Free Thinking: Linden Hills050

What's free in Linden Hills for kids and families? Quite a bit! One of the most kid-friendly neighborhoods in the Twin Cities can be budget-friendly, too, when you know where to go.

Lake Harriet in any season offers a wealth of free family fun. In summer, there are nightly concerts at the Bandshell, improv and theatrical performances at the Rose Garden, and two swimming beaches. In winter, there's ice skating and cross-country skiing. Add the lake's natural beauty, loads of places to picnic, two playgrounds, lovely bike and walking paths, and unique gardens, and you've got the recipe for a full day of free activities. (Spend just a few dollars and, in season, you can also indulge in a trolley ride on the restored streetcar line running to Lake Calhoun, affordably-priced concessions, or boat rentals.)

Heading west from the lake brings you to another area of concentrated family fun - the commercial node of "downtown" Linden Hills. Creative Kidstuff offers free storytimes on Thursday mornings and free craft activities many Saturdays. Across the street, the Waldorf-inspired Wonderment toy store has a small tree play area to explore. If kids work up an appetite, they can get free popcorn at Bayer's Hardware or a free bread sample at Great Harvest. Then heed the call of the wild and head to Wild Rumpus to visit with the children's bookstore's resident animals, attend free storytimes on Monday mornings, and check out author appearances throughout the year. (Wild Rumpus also buys and sell used books - another way kids can pick up some extra dough...or save some.)

The Linden Hills Library also offers free weekly storytimes, as well as programming for older kids, internet access, and books, DVDs, and CDs galore. The children's section in the restored old building is on the smaller side, but altogether cozy and welcoming.

When kids need to let off steam, the playgrounds, playing fields, and seasonal wading pools at Linden Hills Park (and nearby Pershing Park, just across the Linden Hills border in Fulton) beckon. Ice skating is available in winter and the park hosts free activities such as a Halloween party and movie nights during the year. (There are also almost-free events like the annual Cornfeed, and inexpensive classes, before and afterschool care, and other programming for kids and teens.) Lake Harriet Community School-Lower Campus provides yet another playground option.

Check our calendar to see what's coming up at these locations, and if you know of more free stuff, events, and activities for kids and families in and around Linden Hills, please add a comment below!