Free Things To Do Itinerary

A vacation in the Twin Cities area doesn’t have to break the bank! Here’s our suggestions for free and affordable activities in the Bloomington area. And since Bloomington hotels are simply central, stay at one of our 45+ hotels while experiencing these great attractions. Most hotels offer free parking and free shuttle service to Mall of America and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Aamodt’s Apple Farm: Stroll through this orchard in Stillwater, Minnesota that has been family owned and operated since 1948. The staff will direct you to the trees where you can pick the freshest apples available. Call ahead for the varieties that are currently being picked. Opens annually for the season on August 1.

Bachman’s Florists: Bachman’s is one of the largest floral and garden centers in the nation. Tours are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more. The tour includes greenhouses, nursery, garden center, and floral design.

Basilica of Saint Mary: What originated as the vision of Archbishop John Ireland became the nation’s first basilica, a Beaux Arts-style wonder designed by French architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray and honored by Pope Pius XI. Dating back to 1906, the basilica features beautiful stained glass windows and a 187-foot dome. Tours are available by appointment.

Bloomington Center for the Arts: Located at Bloomington City Hall, Bloomington Center for the Arts features artwork from professional artists residing in the five-state area. Six exhibitions of quality artwork executed in a variety of media and styles are displayed annually along with several free “meet the artists” sessions.

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory: Open 365 days per year, the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory exhibits include gorillas, orangutans, giraffes, polar bears, penguins, lions, and tigers. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory presents seasonal floral shows in the Sunken Garden.

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary: The 15-acre garden is the oldest public wildflower garden in the nation and is home to more than 500 plant and 130 bird species. It provides 60,000 visitors annually with spectacular seasonal displays of native wildflowers in woodland, wetland, and prairie areas. Each area creates a different habitat that fosters different types of plants, animals, and birds.

Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum: The museum’s collection features early 20th century American artists such as Georgia O’Keefe and Marsden Hartley and a vast selection of contemporary art.

Guthrie Theater: This theater is as stunning inside as it is outside. Anyone is welcome to tour the public spaces inside the building, including the Endless Bridge and the Amber Room with a glass floor.

Hyland Lake Play Area: The huge, award-winning creative play area at Hyland has something for the young and the young at heart. The structure includes platforms, hexagonal climbers, and slides up to 50 feet long. The park is located in Hyland Lake Park Reserve, which includes a visitor center with limited concessions, a restroom, canoe/kayak/geocaching rentals, and a fireplace and cross country ski rental in winter.

Landmark Center: Tour the beautifully restored Old Federal Courts Building, site of the famous Gangster Trials. Free public tours on Thursdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at noon. Located on the second floor of Saint Paul’s iconic Landmark Center, the The Schubert Club Museum of Musical Instruments offers visitors a reflection on the joys of music-making through the centuries.

The Lego Store: Located in Mall of America, The Lego Store features a giant pick-a-brick wall with 180 different Lego elements to choose from, a variety of play tables to create anything children can imagine, and racing tables for young Lego auto inventors. Standing guard are eight larger-than-life models built entirely of Legos, including a robot towering over 34 feet tall.

Lyndale Park Rose Garden: On the shores of Lake Harriet, this rose garden showcases 3,000 plants in 100 different varieties and is the second-oldest public rose garden in the United States. Located near the northeast corner of Lake Harriet, the 1.5-acre garden was designated an official All America Rose Selections test rose garden in 1946.

Mall of America: Mall of America is the largest fully-enclosed retail and entertainment complex in the United States. More than 520 specialty stores, LEGO, Nickelodeon Universe®, and more are all inside. For a fee, visit SEA LIFE at Mall of America, FlyOver America, and Crayola Experience.

Midtown Global Market: As one of the largest indoor public markets in the Twin Cities with more than 50 vendors, Midtown Global Market offers free weekly education and entertainment programs and features a free children’s play space.

Minneapolis Institute of Art: Internationally acclaimed as one of the greatest American museums, the Minneapolis Institute of Art includes 85,000 masterpieces in painting, sculpture, decorative arts, prints, photography, and textiles. Free admission.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden: The largest urban sculpture garden in the nation, highlighted by the Spoonbridge and Cherry fountain, features 11 acres containing more than 40 sculptures, seasonal plantings, and the Cowles Conservatory. Free guided tours are offered May through September on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m.

Minnehaha Falls and Regional Park: Overlooking the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Park is one of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks, attracting more than 850,000 thousand visitors annually. Located at the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway, the 193-acre park features a 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs and river overlooks. Paved trails offer visitors the opportunity to see the park on bike or foot. Visitors can also walk along Minnehaha Creek and follow it as it makes its way to the Mississippi River.

Minnesota State Capitol: The beautiful architectural design by Cass Gilbert has captured a classically-styled building boasting 23 different types of stone and marble from around the world, including Minnesotan granite and limestone, for the last 110 years. Discover the architectural masterpiece of our state capitol and explore the House and Senate chambers; you might even see the legislature in action.

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: The Visitor Center features interactive wildlife exhibits, and miles of trails for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing are right at its doorstep. Covering 14,000 acres and stretching for 34 miles from Fort Snelling State Park to Henderson, Minnesota, the refuge is one of only four urban wildlife refuges in the United States.

Northwest Airlines History Center: Relive Northwest Airlines’ glory days at the independently operated Northwest Airlines History Center in Bloomington. This museum is also great for anyone interested in the glamorous days of aviation.

Normandale Japanese Garden: Normandale Community College’s Japanese Garden is a two-acre oasis of beauty and serenity in the heart of Bloomington. Ideal for contemplation and renewal of the spirit, the garden is also one of the most popular and unique locations in the Twin Cities for weddings and photography sessions. It is open year-round at no charge, except when reserved for special events.

Saint Croix Vineyards & Tasting Room: Founded in 1992, Saint Croix Vineyards has grown to become one of Minnesota’s premier wineries. Owners Paul Quast, Peter Hemstad and Chris Aamodt invite you to stop out, try their wines and take a stroll through the picturesque vineyards. The rustic tasting room in a restored 1800s barn is open each year from mid-April to December 31 and is located just west of scenic Stillwater. Visitors are also welcome to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it at picnic tables overlooking a quiet pond.

Stone Arch Bridge: Built by railroad baron James J. Hill in 1883, the Stone Arch Bridge is the only one of its kind over the Mississippi River. It is made of native granite and limestone and measures 2,100 feet long by 28 feet wide. The bridge consists of 23 arches and spans the river below St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis.

Summit Avenue and Cathedral Hill Summit Avenue, Saint Paul
Take a walking tour of the historic Summit Avenue neighborhood, named one of America’s “Great Streets.” While paid tours are offered starting at the James J. Hill House, simply walking or driving throughout the area is equally intriguing as you can admire the architecture of the empire builders’ mansions and see some of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s homes. The Cathedral of Saint Paul is set dramatically on Summit Hill overlooking the city of Saint Paul.