The 10 best science and space museums in Saint Paul

One of my favorite museums growing up going on school field trips. Went back on my 24th birthday and still loved it 😁 I'm a little disappointed they removed the upstairs restaurant though because that was my favorite and the cafe isn't the same otherwise it was awesome. 10/10 recommend for all ages

A Fantastic, Educational, and Fun Experience for All Ages! I recently visited the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul, and it was truly a wonderful experience. This museum is a perfect blend of education and entertainment, offering something for everyone — from curious kids to inquisitive adults. The exhibits are not only informative but also incredibly engaging. You can tell a lot of thought and care has gone into designing each section to make science accessible, hands-on, and fun. One of the highlights for me was the dinosaur exhibit. The fossil displays were impressive, especially the triceratops skeleton, and the interactive stations explaining paleontology were great for kids and adults alike. Another standout was the Human Body Gallery, which had fascinating displays on anatomy, health, and even real preserved organs (not for the squeamish, but definitely educational!).The museum also features rotating exhibits — when I visited, there was one about climate change and sustainability that was both eye-opening and hopeful. It didn’t just present the problems, but also showed real-world solutions and how people can take action. The staff and volunteers were friendly, knowledgeable, and always ready to answer questions or guide you through the exhibits. Everything was clean and well-maintained, and there were plenty of places to sit, snack, or take a break. The gift shop and café were also enjoyable additions to the experience. If you're in the Twin Cities area, this museum is absolutely worth a visit. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, the Science Museum of Minnesota is an enriching destination that makes learning truly enjoyable!

This is a wonderful hands on interactive science museum with so many fun places for kids and adults to learn. The IMAX movie was fantastic. Dinosaurs and the human body exhibits were excellent. Have a nice lunch on the Mississippi River.

I was surprised I had to pay for entrance since every other state I've lived in was free. $60 for me and the kid. Kids hotdog was $12 for just a regular old dog. Double Smash burger was $20. Way over priced place I think. Other than that they are a very nice museum. The T.Rex Imax was great. 8yo loved it. Not over crowded and very clean. I actually like St Paul much better than Minneapolis.

Worth the visit! Family of 4 (including 15yo & 10yo) spent 3 hours here and truthfully could have easily spent 4 hours covering the 3 floors of hands on fun. * get tickets ahead of time and avoid the entrance bottleneck * we paid $19 to park next door in river view parking lot.

Absolutely amazing, I visited it a month ago during a summer camp with my friends, and I love the interactive exhibits!

What an experience. We went with our kids and figured it would be an hour or two. It was a whole half day excursion. There are so many different activities and things to look at and do. It's absolutely a great place to visit and well worth the time

Nasty outside? Spend the day here. All ages will enjoy these exhibits. Whether it's your first or fifty-fifth time there is always something new to discover. Arrive at 9am or later 2 hours before close for the most quiet time. You'll need at least an hour and a half to truly discover everything but older kids can blast through things quite quickly. The ages that will enjoy this the most are 3-12 but anyone with an open mind will have a great time. Please make sure to use hand sanitizer frequently to avoid spreading germs. Validate your parking ticket at the desk inside MCM.

My children had a great experience. So much to explore. We can't wait to go back. I did order tickets in advance online, it was very easy and convenient. My 7 year old daughter says the best part of the museum was the city room with the post office, grocery store, and other play areas. My 1 year old son loved the room with the ping pong balls.

It was well worth the money. There are several areas for the children to play in and so many different things for them to do. It’s very stimulating for the children and they can play here for hours would definitely come again.

My first visit there, even though I was taking all precautions, even as an adult I got hands, feet and mouth disease there. Bad case of it. They do not do a good job of sanitizing. It's great they have hand sanitizers everywhere but both times I visited (total 2), I didn't see anyone wiping down anything. In fact there was a scrunched up dirty paper towel in the the 3/under play area and I told the worker, he just picked it up with his bare hands and never wiped down the surface. Just returned to his employee room that is there in that area. I gave it 4 stars because it's a super fun place!! I did have issues with my welcome (member) email coming through. I spoke with 3 people then they re sent it. I recommend checking the site for parking info, special events, etc when planning your trip. One thing it will mention is bring a pair of extra clothes/shoes because there is a lot of water play there.

This place is great! My niece had a great time and burned off a ton of energy running around. I loved all the signage encouraging ages 1 to 100+ to enjoy different parts of the museum. I appreciated that in almost every area, there was an older kid version and a younger kid version which made the museum really diverse. Highly recommend the ball launcher area!

We always get the yearly pass! It’s a trek from the south metro but honestly it’s worth it for a full day of activities and all in one place. We went to the Halloween event this year and although their socials stated they were sold out with limited tickets available for walk-in. We walked in and there were consistently 2 people in line (which moved fast as they were properly staffed). The staff member who helped us get tickets advised that the tickets weren’t really limited as it’s hard to turn away kids with costumes! We checked in, it was definitely busy so keep your littles close. They had their normal play stations open along with trick or treat at every corner handing out handful of candies. They also had extra activities like make your own Chex mix, Halloween bingo, build your own glow in the dark crown, light up ghosts (out of modeling clay), build a spider ring, etc. It’s always fun for the kids and they had curious George theme in their seasonal playroom.

The best children's museum I've been to! Mutlilevels, highly interactive, sensory materials, and fun themes throughout. We were fortunate to come during the Wild Kratts exhibit which my daughter loves. Be prepared to bring a few change of clothes as there is water play areas. Our highlights were the special exhibit, lasers, and car wash!

One of the best venues to see a concert at. I have been to more than one concerts here and the sound at all of them has been unmatched. The arena feels so intimate despite its capacity. Truly amazing! (For reference I have sat on the floor for all concerts!)

Super fun watching big time rush concert with my daughter. We had great seats. I felt bad for the people at the back and way high up because they didn’t have screens going around the stadium—just the ones up front. Also there was no iced coffee that night—kind of a bummer. Sound quality was great (aka deafening). I’ll need to remember my ear plugs next time!

Visiting from out of town, and this stadium was very nice! Enjoy our experience here, and would return if I had the chance. People were very kind, Michelob golden beer with souvenir cup was like $13 so heads up. Parking is an issue here, unless you wanna pay $30 across the street.

This was our first time to watch the Wild at Grand Casino Arena. It seems there is not a bad seat in the rink. Plenty of bathrooms and convenience stands for everyone. Everywhere seems clean and safe with the presence of police throughout and outside the arena. Lastly, it's very easy to get into and exit, with a helpful, friendly staff.

Great venue. Very clean and tidy; the staff were all super welcoming and friendly. Seats are tight, but what do you expect from a sports venue? Food selection was above what I expected. I will say they just bend you over with the price of a beer, but once again, it's kinda expected.

Great Experience!! Went for a Wild Hockey Game!! It was a packed House!! They had a $6 happy hour before the Game. The Seats were comfortable, Great views of the Ice. Highly suggest going to a game if your in St Paul.

Had a great time visiting the newly renamed facility (formerly Xcel Center) to see a Maroon 5 concert. Sat in section 107, leg room was virtually non-existent. Sound & sightlines were wonderful.

I really enjoyed this museum. There’s an entry fee, so you might want to buy your ticket online ahead of time to save some time. The parking lot is small. When we arrived, there weren’t any spots available, so we had to park a bit down the street in front of a big field and walk to the museum. There are lots of exhibits, but I think the mammoth is the star of the show. It was interesting to see what beavers used to look like; they looked like giant rats to me, lol.

So glad I stopped in to explore the Bell Museum during my travels on Friday morning. My first visit at its new location on the edge of the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus that opened in July of 2018 (I know, better late than never). The exhibits are quite exceptional. With its relocation from Minneapolis, the museum was expanded significantly to include a planetarium, education wing, and touch & see lab. The landscaping was also upgraded with sustainable native plants, a geology area, and a solar station. The best part was watching the staff and volunteers in action sharing their knowledge with excited kids who showed up with parents, grandparents and school teachers. Made me smile big time. “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles to it.” ~ Margaret Fuller

We held our wedding ceremony and reception at the Bell Museum and can't recommend it as a venue enough! The Bell is a beautiful location that has proved to be a picturesque location for capturing our event in photos, the staff are all kind courteous and professional, and our guests were obsessed with over how cool of a venue it was for a wedding. Laura and Korra were exceptionally helpful when it came to planning and hosting the event. Laura walked us through the process of planning step-by-step so that when the big day came it ran exactly to plan and we had zero issues whatsoever. Korra provided excellent day of support and was helpful in answering all of our questions as the event unfolded. If you are planning a wedding or event that involves children as guests, or adults who just want to have something fun to do between the festivities, we can't recommend the Bell Museum enough. You will have zero regrets, and your guests will rave over the fun and inviting venue.

very interesting science museum with awesome dioramas of minnesota nature. the planetarium movie "we are guardians" was fun and informative. love the cute gift shop items (not too expensive)!

Informative, educational, and a wide variety of exhibits. Accommodating, spacious, and gorgeous gardens. Wonderful gift shop. An excellent time for any science lover.

Great natural history museum! The exhibits were awesome to see. I especially enjoyed the fossils and collections in the Touch & See Lab and their wildlife dioramas upstairs. I really loved that many exhibits focused on Minnesota's natural history—it’s always great to learn more about our state. On top of their other exhibits, the Bell Museum features a planetarium where they play educational shows throughout the day. We saw the “Supervolcanoes” show during our visit and it was really neat to watch on the domed screen. The building itself is also very interesting architecturally and fun to be in. I enjoyed the museum as an adult but I'm sure this would also be a fun trip for families—in particular, I'm sure kids would get a kick out of the animals and digital microscopes in the Touch & See Lab. Overall, I definitely recommend paying a visit to the Bell Museum!

Bell Museum is a pretty chill spot! definitely underrated! If you’re into nature, space, or just cool stuff in general, you’ll vibe with this place. They’ve got neat exhibits about Minnesota wildlife, plus a sweet planetarium that’s honestly mind-blowing. Staff’s friendly and laid-back, happy to nerd out with you if you’re curious. Bonus points for being Insta-worthy—tons of photo ops here. It’s not massive, so it’s perfect for a casual visit without overwhelming you. Parking’s usually easy, too. Totally worth checking out, especially if you’re bored of typical museum vibes. I went there when there was an October star party, we looked through high-powered telescopes at astronomical objects (I saw comets and Venus!) Will update my review later when I back to visit the Museum again!

Fort Snelling State Park is an interesting spot if you happen to be in the Twin Cities. Tucked away near the rivers, it offers a chance to step out of the city chaos and into nature for a walk or hike. You’ll find peaceful trails, wildlife, and a unique setting where history and nature meet. While there’s no camping within this park, other state parks and campgrounds are close by, making it a nice day stop if you’re exploring the area.

July 2 2025 Beautiful day to learn about history. Barely anyone else there. All the staff were very friendly, helpful and compassionate. The golf cart ride from the visitor center to the historic building very much appreciated, definitely helped us save our energy to be able to walk around in the heat and the drivers were great conversationalist. We didn’t have to wait in any lines or for anything. Easy breezey visit.

Fort snelling was very interesting. I've seen a lot of forts and military places. This one's unique. Not only the way it was designed. But where it was how it was used. Really interesting.

Honestly it doesn’t look as pretty as the pictures I saw before. The bushes in the surrounding are high and doesn’t seem to be well taken care. I come on Wednesday when Google said open but it was actually closed. It’s really hard to see the beauty & the story when you can’t get inside

Interesting place, historic fort. There are countless miles of gorgeous hiking & biking trails.

I used to come here as a kid on school field trips and thought it was okay, but coming back as an adult was fascinating! Did you know there were slaves here? Neither did I, this area was part of the Union and slavery was illegal. Dred Scott lived at this fort and you can even see his room and get a history lesson on his life and the decision that bears his name. The views of the river are wonderful and there is a fabulous visitor center that offers up a lot of history on the area. This is a must see stop if you love history.

Really cool fort with a nice history, there are placards telling information about the fort you are looking at and they have people dressed in time period clothes giving details and walk through. Worth the stop.

I'm not sure if posting pictures of the Museum is allowed, so if it is not allowed please let me and I'll take them down. A very nice museum! Great art! It made me contemplate the lives of Native Americans, both now and before. Truly a great visit and one I'd go to again!

I liked the quick trip through the Minnesota Museum of Art in Saint Paul. Two exhibit rooms open with interesting art in both. The one room called together was a brilliant idea to couple together adult and children created art.

So this place is very hard to find ,( There is a sign you will have to follow)also would recommend to go on a Sunday to avoid crowds and parking. The art is beautiful to see but yes the workers there will follow you around that I dislike. At most you can finish a walk through of the musuem 20-30 minutes max.

A lovely space oddly placed in DT. No entry fee. Handicapped access, large bathrooms, and staff were congenial. Upon initial entry you don't realize how expansive it is. The exhibit "Queering Indigenity" was not only beautiful artistically but historically instructive! We spent 90 min in 2 exhibit sections and then realized we would have to return at a later date to complete. If you want to discuss the art over dessert you'll have to find another venue, if it's after 3pm or weekend.

What a fabulous collection of works. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff.

The "M" is a jewel box of lovely art, in a historic St Paul building, and well worth several hours. Admission is free, and the galleries are filled with gorgeous art by (primarily) Minnesota artists, including many indigenous artists. We plan to go back since new gallery space is being developed, and new shows are coming soon. Park in the First National Bank ramp and take the skyway across to the museum.

A little underwhelming in size, but the artwork they have is diverse and beautiful. It's fun that they have included some of the beautiful history of the building. Looking forward to going back when their next expansion is complete.

A nice bright and citrusy cup of light roast drip. A nice quiet space with excellent natural light and a chill atmosphere on the day of my visit. Unfortunately, there is no self-service sugar or cream if you’re a vile heathen like me who puts said substances in ones own drip coffee.

Got an oatmilk matcha that really tasted only of oat milk & vanilla but honestly, the clean bathrooms, gorgeous flowers on all tables, & the cute neighborhood market outside made up for it. Would go back & try another drink if in the area.

Backstory might just serve the best coffee in the Twin Cities. I picked up a bag, and after a few weeks of resting, it tasted even better—rich, complex, and incredibly well-balanced. You can taste the care and craft in every cup. Highly recommended.

The staff were friendly, the neighborhood is pretty chill, and my drink is delicious. It’s spendy, but most coffee drinks are nowadays. It’s a nice treat and worth a visit.

Coffee very strong in all the right ways. Pastries look straight out of a food magazine. Lots of construction, but worth navigating the safety cones for a delicious experience.

Have been working on the West Side for about 2 years now, but just started coming here pretty regularly over the last couple of weeks before work. A nice, quaint shop with an always friendly staff. My go-to has been the maple latte. It just tastes like fall to me.

Just had the worst coffee shop experience. I brought in my reusable 20oz mug. I work in the city and try and get out and support local business, I ordered a dark roast which came to $6.32, a little more than I’m used to spending for a 20oz drip coffee, but hey, I’m supporting a local business. I get my cup back from the barista and it’s half full. The server puts my mug on the counter and walks away. I confirmed the person said “$6.32” which they confirmed and walked away. Looking at my half filled cup of coffee, I asked for the receipt as I’m looking at the price on their menu and it just doesn’t make sense to me. The server prints the receipt which shows $4.75 16oz Feature Batch Brew and 20oz mug fill (extra $1), now I’m really confused staring at a half cup of coffee and being up charged. I asked the server if they will fill my cup as I was charged for a 20oz mug. The server looked at me as if I was being rude, took my cup put a few more ounces in set my cup down and walked away. I guess I’ll be spending my money at an establishment that appreciates my money.