Have you been told not to favor one child over another? The Twin Cities have unique charms, and after several trips to Minneapolis, this TravelingMom discovered that Saint Paul, MN, excels in free family fun. No choosing favorites here. Why not explore both sides of the Mississippi? And see what is free in Saint Paul.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Hilton Honors. The writer’s opinions and experience are all her own.
13 Free Things to Do in Saint Paul MN
1. Visit Como Park Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
2. Tour the Minnesota State Capitol
3. See the Minnesota History Center
4. Take a Free Class at Union Depot
5. Explore the Cathedral of Saint Paul
6. Stroll through Saint Paul Farmers Market and Winter Market
7. Learn about History at the Landmark Center
8. Play at the Children’s Museum of Minnesota
9. Spend Sunday at the Bell Museum of Natural History
10. Attend a Free Concert in Mears Park
11. Stay Warm at the Saint Paul Winter Carnival
12. Get Fit in the Parks
13. Minnesota Museum of American Art
Over several visits to the Twin Cities, I realized that I had still not been to Saint Paul, MN. We always stuck to Minneapolis, the larger and better-known city. But on our recent trip to Minnesota, we mostly stayed in the smaller, lower key Saint Paul, and explored free family fun in Saint Paul. This gave us plenty of cash to spend on Saint Paul’s growing food scene.
TravelingMom Tip: This part of Minnesota can have extreme temperature fluctuations. We had six inches of snow during our early April 2018 visit. During another April visit, it was 70 and sunny. Check the weather forecast, not the calendar, before you go.
1. Visit Como Park Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
In the middle of Como Park, this city-owned zoo is open every day of the year. It has indoor and outdoor attractions. In the conservatory, explore a rain forest and see colorful birds up close. There are also fish, frogs, turtles, and a huge variety of plants. The zoo has polar bears, big cats, giraffes, and an indoor primate building.
May through September, the Como Town Amusement Park in the zoo has rides. Those, however, are not free.
2. Tour the Minnesota State Capitol
Saint Paul is the capital of Minnesota and the State Capitol is one of its most impressive buildings. The architect, Cass Gilbert, also designed the Woolworth Building in New York and the St. Louis Art Museum. You can take a free tour, held daily, and learn about the capitol’s history, art, and architecture.
3. See the Minnesota History Center
The history center has fascinating exhibits, including one focusing on the year 1968. The Greatest Generation exhibit goes back even further, exploring the 1930s and 40s. Admission is free from 3-8 p.m. on Tuesdays. And on the first full weekend of every month, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders get one free admission.
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4. Take a Free Class at Union Depot
On the National Register of Historic Places, Union Depot is still a working transit hub. Even if you don’t take the light rail or bus, stop by the 1926 building. Learn about the renovation and restoration of the building on an hour-long tour every other Tuesday. There are also free yoga classes Saturday mornings and Tuesdays at noon, and free body sculpting Monday evenings.
5. Explore the Cathedral of Saint Paul
The massive cathedral offers guided tours weekdays at 1 p.m. You can also explore the landmark cathedral on your own, but not during Sunday mass. This is still a working cathedral.
6. Stroll through Saint Paul Farmers Market and Winter Market
A Farmers Market is a great place to witness the local food scene, and Saint Paul foodies don’t let cold weather deter them. The indoor winter market (which actually goes through late April) and the downtown Farmer’s Market are both held on Saturday mornings in the historic Lowertown district. Explore the art galleries and restaurants in the old warehouses in the area.
7. Learn about History at the Landmark Center
The Landmark Center, once the courthouse and a post office, dates from 1902. Now it has free galleries and interactive exhibits, including “Uncle Sam Worked Here.” This permanent exhibit explores the history of the building. The Landmark Center offers free tours of its historic building, focusing on the architecture and restoration. Tours are on Thursdays and Sundays. There are also free walking tours of the city on Wednesdays, June through September, with a different area of Saint Paul explored each week.
8. Play at the Children’s Museum of Minnesota
The children’s museum offers free Sundays on the third Sunday of each month. The Children’s Museum is a fantastic playland for kids ages 0-8. Everything is hands-on, from art areas to a camping area, with Adirondack chairs and a ‘fire’ pit that is enchanting.
9. Spend Sunday at the Bell Museum of Natural History
The natural history museum, undergoing renovations, reopens in July 2018. It has free admission every Sunday. The museum will have a digital planetarium, a green roof and observation deck, and detailed wildlife dioramas.
10. Attend a Free Concert in Mears Park
The annual free summer concert series, Music in Mears, is Thursday nights in Mears Park. Bring a blanket and picnic and hear live music every week.
11. Stay Warm at the Saint Paul Winter Carnival
The 17 day Saint Paul Winter Carnival embraces the cold weather. The annual event, held in late January, features parades, a snow park, and ice palaces, all for free.
12. Get Fit in the Parks
From May to September, parks in Saint Paul offer a variety of free fitness classes. These are held in the mornings and evenings. Classes include Zumba, kickboxing, boot camp, and yoga.
13. Minnesota Museum of American Art
The museum is currently under renovation. It reopens in fall 2018. The building housing the museum was also designed by Cass Gilbert. The artwork is from the 19th century to the present, with a focus on local artists.
And a Bonus Free Thing to Do in St. Paul: Stay for Free
Join the Hilton Honors rewards program (for free), book a few stays at Hilton Hotels, and voila! stay free on your next visit to St. Paul. Book a room at the Doubletree St. Paul Downtown, home to those yummy warm chocolate chip cookies and a heated indoor pool, or the pet-friendly Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown St. Paul, which includes a hot breakfast and free wifi, or stay at another of the 49 Hilton properties located in or near St. Paul.
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What a great idea to take advantage of the beautiful station by offering yoga! I’d do that.
You should definitely check it out!
Wow – That’s a ton of free activities! St. Paul has never been on my family’s travel radar, but it obviously should be!