Guthrie Theater & Mill City Museum

The Mill District along the Minneapolis riverfront is the most architecturally compelling area in the city, and it offers families a unique combination of free and low-cost experiences centered around the Guthrie Theater, Mill City Museum, and the Stone Arch Bridge. All three are within walking distance of each other and can be combined into a 2-3 hour outing.

The Guthrie Theater, designed by architect Jean Nouvel, is one of the most striking buildings in the Midwest. Its public spaces -- including the lobby, escalator halls, and observation areas -- are free to enter during operating hours, no theater ticket required. The Endless Bridge is the star: a cantilevered observation deck that extends from the building over the street, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls providing panoramic views of the Mississippi River, St.

Anthony Falls, and the Stone Arch Bridge. At sunset, the building's amber-tinted glass floods the interior with warm light. Kids are drawn to the glass walls and the sensation of standing over the river.

Adjacent to the Guthrie, Mill City Museum occupies the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, once the world's largest flour mill. The museum tells the story of Minneapolis's flour milling industry through interactive exhibits, and the Flour Tower is its signature experience: an 8-story elevator ride through a recreated flour mill, using projected images, sound effects, and vibrations to simulate the milling process and the catastrophic 1878 explosion that destroyed the original mill. Kids find the sensory experience thrilling, especially the explosion sequence.

The museum's courtyard, built within the stone ruins of the original mill walls, is dramatic and photogenic. The rooftop observation deck provides another vantage point over the river.

The Stone Arch Bridge connects the Mill District to Nicollet Island and Northeast Minneapolis. This former railroad bridge (built in 1883) is now a pedestrian and bicycle path offering the best views of St. Anthony Falls -- the only major waterfall on the Mississippi River.

The walk is about 0. 5 miles each way, flat and paved, suitable for strollers and young walkers. Views of the falls, the lock and dam system, and the Minneapolis skyline make it one of the most scenic walks in any American city.

Combining all three creates a rich, varied outing: architectural awe at the Guthrie (free), industrial history at Mill City Museum ($13/adult), and a scenic walk over the Stone Arch Bridge (free). The total cost is minimal and the experience is uniquely Minneapolis.