Summer is gone, but that doesn’t mean that family fun has to stop. Throughout the St. Croix Valley, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep the youngest members of your family active and engaged in the chilly months ahead.
Cooks of Crocus Hill, Stillwater
If your little one dreams of being the next Rachael Ray or Bobby Flay, Cooks of Crocus Hill’s classes are for them. The popular kitchen supply store has plenty of fun, kid-friendly classes cooked up for the month ahead. On October 19, chef Marie Sais will lead a pasta-making workshop. Kids will leave knowing how to make their own dough for a wide array of dishes: spaghetti with classic red sauce, sausage lasagna and ravioli with cream sauce. On October 28, chef Aleah Vinick leads a Halloween-themed baking class. From guacamole with ghost-shaped tortilla chips to spider-web pizza and chocolate roll-out skeleton cookies, kids will learn how to make a range of spooky and tasty snacks. Both classes run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and are $60 per participant. Signups are available online, in person or by phone.
Kid’s Oasis, Stillwater
Kid’s Oasis is aptly named. Located on Stillwater’s Main Street, the creative play environment is the perfect place to bring your little ones for a fun day out of the house. Unlike many other indoor activity centers, which are focused on older children’s motor skills, Kid’s Oasis is specifically geared towards children ages 0–8 and focuses on imagination and creativity. The wide range of activities are sure to pique your child’s creativity and foster their critical thinking skills, in addition, of course, to entertaining them. The space is also designed to be accessible and accommodating for children with special needs, so it makes for a warm and welcoming place for all. Kids will have fun playing and socializing while learning, and it won’t break the bank either—admission is $5.50 for children 6 months to 8 years. Open play is every weekday from 9 a.m. to noon, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat.
Brown Family Adventure Park, Ham Lake, Minn.
There is plenty of adventure in store at Brown Family Adventure Park, boasting a two-story tree house complete with slides, tunnels, suspended bridges and a hang glider. Open play is always available during business hours, and any birthday party thrown at the adventure park is sure to be a memorable one (be sure to call ahead to schedule). There are plenty of activities to keep your little ones occupied, and a well-stocked café and free wifi ensure parents can get a break while the kids are busy climbing, sliding, jumping and tumbling. Open 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tues.–Fri., $7/child ages 1–12. 763.331.0265;
The Giggle Factory, Hudson
Fun is the Giggle Factory’s specialty. The indoor play and party center is built with slides, ball pits and a maze perfect for hide-and-seek. There is also a separate area for children younger than 3 years old, so tiny tots can practice crawling and walking away from all the action. Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mon.–Fri. and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Free for infants younger than 1 year, $5 for children 1–2 years and $7 for children ages 2+.
