If you’re planning a weekend visit or thinking about moving here with kids, you’re going to love how much there is to do. Family activities in Stillwater aren’t an afterthought , they’re built into the rhythm of the town. Between the river, the parks, the historic downtown, and a steady drumbeat of community events, you can fill a long weekend or a whole summer without driving more than a few miles.
I tell relocating families this all the time: Stillwater feels small in the best way. Kids can walk to ice cream, splash in the river, climb a playground that backs up to woods, and end the day watching a paddleboat go by. Here’s the local-parent guide I share with clients moving in (and visitors asking what to do).
Downtown and the Riverfront — The Easy Starting Point
If you’re spending a day in Stillwater, start at the river. Lowell Park, right on the St. Croix at the end of Main Street, is the heart of family life downtown. There’s open lawn, river views, a gazebo, and a constant rotation of community events on the lawn.
A few staples along the riverfront and downtown:
- The Historic Stillwater Lift Bridge — walkable now (since the new highway bridge took the car traffic) and connected to a paved loop trail that crosses into Wisconsin and back. Roughly 4.7 miles, totally doable with a stroller or kids on bikes.
- The Trolley — a narrated downtown trolley tour my kids ask for every time visitors come.
- St. Croix Boat & Packet river cruises — paddleboats, brunch cruises. A family favorite.
- Downtown Ice Cream and Candy Shops — there are many within a two-block stretch on Main. Up the hill a bit is Nelson’s Ice Cream which is a classic stop (You won’t believe the “child” size).
- Teddy Bear Park – Every kids favorite!
Parks Worth Driving to
Stillwater proper has solid neighborhood parks, but the real win is how many regional parks sit within a 10-minute drive.
Pioneer Park
Bluff-top views over the river, the famous gazebo (a top photo spot), and shaded playgrounds. Perfect for a sunset walk with little ones.
Sunfish Lake Park (Lake Elmo)
A short hop over to Lake Elmo. The Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center runs Family Nature Day programs — quiet trails, frog ponds, and naturalist-led activities for kids.
Square Lake Park (May Township)
Crystal-clear swimming, picnic shelters, and one of the cleanest beaches you’ll find in Washington County. The Washington Conservation District also runs volunteer planting and clean-up days here that double as a kid-friendly outdoor classroom (Washington Conservation District events).
Interstate State Park (Taylors Falls)
Worth the 35-minute drive. The river-carved glacial potholes are unreal, and they run a Nature Tots program for ages 3-6 each summer with stories, crafts, and a short hike (Discover Stillwater events).
Seasonal events families plan around
One of the things I love about raising kids in this area is that the calendar basically tells you what to do.
- July 4th Celebration at Lowell Park — live music, cannons, and a major fireworks show over the river. One of the best fireworks displays in the Twin Cities metro, full stop (Family Fun Twin Cities).
- Food Truck Extravaganza at the Washington County Fairgrounds — happens the summer. Kids eat. Adults eat better. Everybody’s happy.
- Summer Wednesdays at Stillwater Public Library — free entertainment all summer (jugglers, magicians, naturalists), plus summer reading programs and storytime series.
- Lumberjack Days in mid-July — a Stillwater tradition with parades, a carnival, lumberjack competitions, and food vendors along the river. (Lumberjackdays.com)
- Fall River Towns Tour and Halloween downtown — Stillwater goes all-in on autumn. Pumpkin patches, hayrides, and downtown trick-or-treating.
- Winter snowshoeing and ice skating at the regional parks — Pine Point Regional Park groomed trails are excellent for families.
Indoor backups for weather (or tired toddlers)
Minnesota weather has opinions, so it pays to have indoor options on the shortlist:
- Stillwater Public Library — one of the best small-town libraries I’ve ever spent time in. Great kids’ section, regular programming, and the new QR-code play trail downtown from the Early Childhood Coalition turns a walk into a scavenger hunt.
- Washington County Historical Society and Warden’s House Museum — kid-sized history lessons about the lumber era, with seasonal programming families can plan around (WCHS events).
- Kari’s Create & Paint Studio — pottery and clay drop-ins. Saves more than one rainy Saturday in our house.
- Indoor play and bookstore stops on Main Street — Valley Bookseller has a strong kids’ section and regular author events.
If you’re thinking about moving here with kids
Families relocating to Stillwater usually ask me the same three questions: schools, neighborhoods, and commute. The quick version — the school district (Stillwater Area Public Schools / ISD 834) consistently ranks strong, the neighborhoods range from walkable historic downtown to newer subdivisions on the western edge of town and out into Grant and Lake Elmo, and the commute to downtown St. Paul is about 25 minutes most of the day.
If you want a deeper rundown specific to your family’s situation — distance to schools, walkability to the river, parks within stroller range — I’m happy to walk through it with you. Start with a personal consultation or check out what your current home might be worth if you’re weighing a move.
One last tip
Bookmark the Stillwater event calendar on my site — I keep it updated, and it pulls a lot of the family-friendly stuff into one place so you don’t have to chase it across five websites. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or moving in next summer, that’s the cheat sheet.