Can Can Wonderland is one of KJ's favorite Twin City spots. With an amazingly designed mini-golf course and EXCELLENT cotton-candy (and other food too, but why would you want anything else if you have cotton candy?????), it's an excellent way to spend an afternoon or evening.

Once your entrance fee is payed, you have unlimited access to vintage arcade games surrounded by some of the best immersive art styling around. The craft cocktails are INTENSE (try one of the boozy milkshakes, but don't drive home after) and the food is greasy in the BEST way. They also have a beer tap wall that has more variety than KJ can wrap her mind around.

Can Can Wonderland is also family friendly, except after 9pm Fridays and Saturdays when they restrict entry to those 21 and over.

They are a cashless venue, so be ready with your debit or credit card. Games are included in entry, so you don't need to worry about keeping a bunch of quarters on you.

From their website: Located in St. Paul’s Hamline Midway neighborhood and the Creative Enterprise Zone, Can Can Wonderland combines art and play to create a one-of-a-kind arts immersive environment for people of all ages to enjoy.

Como Park Zoo is an excellent establishment focused on making animal education accessible and understandable. Their collection is incredibly well cared for, the habitats are beautifully designed, and their selection ranges from big cats to giraffes to flamingos.

As for the Conservatory, it can be easy to want to skip – usually the draw to a zoo is the animals, after all. However, the Conservatory is beautifully maintained and expertly curated. Check out their edible plant section, featuring spice plants from around the globe.

From their website: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is located in Saint Paul’s beautiful Como Park neighborhood and is open 365 days per year; 10am - 6pm April through September and 10am - 4pm October through March. If you’re planning on making a stop to see all the zoo has to offer, please note that the zoo is free, but voluntary donations of $4 for an adult and $2 for a child are always appreciated to help them care for the plants and animals.

If you've been to the Twin Cities as often as we have, it can be easy to forget the Mall of America is actually a big deal. But if you've never been, make a point to go. For one thing, the mall is dizzying in size without being so intense as to trigger megalophobia. The amusement park (it will ALWAYS be Camp Snoopy to us) is a great way to burn off kids' (and kids-at-hearts') energy. The shopping is slightly more expensive than in other malls – but with MN not having sales tax on clothes, it's not as noticeable as locals might say. This is also the prime stop for small-business Minnesota-based tourist-y merch.

They also have mini golf (two courses, I think), some arcade-like attractions peppered around (think VR and laser tag). The dining is great too; there's everything from the iconic Rainforest Cafe to Cadillac Ranch to fast food to more upscale spots like Crave or the Twin Cities Grill.

If you're a bubble tea fan and LOVE a good mochi donut, try Uni Uni (KJ especially likes their Vietnamese coffee with brown sugar boba and soy pudding).

Or, if you want to find Tyler in the mall, check the Squishable store. He'll be there FOR SURE.

From their website: Mall of America is the largest retail and entertainment complex in the nation. It features 520 stores, 50 restaurants and attractions galore. Nickelodeon Universe is in the center of the complex, and is the largest indoor family theme park in the US, and offers over 30 remarkable rides. Since opening its doors in 1992, Mall of America has revolutionized the shopping experience and become a leader in retail, entertainment and attractions. Mall of America is one of the top tourist destinations in the country as well as one of the most recognizable brands.

The Mill City Museum is located on the river in downtown Minneapolis and is easily walkable from the hotels we've recommended.

The museum has a little bit of everything: irl examples of how flour fires happen (be ready for a LITERAL, though small, explosion), to a multi-level elevator exhibit that tells the story of the mill. You can learn a bit about how water mills work too, by watching and feeling just how powerful water pressure can be. There's even a bakery that shows how many different types of flour there are (and you usually can taste test some of them!).

Please note that this was once a functioning flour mill and still utilizes flour in their exhibits. If you are gluten-sensitive, you may want to do some research to make sure you can visit safely.

From their website: A fiery past and dynamic present

Soon after Minneapolis was born on the Mississippi's west bank, the city's flour milling industry skyrocketed. Powered by the mighty river and fed by boxcars of grain rolling in from the plains, the industry gave Minneapolis bragging rights as the “Flour Milling Capital of the World.” Explore where old mingles with new at Mill City Museum, built into the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill.

This is especially great for families. They have impressive permanent exhibits ranging from physics explainers to river beds to human anatomy (don't worry if you're concerned about young ones seeing the human body slices; they are tucked away so that only those who choose to see them can). Their traveling exhibits are also a great draw, though they can come at an additional fee.

From their website: Experiment. Discover. Investigate. The Science Museum of Minnesota aims to show policy makers, educators and individuals how science affects all aspects of life through interactive exhibits, Omnitheater films and a priceless collection of nearly two million artifacts from around the globe. A must-see museum for all ages, come explore more about the Mississippi River, Egyptian mummies, dinosaur fossils and more.

We all know the Spoon Bridge and Cherry, but you do have to see it to believe it. Take advantage of the early September weather and check out the outdoor sculpture garden, featuring said bridge (though you can't walk across it, which is lame). The blue rooster is also really great to see in real life.

From their website: The Walker Art Center is a renowned multidisciplinary arts institution that presents, collects, and supports the creation of groundbreaking work across the visual and performing arts, moving image, and design. Guided by the belief that art has the power to bring joy and solace and the ability to unite people through dialogue and shared experiences, the Walker engages communities through a dynamic array of exhibitions, performances, events, and initiatives. Its multiacre campus includes 65,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, the state-of-the-art McGuire Theater and Walker Cinema, and ample green space that connects with the adjoining Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Garden, a partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, is one of the first urban sculpture parks of its kind in the United States and home to the beloved Twin Cities landmark Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Recognized for its ambitious program and growing collection of more than 15,500 works, the Walker embraces emerging art forms and amplifies the work of artists from the Twin Cities and from across the country and the globe. Its broad spectrum of offerings makes it a lively and welcoming hub for artistic expression, creative innovation, and community connection.