Rainy, dreary, gray days don’t have to mean keeping your family cooped up in the house. There’s nothing worse than bored and frustrated kids when the weather means they can’t get outside to enjoy their favorite activities. Fortunately, you’ll find many opportunities for fun close to home, so you can keep your family entertained even when Minnesota weather doesn’t want to cooperate.

Not sure where to go? That’s where Crème de la Crème of Maple Grove comes in. We’ve put together this list of things to do on a gray day without traveling far from home. Whether you’re looking for a museum or educational center, a place to burn off rainy day energy or anything in between, this list has you covered.

Indoor Water Park at Shoreview

Image via Unsplash by jesperstechmann using Unsplash License

No matter the time of year or weather, you can treat your family to some summertime fun close to Maple Grove thanks to nearby Shoreview, located just a short drive away. That’s where you’ll find an indoor water park ideal for rainy day family fun. Games, activities, and tons of warm water will make the gray weather outdoors a distant memory.

The water park is designed with the needs of kids (and adults!) of all ages in mind, so you can rest assured every member of the family will enjoy a day of endless fun. Bamboo Bay boasts a zero-depth entry and interactive play equipment, and it’s a great place to enjoy some fun water-based basketball or volleyball. This area is perfect for kiddos 10 years old and younger.

Then there’s Tropics Waterpark, which features a waterslide, water basketball and volleyball, and floating creatures to keep the kids entertained. You’ll also love Shipwreck Beach and its boat slide, water volleyball games, water walk, and more. All in all, Shoreview’s indoor water park offers the ideal escape from the winter chill or rainy days year-round.

Eagles Nest Indoor Playground

New Brighton, another town a quick drive away from Maple Grove, makes escaping dreary days a breeze as well. Kids will delight in a day at Eagles Nest Indoor Playground when they’re craving fun activity though the weather is at its worst. Completely remodeled in 2017, the playground includes a new structure with a 23-foot high Web Tower Challenge and a 36-foot long Quadruple Wave Slide. The area also boasts walk-on piano keys, a tightrope walk, the 14-foot Trolley Challenge and Hanging Foam Forest, an interactive projector slide, and the unique Eagles Nest and Tree Climb.

If you’re heading to Eagles Nest Indoor Playground with your little ones, you’ll want to check out the separate toddler area. The large space is designed to keep young kids entertained, engaged, and safe. The toddler area includes activity panels, a tree slide, a themed carpet play area, walk-on piano keys, climb-on sculpted foam play pieces, and a 16-foot Lily Pad Walk.

Zero Gravity Trampoline Park

Zero Gravity Trampoline Park, located close to Maple Grove in Mounds View, is the place to go when your kids are bursting with energy on a dreary day. This fun destination offers an adventure park that delivers more than 11,000 square feet for bouncing, flipping, leaping, and more. The huge field covered with trampoline surfaces is a surefire highlight, but that’s not the only fun aspect of this destination close to home. Other park attractions include a foam pit, an indoor climbing wall, laser tag, and a ninja obstacle course.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

In the mood for a museum? You’re in luck. Living in Maple Grove means you can easily access the Twin Cities and all the educational and fun institutions there. Head over to the Minneapolis Institute of Art for an art lover’s paradise sure to delight the whole family.

You’ll brighten up any gray day thanks to more than 80,000 works of art, from photographs and paintings to sculptures and beyond. The collection spans more than 20,000 years of history and is one of the most exciting art collections in the entire country. The best part? General admission to “Mia,” the museum’s abbreviated name, is free.

Science Museum of Minnesota

Next up on the list of easy-to-reach museums is the Science Museum of Minnesota, just a short trip from Maple Grove to Saint Paul. Less-than-ideal weather translates to the perfect excuse to discover fun facts about science and the natural world.

Established way back in 1907, the museum offers an exciting array of physical science, natural history, mathematics, and technology exhibits. Explore dinosaur fossils and analyze the human body, then check out the giant astronaut and indulge in an array of special exhibitions sure to make every visit to this museum more fun than the last. Your kids are sure to ask for another trip here the next time the weather means you need an indoor activity.

Can Can Wonderland

While you’re in Saint Paul on a rainy day, you’ll want to pay a visit to Can Can Wonderland. The indoor golf course and amusement park bring together local art and tons of indoor fun for an experience that can’t be beat. The artist-focused mini-golf course is just the start. You’ll also find vintage arcade games, tasty treats, and plenty of art to explore when you visit this unique destination.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory offers yet another opportunity for fun on a rainy day in Saint Paul. Nature lovers don’t have to wait for good weather thanks to this attraction, which includes an indoor zoo and botanical garden along with some outdoor areas. Your family will be wowed the moment you see the arched center of the conservatory, with gardens and rooms spanning out. Admission is free here, too, so you can find plenty of ways to spend time with your family learning about interesting plants and animals.

There you have it, Crème de la Crème of Maple Grove just gave you seven great places to check out close to Maple Grove the next time you’re faced with a gray day. Do you have a favorite place to go with your kids that we missed? Drop us a line so we can add even more opportunities for rainy-day fun for families around Maple Grove.