Just east of Burnsville in Apple Valley, Minnesota Zoo spans nearly 500 acres and features over 2,300 animals across nearly 500 species. With six exhibit habitats ranging from native flora and fauna in The Medtronic Minnesota Trail and Wells Fargo Family Farm, featuring pigs, cows, horses, and chickens, to a variety of exotic species in the Tropics Trail indoor rainforest and Discovery Bay aquarium, the Zoo has something for everyone.

The Zoo is also home to an outdoor amphitheater used for wildlife shows, and the popular Music in the Zoo concert series. Throughout the year, the Zoo hosts a number of educational conservation programs and fun community events, and is also home to the campus of the exclusive School of Environmental Studies high school. Numerous concession options are available across the property, and don’t forget to stop by the Zoo Store to pick up a unique memento to commemorate your visit!

Located in the trendy Whittier neighborhood south of Downtown Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Institute of Art spans nearly 500,000 square feet with an impressive permanent collection of more than 90,000 representing 5,000 years of human history. With pieces from across the globe and covering everything from painting and drawings to textiles, sculpture, jewelry, and ceramics, the Mia’s vast collection is considered one of the nation’s finest.

The grounds of the Mia include a number of outdoor exhibits including the Chinese Garden and Target Park, featuring dozens of unique sculptures. The Institute is also a preeminent art education resource in the state, and the publicly-accessible Museum Library houses more than 60,000 volumes covering art and art history. The Mia hosts traveling exhibits and also plays host to numerous workshops, programs, and various community events throughout the year.