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Photo: Alainavo, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife refuge is right on the Minnesota River and provides a sanctuary for wildlife and migrating birds. The Visitor Center offers fascinating interactive exhibits about the area's natural history. There are an abundance of hiking trails and the refuge offers educational programs as well as picnic grounds and cross country skiing in the winter. This is a great place to take the kids if they haven't burned off all of their excess energy at the Mall of America!
The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a 14,000-acre (5,666-hectare) National Wildlife Refuge in eastern and central Minnesota. Located just south of the city of Minneapolis, it is one of fourteen Regional Priority Urban Wildlife Refuges in the nation. Many parts of the refuge are near large establishments of Minneapolis–Saint Paul; the Bloomington Education and Visitor Center and two trailheads are located just blocks from the Mall of America, the Wilkie Unit is just east of Valleyfair, and the Louisville Swamp Unit is just south of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.
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Visit the world's largest underground aquarium and see over 5,000 marine creatures! From 360 pound sea turtles to young sea horses, you will find everything you were hoping to see in the underwater adventure. Scuba Certified, try scuba diving with 9 foot sharks.
"A large indoor amusement park in the middle of the Mall of America. It has 3 roller coasters in addition to many different rides."
formerly the Water Park of America
"America's biggest indoor water park".
Children's engineering and design museum with hand-on exhibits.
The Bloomington Center for the Arts offers a variety of plays and concerts in many different styles and genres. From musicals to comedies, symphony orchestra concerts to blue grass, you are sure to find something for everyone's taste. Looking for a night out on the town? Upgrade your ticket to a package that includes dinner at Kincaids for $31 additional.
The Bloomington Arts Center is in the Bloomington Civic Plaza. It offers six exhibits a year as well as art classes for adults and children.