This Bloomington, Minnesota Itinerary at a Glance
Spice up your trip with a visit to Bloomington, Minnesota. A three-day getaway is enough time to hit the highlights in Bloomington but there will always be something to explore that leaves you wanting more.
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Check out these great attractions:
- Mall of America
- South Loop neighborhood
- Paisley Park
- Normandale Japanese Garden
Bloomington, MN Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1 of Things To Do in Bloomington, Minnesota
Check into one of Bloomington’s 40+ hotels and get refreshed for the rest of the day.
Take a free shuttle from your hotel to Mall of America. With more than 500 stores, 50 restaurants, and numerous attractions, you’ll need a whole day to experience the Mall. And remember to wear your most comfortable shoes for walking—but you can always pick up a cuter pair while out. Shop upscale brands like A|X Armani Exchange, Burberry, Kate Spade New York, and Michael Kors on the Mall’s South Avenue, or peruse the East, West and North sides for everything from clothes, shoes, and accessories to beauty products, electronics, toys, decor, and gifts. Along the way, take a break to check out attractions like Nickelodeon Universe®, Fly Over America, and SEA LIFE at Mall of America.
After shopping, celebrate the start of your getaway with a meal on the patio of Cedar + Stone, Urban Table. Their farm-fresh, elevated meals in a luxurious atmosphere will appeal to any member of your group. If you’d like to explore a restaurant outside of the Mall, explore one of Bloomington’s hidden gems, like Hyland Grill, which features creative twists on sandwiches, including the loaded Italian hoagie or Wally’s Roast Beef, a diner featuring classic American fare that includes variations on open-faced sandwiches smothered in gravy.
Day 2 of Bloomington, MN Attractions
Bloomington’s South Loop neighborhood is chock-full of public art like murals and sculptures. You’ll explore the area during a self-guided walking art tour that starts and ends at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, winding through the South Loop’s hotels, restaurants, and green spaces on the way.
For lunch, sample what is possibly Minnesota’s most famous meal: The Juicy Lucy. Although many metro restaurants claim to have the best Lucy in town, today you’ll be dining at Shamrock’s along West 7th Street in Saint Paul. The Irish-themed bar and grill’s burger list is long and highlights their spin on the Juicy Lucy, the “Nookie.”
If there is one place Prince loved more than any other, it was his birthplace and lifelong home of Minnesota. His passion for his Minnesotan roots and the local music culture ran so deep that he built his home filled with music, Paisley Park, right near the Twin Cities and was a regular at many local establishments. The unique artist home and studio space was where the late Prince welcomed celebrated artists and neighbors for a creative, collaborative escape. Today it is still a space open to the public for tours and open at night for special inspiring arts and cultural events with the mission to promote diverse artists.
Cross the Mississippi River and head to Minneapolis to explore one of Bloomington’s best-known landmarks, Walker Art Center’s Sculpture Garden. Here, you’ll find the iconic Cherry and Spoon sculpture and other works of art in a beautiful environment. Across Hennepin Avenue, Loring Park is also a gorgeous place to spend time outdoors and see some of Minnesota’s natural landscapes.
Another option is to head east to Saint Paul, which is just 15 minutes from Bloomington. Saint Paul’s Como Park Conservatory is a two-acre oasis with plant life that includes bonsai trees, ferns, and orchids. Seasonal flower shows in the conservatory showcase colors and flowers that correspond with winter, spring, summer, and fall, and an annual holiday show focuses on poinsettias.
This evening, enjoy dinner at a Bloomington restaurant. Our suggestions include Ciao Bella (Italian cuisine with a lush patio) and Hazelwood Food and Drink (across the street from Mall of America, with twists on Minnesotan classics).
Day 3 of Bloomington, Minnesota Activities
Kick off your day with a self-guided tour through the serene two-acre Normandale Japanese Garden, boasting more than 300 plants, shrubs, and trees that were carefully selected to withstand the cold winters in Minnesota. You will experience traditional Japanese garden elements, including bridges, stone lanterns, streams, and waterfalls.
Visit Bachman’s Floral, Gift & Garden in south Minneapolis, one of the largest floral and garden retailers in the country. In addition to the retail component, the company also runs a landscape design and installation division, a nursery wholesale center, and a 513-acre growing range that produces a large amount of the flowers, shrubs, plants, and trees that they sell. You can also grab a bite at Bachman’s delicious on-site café.
At night, you’ll enjoy dinner and a show at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, one of the most acclaimed dinner theaters in the country.“The Chan,” as locals call it, puts on well-known musicals that have recently included The Music Man, Mamma Mia, and Beauty and the Beast.
For more great travel stories, Read the Full Leisure Group Travel Magazine and Subscribe to the Newsletter for FREE
BLOOMINGTON MINNESOTA TRAVEL & TOURISM
Casey Kluver, Director of International & Domestic Travel
ckluver@bloomingtonmn.org
612-382-3515
www.bloomingtonmn.org
