To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we’ve put together a list of 249 of the best things to do in Bloomington and the surrounding area — but we need your help to make it 250. What’s your favorite thing to do in Bloomington that we left off the list? Submit your pick below!
Mall of America Attractions
1. Ride the SpongeBob Rock Bottom Plunge
2. Spin on the Fairly Odd Coaster
3. Take toddlers to Blue’s Skidoo
4. Do the Avatar Airbender ride
5. Try the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock
6. Walk through SEA LIFE’s 300 ft ocean tunnel
7. Touch sea creatures at the SEA LIFE tide pools
8. Watch sharks being fed at SEA LIFE
9. Fly across America on FlyOver America
10. Do FlyOver Hawaii for tropical vibes
11. Make crayons at Crayola Experience
12. Do the Crayola drip art station
13. Walk through the Museum of Illusions
14. Take photos in the Ames Room illusion at Museum of Illusion
15. Play a full escape room at The Escape Game
16. Climb a rock wall at ClimbZone
17. Get lost in the Amazing Mirror Maze
18. Play a min-game at the Great Big Game Show
19. Play a round of Rock of Ages Blacklight Mini Golf
20. Play a round of Moose Mountain Adventure Golf
21. Try an interactive, physical video game at Activate
22. Win prizes Minnesota’s largest claw machine experience at DUCK!
23. Immerse yourself in a neon wonderland at Super Neon
24. Try the VR experiences at MOA
25. Play at the free LEGO Store building tables
26. Design & build a custom LEGO minifigure
27. Visit the M&M’s Store for candy mixing
28. Meet and greet iconic characters at Nickelodeon Universe
29. Ride the Log Chute at Nickelodeon Universe
30. Try the Swiper’s Sweeper ride at Nickelodeon Universe
31. Ride the Nickelodeon Universe Carousel
32. Visit the MOA Art Walk installations
33. Tune into live shows and events at the Huntington Bank Rotunda
34. Attend a celebrity appearance at MOA
35. Join Toddler Tuesdays activities
36. Collect MOA Mystery Prize Cards
37. See seasonal décor installations
38. Attend a book signing at MOA
39. Take a selfie at the famous North Star entrance
Mall of America Summer Events
40. Experience Summer Rewind at Nickelodeon Universe
41. Join a MOA scavenger hunt event
42. Watch live music in Huntington Bank Rotunda
43. See seasonal art installations
44. Attend brand pop-ups and product launches
45. Join a fitness class at lululemon experience store
46. Stop at iconic photo-op locations throughout MOA
47. Watch cultural performances at Huntington Bank Rotunda
48. Attend a kids’ craft event
49. Attend a seasonal food tasting event
50. Attend Panda Fest
51. Attend a pop-up runway fashion show
52. Join a MOA charity walk event
53. Attend a seasonal parade inside MOA
54. Attend a trivia night at B&B Theaters
55. Take part in a MOA dance class pop-up
56. Check out the Friday Night Nitro wrestling event
57. Attend the Ryan meet-up
58. Book a Twin Cities tour departing from Mall of America
59. Jump around the Big Bounce America bounce house experience
Outdoor & Nature Activities
60. Walk the Normandale Japanese Garden
61. Take photos along the Normandale Japanese Garden bridges
62. Walk Hyland Lake Park Reserve trails
63. Rent a kayak at Hyland Lake Park Reserve
64. Hike the Richardson Nature Center trails
65. Take kids to Hyland Play Area
66. Walk the Treetop Trail at the Minnesota Zoo
67. Have a picnic at Moir Park
68. Walk Nine Mile Creek Trail
69. Go birdwatching at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
70. Check out the visitor center at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
71. Walk the Long Meadow Lake trail
72. Visit the Richardson Nature Center
73. Kayak at Bush Lake
74. Swim at Bush Lake Beach
75. Visit the Bloomington Family Aquatic Center outdoor water park
76. Paddleboard on Bush Lake
77. Watch sunset at Bush Lake
78. Walk the Moir Park waterfalls area
79. Bike the Bloomington Ferry Trail
80. Take nature photos at the refuge overlook
81. Splash around the Bloomington Splash Pad at Cedarcrest Park
82. Have a picnic at Central Park
83. Shop for local goods at the Bloomington Farmers Market
84. Walk the Civic Plaza gardens
85. Golf at Dwan Golf Course in Bloomington
86. Visit the Bloomington Dog Park
87. Watch wildlife at Bass Ponds
88. Watch airplanes at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport aircraft viewing area
89. Walk or bike the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge
90. Take sunrise photos at Long Meadow Lake
91. Go fishing at Moir Park
92. Walk the Bloomington bluffs trails
93. Do outdoor yoga at a Bloomington park
94. Have a hammock day at Hyland Lake Park Reserve
95. Walk the nature boardwalk at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
96. Ride the Hyland Hills Ski Area chair lift for fall foliage viewing
97. Walk the Moir Park creek path
98. Play a round of disc golf at Hyland Hills
99. Explore the Bass Ponds wetlands
Food & Dining Experiences
100. Eat at Shake Shack MOA
101. Get dessert at Häagen-Dazs MOA
102. Try the giant cookies at Great American Cookies
103. Eat sushi at Kura Sushi MOA
104. Get a delicious farm-to-table meal at Cedar + Stone at JW Marriott
105. Try the burgers at Wahlburgers
106. Eat at Rainforest Café
107. Get ice cream at Cold Stone MOA
108. Try the viral Mac & Cheese at Roni’s Mac Bar
109. Get bubble tea at Chatime MOA
110. Eat at FireLake Grill House
111. Try Piada Italian Street Food
112. Get a pretzel at Auntie Anne’s
113. Try Minnesota walleye at Twin City Grill
114. Eat a crepe at Sweet Paris MOA
115. Try the ramen at Ichiddo Bloomington
116. Get ice cream at Nellie’s Ice Cream
117. Sit on the patio at Hazelwood Food + Drink
118. Eat tacos at Cantina Laredo
119. Dine at Crave American Kitchen & Sushi Bar
Shopping & Store Experiences
120. Browse 500+ stores at Mall of America
121. Shop tax-free on clothing and shoes at MOA
122. Visit the lululemon experiential store
123. Try on scents at Bath & Body Works
124. Build a stuffed animal at Build-A-Bear
125. Browse anime, Disney, and pop-culture merch at BoxLunch
126. Shop trendy basics at Zara
127. Try samples at Lindt Chocolate Shop
128. Visit the giant Nike store
129. Shop athleisure at Athleta
130. Browse books at Barnes & Noble MOA
131. Shop Minnesota-themed gifts at Love From Minnesota
132. Try on jewelry at Pandora
133. Visit the Apple Store MOA
134. Browse trendy clothing and accessories at Urban Outfitters
135. Shop at the SKIMS store
136. Visit the LEGO Store
137. Try on sunglasses at Sunglass Hut
138. Browse vintage sports gear at Pro Image Sports
139. Shop skincare at Sephora MOA
140. Visit the Carhartt store
141. Shop stationery at Paper Source
142. Try on dresses at Windsor
143. Shop at Alo for performance wear
144. Shop Minnesota sports merch at Rally House
145. Try on sneakers at Adidas
146. Shop unique socks at Sox Appeal
147. Browse boutique clothing at Anthropologie
148. Shop for designer brands at Nordstrom
149. Browse jerseys and collectables at the NBA store
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
150. Attend a concert at the new Mystic Lake Amphitheater
151. See a show at Bloomington Center for the Arts
152. Walk the South Loop Public Art Itinerary
153. Attend a gallery opening at the Inez Greenberg Gallery
154. Take an art class at Artistry MN
155. Watch a summer concert at Normandale Lake Bandshell
156. Attend a cultural festival in Bloomington
157. Visit public art installations around Bloomington
158. Attend a poetry reading at a local café
159. See a movie at B&B Theatres MOA
160. Attend a book signing at MOA
161. Join a painting class at Pinot’s Palette nearby
162. Visit the Bloomington Historical Museum
163. Visit a Twin Cities jazz club
164. See a comedy show at Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy at MOA
165. Attend a musical at Chanhassen Dinner Theater
166. Explore the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge exhibits
167. Partake in a nature photography class at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
168. Attend a local art festival
169. Take a selfie at the Spoonbridge & Cherry sculpture
170. See a classical music performance at Orchestra Hall
171. Attend a film festival in the Twin Cities
172. Check out what’s in bloom at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
173. Paint pottery at Color Me Mine in Edina
174. Take a dance class at a Bloomington studio
175. Attend a cultural food festival
176. Check out the Taste of Minnesota festival in Minneapolis
177. Attend an art workshop at Nine Mile Brewery
178. Visit the Bloomington Midweek Music and Market
179. Attend a Minnesota Twins or Saint Paul Saints game
Hotel-Based Fun
180. Swim at the JW Marriott Mall of America pool
181. Relax in the iconic hanging chairs at Radisson Blu Mall of America
182. Book a staycation at a Bloomington hotel
183. Enjoy brunch at Cedar + Stone, Urban Table
184. Catch one of the many free hotel shuttles to MOA
185. Enjoy a spa day at Laughing Waters Spa
186. Stay in for a hotel movie night
187. Enjoy one of the many hotel patios in Bloomington
188. Stay at Great Wolf Lodge water park
189. Enjoy the newly renovated TownPlace Suites
190. Get a day pass to the Great Wolf Lodge water park
191. Do a workout in a hotel gym
192. Enjoy a swim in an Olympic-sized pool at Renaissance Minneapolis Bloomington Hotel
193. Enjoy a breakfast buffet at Sheraton Hotel’s Lela
194. Enjoy cocktails at FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar
195. Relax in the AC Hotel lobby lounge
196. Do a hotel board game night at the Renaissance Minneapolis Bloomington Hotel
197. Have a romantic staycation at Sheraton Bloomington Hotel
198. Book a pool-side room at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington Minneapolis South
199. Enjoy a hotel hot tub night at the Hilton Bloomington Minneapolis hotel
Nearby Day Trips
200. Walk the riverfront in downtown Minneapolis
201. Walk the Stone Arch Bridge
202. Explore Mill City Museum
203. Catch a show at the Guthrie Theater
204. See the St. Paul Cathedral
205. Visit the Science Museum of Minnesota
206. Explore the Minnesota Zoo
207. Visit Paisley Park, Prince’s Estate
208. Explore the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
209. Visit Minnehaha Falls
210. Walk and dine along the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis
211. Visit the Walker Art Center
212. See the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
213. Explore Uptown Minneapolis
214. Visit the Minnesota State Capitol
215. Walk Summit Avenue mansions
216. Visit Fort Snelling State Park
217. Explore the Cathedral Hill neighborhood
218. Visit the Minneapolis Institute of Art
219. Visit the American Swedish Institute
220. Explore downtown Stillwater
221. Take a riverboat cruise in Stillwater
222. Visit Taylors Falls for hiking
223. Explore the St. Paul Farmers Market
224. Visit the Minnesota Children’s Museum
225. Walk the Mississippi River Gorge
226. Visit the Bell Museum
227. Explore the North Loop restaurants
228. Visit the Minneapolis Farmers Market
229. Explore various downtowns along Lake Minnetonka
Hyper-Specific Bloomington Things To Do
230. Get a giant pretzel at MOA and walk the mall
231. Grab a gyro at the locally owned Gyropolis
232. Get Swedish meat balls at IKEA
233. Get bubble tea and walk around MOA
234. Do a “try a new restaurant” challenge
235. Have a dessert-only night at MOA
236. Take a morning walk at Hyland Lake before brunch
237. Do a mall photo scavenger hunt
238. Try every bubble tea place in Bloomington
239. Have a cozy reading day at Barnes & Noble
240. Do a “ride every ride at Nickelodeon Universe” day
241. Get ice cream and sit by the MOA fountains
242. Take aesthetic parking-ramp rooftop photos
243. Do a nature walk + coffee combo morning
244. Drive a go-kart or throw axes at Fair on 4 in MOA
245. Try the Taste of Scandinavia Bakery & Cafe
246. Do a “mall walking” fitness day (you can do a full 5k!)
247. Take a spontaneous day trip to Fort Snelling State Park
248. End the evening with a sunset at Long Meadow Lake
249. Stop by for music or happy hour on the hill at Hyland Hills Ski Area
250. To be determined by you. Submit your favorite above!
