From farm animals to a hive of bees, there’s an exciting animal kingdom full of adventures right out your front door in Minnesota. From the meek to the savage, untame your day outside. Whether you’re a family with kids or you’re young at heart, discover these three awesome places for an animal encounter around Bloomington.
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Minnesota Zoo
Located at 13000 Zoo Blvd in nearby Apple Valley, Minnesota Zoo is a prime local destination where you can glimpse some of the world’s most exciting and exotic creatures, including sharks. The zoo’s spectacular Tropics Trail features floor to ceiling underwater viewing windows that give visitors an up-close look at these majestic and terrifying creatures. Don’t miss the chance to watch the savage beauty of resident sharks during their daily feedings.
The Hanifl Family Wild Woods is the zoo’s “please touch” play area where kids are encouraged to explore and connect with nature like never before. Why not experience life on the farm at the Wells Fargo Family Farm. This popular exhibit offers families a chance to touch domestic animals like goats and pigs and there are daily cow milking demonstrations three times a day.
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Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a 14,000-acre sanctuary located at 3815 American Blvd. East in Bloomington. With 46 miles of trails that meander through a variety of terrain, patrons have enjoyed wildlife encounters at this delightful get-away since 1976. This national refuge offers community educational programs, two indoor visitors centers, and access to this spectacular natural urban habitat for hiking, hunting, and fishing.
The refuge lands are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to attract a variety of migrating waterfowl, such as the wood duck, as well as other critters including river otters and prairie skinks. The park’s floodplain forests along the Minnesota River provide shelter and nesting grounds for a community of native birds including the red-headed woodpecker, wild turkeys, and the red-shouldered hawk. It’s a place where coyotes and bald eagles live in the shadows of the city’s skyscrapers.
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Richardson Nature Center
Situated on the ground of the Hyland Lake Park Reserve at 8737 E. Bush Lake Road, the Richardson Nature Center is a terrific place to explore stunning wilderness just minutes from the city. Richardson’s resident raptors, reptiles, and amphibians engage visitors of all ages with the natural world. Follow the park’s hiking trails that weave through diverse habitats of grassy prairie, forests, and wetlands.
Venture out to the trails adjacent to the center for a chance to spot deer, fox, and muskrats, plus many species of seasonal birds including nesting pairs of ospreys and trumpeter swans. Inside, you’ll want to browse the center’s colorful collection of clay mosaics and sculptures on display. Head upstairs and take advantage of the center’s floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of an active bee hive.
Bloomington and its surrounding areas have plenty of inviting places where animal lovers can see a variety of creatures. Which destination is first on your must-see list?
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
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