Summer Fun is Blooming in Minneapolis South

Minneapolis South comes to life in the summer months, bursting with exciting opportunities for warm-weather fun. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, thrill seeker, shopaholic or sports lover, the gateway to the Twin Cities will not disappoint!

Animal lovers don’t have to travel far to get close to their favorite wild creatures! At the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, you’ll have the opportunity to explore 485 acres of wildlife with more than 4,990 animals and 533 species in award-winning exhibits.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul offers visitors access to a vast range of wildlife, including species from around the world, plus a conservatory and family-friendly amusement park located next door.

The 1.3-million-gallon aquarium at SEA LIFE at Mall of America® in Bloomington brings you under the sea with thousands of aquatic creatures, including freshwater stingrays, alligators and sea turtles.

Minneapolis South is a shopper’s paradise, with several large retail destinations and small boutiques for one-of-a-kind finds located within just a few miles. There’s the world-renowned Mall of America® in Bloomington, which offers more than 2.7 million feet of retail space, 520 stores and 50 restaurants. With an indoor amusement park, aquarium, arcade, and lots of nightlife options, Mall of America is a must-see destination.

Bargain hunters will love Twin Cities Premium Outlets® in Eagan, where you’ll enjoy savings of up to 65% off brands including Kate Spade, New York, Banana Republic Factory Store, Coach Outlet, Eddie Bauer Outlet, Fossil, Michael Kors Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, and many more! In Burnsville, the Burnsville Center offers convenient access to many popular stores and restaurants.

If you love speed, then you’ll love Minneapolis South. Rev up your engines at Elko Speedway in Elko, with door-to-door NASCAR racing on a 3/8 mile asphalt oval track and special “Eve of Destruction®” nights packed with thrills. Afterwards, head over to the Elko Drive-In Theater for a classic movie-watching experience.

In Shakopee, place your bets on fun at Canterbury Park, which offers live horse racing events from May through September. Throughout the year, you can watch racing from around the world on the 700 televisions located throughout the building.

There’s no shortage of thrilling adventures to be had in Minneapolis South! Valleyfair in Shakopee, MN offers more than 75 exciting rides and attractions for rush-seekers of all ages, including eight exhilarating coasters, 16 kid rides, and a variety of water slides at Soak City waterpark.

At Nickelodeon Universe®, you’ll find seven acres of indoor amusement park fun at the Mall of America in Bloomington. Choose from 27 rides, a ropes course, exceptional virtual reality experiences and an 18-hole mini golf course, for all-day fun – rain or shine!

If you’re looking to make a splash, head over to Cascade Bay Waterpark in Eagan. The largest outdoor municipal waterpark in the Upper Midwest, Cascade Bay offers adventures for all ages, including thrill slides, tube slides, the lazy river and a 9-hole mini golf course.

There are so many fun ways to get your heart pumping in Minneapolis South! At Buck Hill in Burnsville, you can enjoy the unique experience of skiing in summer and fall! Buck Hill’s artificial ski slope Neveplast offers the same conditions as snow, allowing you to train and have fun all year long.

Bounce, climb, slam dunk and of course, jump, at Eagan’s ultimate indoor trampoline park, Rockin’ Jump. The park offers dodgeball, rock climbing, an arcade game center, giant human hamster balls, a ninja obstacle course, slack line, slam dunk basketball and a large soft play system for younger kids.

Explore over 30,000 square feet of activities, games, rides and sporting activities at Grand Slam in Burnsville. It’s fun for the whole family with laser light tag, 18 holes of pirate themed mini-golf, extreme trampoline, video games, batting cages, bumper cars and more!

Skate to your heart’s content at Skateville in Burnsville. Minnesota’s premier roller-skating rink is great for family fun and is home to Minnesota’s only wooden rotunda skating floor.

The beautiful landscapes of Minneapolis South offer countless opportunities for exploration, exercise and relaxation all summer long. There are several lakes to choose from, including Lake Marion, Crystal Lake and Schulze Lake, which are great places for fishing, boating, swimming, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding.

Tee off at one of several beautiful public golf courses in the Minneapolis South area. Whether you’re looking for an easy 9 or challenging 18, these courses offer incredible scenery and second-to-none amenities for players of all skill levels.

An array of unique parks and over 100 miles of paved trails in Lakeville, Burnsville and Eagan bring you close to nature, whether you like to bike, run, walk or horseback ride. Culture enthusiasts will love the convergence of nature and sculpture at Caponi Art Park in Eagan, while dog lovers will have a blast with their four-legged friends at Alimagnet Dog Park in Burnsville. In Lakeville, the West Marion Mountain Bike Trail offers 5 miles of off-road biking fun for bikers of all skill levels.

Kids will enjoy working off their energy at the area’s many playgrounds, including Land of Amazement 2.0, a 21,000 square foot community-built playground in Lakeville; The Blast indoor playground in Eagan; and the Burnsville Lions Playground at Cliff Fen Park, which features a new 2,000 square foot splash pad.

Enjoy 24/7 gaming entertainment at Mystic Lake in Shakopee. With nearly 4,000 slots, 100 blackjack tables and a 600-seat bingo hall, Mystic Lake is home to Minnesota’s largest gaming floor and world-class entertainment. Take a break from the action at one of 10 bars and fine dining restaurants or pamper yourself at the luxurious spa.