Next Wednesday, July 18, we’re celebrating National Night Off—and we want you to get off your phones and get outside. Take in some fresh air. Look your friends and family in the eyes and have a real conversation. Do something that’s out of your normal routine and create a special memory.
But we also don’t want it to be a one-time thing. In our own lives, we’re trying to set down our phones more often and make room for more experiences. And we want the same for you. But it can be difficult to figure out what kind of activities don’t require a phone or other electronic device—so we’ve done the leg-work for you!
Below, you’ll find a list of fun activities and ideas that allow you to get off your phone and enjoy all the fun activities the Twin Cities have to offer in the summer! It's by no means comprehensive, but hopefully it gives you a good starting point!
Outdoor Movies and Music
Parks scattered around the Twin Cities offer outdoor movies and music all throughout the summer. Minneapolis has both, six nights a week, at various parks around the city. The evening often starts with some live music, followed by a movie at sun-down (with a ton of family-friendly movie options). Find the full schedule HERE. St. Paul also hosts a variety of film, music, and theater options at parks around the city. Their schedule can be found HERE.
Silverwood Park in St. Anthony has an outdoor amphitheater where they host musicians about one night a week—and throughout August, they’ll have a few movies as well! Before the concert, you can explore their walking and biking trail, which winds past the lake and through the woods—making the city feel lightyears away. Their visitor center is also home to a coffee shop, art gallery, and various arts and culture classes.
Mini Golf
For the mildly competitive, there are so many fun options for mini golf across the Twin Cities. Head down to Edina for a course that winds along Centennial Lakes; golf with a skyline view at the Walker Art Center’s rooftop mini golf course; or catch dinner, a round of mini golf, and a Ferris wheel ride—all in one location—at Betty Danger’s in Northeast Minneapolis.
Outdoor Activities
For those who like to hit the lake—but don’t want to head to the cabin mid-week—you can canoe, kayak, and paddle board on lakes throughout the Twin Cities. You can rent gear at Lake Harriet, Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun), Lake of the Isles, and Lake Nokomis—which are all lakes that are great to walk or bike around as well. Or rent a pontoon from Stillwater Marina for a cruise down the St. Croix or from Bald Eagle Boat Rental in White Bear Lake.
Looking for biking and hiking trails? Check out Battle Creek Regional Park, Elm Creek Park Reserve, and Shingle Creek Regional Trail—or hike around Minnehaha Park and take in the waterfall views. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is also a beautiful place to wander.
If you want to get further out of the Cities, Taylor’s Falls and Afton State Park are great locations for hiking and camping within reasonable driving distances.
Sporting Events
Some of our professional sports teams are off or away on July 18—but MN United has a game at TCF Bank Stadium that night and the Lynx have an afternoon game at Target Center. If you’ve never been to a professional soccer or basketball game, this might be the perfect day to check them out.
Art Museums
Take in some culture, history, or science at a museum around the Twin Cities. While many of these are only open during the day—so aren’t contenders for your National Night Off plans—they offer so much to look at and think about, we think they should still go on your list for places to explore! Take in some of the classics at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, where admission is free every day. If modern art is more your style, hit up the Walker Art Center, which is also home to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. And you won’t want to miss the American Swedish Institute and the Museum of Russian Art. But Minneapolis doesn’t hold an exclusive corner of the market—St. Paul is home to the Minnesota History Center, the Science Museum, the Children’s Museum, and the Bell Museum of Natural History (which is re-opening in a new location this weekend!).
Other ideas? A picnic at your favorite park. Dinner at a new restaurant with friends. A family bike ride. A walk through your neighborhood. Whether your plans are big or small, we just want you to set down your phone and do something that refreshes your soul and fills you up.
So, no matter how you choose to spend Wednesday evening, we hope you’re able to enjoy it—and not worry too much that your phone isn’t within arm’s reach. We can’t wait to hear how you spend National Night Off!
