The Kid at Heart

Hot Ticket:
When it comes to theater for young people, Minneapolis is home to the nation’s biggest and best. Founded in 1965, the  Children’s Theatre Company (2400 3rd Ave. S., Mpls., 612-874-0400 ) has wowed countless audiences and critics alike. CTC presents six stage productions each season, all of which include a mix of professional actors and the best young talent in town. Don’t miss this summer’s Disney’s High School Musical and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Dining Out:
Screaming babies. Food fights. Temper tantrums. Dining with kids isn’t always the most relaxing experience. Luckily, the Twin Cities boasts family-friendly restaurants that serve up more than just great grub. Check out St. Paul’s Chatterbox Pub (800 Cleveland Ave. S., 651-699-1154), where you can play Battleship, Operation, Yahtzee, and old-school video games such as Donkey Kong and Pac-Man while waiting for your food. Another great locale is Pop! Restaurant (2859 NE Johnson St.,  Mpls., 612-788-0455), voted by our readers as a great kid-friendly location. Mixing Latin flavors with homespun cooking, this neighborhood hot spot aims to please the pickiest of palettes. If your crew needs a quick sugar fix, head to Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream (4321 Upton Ave. S., Mpls., 612-926-7916; 1007 Franklin Ave. W., Mpls., 612-870-0065), a family-owned ice cream shop known for large scoops and iconoclastic flavors. Try the orange-basil sorbet; it’s strange but satisfying.
Photo: Chatterbox Pub

Must See/Do:
Never heard of the Mall of America (8100 24th Ave. S., Bloomington, 952-883-8800 )? Then go, plan to spend the day there, and bring a handful of credit cards. You and the other 40 million people who visit each year can’t be wrong. If a day at the mall isn’t your cup of Coke, try visiting the Twin Cities’ most child-friendly museums. In its twenty-fifth year, Minnesota Children’s Museum (10 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-225-6000) continues to teach kids through hands-on, interactive exhibits that require a minimum of adult supervision. Set aside a day to explore the Science Museum of Minnesota (120 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, 651-221-9444) located on the banks of the Mississippi River. We love operating T-rex’s jaws and Diplodocus—he’s eighty-two feet long!. Making wiggly waves and playing in the Big Back Yard are fun too, and don’t forget to experience a film (it doesn’t matter which one) inside the impressive IMAX Omnitheater. Valleyfair (1 Valleyfair Dr., Shakopee, 800-386-7433) has long been a destination for thrill-seeking adrenaline junkies. This summer, The Renegade, an old-fashioned wooden rollercoaster with a few modern twists and turns, joins Wild Thing and Power Tower as the park’s most vertigo-inducing attractions. If you’re in town the third week of July, experience the Minneapolis Aquatennial (various locations). The ten-day outdoor festival features milk-carton boat races, a torchlight parade, live music, theater, athletics, and lots of other activities, many of which—like last year’s robot shark races—will amaze and perplex you.
Photo: The Science Museum of Minnesota

Where to Stay:
It’s no surprise that the nation’s tallest indoor water slide is located in Minnesota. After all, we can’t always guarantee that the temperature outside will to be a balmy eighty-seven degrees. Inside the northwoods-themed Grand Lodge (1700 E. American Blvd., Bloomington, 866-472-6335) is the Water Park of America (left), which has a spectacular array of tube slides and body slides, a wave pool, a surf simulator, and a lazy river. Aside from these watery wonders, the hotel features the relaxing Trillium spa, the adjacent Split Rock Grille, and more than 100 games in an arcade.

Shopping for Kids:
Check out kiddywampus (4402-1/2 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-926-7871) for unique toys from around the globe, plus a built-in play area with paint-splattered walls, building blocks, and minifurniture. Walk across the parking lot to Bébé Babble (3904 Sunnyside Rd., Edina, 952-922-2020), a modern boutique that carries haute clothing, bedding, and gifts for newborns to age six. Then drive a few blocks to the flagship location of Creative Kidstuff (4313 Upton Ave. S., Mpls.). Since opening in 1982, this innovative business has added five other metro locations and been recognized as one of the Twin Cities’ top toy stores. Across the street is Wonderment (4306 Upton Ave. S., Mpls., 612-929-2707), a mother-owned shop specializing in natural, high-quality toys, including wool and cotton dolls, tree-branch building blocks, and natural fiber craft materials. Plus, there’s a corner treehouse for kids to explore while Mom gets her credit card out.
Photo: Wonderment

Photo Ops: St. Paul is the proud home of Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip and characters. That’s why both Minneapolis and St. Paul are populated with larger-than-life statues of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the gang. They’re everywhere, so snap a memento of your visit when you get a chance. Another place to create lasting memories is the Minnesota Zoo (Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley, 952-431-9200). Pose with a furry friend at the Wells Fargo Family Farm or with one of the zoo’s 450 other inhabitants. Just don’t get too close to the tigers; they tend to hog the picture frame.