As winter continues to linger here in Minnesota, we’ve been feeling pretty cooped up. We decided to take a break from our little cave and the cold and head to the Minnesota Zoo for an indoor Tropical Beach Party! We grabbed a few sand toys, threw on some summer clothes, left the sunscreen at home, and enjoyed the land of sun and sand!
If you’re looking for a change of pace with little toes in the sand and friends all around, head over to the Minnesota Zoo to enjoy Minnesota’s two largest indoor sandboxes! We had a full day of fun and wanted to share our experience with you.
What to Bring
Packing up for a beach outing in the middle of winter had me scratching my head a bit. I didn’t know how to dress my kiddos at first, but I wanted to make sure that they were comfortable and that we didn’t have to carry too much stuff. You don’t have to bring special clothes for this event, but it might save you a sandy mess to have something extra on hand, and my girls were adamant about digging through their summer clothes for this Tropical Beach Party! It was definitely part of the fun. They chose shorts and a t-shirt as a base layer/beach clothes before bundling up for the car ride and that chilly walk from the car to the zoo entrance. I knew that when they needed a break from playing in the sand, we could either completely change or just throw on a top layer of clothes over their shorts and t-shirts. A quick transition between summer and winter! We also added a pair of breathable water shoes to our bags, in an effort to avoid too much sand between the toes that will eventually find themselves in our home. Well, kids want their feet in the sand! Who doesn’t? So the shoes weren’t completely necessary… however, they were perfect to wear for a little bit after playing, as we walked the Zoo and let any small remnants of sand shake off. Much better than strapping snug boots or tennis shoes back on over sandy feet. Note: water play is not part of the event.
In addition to play clothes, your kids can bring their favorite beach toys! We kept it simple with shovels and buckets that were easily strapped to my backpack. Pack according to your family’s needs of course, but remember, unless you like the haul, you really don’t need too much stuff. Also, the outdoor part of the zoo is open this time of year, but we chose not to venture outside, so our outer layer of winter gear was pretty light.
After your kids have built their castles, dug a hole or five, and fully enjoyed their time in the sand, clean them up and don’t forget to see the rest of the zoo! Besides the bathrooms and designated hand washing areas, you will not find a place to fully wash off. I recommend bringing a small towel to wipe the sand off with before exploring more activities.
What to See
With two large sandboxes situated at both ends of the zoo, it was a great way to see the whole zoo and keep our kids happy and entertained.
When we arrived, we first checked out the sandbox located just before the entrance to the Tropics Trail. After a good amount of sandy fun, we took a break to eat lunch. After lunch we finished our time in the Tropics exploring the fabulous trail and all it’s amazing animals. We loved each one of them but I must say, those otters are a hoot and my girls could’ve watched them all day!
Next, we headed over to the sandbox in Discovery Bay. This sandbox was our favorite, with a great view of that deep blue pool. As the kids played in the sand, they got to see one of the Hawaiian Monk Seals swim around during it’s feeding and they were in awe! Before leaving, we finished up by exploring the rest of Discovery Bay with some hands-on fun. Have you touched a shark lately? If you keep an eye on the daily schedule you just might get to feed some penguins, see some reef divers in action, catch a fantastic bird show and feed a shark!
We had a blast and we can’t wait for summer and all our lakes to reveal their sandy shores! Grab those sand toys and check out the Tropical Beach Party at the Minnesota Zoo to get your kids excited for what’s to come in the next few months! Oh summer, we sure do miss you!
