The Best Midwest Experiences For Grandparents With Grandkids
Vacationing with your grandkids can be one of the most rewarding vacations of your lifetime. I had the opportunity this past summer to explore the Midwest with my grandkids and it’s been glorious. Here are the best midwest experiences for you to take with your grandkids.
Each of these Midwest experiences has more to see and do in the area, so don’t be afraid to start planning your vacation today. I have visted other kid friendly places this past summer, but not with my grandkids. I visited and took part in all of the experiences with my grandkids that are featured here.
Making Memories In Medora With Grandkids
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Medora, North Dakota
Medora is a small, mountain town in western North Dakota. Fewer than 150 people live there, but during the summer months the population swells to thousands on a daily basis. My grandson and I visited and we had the time of our lives. He loved the Medora Musical, the longest running outdoor musical in the country.
Another hit was Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Medora sits at the entrance to the south unit of the park. He also enjoyed his ice cream cone from Hatlee & Bree . He still talks about the macaroni & cheese, served with mini-corn dogs he enjoyed at the Little Missouri Saloon .
Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Best National Park For Families
Storybook Land Aberdeen, South Dakota
My granddaughter and I spent an afternoon in Aberdeen at Storybook Land, South Dakota. Aberdeen is fortunate to have this city park that highlights familiar nursery rhymes including Humpty Dumpty, Jack & Jill’s Hill, and the Three Bears. The Yellow Brick Road is always a favorite- after all, who doesn’t enjoy the Wizard of Oz?
My granddaughter loved the roller coaster, it was perfect for a five year old’s first roller coaster experience.
There is no fee to enter the park, but there is a small fee for the amusement park rides. Tip: Hop on the Storybook Land Express miniature train to get a good lay of the land.
Joy Ranch Brings Joy In South Dakota
Ingalls Homestead In DeSmet, South Dakota
DeSmet is the best town for anyone with a love of Laura Ingall’s Wilder. My granddaughter and I slept in a covered wagon on the Ingall’s Homestead, which sits about a mile southeast of town. This unique experience is a must for anyone wanting to introduce a child to the Laura Ingall’s Wilder books. We hopped on a covered wagon ride and my granddaughter enjoyed taking the reigns and steering the covered wagon (with assistance).
The farm animals including cats, kittens, cows, ponies, and horses are a treat for all guests. Be sure to spend some time in the store, as there’s a lot of fun merchandise to carry on the memories.
Take a guided tour of the original homes and school in the town of DeSmet. I was particulary interested in the Orginal First School of DeSmet. Turns out, there is original flooring inside the school that Laura and Carrie Ingalls walked upon. You can view several artifacts in the Original Surveryors’ House, Original Ingalls Home, and the school. Make time to visit both of these historic sites in DeSmet. This is one of the best experiences for grandparents with grandkids.
Silver Dollar City Branson, Missouri
My husband and I visited Branson with our grandsons and we took them to Silver Dollar City. Both of them love trains, so we knew that the train ride with a robbery was a must experience. Of course, they loved it! Both of the boys, ages four & eight, had a wonderful day and we never heard, “I’m bored.”
There are plenty of attractions for kids to see and do, making this a great place to take your grandkids. Our four year old grandson sat down on a bench as soon as we entered the park, he wanted to listen to the gospel music playing on a stage. It took five minutes for us to realize that we had made a smart choice- Silver Dollar City was a huge hit.
Holiday Magic In Branson, Missouri
Take A Ride On The Branson Ferris Wheel Branson, Missouri
The Branson Ferris Wheel boasts 40 gondolas, room for 240 passengers, 6 passengers per gondola, and 16,000 LED lights. We boarded the Branson Ferris Wheel with our two grandkids.
This was there first time on a big ferris wheel and they both enjoyed it. It should be noted that there needs to be one adult (at least 18 years of age) for every two children under the age of 12.
Discovery Center of Springfield, Missouri
The Discovery Center of Springfield is still something that our grandsons talk about. We took both of them to this interactive, hands-on museum – The Jurassic Discovery Area was a hit. Kids can operate an animatronic hadrosaur using a remote control.
Exploration is key at this center, as kids can activate the water wheel, pull levers to make machines work, and so much more. It’s fair to say that when it came time to leave, neither of them wanted to leave. This is one of the best midwest experiences for grandparents with grandkids.
Birdsall’s Ice Cream Mason City, Iowa
Birdsall’s Ice Cream is a staple in Mason City and the surrounding area. My grandkids love the ice cream, malts, and anything they can convince their grandparents to order for them.
On a summer day, I ventured to Birdsall’s with my granddaughter and grandson. They loved their chocolate malts, making it a highlight of their summer. Grandparents + Grandkids + Birdsall’s Ice Cream = Happiness!
Redlin Art Center Watertown, South Dakota
Many people would assume that the Redlin Art Center in Watertown is not for kids. My five-year-old granddaughter loved this center. She enjoyed the Kid Connection game that you can pick up at the desk when you enter the art center. Admission is free and visitors can view 150 original Terry Redlin paintings.
These paintings represent each year of Redlin’s career are permanently on display. Today there are more paintings being added, so plan a visit and see what’s new. We both enjoyed the paved walking trail on the grounds of the art center. Tip: This sits right off of I-29, making a great place to stop while traveling this route.
Things To Do In Jamestown With Grandkids
Frontier Village Jamestown, North Dakota
Jamestown is right off of I-94 in North Dakota. My eight-year-old grandson and I visited Jamestown. He had a wonderful time exploring Frontier Village. A highlight of this stop was the scavenger hunt, which involved an ice cream treat. Dakota Thunder, The World’s Largest Bufallo is at the end of Frontier Village Lane.
This large buffalo monument is visible from the Interstate Highway. Its location places this at the top of one of the best midwest experiences for grandparents and grandkids.
Dakota Zoo Bismarck, North Dakota
The Dakota Zoo is one of the best little zoos in the country. My oldest grandson and I spent an afternoon exploring this zoo. We hopped on the train a couple of times and got the lay of the land. You may be asking why we rode the train twice, well, what young boy doesn’t love a train ride?
The penguins were his favorite attraction and I must admit, I loved them too. The North American river otters were also very entertaining. The best tip I can give you, is to visit earlier in the day when the animals are most active. This zoo is clean, located near a city park, and it knows how to play big in a small setting.
Bridges of Madison County Winterset, Iowa
Many people think that the Bridges of Madison County are only for grandparents, not so. There are many things for kids to do in Winterset and the surrounding area. We stopped in St. Charles to introduce our grandsons to the Bridges of Madison County. Imes Covered Bridge is right off of I-35 at Exit 52.
The boys loved running through the bridge, and we all enjoyed a picnic lunch at the picnic table that sits near the bridge entrance and parking lot. Imes Bridge is the oldest of the remaining covered bridges in Madison County. It’s located right off of I-35 in St. Charles, Iowa, in Madison County.
Buddy Holly Crash Site Clear Lake, Iowa
I took two of my grandkids out to the Buddy Holly crash site north of Clear Lake on a beautiful summer day. They did not comprehend what the site means, but they enjoyed the big glasses, along with the walk to and from the crash site. We met a couple from southern Iowa who enjoyed chatting with my grandkids.
They were retired teachers and it was evident they loved kids. My grandkids quickly learned what all of the weeds and plants were that we saw along the trail. Plan an hour to visit this historic site with your grandkids. It’s a great place to get some exercise and see the sites. Tip: Visit in the summer and enjoy the beautiful Iowa corn & soybean fields.
Children’s Museum of South Dakota Brookings, South Dakota
My granddaughter and I spent an afternoon at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota in Brookings. Wow- this is a fantastic museum! It seems to have it all. My five-year-old granddaughter enjoyed it all, but she spent a lot of time in the mailroom. She enjoyed mailing letters, helping other kids deliver the mail, picked up the mail, and started the process all over. With several mail boxes throughout the museum, it’s a fun project for kids.
This museum is one of the best midwest experiences for grandparents with grandkids. The grocery store was also very busy, as kids were filling shopping carts and lining up to check-out at the cash register. Tip: If you think you will spend two hours here, double that amount of time.
A Perfect Day In Shawnee, Kansas
Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant – Kansas City
I had heard many good things about Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant over the years, but had no desire to visit. My husband and I found ourselves traveling with our two young grandsons and we knew that we needed to stop.
We are so glad we stopped. They loved watching the train cars run around the restaurant and then they squealed when their food was dropped by a train car. So MUCH fun!!!! This ranks at the top of one of the best midwest experiences for grandparents with grandkids.
Bramble Park Zoo Watertown, South Dakota
The Bramble Park Zoo is in Watertown, and brought smiles to my granddaughter and I. This zoo was walkable and it had something around every corner. I loved the layout, as I could see my granddaughter at all times. It was not too big, it was just right.
The indoor and outdoor displays offer opportunities for kids of all heights to view the animals. Make sure to stroll through the Terry Redlin Environmental Center as you exit, there’s a lot of fun things to see in there. This zoo is one of the best midwest experiences for grandparents with grandkids.
North Dakota’s Gateway to Sciene Center Bismarck, North Dakota
North Dakota’s Gateway to Science Center quickly one my eight-year-old grandson over. As soon as we set foot in the complex, he was excited running from experience to experience. Several hands-on activities with water, transportation, agriculture, and health care are all highlighted throughout the center.
Kids of all ages will fall in love with this science center. I learn something new each time I visit. Note: They are closed on Tuesday’s to allow the staff to keep things in working order.
Traveling with your grandkids is a fun way to make memories of a lifetime. Start planning your experiences now. I have highlighted the experiences that I did with my grandkids this past summer.
Each experience was ideal for the age that they were when we visited. As you know, grandkids grow up quickly. Make the most of your time with them. Start planning your experiences today, as you will be thankful for every moment. Use this list as a guideline to plan your best Midwest experiences for grandparents with grandkids.
SaraB
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