Looking for a fun way to spend a day with your family? We made a family-friendly road trip through Minnesota that will help! This road trip includes interesting shops, parks, and restaurants – and even a museum – that people of all ages will love. If that sounds like your cup of tea, read on below to discover the whimsical attractions, themed restaurants, and other fun places along the way. Check it out:
This road trip begins in St. Paul and concludes in Taylors Falls. It covers about 60 miles and takes around 90 minutes, not including stops. You can find the full route and directions here.
Google Maps
- Uptowner Cafe on Grand
Samuel Wagner/Google
FreddyForYou/Google The road trip starts out at a quirky little hole-in-the-wall breakfast spot in St. Paul. To those in the know, the Uptowner Cafe on Grand is a go-to spot thanks to its casual atmosphere and delicious food. The walls are lined with fun drawings that guests of all ages will enjoy taking in. You can even draw one of your own! This stop is a surefire way to start your day on the right foot.
- Twin City Model Railroad Museum
Janis Conrad/Google
Ronald Garcia/Google If you have any train lovers in your group - or just anyone who enjoys a quirky museum - the Twin City Model Railroad Museum is a must-stop spot. This impressive place features a huge O-scale model that features many landmarks from the Twin Cities. Smaller models are also featured, including a Lego model train! If you visit during the winter season, the Night Trains event is particularly magical.
- Blue Sun Soda Shop
Angela R. Hunt/Google
Elaine Crider/Google Next up, make a pit stop at Blue Sun Soda Shop in Spring Lake Park. With hundreds of different soda flavors, everyone can pick out a couple to try out during the rest of the road trip. Will you pick classic cola or something more wacky? The shop also has tons of unique candy and even an arcade. Everyone in your group will have fun picking out treats and playing a few games!
- Cedar Park
Anthony Brindamour/Google Next, head north on I-35 until you reach Forest Lake. Here, a unique park awaits as a perfect place to stretch your legs. Kids will absolutely love what they’ll find here: a gigantic dragon sculpture that they can climb up and slide down. It’s unlike any other playground around! Other parts of the playground include swings, slides, and plenty of benches for adults.
- Lindstrom Bakery
Adam Anderson/Google
Trypp Adams/Google After your stop at the playground, you may be in the mood for a snack. Continue on until you reach Lindstrom Bakery. This small-town bakery is home to a unique donut that you can’t get anywhere else: the Scandinavian donut! Definitely stop to try one, and to admire Lindstrom’s famous teapot water tower. You’ll enjoy snapping a few photos in this cute town before you continue on to your next destination.
- Franconia Sculpture Park
JP Nagan/Google From Forest Lake, you’ll head east towards Taylors Falls. Along the way, Franconia Sculpture Park is a fabulous stop for those looking to appreciate wild and wacky sculpture art. There are many huge sculptures here, many of which you can interact with - including a giant, colorful playground. Kids and adults alike will enjoy exploring these art exhibits. We think it will become one of the highlights of the road trip!
- Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours
Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours/Google Along Minnesota’s eastern border, the land becomes steep and rocky as you approach the St. Croix River. One of the best ways to take in this beautiful region is by hopping on an old-fashioned riverboat at Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours. These tours allow you to see some of the prettiest views of the river and surrounding cliffs and forests. People of all ages are guaranteed to enjoy this unique - and gorgeous - trip! Trips happen through spring, summer, and fall. If you happen to visit in the winter, another great place to see the views is at nearby Interstate State Park!
- Drive-In Restaurant
Andrew Stein/Google
Craig Kapisak/Google The road trip concludes with a stop at Drive-In Restaurant in Taylors Falls. This fun 1950s-themed restaurant comes complete with carhops! It’s a fun way to conclude a road trip, and it also happens to be delicious. Hand-pattied burgers pair well with the root beer, which is made on site every day. There’s a lot to love about this tasty 50s restaurant!
We hope you enjoyed following along on this family-friendly road trip through Minnesota! If you’re interested in other Minnesota road trips, consider following our Minnesota burger trail or doing a thrift store road trip through Minnesota. And if you’d like to recommend any favorite places in Minnesota to us, be sure to nominate them.
Google Maps
Samuel Wagner/Google
FreddyForYou/Google
The road trip starts out at a quirky little hole-in-the-wall breakfast spot in St. Paul. To those in the know, the Uptowner Cafe on Grand is a go-to spot thanks to its casual atmosphere and delicious food. The walls are lined with fun drawings that guests of all ages will enjoy taking in. You can even draw one of your own! This stop is a surefire way to start your day on the right foot.
Janis Conrad/Google
Ronald Garcia/Google
If you have any train lovers in your group - or just anyone who enjoys a quirky museum - the Twin City Model Railroad Museum is a must-stop spot. This impressive place features a huge O-scale model that features many landmarks from the Twin Cities. Smaller models are also featured, including a Lego model train! If you visit during the winter season, the Night Trains event is particularly magical.
Angela R. Hunt/Google
Elaine Crider/Google
Next up, make a pit stop at Blue Sun Soda Shop in Spring Lake Park. With hundreds of different soda flavors, everyone can pick out a couple to try out during the rest of the road trip. Will you pick classic cola or something more wacky? The shop also has tons of unique candy and even an arcade. Everyone in your group will have fun picking out treats and playing a few games!
Anthony Brindamour/Google
Next, head north on I-35 until you reach Forest Lake. Here, a unique park awaits as a perfect place to stretch your legs. Kids will absolutely love what they’ll find here: a gigantic dragon sculpture that they can climb up and slide down. It’s unlike any other playground around! Other parts of the playground include swings, slides, and plenty of benches for adults.
Adam Anderson/Google
Trypp Adams/Google
After your stop at the playground, you may be in the mood for a snack. Continue on until you reach Lindstrom Bakery. This small-town bakery is home to a unique donut that you can’t get anywhere else: the Scandinavian donut! Definitely stop to try one, and to admire Lindstrom’s famous teapot water tower. You’ll enjoy snapping a few photos in this cute town before you continue on to your next destination.
JP Nagan/Google
From Forest Lake, you’ll head east towards Taylors Falls. Along the way, Franconia Sculpture Park is a fabulous stop for those looking to appreciate wild and wacky sculpture art. There are many huge sculptures here, many of which you can interact with - including a giant, colorful playground. Kids and adults alike will enjoy exploring these art exhibits. We think it will become one of the highlights of the road trip!
Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours/Google
Along Minnesota’s eastern border, the land becomes steep and rocky as you approach the St. Croix River. One of the best ways to take in this beautiful region is by hopping on an old-fashioned riverboat at Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours. These tours allow you to see some of the prettiest views of the river and surrounding cliffs and forests. People of all ages are guaranteed to enjoy this unique - and gorgeous - trip! Trips happen through spring, summer, and fall. If you happen to visit in the winter, another great place to see the views is at nearby Interstate State Park!
Andrew Stein/Google
Craig Kapisak/Google
The road trip concludes with a stop at Drive-In Restaurant in Taylors Falls. This fun 1950s-themed restaurant comes complete with carhops! It’s a fun way to conclude a road trip, and it also happens to be delicious. Hand-pattied burgers pair well with the root beer, which is made on site every day. There’s a lot to love about this tasty 50s restaurant!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: The Uptowner Cafe on Grand, 1100 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105, USAAddress: Twin City Model Railroad Museum, 668 Transfer Rd Ste. 8, St Paul, MN 55114, USAAddress: Blue Sun Soda Shop, 1625 County Hwy 10 D, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432, USAAddress: Cedar Park, Forest Lake, MN 55025, USAAddress: Lindström Bakery Incorporated, 12830 Lake Blvd, Lindstrom, MN 55045, USAAddress: Franconia Sculpture Park, 29836 St Croix Trail N, Shafer, MN 55074, USAAddress: Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours, 220 South St, Taylors Falls, MN 55084, USAAddress: The Drive In Restaurant, 572 Bench St, Taylors Falls, MN 55084, USA
