Any child who is curious about the natural world would enjoy a visit to one or more Minnesota's seven zoos, the largest of which is the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, encompassing 500 acres and housing approximately 2,900 animals. Kids can also interact with scaly, slithery and slimy members of the animal kingdom at the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Center in Owatonna. The state also boasts the largest underground aquarium in the world, Underwater Adventures Aquarium at the world-famous Mall of America in Bloomington, which is home to 5,000 marine animals, including sharks, sea turtles and stingrays. For a different aquarium experience, take your children to Duluth's Great Lakes Aquarium, which showcases species and habitats from the Great Lakes Basin and other freshwater ecosystems around the world.
Two of the most popular kid-friendly museums in Minnesota -- the Minnesota Children's Museum and the Science Museum of Minnesota -- are located in St. Paul, the state capital. The former is geared towards children between the ages of 6 months and 10 years and offers seven galleries of interactive exhibits. The Science Museum of Minnesota, one of the most popular museums in the Midwest, boasts a renowned collection of dinosaurs and fossils, including the largest of only four triceratops skeletons in the world. Children can also learn about electricity and magnetism at the Bakken Museum in Minneapolis.
Minnesota is no stranger to superlatives when it comes to amusement parks. The largest amusement park in the upper Midwest region, Valleyfair Amusement Park, is located in Shakopee, Minnesota. It offers 75 thrill rides on 90 acres and is open on select days from May through October. Minnesota is also home to the largest indoor amusement park in the world, Nickelodeon Universe, also located at the Mall of America, offering 7 acres of rides and games. On certain days, children can also meet, get autographs, and pose for photographs with some of Nickelodeon's most beloved characters, including Spongebob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer.
Collectively, Minneapolis and St. Paul comprise the epicenter of professional sports in Minnesota. Young sports enthusiasts will enjoy rooting for (or against) the state's professional teams, which include the Minnesota Twins in Major League Baseball, the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League, the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association, and the Minnesota Lynx in the Women's National Basketball Association.
