been my only opportunity to play the theremin.
and I liked walking around the neighborhood to get there from the busline.

smiles,
Grinity

Thanks for the GREAT ideas! The zoo might be good. We have a membership to our zoo and most of the time they have reciprocal memberships. We have been to the Como Zoo.. that was fun! I like the festival ideas.. we will check those out!


Sheila

The zoo is very good, but also quite expensive (check out the reciprocity for sure before you go). I am always taken aback at the cost when we go...

We are here Ariived at about 1130 last night... not a bad drive.. stopped for dinner and gas that was all. I think we made record time 6 1/2 hours. I think the museum might be the plan for today as its not looking too nice out

You've arrived on a weekend with a very cool event: http://northernspark.org/ Based on the "white nights" art festivals in Europe.