How to Enjoy Winter in Stillwater, Minnesota with Kids
One of the great things about living in the midwest is that people seem to have made up their mind to enjoy the winter.
Much like the Danish concept of “hygge” or the Scandinavian concept of “no bad weather,” the people of Minnesota embrace the cold, the snow, and the ice with warm clothes, hot beverages, and lots of winter outdoor fun!
That’s why Stillwater, MN is one of the best places for a winter getaway in the Midwest! There are lots of activities, both indoor and outdoor, for all types of families!
Discover Stillwater hosted our family on a January weekend getaway to experience everything the city has to offer to make winter not just bearable, but downright enjoyable!
Here’s everything you need to know about planning a weekend in Stillwater in winter.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Discover Stillwater. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
9 Things to Do in Stillwater, Minnesota this Winter
1. Get lost in the Ice Palace Maze
This was the highlight of our trip! The Stillwater Ice Palace Maze is the longest ice maze in the USA with over a half mile of winding pathways to navigate!
It didn’t take us very long to get though with 4 kids (ages 1, 4, 6, and 8), and I just kind of let our toddler lead the way and run around. The whole thing took us less than a half hour, but you can always go back in!
Inside the maze there are plenty of photo opportunities, like an ice throne and an ice sculpture of the state of MN. You can also take a picture with the dragon ice sculpture right by the entrance!
After you finish the maze, head over to the giant ice slides! Kids (of all ages!) can go down the slides as many times as they want. My older 3 had so much fun doing this!
When you need to warm up, head inside the Zephyr Theater for hot chocolate, cake pops, cookies, or adult beverages. There is plenty of indoor seating while you thaw your fingers and toes and enjoy your treats.
Tips for visiting the Stillwater Ice Palace Maze: make sure the kids are dressed in boots, snow pants, warm coats, waterproof gloves or mittens, and a hat. I didn’t wear snow pants, but some nice lined leggings will do the trick to keep you warm.
Take tons of photos and videos! We went at 4:30, right before sunset, and it was the perfect lighting to capture some beautiful snapshots of my kids enjoying the maze.
You might also want to make reservations ahead of time, so buy your tickets online here.
2. Take in the snowy views from the Lift Bridge
The Stillwater Lift Bridge was used for vehicles to cross the St. Croix River between Hudson, WI and Stillwater, but now it’s a pedestrian bridge (and can also be used for bicycles).
Walk out onto the lift bridge to see historic downtown Stillwater nestled in the snowy bluffs, and the frozen river covered in snow and ice. It’s a magical combination!
The morning we walked along the Lift Bridge, the windchill was below zero, so we didn’t last long! But on a slightly warmer day it’s the perfect path to walk to get some exercise in.
You can bring a stroller, but I would recommend it’s one with larger wheels that can handle snowy or icy terrain. Our little umbrella stroller was putting in the work!
3. Go shopping on Main Street
When it’s time to get out of the cold, duck into one of the many shops, boutiques, or cafes along Main Street.
Our favorite are Alfresco Casual Living, a boutique with home goods and an awesome kids’ section in the back with unique toys, games, and activities. We spent a ton of time in this shop browsing.
If you head across Main Street from Alfresco, you’ll find Cooks of Crocus Hill, one of my absolute favorite stores! We used to live in Stillwater, and I stopped in so many times to browse all the neat little kitchen gadgets. I’m no cook, but there’s truly something for everyone in that store! The kids loved the taco holder we found, and since tacos are my husband’s favorite food, they definitely wanted to pick one up for him!
Scandinavian North carries authentic Scandinavian goods, and is one of my new favorite stores along Main Street! Everything is so chic and has such clean lines - just my style.
Of course, you cannot forget about the many candy shops! Our favorite from our Stillwater days was always Candyland, so I made sure to take the kids there for giant lollipops and candy building bricks (like candy LEGOs!). On the side of this building is where you’ll find the bright and beautiful Stillwater mural - great for photo ops, even when there’s a giant pile of snow in front of it!
Insider Tip: The shops are all pretty small, so there is not a lot of room to move around with a stroller. It’s doable, but double strollers would definitely be a lot tougher. There’s also quite a few shops that you can only enter by climbing a few stairs, so I had to have my 8-year-old help lift the stroller up. The smaller and more lightweight your stroller is, the better!
4. Visit the Snow Sculpting Championship
This is the inaugural World Snow Sculpting Championship in Stillwater! Teams from around the world will come to this city in the bluffs to create incredible snow sculptures and compete for prize money!
We were there a bit too early, so we didn’t get a chance to check this out, but if you’re visiting later on between January 18-23, be sure to stop by!
5. Try some classic American fare at Leo’s Grill and Malt Shop
After a morning of braving the cold, we were all in need of a hot meal and a place to relax. Leo’s Grill and Malt Shop was the perfect family-friendly place to eat lunch!
Leo’s is a diner with retro decor, serving up classic American fare along with shakes and malts. You’ll feel like you went back in time!
As soon as we sat down, our waitress greeted us with coloring pages, crayons, and kids’ menus, which was such a relief for me. Dining with 4 small children by yourself is no small feat!
The kids were so lost in their coloring that it seemed like no time at all had passed before our food came! The service really was so fast.
I got a burger with kettle chips, and the kids had corn dogs, grilled cheese, or macaroni and cheese with fries or applesauce. Truly, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu! Of course, we also got an Oreo malt to share, and there was so much that we were able to split it among all 5 of us with some left to spare.
6. Enjoy the LED Light Show
Each night on the corner of Chestnut and Main leading up to the Lift Bridge, you’ll find a gorgeous LED light display, making you feel like you’re walking through a winter wonderland!
This walk-through display has trees, string lights overhead, a light tunnel, and, of course, the Stillwater Lift Bridge decorated in lights.
The display takes place each night between 5 and 10 p.m. during the months of December through March!
7. Get hot chocolate from a walk-up window
While you’re outside by the river, you might want a hot beverage to warm up your hands. We were all bundled up from head to toe, but that icy wind can still take your breath away!
There are 2 walk-up windows right by the Historic Lift Bridge where you can pick up some hot chocolate for the kids or even an adult beverage for Mom and Dad! Leo’s Grill and Malt Shop has a window, along with Charlie's Restaurant & Irish Pub at Water Street Inn.
8. Go Ice Skating at the Riverside Ice Skating Rink
I was not ready to venture into the world of ice skating with my 4 young children without another adult to give me a helping hand, but we had so much fun watching the ice skaters at the Riverside Ice Skating Rink!
This rink is free to use, you just need to bring your own ice skates if you have some!
The Riverside Ice Rink is set up right by Water Street Inn overlooking the St. Croix River, and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Schedule:
Mondays: Open Hockey > pucks and sticks allowed
Tuesdays: League Night (or Open Hockey)
Wednesdays: Family Skate > Free kids meal with purchase of an adult meal
Thursdays: Open Skate > Varsity Skate from 5-7 (private)
Fridays & Saturdays: Open Skate
Sundays: Open skate until 6pm and then Adults only skate from 6pm – 10pm
9. Warm up with QuickFire Pizza
And last but certainly not least, you’ll need a place to stop for dinner to round out your day. If your kids are anything like mine, they will not be eager to sit still and wait for long periods of time in a nice restaurant after the excitement of the day, and after being outside in the cold all day.
QuickFire Pizza, located on 116 Main Street, was the perfect solution for us! The service was quick, the food was delicious, and the kids really enjoyed watching them put the pizzas in the giant wood fire oven.
My kids had never had Naples style pizza before, so it was fun for them to step outside their comfort zone with a food that was still familiar.
Where to Stay in Stillwater, MN with Kids
There are many adorable boutique hotels within walking distance of downtown Stillwater, but if you’ve got a large crew like mine, you might be better off spreading out at the Country Inn & Suites.
This hotel has standard rooms and suites, and our family stayed in an Extended Stay Suite-2 Queen Beds. I always prefer to stay in a suite whenever possible at this stage of our lives, because after we put our toddler to bed, it’s nice to be able to stay up later and watch a movie with the older kids without having to whisper.
The suite comes with a kitchenette and dining area, which we appreciate because I always travel with an abundance of snacks and healthy foods like fruits and vegetables for my kids to snack on in between meals.
The free continental breakfast was a hit with our whole family, and you better believe I spent the better part of my morning at the waffle maker since that was the item in high demand with my kids!
What I loved most was how spacious the suite was! There were 5 of us (and there would have been 6 if my husband had been able to join us), but I never felt like we were bumping into each other. That’s so important when you’re traveling with kids, because sometimes everyone just needs a little break from the rest of the family.
There is a pool, so be sure to bring your swimsuits!
One thing that is important to note, which was a little bit of an inconvenience for us, was that Country Inn & Suites does not provide cribs or pack & plays. I wish I had called ahead of time to check, but simple didn’t think about it, so I left our pack & play at home.
When I arrived and found out they didn’t have any baby sleeping options, my only choice was to run to Walmart across the street and buy a new pack & play for our toddler at 8 p.m. with 4 kids in tow when the weather was in single digits. Not ideal, but easily remedied if you know you just need to bring your pack & play from home!
Even though it’s not within walking distance of Main Street, I still love the location of this hotel! You’re right by Walmart and Target, which is ideal if you forget any essentials. It’s also very close to Caribou Coffee, which used to be my coffee shop of choice when we lived in Stillwater.
Stillwater is one of the best winter getaways in Minnesota!
Plan your weekend away soon so you don’t miss all the snowy fun!
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Emily Krause is a Florida-based travel blogger who writes about exploring the world with kids. On A Mom Explores you’ll find best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
