Minneapolis Tourist Vacation Attractions and Activities

If you are planning a vacation to Minneapolis, MN, rest assured you will find more than enough tourist attractions and activities to fill several days. Minneapolis boasts it is literally full of water and they do have twenty plus lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks, and waterfalls to back up that boast. Minneapolis can also boast it is the largest city in the state. Along with being loaded with water resources, Minneapolis can also boast it was once the flour mill capital of the world.

If you are looking for free to cheap activities and attraction to visit while in Minneapolis, don't miss out on visiting the Eloise Butler Wildflower and Bird Sanctuary. This attraction is a public garden where visitors can see woodlands, swamps, and prairies. It is open for operation from April to October and admission is free. Can't beat that!

Another free tourist attraction is the fabulous Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. This garden has over 40 works of art scattered around the 11-acre complex. The Garden likes to say they are Minneapolis's crown jewel and the sculpture called Spoonbridge and Cherry has become a trademark for Minneapolis. The Sculpture Garden is a great attraction to see and explore.

Moving right along in discussing Minneapolis tourist attractions brings us to St. Anthony Falls. At one time St. Anthony Falls was a natural violent flow of water surging over a cliff of the Mississippi River. This part of the river was tamed by a lock and dam and is now a different kind of spectacle. The falls played an important role in the development of Minneapolis. The energy they produced to run the major wealth industry - flour milling- was remarkable. There is a 2 mile walking trail that loops around the Falls and includes the Stone Arch and Hennepin bridges. It is free to take a walk around these attractions.

Most every large city has a zoo and Minneapolis is no different. The Como Zoo, located right next to Como Lake, has a number of exhibits including: African Hoofed Animals, Aquatic Animal Building, Bird Yard, Large Cat Building, Old Hoofed Stack Barn, a Primate House, and much more. It is pretty fabulous that the admission to the zoo is free. You don't see that much anymore. The Zoo requests donations.

One last attraction or activity option to consider while in Minneapolis is the Children's Museum -located in St. Paul right across the river. This attraction is most suitable for children up to the age of 8. The Museum hosts lots of interactive exhibits such as: crawling through an ant hill and hanging out in a beaver den. There is a reasonable admission fee of $7.95 for both children and adults. This attraction will provide your family with many hours of fun and educational activities.

So, if Minneapolis, MN is your destination for a vacation or a weekend trip, be sure and check out the links at the end of this article to learn about many more tourist attractions and activities.