1. Brookview
Bring the family to Brookview! Kids ages 2-12 can get their wiggles out in the Backyard, an indoor playground filled with super slides, twisty tubes, cargo climbs, bumper balls, log rollers, and cave crawls. When it’s time to grab a bite, the whole family will enjoy the Three One Six Bar + Grill, with its classic American menu of burgers, salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads, complete with a selection of kid’s favorites.
2. Game Show Battle Rooms
Do you love game shows? Create ridiculously fun memories with your friends and family at Game Show Battle Rooms. Your host will guide you through your favorite TV game shows. Choose the classics: Survey Battles, Spin & Solve, What’s That Cost? or primetime favorites: Survey Battles, MatchUp Wars, and Time Rush Games. Perfect for ages 10+.
3. Park Tavern Bowling & Entertainment Center
A local favorite for over 60 years, the Park Tavern is the perfect family hangout, with twenty lanes of bowling, arcade games and dart boards. Hungry bowlers can take advantage of the full-service restaurant, which offers a comprehensive menu complete with freshly-made pizza, killer tater tots, and vegan and gluten-free options. There are also two bar areas with large screen TVs to catch the latest game and, when the weather is nice, an outdoor patio with lawn games and seating for 150+.
4. Pavek Museum
The Pavek is home to one of the world’s most significant collections of vintage radio and television equipment. A favorite of schoolchildren, visitors can learn about the history of electronic communication and the science of electromagnetism and sound. Their unique collection includes items such as a Philco Mystery Control Radio, Theremin, Magnetaphon, and a Spark Gap Generator. The museum is also home to the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
5. REM5 VR Lab
The entire family will fall in love with REM5 and their state-of-the-art virtual reality experiences. Swim with whales, visit the Eiffel Tower, paint in 3D, play baseball, have a snowball fight, take part in a zombie apocalypse and more! TV monitors allow you to follow along with the game player. VR pods are booked in half hour increments and are perfect for up to 5 people per pod. Â REM5 also makes great snacks and shareables, including flatbread pizzas, boneless wings, and cinnamon + sugar mini donuts. And for the adults in the party, there are MN craft beers, ciders, hard seltzers and wine. Open Fridays 3-9 pm and Saturdays 11 am – 7 pm.
6. Schaper Park Challenge Course
Schaper Park is home to the state’s first outdoor fitness challenge course. Loosely based on Ninja Warrior, the course allows kids and adults to race against time – and each other – through a 40-yard dash and an obstacle area. There’s also an all-inclusive play structure designed for younger children and their families of all ability levels.
📷: GameTime
7. ShowPlace ICON Theatre
Located in the heart of the West End, the ShowPlace ICON is the perfect place to watch the latest movie releases. Enjoy stadium seating and the ability to select your seats in advance. Plus, there’s ample free parking in the attached ramp. Pro tip: Become an Extras member (it’s free) and never pay convenience fees when you purchase your tickets online. So get a bucket of popcorn, sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
8. Westwood Hills Nature Center
Get back to nature at Westwood Hills Nature Center, home to 160 acres of marsh, woods and restored prairie. Try geocaching and enjoy birdwatching and wildlife spotting, including deer, turtles, fox, mink and owls, on over 3 miles of accessible trails. The eco-friendly Interpretive Center offers fun, hands-on educational programs, exhibits and live animals, including a resident red-tailed hawk, American kestrel and a barred owl.
Bonus! Canvas Convergence
Don’t be fooled! Come interact with all the 3D illusion murals at Canvas Convergence at The Shops at West End. The art in this gallery changes with the seasons. Sit in a nest filled with dinosaur eggs – but watch out for their parents. Dine at a table for two in the streets of an Italian village. Or maybe dangle on the edge of an ice ravine! The artwork is wheelchair accessible and some of the pieces will incorporate audio for those with visual impairments. A dedicated classroom space offers fun, creative classes and there is a gift shop filled with amazing art and products. Admission is free.
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