This suburban city is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota, on the banks of the Minnesota River. One of the main attractions in Bloomington is the famous Mall of America, home to over 500 stores and considered the largest shopping center in the country.
Another attraction that draws many visitors to Bloomington is the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge spans over 14,000 acres and is home to hiking and nature trails that are ideal for bird-watching.
The city has many restaurants and eateries, along with over 40 hotels, making it a top-rated vacation destination.
Read on to discover our list of the best things to do in Bloomington, Minnesota
The 90 Most Popular Things To Do In Bloomington, Minnesota
90. Oxboro Lake
3.0 (1 review)
89. Cosmic Coaster
5.0 (2 reviews)
Location: 1 Valley Fair Dr Shakopee MN
Tel: 952 445 7600
Web Address: https://valleyfair.com/play/rides/cosmic-coaster
88. Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends
5.0 (2 reviews)
Location: 3815 American Blvd E Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 854 5900
Web Address: http://mnvalleyrefugefriends.org/
87. Hughes Pavilion
4.5 (2 reviews)
Credit: David Adolphson, Google Maps
Location: 7499 Ave S Edina MN
Web Address: https://edinamn.gov/facilities/facility/details/Centennial-Lakes-Park-Hughes-Pavilion-54
86. Wood Lake
4.7 (3 reviews)
Credit: WorldIslandInfo.com, License, Flickr
85. Hyland Lake
4.8 (4 reviews)
Credit: Bjoertvedt, License, Wikimedia commons
84. Penn Lake
4.8 (5 reviews)
Credit: Collin Knopp-Schwyn, License, Wikimedia commons
83. Black Dog Lake
4.4 (5 reviews)
Credit: Tony Webster, License, Flickr
82. Alimagnet Lake
4.8 (5 reviews)
81. Bloomington Historical Society
4.3 (6 reviews)
Credit: Myotus, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 10200 Penn Ave S Minneapolis MN
Tel: 952 881 4114
Web Address: http://bloomingtonhistoricalsociety.org/
80. Hidden Valley Park
5.0 (6 reviews)
Credit: Osama SALEM, Google Maps
Location: 5020 W 132nd Street Savage MN
79. Quarry Island
4.8 (6 reviews)
Location: Mendota Heights MN
Web Address: https://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/virtual_tour/fort_snelling/dialup.html
78. Lake Smetana
4.0 (7 reviews)
77. Dan Patch Line Bridge
4.3 (7 reviews)
Credit: Gabriel Vanslette, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Bloomington MN
76. Edina Historical Society
4.6 (8 reviews)
Credit: Charlene Christianson, Google Maps
Location: 4721 4761 W 70th Street Edina MN
Tel: 612 928 4577
Web Address: http://edinahistoricalsociety.org/
75. Rogers Lake
4.6 (8 reviews)
74. Bloomington Ferry Bridge
3.9 (10 reviews)
Credit: USFWSmidwest, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Shakopee MN
73. Snelling Lake
4.9 (11 reviews)
Credit: Tom Evenstad, Google Maps
72. Minnehaha Creek
4.5 (13 reviews)
Credit: Peter J Nelson, License, Wikimedia commons
71. Edina Promenade (Walking, Biking)
4.9 (13 reviews)
Credit: George Rerat, Google Maps
Location: 3535 Hazelton Road Edina MN
Web Address: http://edinamn.gov/696/Edina-Promenade
70. Boiling Springs
4.3 (14 reviews)
Credit: Travis Dickinson, Google Maps
69. Hopkins Historical Society
4.3 (15 reviews)
Credit: Hopkins Historical Society, Google Maps
Location: 33 14th Ave N Hopkins MN
Tel: 952 548 6480
Web Address: http://hopkinshistory.org/
68. Wells Fargo Family Farm
4.5 (18 reviews)
Credit: Piggy Porkchop, Google Maps
Location: Apple Valley MN
Web Address: http://mnzoo.org/blog/animals/wells-fargo-family-farm/
67. Bloomington Ferry Trail Bridge
4.4 (19 reviews)
Credit: Traveling Experience, Google Maps
Location: Bloomington MN
Web Address: https://wikip.one/gDLTNT
66. Arneson Acres Park
4.7 (20 reviews)
Credit: Ted Salmen, Google Maps
Location: 4711 W 70th Street Edina MN
Tel: 952 826 0367
Web Address: https://edinamn.gov/986/Arneson-Acres
65. Richfield History Center and Museum
4.6 (22 reviews)
Credit: Richfield History Center and Museum, Google Maps
Location: 6901 Lyndale Ave S Richfield MN
Tel: 612 798 6140
Web Address: http://richfieldhistory.org/
64. Mendota Bridge
4.2 (26 reviews)
Location: State Highway 55 MN 62 Mendota Heights MN
63. Fairly Odd Coaster
4.6 (27 reviews)
Location: 5000 Center Ct Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 883 8800
Web Address: https://nickelodeonuniverse.com/rides/fairly-odd-coaster/
62. Northwest Airlines History Center
4.9 (27 reviews)
Credit: Myotus, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Crowne Plaza Aire MSP Hotel 3 Appletree Square Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 876 8677
Web Address: http://nwahistory.org/
61. Minnesota River Bottoms – Lyndale Lot
4.1 (30 reviews)
Credit: Daniel Randolph, Google Maps
Location: 11115 Lyndale Ave S Bloomington MN
60. Pepsi Orange Streak
4.6 (33 reviews)
Credit: Mall of America, Google Maps
Location: 5000 Center Ct Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 883 8800
Web Address: https://nickelodeonuniverse.com/rides/pepsi-orange-streak/
59. Savage Fen Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)
4.3 (33 reviews)
Credit: Liren Varghese, Google Maps
Location: 128th Street Savage MN
Tel: 651 259 5800
Web Address: http://mndnr.gov/snas/sna00999
58. Bush Lake
4.7 (34 reviews)
Credit: Bjoertvedt, License, Wikimedia commons
57. Minnesota Air National Guard Museum
4.8 (34 reviews)
Credit: Peter Teigland, Google Maps
Location: 670 General Miller Drive Building 670 Street Paul MN
Tel: 612 713 2523
Web Address: http://mnangmuseum.org/
56. Blackdog Park
4.0 (43 reviews)
Credit: Nora Smith, Google Maps
Location: 10945 Territorial Dr Burnsville MN
Tel: 952 895 4500
Web Address: http://ci.burnsville.mn.us/
55. Fred Richards Park
4.5 (52 reviews)
Credit: Maple Sota, Google Maps
Location: 4400 Parklawn Ave Edina MN
Tel: 952 826 0367
Web Address: https://edinamn.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Fred-Richards-Park-77
54. Gideon Pond House
4.8 (54 reviews)
Credit: McGhiever, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 401 E 104th Street Bloomington MN
Web Address: https://bloomingtonmn.gov/pr/gideon-and-agnes-pond-house
53. SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge
4.6 (55 reviews)
Credit: Runner1928, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 60 E Broadway Bloomington MN
Web Address: https://nickelodeonuniverse.com/rides/spongebob-squarepants-rock-bottom-plunge/
52. MN River Greenway – Black Dog Trailhead
4.3 (57 reviews)
Credit: Brian Otucho, Google Maps
Location: 600 W Black Dog Road Burnsville MN
51. McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center
4.6 (60 reviews)
Credit: John Shepard, Google Maps
Location: 13550 Dakota Ave S Savage MN
Tel: 952 224 3420
Web Address: https://cityofsavage.com/parks-recreation/facilities/mccoll-pond-environmental-learning-event-center-elc
50. Crystal Lake
4.4 (69 reviews)
Credit: Denice Hillestad, Google Maps
49. Old Cedar Avenue Bridge
4.8 (76 reviews)
Credit: Joe Passe, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Old Cedar Ave S Bloomington MN
48. Fort Snelling National Cemetery
4.4 (82 reviews)
Location: 7601 34th Ave S Minneapolis MN
Tel: 612 726 1127
Web Address: https://cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftsnelling.asp
47. Minnesota River Bottoms Trails
4.4 (95 reviews)
Credit: Ryan Fonkert, License, Flickr
Location: 11115 Lyndale Ave S Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 563 8700
Web Address: https://bloomingtonmn.gov/locations-parks-and-recreational-facilities
46. Anderson Lakes Park Reserve
4.4 (99 reviews)
Credit: Kishore Dasararaju, Google Maps
Location: 9800 Anderson Lakes Pkwy Eden Prairie MN
Tel: 763 694 7687
Web Address: https://threeriversparks.org/location/anderson-lakes
45. Cedarcrest Park Splash Pad
4.2 (106 reviews)
Location: 8700 Bloomington Ave S Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 563 8877
Web Address: https://bloomingtonmn.gov/pr/parks/cedarcrest-park
44. Cottageville Park
4.6 (113 reviews)
Credit: Dave Jahangir, Google Maps
Location: n 55343 415 Blake Road N Hopkins MN
43. Sibley Historic Site
4.6 (117 reviews)
Credit: T.H. Griep, Google Maps
Location: 1357 Sibley Memorial Hwy Mendota Heights MN
Tel: 651 452 1596
Web Address: http://mnhs.org/sibley
42. Bryant Park
4.4 (123 reviews)
Location: Bryant Park 1001 W 85th Street Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 563 8878
Web Address: https://bloomingtonmn.gov/pr/parks/bryant-park
41. Richfield Outdoor Pool
4.5 (169 reviews)
Credit: Jamie Kell, Google Maps
Location: 630 E 66th Street Richfield MN
Tel: 612 861 9350
Web Address: http://richfieldmn.gov/pool
40. Rock Of Ages Blacklight Minigolf
4.0 (178 reviews)
Credit: Steve Oates, Google Maps
Location: 336 E Broadway Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 883 8800
Web Address: https://mallofamerica.com/directory/rock-of-ages-blacklight-minigolf
39. Alimagnet Park
4.5 (193 reviews)
Location: 211 Ridgeview Dr Apple Valley MN
Tel: 952 953 2300
Web Address: https://ci.apple-valley.mn.us/Facilities/Facility/Details/12
38. Coldwater Spring
4.7 (229 reviews)
Credit: Coldwater Spring, Google Maps
Location: 5601 Minnehaha Park Dr S Street Paul MN
Tel: 651 290 4160
Web Address: https://nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/coldwater.htm
37. East Bush Lake Beach
4.6 (230 reviews)
Credit: Traveling Experience, Google Maps
Web Address: https://bloomingtonmn.gov/parks/bush-lake-beach
36. Weesner Family Amphitheater
4.6 (256 reviews)
Location: 13000 Zoo Blvd Apple Valley MN
Tel: 952 431 9200
Web Address: http://mnzoo.com/
35. Burnes Park
4.6 (281 reviews)
Credit: Aaron Lauinger, Google Maps
Location: 301 2nd Street N Hopkins MN
Tel: 952 935 8474
Web Address: https://hopkinsmn.com/facilities/facility/details/Burnes-Park-2
34. Taft Park
4.4 (339 reviews)
Credit: Jana Velo, Google Maps
Location: 6105 Bloomington Ave S Richfield MN
Tel: 612 861 9700
Web Address: https://dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/fin/kidsponds/taft.html
33. Richardson Nature Center
4.8 (358 reviews)
Credit: Runner1928, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 8737 E Bush Lake Road Bloomington MN
Tel: 763 694 7676
Web Address: https://threeriversparks.org/location/richardson-nature-center
32. Braemar Golf Course
4.3 (359 reviews)
Credit: Braemar Golf Course, Google Maps
Location: 6364 John Harris Dr Edina MN
Tel: 952 903 5750
Web Address: http://braemargolf.com/
31. Savage Community Park
4.6 (360 reviews)
Credit: Marcus Lowe, Google Maps
Location: 13500 Dakota Ave S Savage MN
Tel: 952 224 3420
Web Address: https://cityofsavage.com/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/62/1194
30. Hyland Play Area
4.7 (371 reviews)
Location: 10145 E Bush Lake Road Bloomington MN
Tel: 763 694 7687
Web Address: https://threeriversparks.org/parks/hyland-lake-park/hyland-play-area.aspx
29. Normandale Lake Park
4.7 (456 reviews)
Location: W 84th Street & Chalet Road Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 563 8877
Web Address: https://bloomingtonmn.gov/pr/parks/normandale-lake-park
28. The Works Museum
4.4 (458 reviews)
Credit: McGhiever, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 9740 Grand Ave S Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 888 4262
Web Address: https://theworks.org/
27. Moose Mountain Adventure Golf
4.2 (481 reviews)
Credit: Tim Terrones, Google Maps
Location: 376 North Garden Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 883 8777
Web Address: https://mallofamerica.com/directory/moose-mountain-adventure-golf
26. West Bush Lake Park
4.6 (485 reviews)
Credit: Groveland Media, License, Flickr
Location: 9401 W Bush Lake Road Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 563 8877
Web Address: http://ci.bloomington.mn.us/
25. Moir Park
4.6 (489 reviews)
Location: 10320 Morgan Ave S Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 563 8877
Web Address: https://bloomingtonmn.gov/pr/parks/moir/central-park
24. Normandale Japanese Garden
4.7 (534 reviews)
Credit: Runner1928, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: West Lot9700 Ave S Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 358 8145
Web Address: http://normandale.edu/community/japanese-garden
23. MSP Aircraft Viewing Area
4.7 (546 reviews)
Location: Cargo Road Street Paul MN
Web Address: https://mspairport.com/about-msp/aircraft-viewing-area
22. Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve
4.7 (619 reviews)
Credit: Greg Murphy, Google Maps
Location: 15501 Murphy Lake Blvd Savage MN
Tel: 763 694 7777
Web Address: https://threeriversparks.org/location/murphy-hanrehan-park-reserve
21. Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park
4.4 (645 reviews)
Location: 2015 Silver Bell Road #195 Eagan MN
Tel: 651 419 9020
Web Address: https://rockinjump.com/eagan
20. Amazing Mirror Maze
4.2 (732 reviews)
Location: 353 North Garden Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 854 5345
Web Address: https://mallofamerica.com/directory/amzing-mirror-maze
19. Como Park
4.6 (733 reviews)
Location: 1224 1256 Midway Pkwy Street Paul MN
Tel: 651 487 8200
18. Alimagnet Dog Park
4.5 (787 reviews)
Credit: Jeff Brinkman, Google Maps
Location: 1200 Alimagnet Pkwy #2 Burnsville MN
Tel: 952 895 4500
Web Address: http://burnsvillemn.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Alimagnet-Park-60
17. Veterans Park
4.6 (803 reviews)
Location: 6335 Portland Ave Richfield MN
Tel: 612 861 9350
Web Address: http://ci.richfield.mn.us/
16. Wood Lake Nature Center
4.7 (1,135 reviews)
Location: 6710 Lake Shore Dr S Richfield MN
Tel: 612 861 9365
Web Address: http://woodlakenaturecenter.org/
15. Edinborough Park
4.6 (1,673 reviews)
Credit: Stephen Wigg, Google Maps
Location: 7700 York Ave S Edina MN
Tel: 952 833 9540
Web Address: http://edinboroughpark.com/
14. FlyOver America
4.7 (2,166 reviews)
Credit: FlyOver America, Google Maps
Location: Mall of America 5120 Center Ct Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 853 6000
Web Address: https://flyover-america.com/
13. Crayola Experience Mall of America
4.3 (2,293 reviews)
Credit: Wayne Hsieh, License, Flickr
Location: 300 South Avenue Level 3 Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 883 8800
Web Address: https://crayolaexperience.com/mall-of-america/
12. Hyland Lake Park Reserve – Recreation Area
4.7 (2,588 reviews)
Location: 10145 E Bush Lake Road Bloomington MN
Tel: 763 694 7687
Web Address: https://threeriversparks.org/location/hyland-lake-park-reserve
11. Centennial Lakes Park
4.7 (3,987 reviews)
Location: 7499 Ave S Edina MN
Tel: 952 833 9580
Web Address: http://centenniallakespark.com/
10. The Escape Game Minneapolis
4.9 (4,131 reviews)
Credit: The Escape Game Minneapolis, Google Maps
Location: 300 E Broadway Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 856 3374
Web Address: https://theescapegame.com/minneapolis/
Our Top picks
9. Hyland Hills Ski Area
4.4 (290 reviews)
Credit: John Smith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 8800 Chalet Road Bloomington MN
Tel: 763 694 7800
Web Address: https://threeriversparks.org/location/hyland-hills-ski-area
8. Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge—Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
4.7 (484 reviews)
Credit: Alainavo, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3815 American Blvd E Bloomington MN
Web Address: http://fws.gov/refuge/Minnesota_Valley/
7. Fort Snelling State Park
4.7 (2,165 reviews)
Credit: Tony Webster, License, Flickr
Location: 101 Snelling Lake Road Street Paul MN
Tel: 612 279 3550
Web Address: http://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fort_snelling/index.html
6. Lebanon Hills Regional Park
4.8 (3,181 reviews)
Location: 860 Cliff Road Eagan MN
Tel: 651 554 6530
Web Address: https://co.dakota.mn.us/parks/parksTrails/LebanonHills/Pages/default.aspx
5. Great Wolf Lodge Water Park | Minnesota
4.1 (5,255 reviews)
Credit: Niki IDCC, Google Maps
Location: 1700 American Blvd E Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 851 9653
Web Address: https://greatwolf.com/minnesota
4. SEA LIFE at Mall of America
4.5 (7,275 reviews)
Location: One Mall of America 120 East Broadway East Side Level Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 883 0202
Web Address: https://visitsealife.com/minnesota/
3. Nickelodeon Universe
4.5 (9,903 reviews)
Credit: Aine, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 5000 Center Ct Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 883 8800
Web Address: https://nickelodeonuniverse.com/home/
2. Minnesota Zoo
4.6 (11,708 reviews)
Location: 13000 Zoo Blvd Apple Valley MN
Tel: 800 366 7811
Web Address: https://mnzoo.org/
1. Mall of America®
4.6 (49,589 reviews)
Credit: Tyler Vigen, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 60 E Broadway Bloomington MN
Tel: 952 883 8800
Web Address: https://mallofamerica.com/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Bloomington, Minnesota! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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