Any recommendations for where to stay in the St. Paul area? We want to take DD to the children's museum. Are there other things we should do?
It looks like there are a few hotels within walking distance of the museum, that sounds ideal. But, we're open to other options too. Please weigh in Minnesotans! 
ETA: food recs?
cherry / 196 posts
I'd definitely stay downtown near the museum - you'll be within walking distance of the river parks, most of the museums, and plenty of food. There's a nice farmer's market in lowertown on the weekend that I think a 1yo could enjoy. Como Zoo and the conservatory are also worth checking out with a little, and are a short distance away. The transportation museum is a quick stop and has a running train that kids can ride. Mears Park had free music most Thursdays in the summer.
For downtown food, the Buttered Tin is a good combo of great food and child-friendly.
persimmon / 1479 posts
@sauerkraut: thank you! Great suggestions! The farmers market is a good idea.
pear / 1881 posts
I second Como Zoo and conservatory. It's technically free and all they ask is for a donation. They are both great and the conservatory is beautiful. They also have a Japanese Garden on the grounds, as well as a lake nearby which is beautiful to walk around (Como Lake).
As far as food, Cossetta's Italian Market is near the science museum (granted not the Children's one) and has awesome pizza and other Italian foods. It's more of a take and eat there type of restaurant, but is amazing. Very popular. Kinkaids is great for seafood, Great Water Brewing has good burgers, Pazzaluna also has good Italian (but it's more upscale vs. the take and sit down eating that Cossetta's provides).
I also agree that the farmer's market is great and right next to is a new ballpark for our amateur team, the St. Paul Saints.
I'll see what else I can think of..
As far as where to stay, there is an Embassy Suites downtown that I've had family stay at before. The St. Paul Hotel is SUPER nice, but also SUPER expensive 
I think that there are quite a few options downtown. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
Heyyy!! I have lived in Minnesota my whole life! I'm not too far from St. Paul.
How long will you be in the area?
So the children's museum is currently under renovation- they open to the public june 7, I believe! So just keep that in mind because it will probably be pretty busy for the whole month of June since it's been closed for like a year.
The science museum is also in St. Paul and it's wonderful! Definitely geared towards older kids, but I think a one year old would enjoy exploring.
Como zoo is beautiful- there is a flower conservatory there and the zoo is free (donations suggested). It's a smaller zoo.
Transportation is pretty easy- you can hop on the blue line to go over to Minneapolis if you want to.
My favorite restaurants:
St. Paul: Red Cow
French meadow
Brasa
Cafe latte
Minneapolis:
The freehouse
Glam doll donuts (best donuts I've ever had!)
Spyhouse coffee
Minnehaha falls is beautiful (in Minneapolis). I love gold medal park- so much to do there! Farmers market at the Guthrie- the stone arch bridge (gorgeous!!), izzy's ice cream (the bestttt), riverside parks, juice shops- north loop is my favorite mpls neighborhood and worth the train ride over. The mill city museum is right there too.
I've only ever stayed in hotels in Minneapolis- Foshay is my favorite, but more of an upscale romantic feel. Nicollet island inn is beautiful. I'd check groupon for hotel deals!
Let me know if you have any more questions! I love MSP/STP, it's such a great place to visit that is pretty looked over.
pear / 1881 posts
@Mrs. Pen: I also grew up in St. Paul/Mpls and went to college in Mpls 
I love it too and we now live 2 hours north and I miss it SO much. There is a lot of fun stuff to do!
persimmon / 1198 posts
When is your trip? Just an FYI the children's museum is currently closed for renovations, but I think they just announced June 7th as the planned reopening. ETA: I just noticed someone else mentioned this, it is a good point it will probably be busy for a while because it has been closed for a long time!
Mall of America is a good activity if you want to be in doors for a bit and they have a fun aquarium. There's also the Crayola Experience, but your LO might be a tad bit too young to really enjoy it.
I would also recommend Como Zoo and Park. The park is a great walking area and the zoo is smaller, but still fun and a lot to look at.
I second Red Cow for food. It's one of our favorites. We also really like Colossal Cafe for breakfast. They have amazing pancakes and breakfast sandwiches! There is one near the Como Zoo, but it's on the smaller side. The Surly Beer Hall is awesome. My DH is a huge fan of their beer, so we go regularly. They have great BBQ and a great outdoor area. My DS loves running around in the grass area outside. The first time we took him he was slightly older than your LO and really enjoyed the outdoor area. We just went to New Bohiema restaurant the other night and it was really good!
persimmon / 1198 posts
@Mrs. Pen: we love the science museum, but it is definitely geared towards older kids. My son (well really all of us) can't wait for the Pixar exhibit that is coming this summer!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@bookwormmama: are you in St. Paul? I love red cow. It's usually my pick when we go for brunch- their classic hollandaise is sublime. But you can't go wrong with their burgers either- I love the manhattan 2.0.
Have you been to the free house? Another delicious spot, and they're a brewery also.
Is surly the one off university? Or is the beer hall different? I also haven't heard of colossal/ I'll have to check it out!
I didn't know the science museum will have a Pixar exhibit! How exciting.
@NorthStar: Duluth, right? I remember talking about that- I do love it up there, too!
persimmon / 1198 posts
@Mrs. Pen: yes, we live in St. Paul! We moved here about 2 years ago. We are pretty close to the Roseville area. We've never tried Red Cow for brunch, but it is on my list! We also really like Pizza Luce for brunch (and of course pizza!). Surly is off university...it's right on the boarder of STP/MSP. We love it! My DH is a big beer guy and Surly is one of his favorites.
I'll have to ask my DH if he has heard of Free House...he usually knows of these places from his coworkers/boss but forgets to mention them to me!
Colossal was on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and my DH's boss took them there when he interviewed. They have these amazing apple, walnut, Brie yeast-based pancakes. I think there are a couple locations, but we go to the one on Como Ave. DDD is actually a great STP/MSP food resource because a bunch of his crew live up here, so he comes to the area a lot!
pear / 1961 posts
@mrs. pen: we just did Brasa for the first time last weekend, and it was amazing! esp since i'm currently dairy-free.
@bookwormmama: Surly is our go-to with any visitors, and especially larger groups with kids. the outdoor space is huge and awesome for kids to run around in, it's always loud to hide my kids' shrieks, and the food & beer are great!
Selby/Dale is a great little strip to walk around and hit shops/restaurants. That's where Red Cow is over there, right? We usually go to the one in MPLS
You should definitely hit up Choo Choo Bob's if your kid is at all interested in trains/train tables. They have a storytime during the week (Tuesdays, I think) that is really cute. And there is an Izzy's ice cream right close.
We love Como, too, as others have mentioned. The zoo is small but good. Plus the rides (if you/your kid is into that) and the gardens.
For food, I'd also suggest Mucci's, but get there early! It is small and gets busy; they don't take reservations. And Happy Gnome has good food and one of the best beer selections in the Twin Cities.
Clearly we like good beer
persimmon / 1198 posts
@KayKay: yes, Surly is our go-to with guests too! I love how kid friendly it, while still being a great hang out and food spot! Their new brunch is pretty good too! There are a couple Red Cow locations, but the one we go to is over there. My DH really likes their beer selection as well.
We have yet to go to the Happy Gnome, but everyone we know recommends it. Maybe we can figure out a time to go as a date night when one of our parents are here after baby #2 comes!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@KayKay: oh I forgot about choo chop bobs!! Such a fun place.
@bookwormmama: okay I definitely need to try surly! I always wanted to- it's built literally behind my office on westgate dr! But I love the idea of a space to run around for kids- because my five year old still struggles to sit through an entire meal
Yes, pizza Luce is delicious! I delivered Logan at united and totally ordered luce for delivery in the hospital
I actually live in the NW suburbs, but love the cities so much we do go down there quite a bit. And DH works in St. Paul.
pear / 1881 posts
@Mrs. Pen: Surly is awesome! I went with a girlfriend a year ago and their food was amazing! We had these asian brussel sprouts. Yum! I can't remember what else we ate (we shared everything), but man, was it delicious.
persimmon / 1479 posts
@northstar: Nice! I like that the Embassy suites has 2 rooms. That way, if by some miracle DD goes down in a crib, DH and I can do something in the other room. I was also considering DoubleTree too. I looked into the St. Paul Hotel, but yes, expensive, haha! Cossetta's Italian Market looks fun, thank you! I also like that we could sit somewhere else and move around if DD gets restless.
@mrs. pen: Just for 2 days. We'll arrive on a Friday and leave Sunday morning. I wondered if the children's museum might be nuts since they're reopening...hmm. I'm hoping to get there right when they open on Friday and avoid some craziness? I hope the weather is nice when we go so we can check out some of the parks too
@bookwormmama: The Crayola Experience looks so cute We'll just have to make another trip when DD is older. I feel like I want to extend my trip with all of these great suggestions! Nice idea on the Como Zoo and Park. DD is very into animals right now.
@kaykay: DD is very into a train book right now, so I'll look into Choo Choo Bob's. Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to write suggestions, I love Hellobee!
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