Fun Day at Southern Minnesota’s Kids Museum
Grandma and Me at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota.
My 5-year-old grandson, Ellis, and I will be spending some time together this summer. On our first day together this summer, he wanted to go to the Children’s Museum, or how he referred to it–the Kids Museum. How could I refuse?
So, we made our way to Mankato, MN, to visit the “Kids Museum.” It was hectic when we arrived, as the museum was hosting daycare and school groups. Even though it was very busy, you could feel and see the excitement the children were experiencing. They were playing, learning, and just having fun.
We were patient and waited for some of those groups to depart so Ellis could participate in the activities. Ellis is on the shy side, so having so many children at first was a bit intimidating.
The first thing I noticed about the museum was the agricultural theme. As a farmer, there is a real need for people of all ages to know where their food comes from. So, I was thrilled when I saw the displays!
Ag Theme
One of Ellis’s favorite activities was playing in the sand, which is located in the quarry area. He loved pouring sand into different funnels and watching the piles of sand and also liked moving the “concrete blocks” up the manual conveyor.
Quarry Area
He also enjoyed Cecil’s Imangineering Loft, which is located on the second level. I could just see his imagination and problem-solving at work. It was so fun to see!
And for those that have younger children, they have an infant and toddler section. Great idea because there is so much energy at the museum–might be a little too much for the very young.
When we left, I noticed they were working on a Pollinators at Play exhibit. Looks very intriguing.
We topped off our day by having lunch at a Mexican restaurant.
The admission fee is $13 per person at the Southern Minnesota Children’s Museum, but they also offer memberships for those who want to support the museum or plan on being frequent visitors.
The museum is easy to access and just off of Riverfront Drive in Mankato, MN.
I highly recommend taking your children to visit the museum!
