Thrifty Travel Fun: Minneapolis, MN

Mulling over family trip destinations? The City of Lakes boasts endless family-friendly activities, from a healthy selection of museums to endless fresh air adventures. Add the three activities below to your list - your kids may even discover a passion for puppetry!

Photo by Manicosity / Flickr

1. In the Heart of the Beast, Minneapolis' very own puppet theater, offers colorful, friendly, Saturday morning puppet shows for kids, for a small suggested donation. Show leave the kids considering a future in puppetry? Stay afterwards for a Make-n-Take workshop!

2. Tracking down the local farmers' market is always a fantastic way to soak up some local culture, and even better, the Midtown Global Market hosts Wee Wednesdays: you and your little tyke can dig in to some free, educational programming and hands-on activities, and the little one will even be served a free lunch afterwards at a nearby restaurant.

3. Leave the bustle of the city behind and let the little ones play at fairies in the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary. Fifteen acres of preserved land make the Sanctuary the oldest public wildflower garden in the nation, and give brave adventurers plenty of space for exploring this Midwest wonderland.