Dive into a variety of great things to do in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Visit unique museums and exhibits, take a walk ‘under the sea’, kayak, or simply enjoy Minnehaha Creek. Learn about the wildlife in the area or quake at the thought of the acid bog. Take in a cocktail in the peaceful cocktail lounge, or appreciate fine art. You can expand your horizons, your mind, and your soul just by finding out all the fun things to do in St. Louis Park.
1. Pavek Museum of Broadcasting
If you are interested in the history of broadcasting, then a visit to the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting is hands down, one of the best things to do in St. Louis Park. The collection of antique radios, television sets, and other broadcast equipment makes up one of the world’s biggest collections of its kind.
Within the collection, you will find the John T. ‘Mack’ Mullin Collection that chronicles the background and development of recording technology, including examples of German equipment from World War 2.
Enjoy making your way through the history of broadcasting via the stories of broadcasters across the years.
2. Westwood Hills Nature Center
Within the urban sprawl of St Louis Park, you will find Westwood Hills Nature Center, with 160 acres of marsh, woods, and prairie. The park is interlaced with nature trails, which you can explore at your leisure between sunrise and sunset.
The park hosts events throughout the year, including programs and other activities, such as scavenger hunts, nature hide-and-seek, and exploring rock art. Every fall, dress up, join the fun at the annual Halloween party, and enjoy carnival games, trick-or-treat, and a puppet show.
To round off the experience of the park, take the time to visit the interpretive center, where you will find information and experiences about the wildlife and countryside as it was in the area before the urban sprawl took over.
3. Copperwing Distillery
Put together the expertise of engineering, law, and medicine, add a mix of cocktails, and you may just have the basis of a micro-distillery. Believe it or not, that is how the Copperwing Distillery came into being.
Copperwing Distillery opened St Louis Park’s first cocktail room, where you can spend the evening relaxing in comfort, enjoying the products of the distillery at one of the best things to do in St. Louis Park.
4. Jean Stephen Galleries
If you are interested in visual art, then take a moment to visit the Jean Stephen Galleries. You can browse around and enjoy the collection of paintings and statues, or you could take your pick from the range of collectible works at mostly affordable prices.
5. Twin Lakes Park
things to do in St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Sometimes, you just need to get away from the bustle of the city and take some time just to feel the grass between your toes. Or under your hand. Or just enjoy a moment to spend some time outdoors with the family.
Twin Lakes Park is just the place to do this. With open spaces, picnic tables, and a play structure, you will find that moment to take a time out. If you are feeling energetic, then there is space to play baseball, softball field, and basketball. You can also take a stroll along the paved trails and take in the surrounding activity.
6. Showplace Icon Theater
Why not indulge your taste for a bit of pop culture and visit the Showplace Icon Theater. You won’t just be able to escape for a couple of hours from the real world, but experience movies the way they should be experienced. Begin the evening with a relaxing drink before the movie. Enjoy a bit to eat when you are watching the movie, then round off the evening with a cup of coffee. All in one complex.
7. Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
There are parks, then there are parks. The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is a park in a league of its own. In 1907, this garden was established and is the oldest native-plant garden open to the public. In its fifteen acres, the garden offers forest, wetland, and savanna and is home to 500 and more native plant species. Amongst all of this, more than 100 species of birds find their home. Some migrate, some stay here year after year. The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden will give help you to appreciate the number, range, size, and color of just some native wildflowers in Minnesota.
8. Kayak the Creek
Kayak the Creek is on Minnehaha Creek and is one of the best things to do in St. Louis Park while spending the day outdoors. The creek runs through the Twin Cities, so you will see the city from a different perspective. You can also encounter wildlife, right in the middle of the city.
Individuals, couples, families, friends…everyone is welcome at Kayak the Creek and everyone will be accommodated, so don’t worry if you are new to paddling. The creek has a lot to offer all paddlers, and you can choose the tour which is appropriate for your skill level and experience.
Kayaking is something you can do from spring to fall, so this experience is out there waiting for you for 9 months of the year!
9. Knocker Squad
Ever played soccer in a bubble? Not one big bubble, but your very own? Have you ever had to worry about being injured if you slip or run into an opponent on a soccer pitch?
Welcome to Knocker Squad and the world of bubble soccer. You stand in the middle of what is really a large plastic donut that protects you from head to knee. Teams of four battle for possession of the soccer ball and try to score goals. If you take the occasional tumble, you simply bounce
10. Bakken Museum
The Bakken Museum is the place either to discover or to indulge your passion for science, specifically relating to health and wellness. The museum contains artifacts for you to view or education programs and dynamic exhibits to get involved in.
The museum was just a collection of books and scientific instruments and developed into the museum in 1975, seeing itself as a research center above all. In 2016, the focus of the museum was enlarged to embrace the notion of innovation. And this is what you can experience first-hand.
11. Lilac Park
Along Highway 100 in St Louis Park is the Lilac Way, which is 12.5 miles (20 km) stretch of freeway lined with over 8,000 lilac plants. Near this unique feature is Lilac Park, with plenty of places to picnic and just relax. Why not take a book and sit and read, in your own world away from the hustle and bustle, just for a while.
In the park, you will find a beehive-shaped fireplace, which is one of the only two remaining in the United States. The fireplace is not used anymore but remains as an attraction in the park. It and the picnic tables are made from limestone, which was quarried from near the Minnesota River.
12. Como Harriet Streetcar Line
The Como Harriet Streetcar Line allows you to step back in time to get a feeling for when the road was ruled by the streetcars. You can visit the station, where the displays will take you right into that world, then have the experience of riding on one of the streetcars. You won’t be disappointed as you ride, because the route between the lakes is full of attractions along its scenic length.
13. North Cedar Regional Trail
The North Cedar Regional Trail is a paved trail that runs from Hopkins to Cedar Lake, taking you through the quiet part of St Louis Park. Enjoy a strong, or a run, or even a bike ride along the trail and enjoy both the view of the city skyline and the peacefulness of the surrounding woodland.
14. Quaking Bog
Sometimes the name just says it all and this is certainly the case here. Whether it is the bog itself that quakes, or its visitors, is not certain. What is clear is that this acid bog is a unique and beautiful feature almost in the heart of the city.
The bog is a 5-acre spread in Theodore Wirth Park and is understood to be more than 3700 years old. The bog is not quite on the main path and looks like a marshland at first. When you traverse the bog on a series of floating boardwalks, you will understand why the bog quakes.
15. Overpass Skate Park
Have you ever wondered what the best use is of the space under a freeway overpass? Who would have thought it is to create a skate park? On the other hand, with all the concrete and unused space, not to mention that it is protected from the weather, why not? If you are looking for a place to really work on your skating skills, then you will find it at the Overpass Skate Park.
16. Sea Live Aquarium
Imagine being able to walk under the sea, with no problem breathing or trying to stay afloat. You can do this in the 300 meters, ‘under the water’ tunnel at the Sea Life Aquarium in Mall of America. Why not bring the sea to the land of 10,000 lakes in Minnesota’s largest aquarium, where you can gaze at jellyfish, sea turtles, sharks and fish, plenty of fish.
Come face-to-face with Nemo and marvel at the wonderful colors of the coral exhibit. You may be lucky enough to find the baby coral grown in the aquarium, or spot a Scrawled Boxfish. Feel what a starfish is really is like or see if a sticky sea anemone is really sticky in the Pacific Northwest rock pool touch pool exhibit. In Ray Lagoon, marvel at the many stingrays, sharks, and guitarfish. There is really so much to ‘sea’ at this memorable site.
17. Powerbikes.com
With so many bike trails to choose from, doesn’t it seem obvious that taking a bike ride is just the thing to do? And if you don’t have a bike, well, then hire one! Powerbikes.com is a good place to start.
18. Minnehaha Creek
If you are looking for one of the most beautiful waterways in Minnesota, then look no further than Minnehaha Creek. This tributary of the Mississippi River runs for 22 miles (35 km) on its way to the confluence. Part of its path is right through St Louis Park. Take a stroll along its banks, or simply sit and enjoy the sun playing on the water. You can also take a drive and visit the Minnehaha Falls.
Wrapping Up the Best Things to Do in St. Louis Park
St Louis Park will captivate you if you allow yourself to enjoy so much of what it has to offer. Let the water of Minnehaha Creek tell its stories. Let the parks show you wide open spaces and lilacs in bloom. Let the past in through a streetcar window. Let science be your passion. Let yourself experience as many of the things to do in St. Louis Park as you can fit in.
After enjoy one or several of the best things to do in St. Louis Park, let us know which was your favorite.