28 Awesome Things To Do in Stillwater, MN in 2024

Thinking of going to Stillwater, Minnesota for a charming small-town getaway? Let me tell you, you’re in for a treat! There are so many incredible things to do in Stillwater that will make you fall in love with this town. They sure did for me!

My husband and I visited this picturesque birthplace of Minnesota and had an incredible time exploring the sights here. We explored this area of Minnesota with the Minnesota tourism board, and they equipped us with the best things to do in Stillwater and the surrounding areas. (But I’m not being paid to write this article, and all opinions are my own!)

This historic river town truly amazed me. As a travel blogger and photographer, I love discovering beautiful places and nature. And Stillwater definitely qualifies!

Don’t just take my word for it… Stillwater is one of Forbes Magazine’s top 10 “Prettiest Towns in America.” And there are plenty of wonderful attractions to explore in Stillwater that make it worthy of this moniker!

In this article, I’ll list the best things to do in Stillwater, Minnesota, which you can use as a guide for planning your own trip!

1. Explore Main Street- One of the Best Things to Do in Stillwater!

If you’re not familiar with Stillwater, let’s begin on Main Street. Exploring Main Street is one of the best things to do in Stillwater because it’s the beautiful downtown hub here.

Ideally, you’d stay somewhere along Main Street or one of its historic downtown side streets. That way, you can walk and explore the town’s best shops and eateries! It’s an incredibly walkable town, which is best utilized when staying around Main Street.

So, when you first get to Stillwater, go for a stroll and familiarize yourself with the town. That’s one of my favorite ways to get my bearings in a new place!

And as you go around this bustling street, you’ll find boutique shops, local breweries, tasty restaurants, coffee shops, and more.

2. Have Fun at Teddy Bear Park

Traveling with little ones? Teddy Bear Park is one of the best things to do in Stillwater for families with small children.

This urban park is ideal for children up to seven years old. We loved watching our son James enjoy himself- we found ourselves here several times on our trip to Stillwater!

At Teddy Bear Park, kids can climb a tree house with slides, climb aboard a giant (stationary) train, and even climb on a giant teddy bear statue!

No wonder this adorable park has been voted one of the Best Playgrounds in Minnesota!

It’s also conveniently located a couple of blocks away from downtown Stillwater, so it’s an easy walk if you’re staying downtown.

Hours: 8 am to 8 pm mid-April to mid-October

Entrance: Free and open to the public

3. Visit the St Croix Boom Site

There are three highway exits one right after another: the Overlook, the Historical Marker, and the Wayside. The first one will bring you to a scenic overlook of the town. This spot is best for seeing Stillwater atop the St. Croix River. I took this photo with my 24-120mm lens at full zoom, so the town is pretty far away. However, it’s still a beautiful sight! You can see what’s in my camera bag here!

The next two exits really lead to basically the same place- I recommend taking the Historical Marker exit instead of the Wayside exit since that’ll give you the most convenient parking for accessing the stairs.

At the Historical Marker exit, you’ll see a giant stone plaque explaining the history here. If you keep driving/walking to the north end of that parking lot, you’ll see a set of stairs that will take you down to the water.

We simply enjoyed being right up by the water, but there’s a little cave to explore here if you walk to your right, or a waterfall if you hike to the left. Since the water level was really high when we visited, we couldn’t hike to the cave or the waterfall, but I hope to do this next time!

4. Ride a Private Gondola

In the mood for a ride on the scenic St. Croix River? Book a cruise with Gondola Romantica and experience Stillwater’s views mixed with the romance of Venice. It’s one of the best things to do in Stillwater if you’re looking for a bit of romance.

The gondola we rode in was made in Venice, Italy in 1991 and brought to Stillwater specifically for these gondola rides!

You can book a daytime cruise or an evening cruise. It leaves right at the docks by downtown Stillwater.

This activity is great if you go with your significant other or with friends or family. Harrison wore James in our baby carrier and he did pretty well. However, I don’t think this activity is great for families with little kids; I don’t think we’d be able to do this once he’s too big to be worn!

Length: 45 minutes

Fee: $119.95 for two plus tax. Additional person is $35 plus tax.

5. Bike Down Brown’s Creek Trail

Brown’s Creek Trail is a 5.9-mile-long trail that is situated on a former railroad. It serves as a connection to local parks and trail systems, so you can go through this trail as you venture on to other beautiful attractions in Stillwater!

This trail is particularly for pedestrian use and nonmotorized riding. Bike, skate, or even horseback ride to enjoy this trail – the choice is yours!

You can rent a bike from Herman Electric Bikes located in the back of Greenbridge Coffee Shop on Main Street. While walk-in bike rentals are allowed, you might want to call in advance to make sure they have bikes available! Bike pricing is $40 for 1 hour, $50 for 2 hours, and $60 for 3 hours.

Brown’s Creek Trail Entrance: You’ll need a horse pass if you’re horseback riding. Otherwise, there are no fees or passes required.

6. Hop On Board the Stillwater Trolley Company

One of the best things to do in Stillwater for those looking to learn about its history is to hop aboard the Stillwater Trolley.

You can join a 45-minute historic tour for a narration of Stillwater’s humble beginning as a lumber town. Learn about its history and old folklore while catching beautiful views along the St. Croix River Valley.

Through this tour, you’ll also be able to see the Historic Stillwater lift bridge which was constructed in 1931. This historic bridge is a rare and significant surviving example of a Waddle and Harrington-type construction of a vertical-lift highway bridge. The St. Croix River Crossing Loop Trail passes through it. It’s also part of the Stillwater Cultural Landscape District, making it one of 250 properties that contribute to the town’s significance.

If you’re touring with the kids, you might like taking the Storytime Trolley instead. This is where stories come alive as they are read to passengers in a creative way! The Storytime Trolley wasn’t running yet when we visited Stillwater, but the next time we’re here we plan to take James on it! This tour will be available beginning June 3, 2023.

Historic Tour: $14 for adults, $13 for seniors 62 and over/military, $8 for children 16 and under. This tour is not recommended for children 3 and under.

Storytime Trolley: $6.50 per person and reservations are required.

7. Visit Warden’s House Museum

This museum serves as an interesting window to Stillwater’s past. It’s one of the best things to do in Stillwater for history lovers!

Warden’s House Museum was built in 1853 as the house of the Minnesota Territorial Prison Warden, and it became the home of thirteen succeeding wardens since then. It was sold to the Washington County Historical Society in 1941, and in the same year, it was opened as the second house museum in Minnesota.

Today, you’ll be able to see its 14 rooms decorated in the late 19th and 20th-century style. Some rooms look like those from an upper-middle-class Victorian household, while others serve as exhibits that showcase notable events in Washington County history. This includes the 1965 St. Croix Valley Flood and the Old Stillwater Prison.

Hours: Thursday to Sunday. Guided tours are available each hour from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Fee: $8 for adults, $3 for children (ages 6-17)

8. Washington County Historic Courthouse

This historic place is the longest-standing courthouse in Minnesota, which has served as a county seat for more than 100 years!

Aside from the self-guided and guided tours that you can avail here, Washington County Historic Courthouse also hosts some fun activities like scavenger hunts, interactive biography boxes and timelines, and creating your own comic strip or story about people or animals that lived in historic places.

Hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm weekdays, 10 am to 4:30 pm weekends

Fee: None, but they appreciate donations!

Stillwater Farmer’s Market

Also, on Saturdays from 7:30 to noon from June through October, you’ll find the Stillwater Farmer’s Market just across the street from the courthouse!

9. Go Fruit Picking (Seasonal)

Aamodt’s Apple Farm

If you’re in Stillwater in the fall, apple picking is a great activity! Minnesota Honeycrisp apples are some of the finest in America, and you can experience picking your very own right at Aamodt’s Apple Farm!

Their Apple Barn also offers pre-picked apples if you don’t want to pick your own. And if you don’t have enough time on your trip to drop by, you can also shop online! They also sell the most amazing butter and jams around!

Hours: Friday – Saturday, 12 to 8 pm, Sunday 12 to 6 pm, Monday to Thursday – Closed

Blueberry Fields of Stillwater

If you’re in Stillwater in July, how about some blueberry picking? Blueberry Fields of Stillwater offers U-Pick blueberries. This fun Stillwater activity is great for couples, friends, families with small children, and more!

10. Cruise On the St. Croix River

Getting out on the water is one of the best things to do in Stillwater. You’ll get to really experience this charming river town!

Stillwater River Boats

Come mid-May, Stillwater River Boats offers public cruises along the St. Croix.

Their most popular option is their Lunch Cruise, which features a build-your-own deli sandwich buffet along with potato salad, fresh fruit, and a cookie. This two-hour sailing runs Monday through Saturday from 11:30-1:30.

Fees: $34.65 for ages 13 and up and $24.90 for ages 4-12.

Lady Chateau

For an epic culinary experience, it’s hard to top dinner aboard the Midwest’s premiere charter yacht!

Lady Chateau Chartered Cruises offers you the chance to travel the St. Croix River in style with dinner and a view. They don’t offer individual tickets so this is a good activity if you’re visiting Stillwater with a group.

Each trip lasts about 3 hours. You can split that time between the main salon where the bar and buffet areas are, or on the top deck for spectacular views of the town and river!

11. Go Shopping

Shopping is a very popular Stillwater activity!

Main Street has more than 50 unique and independent owner-operated stores. They range from clothing to art galleries to culinary specialty shops.

Brick + Linen, pictured above, was one of my favorite shops to browse- I love how they’ve curated their selections! Stillwater Olive Oil is another must.

Whether you’re looking for a fun Swedish dishcloth (if you haven’t tried them yet, they are magical), a piece of artwork, a candle, or whatever, Stillwater’s Main Street has plenty of options.

Whatever souvenir you want to buy for yourself or your loved ones back home, you’re sure to find it here. I came home with a baseball cap and a cropped tee from Lakebound Clothing Co!

The best thing about the shops on Main Street, to me, is that you know you’re shopping local, small businesses.

Though most stores are open throughout the week, the best time to shop Main Street is from 11am to 5pm from Thursday to Sunday- pretty much everything is open in this time frame!

Fun fact: Minnesota clothing purchases are tax-exempt!

12. Go Antiquing

Sure, this could fit into the “go shopping” umbrella above. But I think it deserves its own section on this list of things to do in Stillwater because the town is known for it! Fodor’s Travel rated Stillwater as one of the Top 10 Best Antiquing Towns in the U.S.!

American Gothic Antiques has not one but two floors of antiques with an emphasis on Civil War-era relics. Just opposite of it, you’ll find Midtown Antique Mall which is especially great for furniture and rare collectible antiquing. Lastly, you’ll love Let There Be Light Antiques if you’re specifically searching for antique lamps.

13. Wine Tasting at Saint Croix Vineyards

Some of the best wines in Minnesota can be found right in Stillwater – particularly at Saint Croix Vineyards!

You can sample their wines by joining their 90-minute private tours or doing a wine tasting.

Stretch your legs a bit and tour their picturesque vineyards, or even enjoy some live music on Saturday afternoons if you’re in the area. They also host a couple of fun events each year.

Hours: from June-December they are open daily from 10am to 6pm; other months have seasonal hours.

14. Fly in a Hot Air Balloon

If taking a hot air balloon ride is on your bucket list, cross it off with Stillwater Balloons! They operate all year round!

Enjoy this picturesque Minnesotan town from high above the ground, an experience you’ll never forget! Though we didn’t have time for this activity, I’ve gone hot air ballooning in Seattle and Albuquerque and can assure you that it’s an epic experience! (The photo above is from my Seattle experience.)

Stillwater Balloons launches its hot air balloons a few blocks from the St. Croix River, and as you land, you’ll get to celebrate via a Champagne toast and an engraved champagne flute as a keepsake!

They also offer private flights, so you can enjoy some alone time with a loved one if you prefer.

It’s one of the coolest activities you can do in Stillwater!

Price: $295 per person; private flights are $885 per couple

15. Browse Stillwater’s Bookstores

While Stillwater has several bookstores, there are two bookstores on Main Street that stand out: Black Letter Books and Valley Bookseller.

Black Letter Books

We visited Black Letter Books with our son and were impressed by how many classic children’s books were there! They also sell literature, poetry, and books on art, photography, and local history. And a neat thing about this bookshop is that they sell books of all prices… from $1 to thousands of dollars! You’ll find gently used books, antique books, fine bindings, and first editions here!

Valley Bookseller

Valley Bookseller has a relaxing atmosphere with a seating area in the back in case you want to read while you’re there. Don’t know what you want to read? Their staff gives great recommendations!

16. Relax at Amazing Hotels

There are many excellent hotels and bed & breakfasts that you can stay at in Stillwater. I personally love how downtown Stillwater has boutique hotels instead of big hotel chains! Here are some of the best of them!

Water Street Inn

Water Street Inn is a historic hotel you can stay at while visiting Stillwater. This 61-room waterfront hotel is conveniently located just off Main Street and has been around since 1890!

We stayed at Water Street Inn and had a comfortable stay in our Victorian-style room. Since we had James in tow, we were in one of their Tower Suites, which had a separate seating area (where we had the pack-n-play).

While our stay was overall fantastic, there were two things we wished we could change. For one, we didn’t have blackout curtains in our room. Even though we faced the river, there were still a lot of lights that came through at night, and we are used to having blackout curtains at hotels. The other thing was that the AC was a window unit in our room, which meant the separate sitting area didn’t get much AC (and got quite warm). But I guess that comes with this being a historic hotel! (The window unit, not the blackout curtains).

Other than those things, our stay was great. The front desk staff was friendly and they let us check out late without extra fees. And you can’t beat the location and river views! Here’s the view we had of the historic lift bridge from our room:

They also have two in-house restaurants: Papa’s Rooftop and Charlie’s Restaurant & Irish Pub. These options are perfect in case the day’s activities have tired you out and you’re looking for great food within easy reach of your hotel.

You can make your reservations here.

Hotel Crosby

Hotel Crosby offers 55 rooms with beautiful interiors self-described as “a familiar coziness wrapped in a laid-back luxury.” Located on Main Street, this hotel sits at the very heart of Stillwater! The best shops, art galleries, and historic sites in this picturesque town are conveniently close by.

They also have an in-house restaurant, Matchstick Restaurant & Spirits, an on-site spa, and a rooftop hot tub. Book it here!

Lora Hotel

Lora Hotel has 40 rooms and offers complimentary parking and other signature amenities. I love their gorgeous interior decor with crisp white linens and mixed textiles.

They’re located at the end of Main Street in a prime location for touring Stillwater.

Their in-house restaurant and bar, Feller (pictured above), and coffee shop, Made Coffee, help make your vacation hassle-free. Whether you want a leisurely start to the day or want to stay in after a long day of exploring, great food and beverages are just steps away!

You can book your stay here.

17. Grab Breakfast in Stillwater

There are a few places in downtown Stillwater to grab breakfast. I will say, we felt like there weren’t that many options when we visited. However, quality beats quantity and the ones that Stillwater does have are pretty great!

There are also coffee shops if you’re looking for a lighter breakfast… more on that in the next item on this list!

Mon Petit Cheri

For decadent, hearty meals and fluffy, delectable pastries, Mon Petit Cheri is a great place to visit.

They offer the best Brioche French Toast, but if you want something hearty for your first meal of the day, try their Farmer’s Breakfast.

Hours: Monday – Wednesday 8 am to 2 pm; Thursday to Sunday 8 am to 4 pm

The Main Café

For hearty diner meals (some with a twist, like gyro omelets!), The Main Cafe is a great choice. You’ll feel at home here in this little cafe with serious small-town vibes.

They offer breakfast and lunch options. Their omelets are fluffy and delicious and their pancakes are superb. And perhaps best of all to caffeine lovers: their friendly staff serves up free coffee refills!

Hours: Sunday to Friday: 8 am to 2 pm; Saturday: 8 am to 3 pm

River Market Food Co-Op

Okay so this one isn’t exactly a breakfast spot per se, but they have the best smoothies in Stillwater! Their blueberry muffin is also to die for. Located on Main Street, River Market Community Co-Op is perfect for a quick breakfast or grabbing lunch to-go.

This is a community-owned grocery store and their products are sourced locally whenever possible. Aside from groceries, you can also shop for personal supplies and specialty food and beverages!

Hours: 8 am to 9 pm daily

18. Grab Coffee in Stillwater

There are three excellent coffee shops right on Main Street that you can choose from!

Made Coffee

Located adjacent to Lora Hotel at the end of Main Street, Made Coffee serves coffee, tea, freshly baked goods, juices, and more. We ordered one of their house-made pastries (monkey bread that was beyond delicious), a breakfast sandwich, some fresh-squeezed orange juice (made from the whole orange, including the peel!), and a latte. It was a great, quick breakfast that we enjoyed in the Lora lobby.

Greenbridge Coffee Co

This coffee shop is primarily known for its coffee and teas. We were in search of a breakfast sandwich and pastry, so ended up grabbing breakfast at Made Coffee since they had pretty limited options when we arrived. However, their coffee is supposed to be superb, as you can tell from their rave reviews!

The Daily Grind

The Daily Grind Espresso Cafe is tucked into a little bookshop on Main Street. They’ve got breakfast sandwiches, pastries, cappuccinos, and more.

19. Grab Lunch in Stillwater

If you’re looking for a casual lunch in Stillwater, here are two great options:

Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop

For awesome old-fashioned burgers and malts, drop by Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop!

Their classic-style food combined with the ambiance of the restaurant itself brings to mind the good ‘ol days.

They also serve ice cream, which is always the perfect way to end every meal IMO!

Hours: 11 am to 8 pm daily

You & Me Cafe

This Stillwater restaurant isn’t on Main Street but is worth dining at. It’s a charming bistro where you can get pastries made in-house alongside brunch and lunch options. The roast chicken sandwich was superb!

Hours: 7 am to 3 pm daily

20. Grab Dinner in Stillwater

While Stillwater doesn’t have a lot of breakfast options, it totally makes up for it in dinner options! There are so many great restaurants with rave reviews in Stillwater. It can be hard to choose where to eat, but these four spots deserve spots on this list:

LoLo American Kitchen

I think dining at Lolo American Kitchen is one of the best things to do in Stillwater because their food is so dang good! It’s my favorite restaurant in Stillwater.

They offer a lot of menu options – which is perfect for when you haven’t exactly pinpointed what you want to eat for dinner! Aside from burgers, hot dogs, and tacos, they also offer sticky rice bowls and Korean fried chicken wings among many others.

I got their miso-glazed salmon and it was SO delicious!

Tip: there will probably be a bit of a wait here, so put your name down for a table and explore the town a bit while you wait! You’ll get a text when your table is ready.

Hours: 11:30 am to 9 pm every day

Phil’s Tara Hideaway

For a delicious Mediterranean dinner with a colorful history, head on to Phil’s Tara Hideaway.  It’s in a log cabin that was formerly a mafia haunt during Prohibition!

This restaurant offers its guests a unique dining experience by fusing American cuisine and Greek dishes. We loved every bite of our dinner- my pasta was superb and I finally got to try Walleye, a classic Minnesotan fish!

And while the steak was great, Harrison preferred his steak at the next spot on this list…

Hours: Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday 3 to 10 pm; Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday 3 to 9 pm; closed on Mondays

The Dock

For a great combination of fantastic views and fantastic food, it’s hard to top The Dock!

Choose to have your lunch or dinner here and enjoy their steaks, chops, and other entrees with views of not just the St. Croix River, but also the Stillwater Lift and St. Croix Crossing bridges.

And as I just mentioned, Harrison loved his steak dinner here!

Hours: Monday to Friday: 11 am to 9 pm; Saturday 9 am to 9 pm; Sunday 9 am to 8 pm

Brick & Bourbon

If you’re in the mood for something a bit fancy, head on to Brick & Bourbon!

This is a favorite food stop for a lot of tourists and it’s easy to find the place crowded during peak dinner hours. However, they offer some of the best food in Stillwater- their Duck Bacon Wontons are a must!

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 3 to 10 pm; Friday 11 am to 12 am; Saturday 10 am to 12 am; Sunday 10 am to 9 pm

21. Grab Ice Cream at Nelson’s Ice Cream Shop

You’re never too old to enjoy an ice cream cone!

At Nelson’s Ice Cream Shop, you can order your favorite flavor to make your tour of Stillwater a little bit sweeter! And expect a bit of a line here! Both times we came here the line snaked around the corner!

Hours: Monday – Friday: 3 to 9 pm; Saturday – Sunday: 11 am to 9 pm

22. Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Tremblay’s Sweet Shop

If you’re in the mood for some candy, Tremblay’s Sweet Shop is perfect for kids and adults alike! We popped in for some salt water taffy (peppermint is my favorite flavor!) and were impressed by the candy selection here. If there’s a childhood favorite you haven’t seen in a while, chances are you’ll find it here.

It’s located in the iconic red and white building on Main Street, so you can’t miss it!

The next items on this list are a bit further from Stillwater, but are definitely worth mentioning!

23. Interstate State Park

This is one of my favorite things to do in Stillwater to get out into nature! Interstate State Park is composed of two adjacent state parks along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. On the MN side, you’ll find Taylors Falls, while St. Croix Falls is on the WI side.

Adventurers who love the outdoors will enjoy exploring Interstate State Park- there are so many activities to do here!

You have a lot of trails to choose from, including the popular Taylors Falls River Trail which follows the St. Croix River. Another popular trail is the Sandstone Bluffs Trail. Be sure to check their website to see if the trail you want to explore is open!

For something completely unique to Minnesota, head to the Glacial Potholes Area to see the world’s deepest explored pothole!

And no, I’m not talking about the kind of pothole that you find in the road. The potholes carved into the rocks here were formed from glaciers about 10,000 years ago!

Reservations: You can get your $7 parking pass directly at the park or visit this page for online reservations!

24. Dine at An Old Fashioned Drive-In

While you’re in the Interstate State Park area, grab lunch in Taylor Falls! One of the best places to do so is Taylors Falls Drive-In. Try their amazing burger, a malt done the old-fashioned way, and their famous root beer float.

The drive-in section is the classic way to dine here, but they also have outdoor seating if you prefer to eat outside of your car. We opted for that since James wanted to crawl around and explore!

While You’re at the Drive-In, Go Mini-Golfing at Adventure Falls

Right next door to the Drive-In is Adventure Falls Mini-Golf. Practice your putting skills with a round (or two) of mini-golf! Unfortunately, it was closed when we visited, but we’ll try our hand at this next time!

25. St. Croix State Park

St. Croix State Park is the largest state park in Minnesota and is about an hour and a half drive away from Stillwater.

Here, you can do a scenic drive around the park, go hiking, and climb the fire tower to get the best 360-degree views around the park.

Be sure to check their website first to see if the fire tower is open. It usually is, but when we visited some ravens were nesting in the tower so it was temporarily closed!

At St. Croix State Park, you can also do their Sundance self-guided trail where you’ll learn more about the history and vast wildlife of the park as you hike along the 1-mile trail. You can also go camping, canoeing, and birdwatching in this scenic spot – definitely worth checking out!

We picked up lunch items from the River Market Food Co-Op in Stillwater and enjoyed it picnic-style here.

Unfortunately, it was cloudy and rainy when we visited, but I bet this park is a real stunner come sunny summer days! There are even places where you can swim here!

Hours: 8 am to 10 pm

Reservations: Check this page for more information.

26. Visit Minnesota’s Oldest General Store

Marine General Store is the oldest operating general store in the state of Minnesota! It’s located in Marine On St. Croix, just a short 15-minute drive from Stillwater.

Shop for deli, dairy, and meat, or browse through their freshly baked bread, buns, and rolls. They also offer great pies that you can enjoy anytime, anywhere!

As a general store, they’ve got various necessities and all kinds of other items, too. (And by all kinds, here’s an example: we picked up a pop-it toy for James while we were here.)

Hours: 8 am to 8 pm

Stop at the Bluebell Mercantile, Too!

If you’re in the mood for visiting cute shops, the Bluebell Mercantile is just a stone’s throw away from Marine General Store.

It lured me in by just how cute it is on the outside! We were driving north to Franconia when I saw it- I knew I wanted to come back and check it out on our way back to Stillwater.

They’ve got candles, jewelry, tees, and more if you’re looking for gifts or a souvenir!

27. Experience Franconia Sculpture Park

A roughly 30-minute drive north of Stillwater, Franconia Sculpture Park is a unique place to visit for art lovers or those who simply want to enjoy the views.

Franconia Sculpture Park has 50 acres of mowed and gravel paths that you can explore using a golf cart to see over 100 public sculptures – with some even reaching 40 feet tall!

There were two golf carts when we visited and they are first-come-first-serve. While the park is free, golf cart rentals cost $15 per hour.

Whether you choose to cart around or walk through the grounds, both are great ways to explore the park. You’ll see large-scale artwork from various artists all around the world!

For families with littles, there’s even a sculpture playground right by the entrance. And when we visited on the weekend, there was a farmers market here too!

Hours: 8 am to 8 pm

Entrance: Golf carts are available for $10 for those needing mobility assistance and $15 for everyday adventurers

28. Learn at the Science Museum of Minnesota

The Science Museum of Minnesota is a great place for kids and adults alike to explore anthropology, biology, and paleontology through various collected specimens and artifacts on display. There are a lot of interactive exhibits that are great for kids!

Here, you’ll find a lot of fossilized remains and cultural pieces, particularly from the American Indians of the Plains and Upper Midwest and Hmong culture. I don’t know about you but that always stokes my curiosity about life in the past!

The museum also has various creatures like rare bugs, a huge number of birds and reptiles, and the largest collection of mammals in Minnesota! It will make you appreciate just how vast our planet is! And when you throw in the outer space component, prepare to have your mind blown!

Hours: 10 am to 5 pm

Entrance: Admission starts at $29.95 for adults and $19.95 for children ages 4-17. Kids below 4 are free.

Psst… While You’re in the Area, Have Lunch at Cosetta’s!

Cosetta’s is a charming Italian marketplace that offers a ton of delicious options if you’re in the mood for amazing Italian cuisine.

Select from their Eatery & Pizzeria, Louis Ristorante & Bar, Pasticceria, or even head on over to their Italian Market to buy ingredients to make your own!

This spot is definitely a Twin Cities staple… when we visited there were 10,000 reviews with a 4.6 rating on Google! One local told us to order their mostaccioli pasta and I’m glad we did!

In conclusion…

I hope you enjoyed this list of awesome things to do in Stillwater, Minnesota!

If you know any other attractions in town that deserve a spot on this list, comment below!

Safe travels!
Jasmine