PHS Top Spots
PHS Top Spots makes it easier for families of children with special needs to find the best spots throughout the state that are set-up to accommodate their needs. Check out the 2020 Minnesota Top Spots list below, as voted by families in the special needs community. This list is sure to help your family get out and about year round!
Online Resources
Active Lifestyle
The 16,000-square-foot all-inclusive playground offers sun-shade covered play decks, swings, sensory play equipment and ramps for wheelchair access. Madison’s Place will serve as a regional gathering place for children of all ages and abilities to foster friendships, experience the excitement of climbing on a playground and spend time outdoors.
With attractions like Nickelodeon Universe, The Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, The Crayola Experience, The Lego Store, and more, there is something for everybody here – and much of it is accessible. You can also check out Toddler Tuesdays for a free morning of fun from 10:00 am-noon.
This incredible organization offers trainings and competitions all year across the state for people with intellectual disabilities. With 16 Olympic-style sports, there’s something for everyone.
Ronald McDonald House Charities supports families in many ways, from providing housing and financial support to basic medical and dental care and warm meals. They truly strengthen families during difficult times.
Getaways
Whether you stay overnight in the campground or just stop in to see the falls, Gooseberry is a welcoming park for all abilities.
Fully renovated in 2017 the Bloomington, MN lodge and water park offers your family a full vacation without having to leave the metro area. With a large indoor waterpark and more than a dozen other attractions, you’ll never run out of things to do.
Camp Odayin provides fun, safe and supportive camp experiences and community building opportunities for young people with heart disease and their families. That’s right, in addition to various camps for children, there’s a mom’s retreat too.
It’s not surprising that Minnesota families with special needs chose somewhere peaceful like a lake or favorite spot up north to recharge. After all, its importance was the very reason Pediatric Home Service started – to help kids live as fully as possible in their communities, with their families, rather than in the hospital.
Pastimes
This one-story contemporary library boasts a vaulted ceiling, sustainable features, a seasonal reading porch and a variety of seating and meeting spaces.
The Science Museum of MN offers an incredible range of exhibits, from the human body and dinosaurs to the Mississippi River – all created to encourage children to explore the science happening around them!
Home to the Minnesota Twins, Target Field offers UCare Accessible Seating, assistive-listening devices, and convenient drop-off/pick-up locations. Plus, the ballpark allows guests to bring in backpacks, coolers, children’s beverages, and even their own food.