Looking for a fun and free summer activity with your kids? Check out Tamarack Nature Center in White Bear Lake!
We kicked off the summer with a day at Tamarack Nature Center. I am absolutely loving nature centers around the Twin Cities, not only are they free– it’s very fun to explore and discover each individual nature center. We are lucky to have many amazing options in the Twin Cities, but Tamarack Nature Center in White Bear Lake is definitely one of our favorites!
What sets Tamarack Nature Center apart? Well of course they have the typical nature center activities– animals to visit (like snakes, turtles, frogs), a nice building with bathrooms and plenty of open ended kids activities– Tamarack Nature Center has an epic outdoor play area called Discovery Hollow featuring a water stream, sand, rocks, a hobbit house, stick builds and so much more!
The biggest draw for Tamarack Nature Center is the water play. There’s multiple sand areas with water streams. It’s super fun for kids of all ages to play. My 8 year old son loved making creations in the sand and was quick to let younger kids help. My 6 year old wanted to keep pushing the water button to make sure everyone had a continuous water stream while my 3 year old had epic fun dumping water and sand cups again and again. I’d recommend packing your own sand toys and a change of clothes. It’s so fun to get messy here!
Another big draw are the nature play structures. There are fun rock formations with small caves and outlooks for the kids to explore. And of course the hobbit house– kids will love climbing on this, playing “house” and more. We saw kids of all ages playing together and having a great time.
A bit further in the nature area past the water streams is a fun wooden space with tree trunks to climb and a branch teepee. This was the perfect place to have a break from the sun! Just make sure to check for ticks after… we had a few on us!
Tamarack Nature Center is a must visit in the summertime– it’s super fun for kiddos and it’s FREE. The main building is located at 5287 Otter Lake Road White Bear Township, MN 55110. Open daily, building hours are Monday through Saturday 9am – 4pm and Sunday 12-4pm. Don’t forget to pack a picnic and make a day of it!
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Hannah is a married mom of 3 kiddos in the Twin Cities. Born and raised here in MN, she loves finding deals and special events to share with others.
Hannah enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading books, going on road trips up north, singing along with the radio and finding new thrift stores to shop! Hannah is also a fierce advocate for people with disabilities and is always on the lookout for more sensory friendly opportunities in the Twin Cities.
Sophie Tobias says
We love coming here!