Craftypenguinfamily

Fall is a beautiful place in Minnesota! The leaves changing colors and cooler temperatures make it a great time to get outdoors to make memories with your family and friends. I am always on the lookout for budget friendly options as we have 3 boys and things add up quick! Here is a list of my top choices for budget-friendly activities that families will enjoy. (I am trying to stay under $20 per person, so there may be some events that I left off due to the cost).

1. Apple Orchard/Pumpkin Patch
   • Many apple orchards have lots of kids activities from playground equipment, games to play, live music, hayrides, and apple picking. Cost could be anywhere from $5-12 to get in (depending on ages). There are many great places to take photos and I always think it’s important for kids to see the apple orchards to know where our food comes from. Some apple orchards offer apple tasting, gift shops, additional food, and even cider beers. Pumpkin patches are great places to take photos and can offer activities for families as well. Along with pumpkins and gourds, these locations can have petting zoos, corn pits, games, and hayrides. Check ahead to see what the place you are visiting is offering for attractions. Be prepared as sometimes each activity could be a seperate cost.
     
     Afton Apple Orchard: https://www.aftonapple.com/
     White Bear Lake: https://www.pinetreeappleorchard.com/
     Stillwater: https://www.aamodtsapplefarm.com/
     

1. Corn Mazes
   • Corn mazes will have lots of kid friendly games (think yard games) and activities. I wish the corn mazes would have an easy version and a hard version. I don’t mind going through a maze, but a good 20 minutes and my kids are done and over it.

Lake Elmo: https://www.countrysunfarm.com/

1. Hiking in a State Park
   • With so many state parks in the state of MN, this is a great choice for families looking to explore outdoors. It’s $8 for a day pass and $35 for a yearly pass to get in. The vistor center has kids coloring books and junior ranger activities. The state parks also offer classes, events, and guided tours. Plan a picnic as most parks will have many picnic tables and rest areas to have a quick lunch.
     

Afton State Park: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00100#homepage

1. Trunk or Treat Events
   • Free! Check Nextdoor, Facebook, Instagram, and community advertisment for finding trunk or treats in your neighbor. I love this options because my kids can wear their costume and see each decorated trunk to get treats. Some may have the option to donate to a charity or organization. There could also be food trucks at these events and free hot chocolate or apple cider. Don’t forget the grocery stores or strip malls! They can also offer free events for the kids to dress up in their costumes and trick or treat in the store.

1. Decorating pumpkins
   • I know this is a no brainer, but I wanted to list it because anytime I give my kids a pumpkin and paint, it is a good 2 hour long activity! I tend to shy away from carving pumpkins anymore due to the mess, and I have recently loved having the kids decorate craft pumpkins instead of real ones. I then tuck away the decorated pumpkins and bring them back out next year. I was able to buy craft pumpkins at Michaels this year 50% off.

1. Como Zoo and MN Zoo
   • Como Zoo is always free. They suggest a donation of $4 for an adult and $2 for a child, which is very cheap considerating all they have to offer. This is a smaller zoo, but I have found that it’s perfect for my kids to walk and patience level! The como zoo offers presentations by the zookeepers and a daily seal show. They have places to get food, but you could bring a picnic lunch and eat in the beautiful grounds surrounding the zoo. MN zoo is going to be more expensive to get into, but it is the larger zoo. Many more animal exhibits to see and a treetop trail that runs above the zoo. There are play areas for kids, daily programs to attend, and art of water exhibitition featuring 22 local artists.

Como Zoo: https://comozooconservatory.org/
MN Zoo: https://mnzoo.org/

1. Mall of America
   • While not as budget friendly as some of the other items, you can make Mall of America work if you plan a little beforehand. Mini golfing at Moose Mountain is around $15 a person, Nickelodean Universe has rides to pick and choose from and can be inexpensive if you only pick a couple rides to go on. Toddler Tuesday offers discounted events and activities for the littlest ones in your family. The Lego Store is so fun to walk around and the kids enjoy the large lego creations, and they have lego tables to keep kids busy building. The decorations at MOA are always nice and this is a good place to stretch your legs if the weather is bad. Lots of food options and unique stores. Remember where you park and the enterance you come in at! 🙂

Mall of America: https://www.mallofamerica.com/

1. Biking on our many bike trails
   • It’s free to jump on a bike trail and explore all the trails MN has to offer. There are many places to ride your bike to and stop at a playground or waterfall. We have even brought scooters, roller blades, or even just walking with the stroller.

1. Drive up north to see fall colors
   • In MN we love to drive to see fall colors. Plan a day trip to drive and make a few stops along the way for the kids to get out and play. Pack lots of snacks and water along with jackets and hats. We like to choose a location where we are only in our car for about an hour. That seems to be a good amount of time before the kids start fighting.

1. Library
   • Sometimes I feel like so many families forget about the library! One of our favorite places to spend time on the weekend! MN libraries will have a kids section where they can play. I have seen magnatiles, blocks, dramatic play areas (stores, post offices, restaurants, houses, etc), art stations, puzzles, and games. Look ahead for storytime hours, and check for free art classes, book clubs, lego building nights, and chess clubs. Along with building good readers, the library has a wealth of free events to keep kids busy and learning.