Chuck E. Cheese

(6 reviews)

6.3 mi

Today is opening day for this new indoor playground in the south metro! I went with my daughter and…read moreniece (both 5 years old) as well as a friend with her 5 year old. The space is clean and has a few bonus amenities, like a baby bottle warmer and sink in the main area. There's about 10 small tables for kids and parents to sit at for lunch. The play equipment is perfect, with lots of different types of climbing surfaces, tunnels, slides, swinging things, and more. There is also a lovely area for smaller kiddos, a building area, and an open space with balls. There are also a bunch of cubbies to put your stuff in. Day passes are a bit steep but the monthly pass is a good deal if you think you'll come 3+ times a month. We will definitely be back! One recommendation - add wifi! Would be great for days when school is closed and parents want to get some work done.

My son had so much fun here! He's almost 2.5 and ran around getting all of his energy out. He…read morenapped for a good bit afterwards. It was imo overwhelmingly packed though, I'm not sure if there's a capacity limit or not here. Every table was taken and it did get chaotic. Overall, a cool place to have in the south of the metro to let the kiddos run off some energy. I saw a nice setup for a birthday party as well. Lots of cool slides and things to keep a toddler busy.

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The Bounce Around

6.2 mi

My daughter had a private birthday party there, and it was a blast! The place is very clean and the…read morehosts are friendly and so helpful. I was pleasantly surprised at how many bounce houses they have, and they have a special one dedicated to toddlers. My nephew is 5 and loved their free arcade. We had about 20-25 people total and there was more than enough room. Included in the party package are tablecloths to match your theme and plates/utensils. I was sad that morning because there had been a mixup at Party City with my balloon order, so my daughter wouldn't have balloons at her party. The party theme was not super common, so I was already limited on decor. I showed up to find the room had been decorated with balloons and a sign to match my theme, which I was not expecting. It was so special. The owners really care about kids and making their day special! We will go back for sure.

This is a really neat concept for a private event space that includes multiple bounce houses and…read morelots of optional add-ons for party decorating and more. This female and black owned business does a great job of making your party special and is the perfect private event space to be Covid friendly!

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Rivershore Aquariums

4.7

(14 reviews)

10.3 mi

I love this place!…read more You know how your kid bugs you for a fish tank and promises to take care of it only to lose interest as soon as the first pair of guppies dies? Well, that was me over 50 years ago except I never lost interest. I've been keeping fish and visiting fish stores around the country for my entire life. The people from World Of Fish who started RiverShore Aquariums have done a great job. Located not far from the original World of Fish, RiverShore has clean tanks, friendly and knowledgeable staff and they are super keyed in on planted tank setups. These days my tanks are relatively simple just to keep things easy, rocks and driftwood mostly, but I've been wanting to do a planted tank for a while. I know the basics but had some questions on substrate, plant selection and lighting for what is basically going to be a freshwater nanotank. The staff person who helped me was super knowledgeable, answered my questions and gave me some good advice for getting started. They had a good selection of different kinds of gravel as well as an assortment of driftwood and rocks. I liked that they have a table where you can do a little aquascaping trial and error before you make a final selection. The fish were high quality and appeared healthy. Most were smaller species suitable for planted tanks. I even discovered a new species that I had never heard of - anchor catfish. Super cool and perfect for my little nanotank. I know enough about fish and have been to enough fish stores to know which ones are really good. Rivershore is at the top of the list if you live in the Twin Cities, and especially if you're interested in giving planted tanks a try. Even if its plants aren't your thing or you are new to the hobby, I'd checkout Rivershore for your first aquarium.

This is such a fantastic fish store. You know that one friend whose house is always immaculately…read morepristine, such that -- no matter how recently or how well you've cleaned your own house -- you always feel a little self-conscious & guilty when you visit theirs? Rivershore Aquariums is that friend: All the tanks are SO clean, and so perfectly lit, and all the fish are ready for their closeups. It's like an aquatic Parade of Homes in there -- 0% chance of the "Oh gosh, that fish looks so sick, should I mercy-buy it & set up a hospital tank & try to save it? Or should I not give this place my money?" experience. You should definitely give this place your money. They also sold me the sweetest, most industrious little pleco I've ever had in my life. I bought her as a bristlenose pleco, but she's secretly some kind of Turbo Pleco -- as in, my tank gets direct sunlight (can't be avoided), and it had the algae to match, but a week after I brought my new plec'ling home, I found myself asking a visitor, "Hey, you didn't clean the inside of the 55gal while you were here, did you?" (Spoiler: No, I do not have tank-cleaning houseguests. I just have a magic pleco.)

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Millz House

3.9

(7 reviews)

4.7 mi

I've been here years ago for a family birthday party but bringing my toddler here for the first…read moretime was such a treat. While I was checking in, she kept saying "mama go this way, there's swing sets there ! Wow!" Her amazement was priceless but even better was seeing her confidence grow while using some of the larger swing sets. Check in was quick and easy - just sign a waiver and pay the daily drop-in fee - $8. I think there's a punch card you can purchase so that the visits will be cheaper in the end. My daughter had so much fun this time that I think I'll have to purchase one for next time. There's a ton of different options here for open play - a basketball court with a smaller hoop that toddlers can reach, ping pong table, a room full of various sized swingsets, and 2 large trampolines. We were here for 2 hours and my daughter didn't want to leave ! She had so much fun and it was fun watching her. It's perfect for the winter months when you want an indoor play option and your child is feeling cooped up. They have a party room that can be used if the store is rented out. There is also a small lobby area and that's the only area where food and drink is allowed. Definitely bring snacks to eat there because your kids will get hungry! Plenty of bathrooms too - I think I counted 3 - so it's easy to wash those germs off. We will definitely be coming back.

A really nice facility for children 4-7 years old. Very large and clean. Would be a fun place for…read morean indoor birthday party. There's a huge open room with playsets and trampolines. They have basketball, a small rock climbing wall and ping pong. I like that they have about 5 basketball hoops of varying heights. There is seating along the side for parents. You must wear socks. There are a couple of large rooms for parties. Great option for young kids in the winter. You can pay $6 and let them play as long as they'd like.

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Edinborough Park

4.1

(81 reviews)

8.3 mi

This place is AWESOME! I decided to get my boys (9,5) out of the house and they had a blast! They…read morehave already been asking when we can go back! There is free parking. Walk in and pay the fee for the kiddos. As of Jan 2026 it was $10 a kid with unlimited time. Parents/guardians are free. There is a large park towards the end of the building! It kept my kiddos plenty busy! There is seating for the adults. There is also a gym space for kids to run, balls to play with, mini basketball hoops and items for the little kids to push ride on! There is also a pool to do laps and a gym with equipment, but I'm unsure if those cost extra. You can do birthday parties here! Check the website for additional information!! They do have 2 spots where you can get snacks and picnic tables to eat! Overall this was a very solid experience and we will happily be back!

Perfect indoor park for toddlers during the long winter months but can be super busy.read more

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Sustainable Safari

4.0

0.1 mi

We had an absolutely amazing time at this sustainable Safari in Burnsville. We went for my…read moredaughter's birthday. They upgrade the food cup to a larger size for them on their birthday, which was really nice. We saw all kinds of really fun animals like kangaroos, Highland cows, ringtail lemurs, an emu, porcupines and so much more. I highly recommend coming here with kids ages 4 to 12. Really all ages could enjoy this experience as well but I think that age group would absolutely love seeing all the animals and the space is big enough yet small enough to have a solid hour or two of fun seeing the animals and interacting with them. Staff is really friendly and knowledgeable about the animals. My kids absolutely loved coming here and we will probably be visiting throughout the summer.

This was such a nice surprise! This petting zoo was amazing! Had a great array of animals, they let…read moreout the porcupine to climb around and interact with people. I 100% recommend for kids and I honestly had an amazing time too!

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Capybara enclosure

The Works Museum

3.8

(17 reviews)

5.7 mi

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!

Employee leading the kids through an activity.

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Bday party room

Ridemakerz

This seems like a really cool concept. Like 'Build a Bear' but cars. We stopped in on a busy…read moreSaturday and there was a bit of a line. There were only 2 people working at the time and they were both at the stations building cars with customers. This is for sure the type of place that could benefit from having a greeter or just someone that can just help answer questions while waiting. I feel like after waiting 10 or so minutes we kind of lost interest as the line never moved and we were still unsure about a few things. Would maybe circle back later on if my little cousins show interest again.

Two stars for the great employees. ZERO for management. I'm an older retiree with a love of…read moregadgets and toys. I was having a me day at the mall, and passed this shop. I was lured in by the young man racing a radio controlled car our in front. It started out well, everything was fun, bright and colorful cars, lots of customization options. I watched families play with toy cars, I priced out several models, and seriously was trying to figure what to get. Perhaps I talked to the employees a bit much, old people do tend to over talk the staff, we get a bit lonely. But I was really enjoying the place. (even if it was a bit overpriced for what it is, think theme park toys) Imagine my shock when the staff got a call from the manger (who watches the employees remotely on a camera) that I was to be considered a loiterer (I spent too much time shopping and not buying fast enough you see) and was to leave the store. Staff apologized to me, but I had to go. I'll take my 800+ credit rating and my stack of empty credit cards to a real RC shop that does not treat customers like dairy cattle. Avoid, you can get better RC cars from a company that does not treat potential customers like panhandlers. Really disappointed, I wanted to bring my partner and I in to buy cars this weekend. But we will go someplace where we are wanted. They call this the "Build a Bear" of RC cars. But I've spent a lot of money at build a bear and NEVER been treated like this.

Ridemakerz Mall of America Store Front

Throw a Revved up Party

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Obstacle Academy

(5 reviews)

10.1 mi

This is an amazing gym run by some incredibly talented athletes. The owner and most of the coaches…read morehave been on American Ninja Warrior or a similar show. If you're more interested in obstacle course racing, they have multiple coaches who have made the podium at major races and qualified multiple times for the Obstacle Course Race World Championships! Not just for adults, this is a great facility for kids as well!!!

This place is amazing! They hosted 22 girls from my confidence building retreat and the girls were…read moreecstatic over it. Sarah is a true ninja and I would recommend this place for ninja training, or if you have a group that would like to experience the adventure of taking on obstacles. Everything they do at this gym is stellar. Their service and personal style is warm and inviting. I imagine you could do a team building event, a birthday party, a fun get together or go to train ninja style. You'll get the real deal here with tons of awesome obstacles that you can't find anywhere else. A couple of my girls made it to the top of the warp wall (they have multiple walls, even one taller than the ninja course on NBC) and it was awesome!

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Children's Soft Play Area

4.5

(2 reviews)

10.1 mi

We absolutely love this indoor soft play place for our toddler! So much fun. It's free and cleaned…read moredaily. He gets to run around and get his energy out. A good place for him to socialize with other littles, and switch up for some indoor fun during the long Minnesotan winters. We can shop around and get lunch after, so it's convenient for all.

One of my go to when the weather starts to get cold or on a rainy day…read more It's a nice play area with soft foam slides or water skis, boats and tunnels. They have a few little creatures for kids to climb and slide. It's a nice enclosed area with seating around the perimeter along the windows and wall. It can be very slippery with socks on and that is required. No good or drinks allowed but of course there is always someone that will break the rules. It's nice because you don't have to pay. Them there's a little arcade of riding toys outside as well as a train ride that is available to go around on the first level by Kohl's. They have a stroller parking right outside the play area and so the room is not crowded. It's clean for the most part.

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Crystal Lake Beach

4.4

(5 reviews)

2.0 mi

This is the "beach" we grew up at. So many memories of my dad bringing me here whenever I wanted to…read morego for a swim. It's usually really nice and clean. The fishing area is separated from the swimming area. Area to wash off the sand when you are done for the day. Plenty of parking. Playground nearby for kiddos who don't want to swim. Bring your beach toys for a nice day at the lake. Great place for picnic too.

This is a smaller beach which has its pros and cons…read more Pros: family friendly, easily walkable, grills, dog friendly Cons: can get crowded, drinks are not permitted So, I believe it is perfect for a stroll and a family grill. However, if you are looking for a hang out with your 21+ friends to drink and lay out I would recommend another beach. They have a beautiful dock for some quiet reading and fishing. However, I have yet to go down there because it's always being used.

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Bay Rentals Inc

3.9

(29 reviews)

22.6 mi

Overall we got to have fun on the lake but I will say these machines are a bit beat up and seem to…read moreneed a tune up. As I would turn the machine would lose a lot of power and my partner ran out of gas with a hour left, so they didn't fill up both machines asine still had half a tank left. $600 deposit and make sure to take a good video of the machines. The process of receiving instruction was a little odd as a younger kid was giving us rules then a seemingly drunk older man in a truck kept talking over him who I assume is the owner? Kind of a weird dynamic going on here. The process of taking off and riding was good no issues there.

Ohmygoodness, not enough good to say!!…read more My friend and I had never been paddle boarding, it was 95 deg out with 72% humidity and we were feeling adventurous. Did a quick google search and found this place. Gave a call and the voicemail said to leave a message and they would get back. Yeah right. Well, about 30 minutes later the phone rang! Learned that SUPs were first come first served, but mentioned we were headed to them in mound from Coon Rapids and it would kinda suck to drive that far. I asked what our chances were and they were sweet enough to make sure they didn't all disappear! The process is super easy, tou check in and then walk the few hundred feet to the beach. They bring the boards (or whatever you've rented) over to you and you're set! When you're done you just beach the items and they come grab them. Only down side is SUP is kinda hard for a newbie as the lake is clearly a play lake. Constantly rough from all the jet skiiers.

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Nine Mile Creek Lower Valley Trail System

(5 reviews)

5.7 mi

The address is a little mislabeled, it will take you to some public school. Back up, about 0.5…read moremiles away from the underpass, there's a little bridge with a parking lot, that's the trail head. The Trail itself is really wonderful. Deep vegetation, a little too many insects but otherwise great. There's a beautiful creek that runs alongside the trail. The animals you'll see the most are dogs that are being walked. It seems to be a favorite among Bloomington locals.

Beautiful park! I went in the winter and between the snowy creek, bubbling brook, and bird noises…read moreit just can't get much better. Yes it's hard to completely escape the road noise, but a small price for a lovely hike so close to the city.

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Burnsville Lions Playground

3.5 mi

Clean park, with a large playground ages 5-12, with multiple rotating play toys, and climbing…read morestructures. Small playground for under 5, two sets of swings. Large soccer field and volleyball area. Two large shelters with picnic tables and grills and a really nice water splash pad.

My 4 year old had so much fun playing at this park. It's a really unique place with tons of little…read moreplaces to explore.

The toddler play area

The main play structure

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Bluewater Aquatic Center

4.3

5.3 mi

Well run swim meet run by the Riptide, the USA swim team that practices here…read more I was able to drop my kid off right at the door, run to a nearby coffee shop, return and park somewhat nearby (on the street), and still find plenty of good places to sit in the stands to watch the events. Huge selection of healthy foods and treats at their concession stands with plenty of tables, and right next to Elsmore so you can poke around at their clearance suits. Kid said the showers were cold, but I suspect the water was running all day. My favorite venue for swim meets thus far.

One of the few nice pools that is not a part of the public school system. My kids had the privilege…read moreof swimming here for one of the swim meets. Very clean and extremely organized. I would love to have my children take lessons here...Unfortunately, we live too far from here.

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Front

Terrace Oaks West Park

4.2

(6 reviews)

2.8 mi

Perfectly adequate experience for hiking. Definitely got the impression that this park is more…read moregeared towards winter cross-country skiing purposes. Though there is also a mountain biking path. There is both an East and a West entrance to this park. The East entrance seems to more be the main entrance with a tennis court, hockey rink, children's playground, and little free library. The West end however has a younger children's playground and a gazebo with ample picnic tables and a grill. Both ends have trash/recycling bins and a port-a-potty. No plumbed toilet facilities and no water fountains (this fact admittedly lowered my rating of the place). Trails are all pretty wide (again, to accommodate the cross-country skiers), and there are a decently number of maps posted periodically along the route to help you keep track of where you are. The outermost loop is 3.2 miles, so this would be a decent place to practice your 5k, especially if you want frequent elevation changes. I didn't find the scenery to be all that stunning compared to some other spots I've found around MN, but it was still reasonably pretty here and there. Nice large parking lots on either end.

I love this Burnsville area! Feels like I am hours away from the city. The trails here were nice…read more Took my dog around the loop. Very peaceful....