Minneapolis Sculpture Garden & Walker Art Center

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is an 11-acre urban park that houses one of the largest collections of outdoor sculpture in the country, and it is completely free to visit year-round. Jointly managed by the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Park Board, the garden contains over 40 works by major artists, spread across manicured grounds that are beautiful in every season.

The centerpiece -- and the reason most families visit -- is Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. This massive sculpture of a spoon holding a cherry, sitting in a reflecting pool, has become the unofficial symbol of Minneapolis. Kids are fascinated by its scale and immediately want to pose for photos. The sculpture is whimsical, accessible, and universally loved.

But the garden has much more. Hahn/Cock by Katharina Fritsch is a 15-foot-tall ultramarine blue rooster that kids find endlessly entertaining. Standing Glass Fish by Frank Gehry is a shimmering glass and metal fish sculpture. Numerous other works range from abstract geometric forms to recognizable figures, and the variety keeps kids interested as they move from piece to piece.

The garden works brilliantly as a scavenger hunt. Give kids a list of 10 sculptures to find and photograph, and the walk becomes an adventure rather than a forced march through art. The flat, paved paths are fully stroller-friendly, and the garden's compact size means even young walkers can cover it without exhaustion.

A pedestrian bridge connects the sculpture garden to Loring Park, which has a playground, pond, and open green space -- extending the outing naturally.

The adjacent Walker Art Center is one of the top contemporary art museums in the country. While much of its collection is adult-oriented, the museum regularly offers family programming, and children under 18 are always admitted free. The museum is free for everyone on Thursdays and the first Saturday of each month.

Seasonal notes: summer is the prime season with long evenings, green grounds, and occasional outdoor events. Fall brings stunning foliage framing the sculptures. Winter visitors will find the sculptures dramatic against snow, but the cold limits comfortable walking time. Spring sees the garden awakening with tulips and flowering trees.