Fast-forward a few years and a few kids, and these days our family road trips go at a decidedly different speed. “Meandering” has been replaced by “chasing after,” and restaurants that don’t offer chicken nuggets are off limits. But road trips are still our family’s favorite way to travel—especially here in Minnesota, where winding scenic roads and family-friendly things to do are never in short supply.

Here are a few of our family’s favorite road trips from Minneapolis. Whether you're flying into MSP Airport from afar for a family vacation in Minnesota, or seeking close-to-home adventures as a local, the memories made on these kid-friendly road trips will stay with your kids—and you—forever.

Take a Scenic Getaway to Taylors Falls

One of our favorite quick road trips is Taylors Falls, just an hour and a half from our home in Minneapolis. Taylors Falls is close enough that we could easily drive home at the end of the day, but staying for a night or weekend makes the outing a real adventure for the kids and gives us more time to explore. For the best scenery, drive east from the cities until you hit Stillwater, then point your wheels north and follow the St. Croix River to charming downtown Taylors Falls.

Go 'Up North' to Duluth & The North Shore

For kid-friendly attractions and activities, few cities in Minnesota can rival Duluth.

My family loves visiting Split Rock Lighthouse, a state historic site and a National Historic Landmark offering historic exhibits as well as beautiful hikes in the adjacent state park. There is also the impressive Great Lakes Aquarium, a fantastic collection of interactive exhibits, live aquatic animals and educational displays. Or if you want to spend a day on the water, you can charter a sailing or fishing boat as a family.

In downtown Duluth, Historic Union Depot houses four museums, including the world-class Lake Superior Railroad Museum, one of the finest railroad collections in the country, with interactive exhibits as well as history from the region. And while there, you can book a train ride on the North Shore Scenic Railroad!

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s the Lake Superior Zoo, the Duluth Children’s Museum, Glensheen Mansion, the Armed Forces Museum (which offers a working flight simulator for the kids) and so much more. Truly, there are so many ways to do Duluth you could spend a week there and not see half of what’s available for kids and families.

Find Big Boots & Bigger Smiles in Red Wing

Situated on a wide, scenic section of the Mississippi River in southern Minnesota, Red Wing and its historic downtown offer breathtaking natural vistas and an abundance of kid-friendly activities that make it an excellent destination for families.

Of course the Red Wing Shoe Company Museum is a must-see. There, you can see the world’s largest boot (size 638-D), explore a variety of displays chronicling the company’s 110-plus years in business and shop for your next pair of Minnesota-made boots or shoes.

There’s also LARK Toys in the nearby town of Kellogg. Not only is LARK one of Minnesota’s largest and most unique toy stores (they make wooden toys and puzzles on-site!), it also houses a large antique toy display, a full-sized, wood-carved carousel, a miniature golf course, children's book store and ice cream shop. Other family-friendly highlights in the area include the National Eagle Center in Wabasha and the Cannon Valley Trail between Red Wing and Cannon Falls, a popular choice for bicyclists.