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Family-Friendly Summer Hangouts

Posted on July 30
Winter Keefer

Winter Keefer

Empty children's playground with trees in the background on a sunny day

Chutes and Ladders Park in Bloomington’s Hyland Lake Park Reserve features slides up to 50 feet long. (Winter Keefer for City Cast Twin Cities)

Whether you're looking to get outside or find an indoor hang and escape the heat, we’ve got you covered.

Chutes and Ladders Park

This free outdoor play area in Bloomington’s Hyland Lake Park Reserve is sure to get your kids excited and (hopefully) tucker them out. Set in the back of the park’s wooded area, the sheer size of Chutes and Ladders Park makes it a perfect place to spend an entire afternoon. If you’re worried about losing a kid because this place is so big, don’t fear. It’s fenced in and there’s only one exit. Sit back, relax and let those kids run and slide to their hearts’ content.

Skateville Roller Skating Center

From drop-in roller skating to birthday parties and special events, this family-friendly roller skating rink is bound to be a hit for your kids. Skateville Roller Skating Center in Burnsville offers skate rentals for newbies and classes for those who get the skating bug and want to come back for more. The rink includes an arcade and snack bar, and parents/guardians who accompany their children but aren’t skating get in free.

Jim Lupient Water Park

Nothing hits quite like a waterslide on a sweltering summer day. While Minneapolis might not be Wisconsin Dells, we can still find that slide. For $10 per person (ages 3 and older), Jim Lupient Water Park in Northeast Minneapolis offers three water slides, including a tube slide. The park also features a log water walk, interactive spray features, and lap swimming lanes.

Memory Lanes

My favorite thing about Memory Lanes in Minneapolis is the little cartoon caricatures that play on the screen after each bowler takes their turn. It reminds me of my own hometown bowling alleys. This nostalgic local hangout is the perfect place to take the kids for a round of bowling and a bite to eat. Mom or dad could even get a beer. Fun for all.

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