Four Minnesota Nature Centers You have to Try this winter!

We are quickly approaching winter in Minnesota, whether we like it or not! One of our family’s favorite places to visit as it gets colder outside are nature centers. Not only are they usually free, but they also offer activities for the kids inside and lots of nature to see outside. If things get too cold or uncomfortable outside, then you can easily go back inside to the nature center. Here are four of our favorite nature centers in Minnesota:

Eastman Nature Center- Maple Grove

Part of the Three Rivers Park District, Eastman Nature Center has a variety of things for families to explore. We have visited here twice and both times were a hit with my kids. Within the main part of the nature center, there are a few animals, a bird viewing area, a puppet area, some books, and some play areas. As kids grow older, there is a lot of educational content available, which my son loved reading. From the bird viewing area, we were able to see many different birds and five turkeys. My kids love their outdoor play area, which is complete with a mud kitchen, a mailbox, a cute table and chairs, and lots of natural play items. Trails are beautiful here and if the weather is nice, Elm Creek Park Reserve is very close to Eastman. It’s a perfect park for all ages. There are so many special little details about Eastman that make it a great spot to visit with your kids, such as walking sticks available, a container of caterpillars turning into butterflies, and an owl to visit outside.

Richardson Nature Center- Bloomington

This has been our absolute favorite nature center for years. So many people talk about how much they love the Chutes and Ladders (Hyland) Park in Bloomington, but what they don’t realize is an amazing nature center is seriously minutes from this park. We have visited this nature center many times during every season and it truly never disappoints! They have wonderful programs for all to participate in and often, everything is free or very low cost. During the pandemic, they sold amazing nature kits for kids that we still take on adventures. Their services are just above and beyond!

Outdoors, the paths are beautiful here and full of all different types of nature. My kids love the outdoor natural play area, complete with a mud kitchen and two fort areas built with sticks. Personally, I love their boardwalks. During our walks here, we almost always see some sort of animal, from turtles to egrets to fish to snakes. There are many paths and despite our many hikes here, we have not been on every trail yet. An outdoor ampitheater is also, a beautiful destination for picnics or a quick snack.

Indoors, Richardson has a microscope, puzzles, books, a puppet show, several live birds, some snakes, turtles, and amphibians, a bird viewing area with rocking chairs, and, an exhibit of a honey bee hive. It appeals to both young kids (even under a year) all the way up to older kids. My kids enjoy using the binoculars and trying to identify birds in the viewing area. There is also, a table in this area that you can have a picnic if it’s too chilly outside. Overall, this is such a great location to visit at all times of the year.

Quarry Hill Nature Center- Rochester

When we found out about this nature center and their programs to find fossils, we knew we had to go for our dinosaur-loving son. Both times we visited, my son absolutely adored everything about the location. From the actual program we attended for finding fossils to the animals to the beautiful hiking to the information available inside the nature center, this place is top-level. The first time we visited, the program we had signed up for ended up being rained out. We got out our rain gear and decided to hike anyway. Despite the rain, it was such an amazing experience! The views of the quarry are beautiful and the nature center kept our kids occupied for awhile when we came inside to dry off.

When we visited again, the program was perfect! The leader was so informative and we learned skills that we can still use today. My son regularly finds fossils now just from attending this program. It was a perfect mix of hiking, learning, and exploring for fossils. Quarry Hill allows you to take any fossils that you find that are smaller than your fist. This is a super exciting part for kids! At the time, our middle child was 2. Classes are geared towards older children, but she was used to hiking, so the class was no problem, but I would suggest deciding what is best for your family and their ages. Inside the nature center, there is a large aquarium, many hands-on learning opportunities, and a variety of other live animals. There is also, a nature viewing area here too that my kids enjoyed watching. Definitely a place to visit! If you visit, make sure you stop at Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo in Byron! Also, check out this post for more to do in Rochester!

Jay C. Hormel Nature Center- Austin

Another great nature center! When we arrived, we were shocked to see how much there was to do inside this nature center. A little climbing area, several animals, a tracing area, a sensory area, a book nook, a night sky exhibit, and a climbing area were some of my kid’s favorites. At the time we visited, there was also, a scavenger hunt which my kids enjoyed.

After exploring inside the nature center, we took a hike. I love when hikes provide several different kinds of scenery instead of everything the same. This hike is one of those with different landscapes. We got to hike by a creek, through woods, and some prairie land. My kids love to get close to creeks so, they can skip rocks and rock jump. Often, when there are bodies of water, that means bridges! Jay C. Hormel had several bridges that the kids loved crossing and playing on. We had made hiking necklaces for this nature center and my kids loved nibbling their snacks off the hiking necklaces as we walked. Another part of this nature center that I loved was that all paths we went on were stroller friendly. As most of us with kids know, sometimes your hikes don’t go the way you anticipate. Most of the trails allowed for you to determine how far and how long you wanted to hike. If you’re looking for more to do in the Austin area, check out this post!

As we approach winter, I hope you can enjoy some of these spots! They contain wonderful opportunities to see nature, learn, and explore all for free. Happy adventures!