Top 12 Things To Do In Buffalo, Minnesota That Are Fun For All The Family

Katie
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 4 min read
things to do in buffalo mn

This pretty city is surrounded by lakes, the two most famous being Buffalo Lake and Lake Pulaski. Whether you’re in Minnesota on a family holiday, business trip or even backpacking there is plenty to see and do. You can enjoy recreational water-based activities, discover the glorious nature on one of the many hikes or bike trails or simply sit in a cafe and watch the world pass you by. We’ve scoured high and low to find, what we think, are the most fun activities and the best things to do in Buffalo, Minnesota. So, let’s take a closer look and plan your holiday to Buffalo, Minnesota today.

1. Go ice skating at Buffalo Civic Center

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Posted by Buffalo Civic Center on Monday, November 5, 2012

Buffalo Civic Center offers a bunch of great activities for the whole family depending on the season. During winter, the center’s indoor ice sheets and outdoor rink are open to the public. You can play hockey, go ice skating, and practice figure skating with your whole family during this time. You can also rent these spaces for birthday parties.

Outside of winter, the venue’s multi-purpose event area is open for rentals where you can do fundraisers, banquets, weddings, birthdays, and many others.

Buffalo Civic Center

Address: 1306 County Rd 134 NE, Buffalo, MN 55313, United States

Website: Buffalo Civic Center

Opening hours: 8am - 10pm (daily)

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2. Bowl at Huikko's Bowling Center

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

? The dinosaurs are staying safe with social distancing! ? Put the dinosaurs to use by bringing in your kids! Kids 15...

Posted by Huikko's Bowling and Entertainment Center on Monday, July 27, 2020

As the name suggests, Huikko’s Bowling Center offers you and your family a fun time at the bowling alleys but with a bit of a twist. Other than the regular bowling alleys, the venue also offers bumper bowling lanes so that the little kids don’t have to be sad that they keep getting gutter balls.

There’s also a cosmic bowling lane that turns the lights down and compliments all your bowls with a mix of great music and magnificent lighting effects.

Huikko's Bowling Center

Address: 1207 MN-25, Buffalo, MN 55313, United States

Website: Huikko’s Bowling Center

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sun: 11am - 11pm

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3. Enjoy the beautiful sights of Sturgess Park from a paddleboat

DSC03803
Source: Photo by user Greg Gjerdingen used under CC BY 2.0

The area of Sturgess Park on Buffalo Lake is the perfect place to hire water equipment. Head to the Parkshore Pavilion to rent a boat, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or even pontoons. Recreational water activities are not open all year so be sure to check details online to avoid disappointment.

Sturges Park

Address: 205 Lake Blvd S, Buffalo, MN 55313, USA

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 3pm - 8pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 8pm

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4. Hit a hole-in-one at West Pulsaki Park Golf

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

With a fairly flat and tight fairway, this park is a great option for a family game of golf, or to welcome new players. There is only a noticeable elevation change on two of the holes. The only excuse that you may have for missing the hole is the wind, which can sometimes be a bit challenging on some of the holes. The course was actually first opened in 2001 and it has already become a firm favorite for many locals and tourists alike.

West Pulsaki Park Golf

Address: 1900 Hwy 25 N, Buffalo

Website: West Pulsaki Park Golf

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5. Sample some of the best tasting wine in the region

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Buffalo Rock Winery is a local family-owned winery and is an absolute must visit if you are in the area and you enjoy wine. Plan a trip during the summer months and you can enjoy the outdoor bar. Among the other local wineries in the area, the Buffalo Rock Winery has been singled out many times for their delicious tasting wines. The wine tasting sessions are very good value and you’ll be able to try a number of wines on offer.

Buffalo Rock Winery

Address: 4527 23rd Street SE, Buffalo, MN 55313

Website: Buffalo Rock Winery

Price: 7.28 USD

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6. Inspire your children at the interactive Rotary Music Trail

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

This fun walk is a great family activity and includes a gentle stroll around Buffalo while playing with a number of percussion instruments. There are six different ‘stops’ along the route and at each one, you’ll find a different instrument. The first point, at the entrance to the walk, has an imbarimba, then a yantzee, pagoda bells, contra-bass pipes, Saturn chimes and finally turn drums. Aside from having fun with the instruments, many locals use the walk as their daily exercise and some people regularly visit for a bit of music therapy.

Rotary Music Trail

Address: Hwy. 25 and 2nd Ave. S , Buffalo, MN, 55313

Website: Rotary Music Trail

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7. For water, beach and fun times head to Sturges Park swimming beach

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Want to feel like your at the beach without having to travel a long distance then head to the beach at Sturgess Park. In total this park has 4.4 hectares (11 acres) of fun. Relaxing on the beach next to the lake is the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon in Buffalo. If you have teenagers they’ll enjoy the nearby skate park and small children can play at the playground.

Sturges Park

Address: 401 Lake Blvd S, Buffalo, MN 55313, USA

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8. Find the freshest ingredients and listen to live music

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Posted by Buffalo Farmers Market on Friday, May 25, 2018

Regardless of the season, there is always a fantastic time to be had at the Buffalo Farmers Market. You can get the freshest local food so be sure to stop by to grab your ingredients. This market is very popular with the locals so we’d recommend getting there early to make sure you grab the tastiest foods on display. This market has been happening since 2003 and now sometimes even includes live music events.

Buffalo Farmers Market

Address: 100 1st Ave NE, Buffalo, MN 55313, USA

Website: Buffalo Farmers Market

Opening hours: 8am - 12pm (daily)

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9. Try downtown Splash Pad for more fun and frolic with the kids

Splash pad
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Heditor6 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Every child loves spending time at a splash pad. This fun area shoots jets of water high into the air. Your children will happily spend an afternoon trying to avoid, or aiming for, the water jets. On a hot summer day, it’s a great place to take a group of friend. You simply need to step onto the silver disc on the center blue drain and the jets will spring into action. In fact, this whole park received an award in 2015 for its unique design.

Downtown Commons - Splash Pad

Address: Downtown, Buffalo, MN, 55313

Website: Downtown Commons - Splash Pad

Opening hours: 10am - 7pm (daily)

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10. Satisfy your foodie soul at Minnesota State Fair

Giant Slide-Minnesota State Fair
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Amy Mingo used under CC BY 2.0

We adore the Minnesota State Fair, which has not only a cheap entrance price but also lasts for three days. Usually taking place between August and September, be sure to check the website for accurate dates each year. There is everything you could imagine, from big stage shows to fairground rides, exhibitions, and delicious food stalls. It’s a fantastic day out for all of the family.

Minnesota State Fair

Address: Minnesota State Fair, 1265 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul, MN 55108-3003

Website: Minnesota State Fair

Price: 12 USD

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11. Can you survive the escape rooms at Puzzles?

Editor’s Note: Establishment is permanently closed.

With a number of escape rooms that are intended to not be scary, this is great fun for all the family. If people are under 18 you’ll need to sign a parent waiver. There are four different rooms to try to escape from. So, if its a rainy day head to the Puzzles for some indoor family fun. Will you make it out on time?

Puzzles Escape Rooms

Address: 15 1st Ave S #103, Buffalo, MN 55313

Website: Puzzles Escape Rooms

Price: 22 USD

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12. Spend some time at the famous Evelyn Wine Bar

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Looking for a nice bar to enjoy on a Friday night? We’d recommend Evely’s Wine Bar. Family owned and in a quiet neighborhood in the historic downtown Buffalo. There is a wide range of delicious wines on offer alongside cheese plates, tasty pizzas and small plates. Not sure which glass of wine you want, you should order a flight and try a few different options. It’s a great way to find your favorite.

Evelyn Wine Bar

Address: 18 Central Ave, Buffalo, MN 55313, USA

Website: Evelyn Wine Bar

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 3pm - 9.30pm; Fri - Sat: 10.30am - 10pm

Visited this place?

Discover fun activities in Buffalo

Buffalo River State Park MN
Source: Photo by user McGhiever used under CC BY-SA 3.0

With this list of the best things to do in Buffalo, Minnesota we’re sure that you’ll have an amazing time. There is plenty to keep you and your family happy! We’d love to see your photos so remember to tag us in your Instagram stories.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Katie is a committed full-time global wanderer and volunteer. She possesses an unerring compass that guides her to the obscure and distant corners of the Earth, where she explores jungles,...Read more

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