Fun Things to Do in Stillwater, MN with Kids

If you’re looking for a family weekend getaway in the midwest, look no further than Stillwater, MN. This charming city on the banks of the St. Croix River has the best of both worlds: it’s a small town with a quaint Main Street, but it’s also part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, so you’re never too far from the action!

Before our 5 years in Minnesota and current home in Wisconsin, our family spend a few years living in Stillwater. We knew it was a special place (mostly because all of our Midwest friends told us how much they loved vacationing there), so we did our best to take advantage of dwelling in such a picturesque location.

Because we used to call Stillwater home, I have lots of opinions on the best places to grab an ice cream cone, which parks to hit up with kids, and where to get the best views of the iconic lift bridge.

Recently, I had the chance to spend a quick 24 hours in Stillwater with my youngest 2 children. When we lived there, I was a first-time mom to our oldest daughter, Pippa. I have such fond memories of our daily routines, walking routes, and lazy weekends with just one child. I was still learning how to be a stay-at-home mom, but I couldn’t have asked for a better location to navigate the ins and outs of parenting for the first time.

Now I’m a mom of 4, and my youngest, Beatrice, just turned 1. Watching her practice her new skill of walking in the same parks I used to visit when my oldest was learning to walk…well, it almost brought me to tears. (And I’m not a cryer. Motherhood has made me soft).

Having the insider knowledge of a local and now the fresh eyes of a visitor, I think I’ve put together the perfect guide for your visit to Stillwater, MN with kids. There’s so much to do, and still a few things we haven’t done (but I’ve still included them in the guide for you).

I would highly recommend taking a weekend getaway to Stillwater, MN. And if you don’t fit everything in, you’ll just have to make your way back soon! That’s my plan, anyway!

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The Ultimate Guide to Stillwater, Minnesota for Families

History of Stillwater, MN

If you’re strolling along Main Street in Stillwater, you might notice plaques places strategically around the city declaring Stillwater the “Birthplace of Minnesota.”

Stillwater became a city in 1854, and was the site of the convention where the process to make Minnesota into a state began. Apparently the meeting took place on the corner of Main and Myrtle Streets, which is crazy because our first apartment in Stillwater was located on Myrtle!

As one of the first and largest cities in Minnesota, Stillwater holds a special place in Minnesota history.

It was famous for its lumber mills during the log boom, along with access to the calm St. Croix River.

Eventually the Historic Lift Bridge was built in 1931, and still stands today. While it now serves as a pedestrian-only bridge, cars were still allowed to use it when we lived there, and it was the source of many-a traffic jam!

Weekend Getaway from the Twin Cities

Thanks to its proximity to the Twin Cities and its small town feel, Stillwater makes the perfect little weekend getaway from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Of course, being right across the river from Wisconsin also makes it a prime getaway for Wisconsin residents, and the drive isn’t too bad for families from Illinois and Iowa either.

It has all the hallmarks of a vacation town: plenty of fun restaurants, lots of shopping, hiking and biking trails, beautiful scenery year-round, and friendly residents.

Stillwater is without a doubt one of the best midwest family vacations with toddlers and young children. There’s so much to do and see with a mix of things the kids will enjoy and fun for the adults, too. After living in the area for 5 years, we can safely say it’s one of the most fun kid places in MN.

Walk the Lift Bridge

Ah, the lift bridge. We used to love watching it lift for the passing boats, and we used to hate the traffic jams it caused.

Nowadays, the Historic Lift Bridge is walking and biking bridge only, so you don’t have to worry about that anymore!

The first thing we did after arriving in town was to find a parking spot and cross the Lift Bridge into Hudson, Wisconsin.

Make sure to keep to the sides since the biking lanes are in the middle! Speaking of which, you can rent bikes and hit the St. Croix River Crossing Loop Trail! It’s just under 5 miles and will take you from the Lift Bridge to the St. Croix Crossing bridge.

The views are beautiful, and the bridge makes an iconic landmark for photos with the kids!

Play at Teddy Bear Park

I found an old picture of my oldest at Teddy Bear Park when she was 1 (on the left) and now my youngest there (on the right)!

Teddy Bear Park was our absolute favorite place to frequent with Pippa when we lived in Stillwater. It’s a completely fenced in park set in the bluffs with multiple imaginative playgrounds. There’s one for the older kids modeled after the lift bridge, one for medium sized kids that looks like a train, and a few simple and small climbing structures for toddlers.

What makes it so incredibly special, though, are the larger-than-life teddy bears around the park. Kids can climb on their laps for pictures, and it’s just the cutest thing.

There are also sand pits, so come prepared with shovels and pails, and maybe a change of clothes.

If your kids are a little older than mine, you can relax on the bleacher seating or one of the picnic tables in the shade. There are also free public restrooms here, and a sizable free parking lot across the street.

I’m just warning you, you could easily spend hours at this park, so plan accordingly!

Go Shopping on Main Street

Shopping in Stillwater, MN is such a fun experience! And this is coming from someone who does not usually like to shop.

There are so many unique local shops to browse. It’s a great way to support small businesses, too!

One of our favorite spots when we lived there was Cooks of Crocus Hill, a shop full of kitchen tools and gadgets. I’m not really even that much of a cook, but it’s fun to see all the colorful cookware and accessories. This time around I was enchanted with the Swedish dishcloths with absolutely adorable patterns. Eco-friendly and cute!

There are also tons of clothing boutiques if you’re in the mood for that, Minnesota-themed stores, a knitting shop, children’s toy stores, antique shops, and book shops.

Now, since you’re planning a family getaway, you absolutely cannot skip the candy shops. My husband always LOVED Candyland, and the kids will love the life-size Snoopy and Linus statues. Stock up on candy for your drive home!

Oh, and while you’re at Candyland, take a peek on the side wall (on the parking lot side), and pose for a photo in front of the gorgeous Stillwater mural to document your family getaway.

Enjoy the Views from Pioneer Park

Back when we lived in Stillwater, Pioneer Park was the destination for one of my usual walking routes with Pippa. I would load her up in the stroller or put her in the baby carrier and head over the narrow, hilly sidewalks until we reached this stunning park.

Pioneer Park is special because it sits atop a bluff overlooking the lift bridge and downtown area. You get sweeping views which are especially breathtaking in the fall, and a large playground to keep the kids busy.

My 4-year-old loved the climbing wall and slides, while my 1-year-old favored the swings and playhouse. We also go her to practice walking (a new skill) in the most scenic spot the park has to offer.

And don’t worry! I dug up an old photo of my oldest having a picnic in the park back in the spring of 2014. Ah, memories.

Try Larger-Than-Life Ice Cream at Nelson’s

If you’re in Stillwater with kids, you absolutely cannot skip a visit to Nelson’s Ice Cream. This beloved Stillwater institution serves the largest portions of ice cream for very affordable prices.

There are so many flavors to choose from, but my first choice is always Pirate’s Booty - a caramel ice cream with plenty of “buried treasures” like candy pieces and chocolate chunks.

If I can offer you some advice, I would urge you to get a child’s size and to share it with someone else. You might think that there would be no way a child size ice cream would be filling enough for 2 people, but you would be wrong.

Pictured below are two representations of a child size ice cream. In the picture on the left, BOTH of those cups are the same child size ice cream. The picture on the left is a child size ice cream in cone form. Monstrous. And delicious.

Hop on a Trolley Tour to Learn Stillwater’s History

One of our family’s favorite activities to try in a new city would be a trolley tour. We’ve taken them in Santa Barbara, Savannah, and Key West, and loved all of them!

We never took a Stillwater Trolley Tour while living there, but we always loved watching the red trolleys pass by while we were on our walks.

I would love to take one with the kids sometime! There are both historic tours (which is better for kids 4 and up, and story time tours that’s perfect for little kids. However, the story time tour starts midsummer, so be sure to check schedules before you book!

Have a Picnic in Lowell Park

Lowell Park is the stretch of land overlooking the St. Croix River and the Historic Lift Bridge. There is plenty of space to spread out blankets for a picnic. (By the way, this CGear Beach Mat is by far my favorite blanket for picnics because of the weighted edges. It’s a bit more expensive but so worth the splurge. We use it at the beach, at the park, in the yard - everywhere!)

If you check the lift bridge schedule you can plan your picnic around a time when the bridge lifts up to let a boat go through. The kids will love it, and it will provide lots of entertainment while you enjoy your meal.

I would stop at the River Market Co-op for picnic essentials - fresh bread, cheese, fruit and veggies, and sparkling water. It’s very close to the park and has tons of healthy and delicious options!

Get on the Water

Something else we’ve never done that might make a great addition to your Stillwater itinerary is take a riverboat cruise.

The St. Croix River is such a big part of Stillwater history and culture that it just makes sense to spend some time on this National Scenic Riverway.

Whether you take a lunch or dinner cruise on one of the authentic paddlewheel boats, hire a gondola, rent a boat, or try your hand at stand up paddle boarding, there is something for every family to do on the water.

Climb the Historic Stairs

Climb the Main Street Stairs Stillwater.jpg

View from Main Street Stairs Stillwater.jpg

Maybe you’ve enjoyed one too many Nelson’s Ice Creams or just finished a big meal at Nacho Mamas and you need to get some exercise to improve your digestion.

Head over to the Historic Main Street Stairs for a climb that will make your legs feel like jello but reward you with sweeping views of the river, downtown Stillwater, and the lift bridge.

My four-year-old made a game out of counting the steps but got lost somewhere around “twenty eleventeen.” I think there are around 100 steps according to the guy who was heading down the stairs as we made our way to the top.

Best Restaurants in Stillwater, MN

Nacho Mamas

This is hands-down my #1 recommendation for dinner in Stillwater with kids. We went to Nacho Mamas all. the. time when we lived there, and never got sick of it.

You’re going to want to order the nachos. They are HUGE, and you could easily share with one or two other people and it would be a filling meal.

The margaritas are also jumbo sized, and delicious, of course.

There are certainly options for kids, and you can choose to dine inside or outside.

Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop

This was the very first restaurant we ate at when we moved to Stillwater. It’s your classic old-fashioned malt shop with hamburgers, waffle fries, chicken tenders, sandwiches, ice cream, and, naturally, malts and shakes.

I mean, what’s not to love?

Made Coffee

If you need your caffeine fix before you kick off your day, duck into Made Coffee for a hot cup of Joe or a fresh pressed juice. It’s part of the Lora Hotel, but you can enter from the street.

River Market Co-Op

We frequent the Co-op back in our Stillwater days because it simply offers the best healthy options in the area. If you’re a fan of grocery shopping when you arrive in a new city, make this your first stop.

They’ve got snacks, fresh bread, soups, and any supermarket options you could think of.

Victorianos NY Style Pizza

This is kind of a hole-in-the-wall pizza shop on Main Street, but we loved grabbing a slice here on a summer afternoon!

The slices are gigantic and pretty affordable, so this makes a casual and quick bite if you’re in between activities and don’t want a full sit-down meal.

Places to Stay in Stillwater, MN

I can’t speak to hotels with authority since we never actually had to stay in a Stillwater hotel! This past visit was only 24 hours and we stayed in this hotel about 20 minutes outside of town.

Some local options include:

Lowell Inn

The Lowell Inn is a historic hotel located just steps from Main Street in downtown Stillwater. This is another Stillwater landmark that I passed daily on our walks, and always dreamed of staying here. It looks so stately and charming from the outside!

>> see current rates here

Water Street Inn

Water Street Inn overlooks the St. Croix River, and from what I can tell seems to have more of a romantic couples vibe. It does have a few 2 room suites, though, if you’re looking to fit your whole family and stay in a very convenient location within walking distance of the action.

>> see current rates here.

AmericInn

If you’re looking for a low-key place to rest your head at night with free hot breakfast, look no further than AmericInn. It’s a very short drive (5 minutes or so) from the downtown area. It also has a pool and plenty of room configurations for families.

>> check current rates here

Stillwater, Minnesota is one of the best midwest family vacations with toddlers and little kids!

There are so many fun activities, including indoor fun, parks, hiking, biking, history, and shopping. You’ll find plenty to do for a weekend getaway, and I guarantee you’ll want to come back for more!