Bloomington Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Bloomington Travel & Tourism, Free Bloomington Travel Guide Online
Bloomington Travel Guide: Discount & Cheap Bloomington Travel & Tourism, Free Bloomington Travel Guide OnlineBloomington is best known as the home of the Mall of America and of Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. A visitor could deplane at the airport, take a shuttle for 1.5 miles to the Mall of America, and literally spend an entire vacation just exploring and enjoying that enchanting place. The country's largest shopping complex and Number 1 visited attraction in the U.S. welcomes over 42 million guests each year. The Mall of America is an unprecedented mix of retail and entertainment, offering the chance to shop in your favorite stores, see a movie, ride a roller coaster, and build a LEGO castle. The Mall has over 525 specialty stores, 4 national department stores, over 60 restaurants from fast-food to fine dining, 7 nightclubs and 14 movie theaters. Because of the Mall, Bloomington has grown from a semi-rural village to its current status as Minnesota's third largest city. Inside the climate controlled mall are: the LEGO Imagination Center, a fantasy LEGO factory with more than 6,000 square feet of models and interactive activities; Jilian's Hi Life Lanes, with more than 100 electronic games and a Bowling alley; the NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway, with indoor simulated racing machines, and a 14 theater movie complex. Camp Snoopy is another prime Mall of America attraction. This seven acre family theme park features more than 25 rides and attractions, including a traditional roller coaster, a 40 foot waterfall plunge, a Ferris wheel, entertainment by the Peanuts characters, and a spinning roller coaster called the Timberland Twister. Another feature of the Mall is a walk-through aquarium containing more than 4,500 sea creatures including sharks and stingrays. Outside the mall, no matter what the season, Bloomington has recreational opportunities to offer, such as golf, tennis, biking, hiking and skiing. Named for its colorful, flowering fields, Bloomington is a city of picturesque lakes, ponds, and parks combined with an exciting and healthy business and hospitality industry. Permanent European settlers arrived in Bloomington in the 1840's, moving into the area along the Minnesota River near Fort Snelling. Bloomington gained recognition in the early 20th century as the home of racehorse Dan Patch, holder of the international pacing record. It was also the headquarters for many years for The Twins and the Vikings, Minnesota's professional baseball and football teams. When both of the teams moved from Met Stadium in Bloomington to the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis in 1982, the blow to the local economy in Bloomington was devastating. Tragedy turned to triumph in 1986, however, when the 78 strategically located acres of the former Met Stadium were slated for development by the group that was to build the Mall of America. The mega complex opened in 1992 and gave Bloomington a new lease on life. There is so much to see and do in Bloomington! If local history is your interest, be sure to visit the Bloomington Historical Museum. This museum in the 1892 Town Hall takes the visitor back in time through the highlights of regional history. In June and August, a must see event is the annual Art in the Parks festival. Enjoy beautiful summer nights in a friendly park setting and hear music from swing to country to jazz to classic rock. Watch performances by dance, choral and theater companies. Bloomington is fortunate in having four distinct seasons. Summer is very comfortable with high temperatures near 80 degrees. It is the perfect time to experience the outdoors; especially the city's numerous parks. Winter is the time to enjoy ice skating, ice fishing and watching Nature at it's finest as the snowflakes gently fall to earth forming thick blankets of snow for skiing, snowmobiling, and snowboarding. Spring brings rain and a profusion of plants and flowers. Fall is the perfect time to enjoy the colors of the season as the leaves turn and the cooler temperatures return. Because of its proximity to Minneapolis-St. Paul, many visitors to Bloomington use it as a base to visit the numerous sites and attractions of these nearby cities. Minneapolis is the home of numerous professional sports teams, excellent theatre, fine orchestras, and a host of art museums and fine dining. St. Paul hosts the Winter Carnival in January and February and the Minnesota Horse Expo and Rodeo and the Festival of Nations in May. If you visit in late August, be sure to take in the Minnesota State Fair, in St. Paul. This is Minnesota's premier festival: a twelve day event that attracts over one million visitors annually. Featuring family fun, prestigious animal judging events, Grand Stand shows, a Mighty Midway and a large variety of food, has been dubbed the "Great Minnesota Get-Together". While in the vicinity of Bloomington and the Twin Cities, don't miss the Grand Rounds, a 50-mile recreation area tour that can be followed on one huge trail maintained by the city of Minneapolis. This path, which was designated as a National Scenic Byway in 1998, is broken into seven districts. The tour offers many impressive views of the downtown skyline. The sites are green and lush and are lined with waterways. Attractions along the route include the historic Stone Arch Bridge, Minnehaha Falls, the Walker Arts Center's Sculpture Garden, and the historic mill district. Overall, the Grand Rounds provides a natural, urban, historic journey and is the first natural scenic byway totally located in a major urban area. The speed limit on Grand Rounds parkways is 25 mph to encourage leisurely driving. No matter what the season or what the occasion, Bloomington, is waiting to welcome you.
Bloomington Attractions: Bloomington Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Bloomington Travel & Tourism, Free Bloomington Travel Guide OnlineMall of America
60 E Broadway
Bloomington 55425
952-883-8800 Admission Free Just minutes away from downtown Minneapolis in Bloomington, Mall of America has more than 520 stores, a seven-acre amusement park, a walk-through aquarium, an entire level of restaurants and bars, a 15-screen movie theater, and much more.
Other family attractions include Camp Snoopy, the nation's largest fully enclosed theme park, spanning seven acres and featuring 28 rides and attractions and Underwater Adventures, a 1.2-million gallon walk-through aquarium – one of only three of its kind. Mall of America is an unprecedented mix of retail and entertainment, offering visitors the chance to shop their favorite stores as well as see a movie, ride a roller coaster, meet their favorite celebrity or build a LEGO castle. Mall of America has become the model for combining signature attractions with retail to create an outstanding entertainment venue and is now one of the most visited destinations in the United States. Open daily, call for hours of operation
Basic Brown Bear Factory
154 N Garden
Mall of America
Bloomington 55425
952-883-0822 Admission Free Open-Monday-Sunday from 10 am-5 pm. Stuff and dress your own bear. Camp Snoopy
Mall of America
Bloomington 55425 952-883-8500 Admission Charged Welcome to Camp Snoopy, the largest indoor theme park in America! It's seven acres of indoor excitement, with over 30 thrilling rides and attractions, plus unique shops, games to test your skills, fun-filled entertainment and many places to dine or simply grab a treat. It all adds up to a world of fun for the whole family! Call for dates and hours of operation as they vary by season Imation IMAX 3D Theatre
12000 Zoo Blvd
Apple Valley 55124 952-431-4629 Admission Charged Thrill your senses with exciting and innovation IMAX 3D Call for dates and hours of performances
NASCAR
Mall of America 952-854-7700 Admission Charged If you've got a need for speed, satisfy it here! The roar of 700 horse power engines and 195 mile per hour speeds are all part of this electrifying, high tech indoor stock car racing competition. Slide into the cockpit of a professional stock car and speed off! This is stock car racing as real as it gets. Call for hours of operation Minnesota Children's Museum
10 W 7th St
St. Paul 55102 651-225-6000 Admission Charged Hours: Museum Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday (Memorial Day through Labor Day): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Play to learn! Learn to play! Minnesota Children's Museum creates experiences that spark children's learning. The Museum is at the heart of where fun meets learning. It's where kids can touch, climb, splash, crawl, push, pull, and press it all! Children ages 6 months through 10 years and their adult guests can explore seven galleries packed with extraordinary hands-on adventures. Burrow through a giant anthill, take the stage in a music studio, get nose-to-beak with a turtle, operate a big crane, climb a tree fort and more! Two galleries host new and delightful special exhibits throughout the year. Underwater Adventures
120 East Broadway
Mall of America
888-DIVETIME
Admission Charged Imagine traveling 14 feet underwater where sharks, stingrays and giant sea turtles swim so close, you'll feel like you can reach out and touch them! With over 1.2 million gallons of water, this aquarium features a 300 foot-long curved tunnel, complete with a moving walkway that simulates a scuba diving adventure - but without getting wet! Call for dates and hours of operation Bloomington Historical Museum
10206 Penn Ave S
Bloomington 55431 952-948-8877 Admission Charged Regional history displayed in 1892 town hall Call for dates and hours of operation Hyland Hills Ski & Snowboard Area
8800 Chalet Road
Bloomington 55438 952-835-4250 Admission Charged Enjoy a day crisp day on the hill with the family Open seasonally, call for dates and hours of operation Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
3815 E 80th St
Bloomington 55425 952-854-5900 Admission Charged Call for dates and hours of operation An outdoor experience as primitive and natural as any state or national park. The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is one of only four urban wildlife refuges in the nation, a place where wild coyotes, bald eagles, badger, and beavers live next door to three million people. Normandale Japanese Gardens
9700 France Ave S
Bloomington 55431 952-832-6269 Admission Charged Call for dates and hours of operation Visitors are invited to enter and stroll the garden path of Normandale's lovely Japanese Garden, finding at each turn a new view of this artfully created world. Bloomington Events: Bloomington Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Bloomington Travel & Tourism, Free Bloomington Travel Guide Online
Theatres/Museums/Cultural Attractions
Bloomington Art Center
10206 Penn Ave S
Bloomington 55431
952-948-8746 Admission Charged The Bloomington Art Center exists to stimulate creativity by making high quality arts programs accessible to people of all ages, skills and abilities. Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-10:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday 1:00-5:00 pm
Events
Mid January
Winter Fete
952-563-8878 Admission varies by program Winter Fete is a counterpart to the City's annual Summer Fete event. It works to promote recreation and exercise during the winter months. The event is a host of programs being held all over the city, and being sponsored by a wide array of groups. Call for complete list of programs, dates, and hours
February
Bloomington Loves Its Kids
952-563-8891 Admission Free February is Bloomington Loves its Kids (BLIK) month. Each year Parks and Recreation teams with Bloomington public schools, Northwestern Health Sciences University and various community businesses, clubs and organizations to sponsor this month-long event. BLIK combines community and family fun with educational programs and recognition ceremonies. Call for exact dates and hours
Summer
Art in the Parks
952-563-8877 Admission Free Get out of the house and enjoy the beautiful summer nights in a friendly park setting. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy music from swing to country to jazz to classic rock, as well as performances by dance, choral and theater companies. So shake off those summertime blues and join us in the park for shows that will keep your toe tappin' all year long! Arts in the Parks also provide a wide variety of children's entertainment including theatre, puppetry, mime, magic, juggling, clowns, music, storytelling, and more! Programming is designed to provide participatory, educational experiences for children in a wholesome, outdoor park setting. Everyone is welcome to come to the free performances. Scheduled from June through September. Call for exact location, dates, and hours of operation.
May – October
Summer Flower Show
Cosmo Park Zoo & Conservatory 1225 Eastbrook Drive, St. Paul, MN 651-489-8200 A parade of annuals in the pinks, blues, yellows, and whites of the summer season. Call for exact dates
Late August – Early September
Minnesota State Fair
1265 Snelling Avenue North St. Paul, MN 651-6-3-6810 Admission Charged Minnesota's premier festival - a twelve day event ending on Labor Day attracts over one million visitors annually. Featuring family fun, prestigious animal barns, Grand Stand shows, a Mighty Midway and a large variety of food - on a stick too! It has been dubbed the "Great Minnesota Get-Together", come and see why. Call for exact dates
Early September
Annual Scrapbooking Festival
Mall of America 800-879-3555 Admission Free Join Mall of America and Archiver's for the annual Scrapbook Festival! An event so large, only the nation's largest Mall can hold it! Three full days are packed with creative make and take projects, demonstrations, inspiring classes, the newest products, and shopping. Call for exact dates and hours of the Festival
Mid-September
School Days and Rendezvous Day
Parks and Recreation
952-563-8877 Admission Free This wonderful festival is a chance to experience living history at the Pond-Dakota Misson Park in Bloomington, Minnesota. Its goal is to demonstrate the lifestyles of people living in Minnesota between 1830 and 1870 through story-telling and interactive, hands-on demonstration! Public Rendezvous Day (no registration necessary). Come join us for River Rendezvous this year! It is a chance to experience life as the Native Americans, Fur Traders, and Settlers living along the Minnesota River Valley did in the 1800s. Call for exact dates and hours
Early November – Early March
Snow Slide
Minnesota Children's Museum
10 West Street, St. Paul 651-225-6001 Admission Charged Minnesota's Children's Museum is where children ages six months to 10 years can touch, climb, splash and explore their way through six galleries packed with extraordinary hands-on adventures. Bloomington Facts: Bloomington Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Bloomington Travel & Tourism, Free Bloomington Travel Guide Online
Population: 85,172
Elevation: 848 feet
Area: 35.5 square miles
Location: Located just south of Minneapolis and the intersections of I-35W and I-494
Nearest Cities: Minneapolis (9.5 miles)
Time Zone: Bloomington is located in the Central Time Zone (when it's noon in Bloomington, it's 1:00pm in New York City and 10:00am in Los Angeles. Bloomington observes Daylight Savings Time from April – October.
Weather:
| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | | Averagetemp.(°F) | 12.8 | 19.8 | 31.9 | 46.6 | 59.2 | 68.3 | 72.8 | 70.3 | 60.9 | 48.7 | 32.3 | 18.4 | | Hightemperature(°F) | 21.8 | 28.3 | 40.6 | 57.2 | 70.3 | 79.0 | 83.1 | 80.3 | 71.3 | 58.8 | 40.1 | 26.3 | | Lowtemperature(°F) | 3.7 | 11.2 | 23.1 | 35.9 | 48.2 | 57.5 | 62.4 | 60.2 | 50.4 | 38.6 | 24.5 | 10.4 | | Precipitation(in) | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.0 |
Climate
| | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | | Dayswithprecipitation. | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | | Windspeed(mph) | 10.5 | 10.4 | 11.3 | 12.2 | 11.1 | 10.4 | 9.4 | 9.2 | 10.0 | 10.6 | 11.0 | 10.4 | | Morninghumidity(%) | 76 | 76 | 76 | 74 | 75 | 78 | 81 | 84 | 84 | 80 | 80 | 78 | | Afternoonhumidity(%) | 69 | 67 | 64 | 55 | 55 | 58 | 59 | 61 | 63 | 61 | 68 | 71 | | Sunshine(%) | 53 | 59 | 57 | 58 | 61 | 66 | 72 | 69 | 62 | 55 | 39 | 42 | | Daysclearofclouds | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 6 | | Partlycloudydays | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | Cloudydays | 15 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 18 | | Snowfall(in) | 10.7 | 8.1 | 10.5 | 2.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 7.8 | 9.4 |
Local Seasons:
Bloomington is lucky to have four distinct seasons. The summer is very comfortable with high temperatures near 80 degrees. Winter is also a great time of year for those who enjoy snow-related activities. Spring has the most rain, nourishing the earth and the flowers. Fall is the perfect time to enjoy the colors of the season as the leaves turn and the cooler temperatures return. Whatever the season, Bloomington has something for every visitor to experience and enjoy.
How to Get There:
By Air
Minneapolis-St. Paul International (code MSP) is the closest airport to Bloomington. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, with more than a half million takeoffs and landings each year. MSP has been ranked among the top five airports worldwide for overall customer satisfaction. The airport is served my most of the major airlines, many regional carriers as well as a variety of charter operators. There are two main terminals at the airport.
By Car
Bloomington is easily accessible by car as it is conveniently located just south of Minneapolis at the intersections of I-35W and I-494
By Train
Amtrak does not serve Bloomington
By Bus
Greyhound Bus Lines serves Bloomington at the following location:
Great Bear Tire
9000 Lyndale Avenue Sourth
Bloomington MN 55420 952- 887-2116
How to Get Around:
Bloomington is serviced by Metro Transit 560 Sixth Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411 612-349-7510 Call for schedules and additional information
National Holidays:
New Year's Day Jan. 1 Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan. President's Day 3rd Mon. in Feb. Memorial Day last Mon. in May Independence Day July 4 Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept. Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25 New Year's Eve Dec. 31 Bloomington Kids Activities: Bloomington Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Bloomington Travel & Tourism, Free Bloomington Travel Guide OnlineMinnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
3815 E 80th St
Bloomington 55425 952-854-5900 Admission Charged An outdoor experience as primitive and natural as any state or national park. The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is one of only four urban wildlife refuges in the nation, a place where wild coyotes, bald eagles, badger, and beavers live next door to three million people. Call for dates and hours of operation.
Minnesota State Fair
1265 Snelling Avenue North St. Paul, MN 651-6-3-6810 Admission Charged Minnesota's premier festival - a twelve day event ending on Labor Day attracts over one million visitors annually. Featuring family fun, prestigious animal barns, Grand Stand shows, a Mighty Midway and a large variety of food - on a stick too! It has been dubbed the "Great Minnesota Get-Together". Fun for the family.
Mall of America
60 E Broadway
Bloomington 55425
952-883-8800
Admission Free A great place to take the family for one day or everyday. There's so much to do!. Mall of America is an unprecedented mix of retail and entertainment, offering visitors the chance to shop their favorite stores as well as see a movie, ride a roller coaster, meet their favorite celebrity or build a LEGO castle. Open daily, call for hours of operation
Basic Brown Bear Factory
154 N Garden
Mall of America
Bloomington 55425
952-883-0822 Admission Free Open-Monday-Sunday from 10 am-5 pm.
Camp Snoopy
Mall of America
Bloomington 55425
952-883-8500 Admission Charged Welcome to Camp Snoopy, the largest indoor theme park in America! It's seven acres of indoor excitement, with over 30 thrilling rides and attractions, plus unique shops, games to test your skills, fun-filled entertainment and many places to dine or simply grab a treat. It all adds up to a world of fun for the whole family! Call for dates and hours of operation as they vary by season
NASCAR
Mall of America 952-854-7700
Admission Charged If you've got a need for speed, satisfy it here! The roar of 700 horse power engines and 195 mile per hour speeds are all part of this electrifying, high tech indoor stock car racing competition. Slide into the cockpit of a professional stock car and speed off! This is stock car racing as real as it gets. Call for hours of operation
Minnesota Children's Museum
10 W 7th St
St. Paul 55102
651-225-6000 Admission Charged Museum Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday (Memorial Day through Labor Day): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Play to learn! Learn to play! Minnesota Children's Museum creates experiences that spark children's learning. The Museum is at the heart of where fun meets learning. It's where kids can touch, climb, splash, crawl, push, pull, and press it all! Children ages 6 months through 10 years and their adult guests can explore seven galleries packed with extraordinary hands-on adventures. Burrow through a giant anthill, take the stage in a music studio, get nose-to-beak with a turtle, operate a big crane, climb a tree fort and more! Two galleries host new and delightful special exhibits throughout the year.
Underwater Adventures
120 East Broadway
Mall of America
888-DIVETIME
Admission Charged Imagine traveling 14 feet underwater where sharks, stingrays and giant sea turtles swim so close, you'll feel like you can reach out and touch them! With over 1.2 million gallons of water, this aquarium features a 300 foot-long curved tunnel, complete with a moving walkway that simulates a scuba diving adventure - but without getting wet! Call for dates and hours of operation
Hyland Hills Ski & Snowboard Area
8800 Chalet Road
Bloomington 55438
952-835-4250 Admission Charged Enjoy a day crisp day on the hill with the family Open seasonally, call for dates and hours of operation Hilton Head Island Travel Guide |Auckland Travel Guide |Fort Lauderdale Travel Guide |Montego Bay Travel Guide |Tucson Travel Guide |Flagstaff Travel Guide |Fort Walton Beach Travel Guide |Curacao Travel Guide |Banff Travel Guide |Richmond Travel Guide |Greensboro Travel Guide |San Juan Travel Guide |Panama City Travel Guide |Pigeon Forge Travel Guide |Buena Vista Travel Guide |Cincinnati Travel Guide |Honolulu Travel Guide |Scottsdale Travel Guide |South Padre Island Travel Guide |Albany Travel Guide |Fresno Travel Guide |Mississauga Travel Guide |Columbia Travel Guide |San Jose Travel Guide |Lake Louise Travel Guide |Birmingham Travel Guide |Krakow Travel Guide |Grand Rapids Travel Guide |Oakland Travel Guide |Lake Tahoe Travel Guide |
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