Best Spring Break Activities For Kids In Minnesota

No need to be bored this spring break. Four major Minnesota institutions are bursting at the seams with information of things to do and places to see.

Explore Minnesota
(651) 296-5029
www.exploreminnesota.com

Pack the kids in the car and go somewhere fun. Pick a place in Minnesota so you spend less time traveling and more time having fun. Come back with lots of memories because family travel creates unforgettable happenings—some planned and some serendipitous. Find the best deals easily with many superb selections available online at Explore Minnesota. Family Fun, Stay and Play, Activities and Attractions and Resorts are a few of the many choices. Some Family Fun events are weekend stays around the metro area.

Related: Things To Do Locally For Spring Break

Science Museum of Minnesota
120 Kellogg Blvd. W.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 221-9444
www.smm.org

Ultimate Dinosaurs Exhibit
www.smm.org/dinos

Date: Through Aug. 24, 2014

It was long ago and far away. Sixty-five million years ago on the supercontinent Pangaea, now known as Madagascar, Africa and South America, lived a breed of dinosaur never before seen. Creatures evolved in a hard-to-believe assortment of unusual shapes, crests and frills, stride patterns and names not known to North Americans. The mighty continent trembled from every footstep of the Cryolophosaurus, Amargasaurus, Rapetosaurus, and Giganotosaurus as they roamed the countryside and conquered all. Recent scientific discoveries are now recreated for all to see and be in awe.

Dinosaur Science Mini-Camp
Ages six to 12
www.smm.org/classes

Date: March 21, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Recreate these unique dinosaurs, mimic their behavior, scrutinize their fossils and visit Ultimate Dinosaurs, the special exhibit opening in March. Produce your own stop motion dinosaur adventure movie and post it online to share with friends and family. Bring a bag lunch.

Whodunit? Camp-In
Ages four to 16 and adult chaperone
www.smm.org/classes

Date: March 29-30, 2014 from 3 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Imagine a kid's lasting memories of a mystery-theme party while camping overnight in a museum exhibit hall. The mystery: an ancient relic stolen from the Science Museum gallery. The key: a Forensic Science Workshop and a Whodunit? Manual. The solution: it may take all night but you must apprehend the thief. See more details online under Overnight Camp-ins.

Minecraft Camp
Ages six to 12
www.smm.org/classes

Date: March 31 - April 4, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Generate your own Minecraft-like 2D adventure computer game with Scratch software. Students must research and apply actual data about rocks. They will learn to create ingenious costumes and amazing objects. Bring a bag lunch every day.

Creative Circuits Mini-Camp
Ages six to 12
www.smm.org/classes

Date: April 18, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Create a light-up postcard and animate drawings with Scratch software, circuitry and a sensor board. Bring a bag lunch.

American Swedish Institute
2600 Park Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 871-4907
www.asimn.org

Kids at the Castle
Ages two to five with adult accompaniment
www.asimn.org/kids-castle

Date: March 14 and 28, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Explore the mansion on a Friday morning one hour before the museum opens. Just check in at the Information Desk by 11 a.m. on the day of the program. These youthful explorers will be energized with visual play, storytelling, music and movement inspired by the exhibition Papercut.

Youth Slöjd Club: Creative Paper Cutouts
Ages seven to 14 and their families

Date: April 6, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Have fun with paper in the Slöjd (Handcraft) Club in the American Swedish Institute Studio. Create amazing snowflakes and paper designs for cards and decorations. Space is limited, so please register by phone for this popular class by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 27.

Date: May 1-4, 2014

More than 100 commercial florists and individual artists will create inspired interpretations of selected works of art with an unforgettable fresh floral fragrance and visual power. Free and open to the public, the Art in Bloom four-day festival is a delight for all ages to stroll through the museum, take pleasure in demonstrations and lectures or attend free guided tours. See several youth and teen art studio classes listed online throughout the year. Participants explore art by visiting galleries and working in the studio with art educators and guest artists.

Related: Spring Break Camps, Classes For Kids In The Twin Cities

Robin Johnson was born in Annandale, Minn. and graduated from Richfield High School and then the University of Minnesota where he studied Political Science, Business and Industrial Relations. A writer for Examiner.com, he also consults with a variety of organizations and individuals helping them develop and grow. His work can be found at Examiner.com.