This is one of my favorite things on the bucket list – mostly because people forget its there! The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge right by the Mall of America off American Blvd in Bloomington, was built to provide a habitat for a birds, fish, and other wildlife and to offer environmental education and outdoor recreation to Twin Cities residents. The refuge is part of a corridor of land and water stretching nearly 70 miles along the Minnesota River, from Bloomington to Henderson and is comprised of more than 14,000 acres. It’s the perfect place to bring kids too, lots of interactive things to expand their wildlife knowledge and give them a chance to get outside and be part of it.