Free Fun in Bloomington, Minnesota

To avoid overspending whilst on holiday, incorporate some free activities into your itinerary. Bloomington, Minnesota, offers a wide choice of activities in and around the city that are free of charge, from internationally acclaimed sculpture parks to zoos and wildlife refuges. 

Within Mall of America, the largest indoor retail and entertainment complex in the USA, is the Lego store, featuring free play with a giant pick-a-Brick wall and 180 different Lego elements to choose from, a variety of play tables to stimulate the imagination, as well as racing tables for young Lego auto inventors. Standing guard are eight larger-than-life models built entirely of Lego including a robot towering over 34-feet tall. www.mallofamerica.com 

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the largest urban sculpture garden in the USA. It is home to the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry fountain, within 11 acres containing more than 40 sculptures, seasonal plantings and exotic hot-house flowers in the Cowles Conservatory. The giant spoon and cherry were erected in 1985 by artist Claes Oldenburg and his wife, Coosje van Bruggen and is the centrepiece of the garden. The spoon itself weighs 5,800 pounds and the cherry, another 1,200 pounds. The cherry’s stem also acts as a fountain which sprays into the bowl of the spoon and off into the pond beneath. ‘¯www.walkerart.org/garden‘¯ 

Overlooking the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Park is one of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks, attracting more than 850,000 thousand visitors annually. Located at the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway, the 193-acre park features a 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs and river overlooks. Paved trails offer visitors the opportunity to see the park on bike or foot. Visitors can also walk along the Minnehaha Creek and follow it as it makes its way to the Mississippi River. http://www.minneapolisparks.com/ 

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, in Bloomington, is one of only four urban wildlife refuges in the USA. It covers 14,000 acres and stretches for 34 miles. The visitor centre features interactive wildlife exhibits and there are miles of trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. http://www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota_valley 

The Cathedral of Saint Paul is set dramatically on Summit Hill overlooking the city of St. Paul. The Cathedral’s Renaissance architecture, inspired by the churches and cathedrals of France, is characterized by rounded domes and arches, a symmetrical cross floor plan and clean, straight lines. Decorative elements are grouped at certain points around the Cathedral—the façade, towers, sides, entrances and dome. http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/ 

Open 365 days per year, the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory exhibits include gorillas, orangutans, giraffes, polar bears, penguins, lions and tigers. It focuses on conservation and also features sculptures, art installations and a number of beautiful gardens with exotic plants. 

http://www.comozooconservatory.org/ 

Artistry at the Bloomington Centre for the Arts features artwork from professional artists residing in the area. Six exhibitions of quality artwork executed in a variety of media and styles are displayed annually along with several free "meet the artists" sessions. https://artistrymn.org/ 

To book a holiday to Bloomington, go to www.myamericaholiday.co.uk 

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The Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau markets Bloomington, Minnesota, and is home to Mall of America’¯and near St. Paul and Minneapolis attractions and attracts domestic and international visitors. Bloomington is located ten minutes from Minneapolis and St. Paul, and 5 km’¯from the MSP International Airport.’¯ Bloomington, MN is also a premier destination for meetings and conventions. Bloomington has over 40 hotels, most with free parking and shuttles to the airport and Mall of America®. We are connected to light rail and have no taxes on clothing or shoes! Mall of America features world-class shopping at more than 520 stores. Visit bloomingtonmn.org for more information and learn about The Big Ticket™, the 3-day attractions pass. www.bloomingtonmn.org 

Further information and images are available by contacting: 

Fiona Pettitt 

Cellet Marketing and Public Relations 

01295 722816