Courtesy Minnesota Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Apple Valley, Minnesota
The Minnesota Zoo has many special exhibits and places to explore. The zoo is separated into trails, and tours of each of the areas are available. Groups can choose special areas they’d like to explore while visiting.
“The Minnesota Trail focuses on unique animals in our area,” director of education Carol Strecker said. There is also the Tropics Trail, with animals such as flamingos, lemurs and a tropical reef aquarium; the Northern Trail, including tigers and other animals from the Northern Hemisphere; Discovery Bay, where visitors can touch sharks and rays in the Estuary Pool; and Russia Through the Coast, which highlights interesting and charismatic species that are threatened, like grizzly bears, sea otters and leopards.
During behind-the-scenes experiences, groups can see where animals go to be fed and to rest. Groups can also choose to hear from the zookeepers who care for the animals. Those experiences are offered for different combinations of the zoo’s trails.
The seasonal Wells Fargo Family Farm is open through October. Visitors can see animals such as pigs, cows, horses and sheep and then stop by the farmhouse for snacks. During October, the farm also offers a Harvest Festival, which offers a hay maze, fall crafts, live music and much more.
