Sculpture gardens present some of the most accessible of art options for families; instead of a quiet atmosphere filled with ancient treasures, children can roam about the artwork, exclaiming their delight.  For those who enjoy seeing art outdoors, Minnesota has several sculpture gardens that families can enjoy.

Perhaps the most widely known is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden next to the Walker Art Center near downtown Minneapolis.  Home of the “cherry on the spoon,” this park includes many other sculptures in various shapes, sizes, and media, as well as a garden walk and an indoor conservatory of tropical plants.  Children will like wandering the grassy areas of this large park and seeing the variety of artwork as they round each bend.

Spoonbridge and Cherry at Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

North of the Twin Cities on U.S. Highway 8, the Franconia Sculpture Park is a work in progress, and chances are decent that you might encounter an artist at work if you visit.  The sculptures here include many reclaimed materials, such as a basketball court and tractor.  The mown paths among the prairie grasses and flowers take visitors past the creations, but kids will likely want to spend most of their time at the sculpture that is a useable playground.

Playground Sculpture at Franconia Sculpture Park, Minnesota

On the other side of the state, the tiny town of Arco sits near the South Dakota border in the midst of farm fields and prairie lands.  Arco has its own sculpture garden of sorts, a “scenic rock garden” in the city park which borders a lake just outside of town.  Here, replicas of the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Bell made out of rocks found in the area are the highlights of the stop.  A drive into town yields a look at the rock building that was formerly a gas station, done in the same style by the same artist.  If you enjoy the off-beat or quirky, you’ll like a peek at the Arco sculptures.

Statue of Liberty Replica at Scenic Rock Garden in Arco, Minnesota

While art enthusiasts will enjoy the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Weisman Art Center, and other quality art museums in Minnesota, youngsters will be drawn to the larger-than-life artwork in these sculpture gardens in the state.

Related: Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Photo credits: the author

Linda (minnemom) writes about family travel at Travels with Children.

My family and I spent about a month visiting Pittsburgh recently, a luxury most visitors don’t have. Usually guests drop in on new cities like unexpected in-laws, hoping to learn as much as possible in a long weekend or short week. While every city has quintessential attractions — many with hefty advertising budgets to lure the bulk of first-time visitors — some of the best places to absorb a lot in a short amount of time are the lesser known local museums and history centers, places dedicated to moments and themes only natives and school teachers care about. Remember the historical society in your own town you visited on an elementary school field trip? That’s actually an excellent place for a town newbie to find out what you and your neighbors are all about. The Heinz History Center is Pittsburgh’s local field trip hot spot and storyteller worth listening to.

The Senator John Heinz History Center is part history and part sports museum, which makes sense if you know anything about the fanatical nature of Pittsburgh fans. They are sports fans through and through and the History Center helps visitors understand why by illustrating the development of sports lore in the industrial town. The center introduces old heroes and makes the case for sports as an escape for hardworking Americans.

The history center also examines Pittsburgh’s role in early American history and highlights some of the inventions and technologies that came out of the soot clouds for which the city was once known. Today the city is better known for it’s beautiful bridges and tree-covered hills, but the spirit of innovation and love of sports live on.

Photo:Britt Reints

Looking for a lesson in liquid nitrogen? How about a chance to practice your cryogenic surgery skills? Head to the Carnegie Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore to learn through hands-on exhibits and interactive classes.

As you would expect, the Carnegie Science Center teaches kids (and adults) about electricity and gravity and centripetal force through a series of exhibits that vaguely resemble the play centers in a preschool. Of course, you won’t find an explanation of gamma rays or cryogenic tumor removal in most pre-K classrooms. At the science center you (or your kids) can pretend to be surgeons and devise a treatment plan for removing a tumor using gamma rays without affecting the patient’s hearing or speech. Impressed? Your kids will be.

Nothing impresses a kid like the promise of things breaking or exploding, a fact the Carnegie educational staff obviously keeps in mind when planning their daily learning labs. On a recent visit my son and I attended a class about liquid nitrogen and got to see the power of the ridiculously cold compound firsthand. Rest assured, no one was ever in danger, but frozen marshmallows and popping lids got the point across just the same.

In a corner tucked away from the flashing lights and twirling parts, a massive model train set tells the story of Pittsburgh much more quietly, but no less impressively. The model train and miniature village has been mimicking life in western Pennsylvania for almost 90 years and is updated constantly with new mini-animations. An extreme case of art imitating life, the village has been expanded and changed over the years to reflect new buildings and historical events happening in the region, including opening day of PNC Park.

A visit to Carnegie Science Center can easily last several hours, with enough focus changing to keep your kids from having an early afternoon meltdown. You may, however, want to plan for a quiet evening in your hotel (or at home) to make up for all that stimulation during the day.

No, it’s not a typo… to talk about boutique shopping in the Hamptons, land of the uber wealthy, is almost cliche. But hidden in north central Iowa the town of Hampton may not be your idea of a shopping destination.  Before you click away let me change your perceptions.

Gourmet Bath Salts at Cornerstone Cottage

Incredible Treasures, Affordable Prices

Hampton, Iowa, located 30 miles south of Mason City, is best known for it’s magnificent courthouse on the town square.  In the past few years the historic buildings surrounding that square have become revitalized and now house shops filled with treasures for everyone. Read More »