Everything & anything outdoors. Hartley Nature Center (http://www.hartleynature.org/), Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory (http://hawkridge.org/index.html) ...I'm not very good at the whole two year old thing. Do they sit still for movies? There's Movies in the Park every Friday, but it might be too late for a two year old? Pick up the 2008 Visit Duluth catalog at the Visit Duluth office, they have a whole calendar and directory of things to do.

Storytime at the Duluth Public library. Free, entertaining, air conditioned and gets a thumbs-up from my two year old.

http://www.duluth.lib.mn.us/Programs/Storytime.html

Wednesday Night at the Races - Wed. evenings from July 23-Aug. 27. They start reg. at 5 and races at 6 p.m. with the 4-under age group. Call Grandma's Marathon for the details or www.grandmasmarathon.com. The kids have a blast and they're all free - even the full picnic at Park Point for the last Wed.

the beach y'all!

What kind of races? Running?

Go throw rocks in the lake at Brighton beach. It's fun for kids and adults alike and it will present you with many great photo opportunities.

Various playgrounds (new to you).

Beach.

Library (+/- storytime).

My 2 yr old just spent about 45 minutes using tongs to move ice from one container to another :)

Outdoor picnic.

Canal Park Maritime Center. Boats are cool. Kids love the exhibits. There's a ship cabin that kids can steer. Need I say more?

The Duluth Public Library has a yellow book called the "Guide to Summer Opportunities for Youth," which people usually call the "Yellow Book." It's 60 pages of information. You can ask for it, and have your own copy if there are any left.
A pdf of the book is available online. Look for "Go Guide 2008" in the middle of the page.

Wow Beverly - you rock.

The library really does do a lot. a couple years ago they had a music theme, my kids learned to make and play digeridoos and did a bunch of other music stuff too. And their reading program starts up pretty soon. I'm doing some kids' drawing and cartooning workshops in July and August too.

I've been meaning to post something on Father's Day at the Zoo and may even get around to it later in the day today. Anyway, I work for a program called Boyz II Dadz and we have fun and free activities for young dads and their kids. It sounds like you might not fit into that category. BUT on Sunday we are sponsoring Father's Day at the Zoo. This celebration is for EVERYONE and we have a number of passes for low-income families of all stripes and sizes. To reserve passes for your family call 218.391.8330 by Friday. If you or someone you know is a young dad (up to 25), call that same number and we'll let you know more about our outings this summer as they come up.

th only prob with most of the activities for kids around town that I've noticed is that they generally take place between 9 and 3 in the afternoon. during the week.

wait.

i work during the week.

i am, however, working with a few local musicians and Beaner's to set up a "play date" or two this coming fall...coffee and libation for the 'rents, music for the kids...probably a saturday afternoon...hopefully on a recurring basis. i'll keep the updates rolling. The only unfortunate part that I'm trying to overcome is the financials. I can't expect an artist to come and play for free, and I certainly would have just as much trouble asking a parent to front up five bucks so their kid can see some music at a coffee shop on a saturday afternoon....and at the same time, I'd like to keep this project as free from "community organization sponsorship" as humanly possible, so as to keep the vision of my idea as pure as possible (this is a concept that i'm working with, and too many fingers makes for politics and compromise, to which I will not acquiesce)...

we did this kind of stuff in the Cities all the time with great success at places like the Coffee Gallery. I'd like to see the same thing happen here. Not enough music for kids, IMO...

For what its worth, I wuold gladly pay $5 up front for my boys to get to hear music and hang out.

Best activity listed: Tongs and ice! That skill can transend to many employment opportunities in the future.

A few sand pails and shovels, some sandwiches, and a day at Park Point Beach. Those were some of my favorite childhood memories. Free for us, but the accompanying adults probably wanted to die from boredom.

I'm in on the Beaner's tots and tunes project. Fantastic idea!