I received tickets in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

{ Minnesota Zoo }

13000 Zoo Boulevard
Apple Valley, MN 55124

Hours: Oct 1, 2014 – April 30, 2015
Mon – Fri- 9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Sat – Sun- 9:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.

Price: 0 – 2 yrs. old – Free
3 – 12 yrs. old – $12.00
13 – 64 yrs. old – $18.00
65+ – $12.00
Parking: $7.00

Are you getting stircrazy at home yet this winter? And there are still many months and many days off of school left before the weather really starts to get nice. The Minnesota Zoo is maybe not a place that comes to mind when you think of winter activities, but I’m here to tell you it should be at the top! My boys and I had SO much fun at the zoo this past weekend, and it definitely helped us beat some of our winter blues!

Even though my boys are too old for the Bee Hive, I still just love it. We all know chasing after toddlers is exhausting, and I LOVE that the Minnesota Zoo provides a safe space for little ones to run around in, and a chance for parents to take a seat and relax.

Are you tired of being COLD? Then the Tropics Trail is for you! It is so warm and cozy. Whether you have little ones or not, the Tropics Trail is a great place for a walk. My Aunt and Uncle had a Zoo membership for years after their kids were grown and gone, just for a place to walk through the winter. What better place than a tropical area filled with fun animals and happy families enjoying themselves. And if you do have little ones, taking your time walking through this trail is a great way to spend a winter day. There are so many fun nooks and crannies for kids to climb into, and numerous animals to see and learn about. Education + Fun + Quality Time = the perfect day.

I quickly realized that taking pictures of my boys enjoying the Minnesota Zoo meant pictures of them from the back. =) They were constantly engaged, which is exactly what you want.

We loved the Minnesota Trail too! After walking through the warm tropics, the bit of chill felt good. (We happened to go on a warmish day). I would recommend walking the Minnesota Trail first or last. It’s a sheltered outdoor area, but is a little chilly based on the temp of the day. We had put our jackets in a locker, so we braved the chill, but being able to do it right away or the last thing will let you have your jackets and really explore and take your time. We LOVED the black bears and the wolves!

Discovery Bay is always a Minnesota Zoo favorite. They just read a library book all about sharks and other sea animals so they were in heaven. Neither of my boys dared to touch the stingrays and little sharks. Of course I was all over it. How cool to really get that close to the animals!

From the bottom of my heart we had an amazing day. Life is so busy, and weekends are sometimes jam-packed, but taking the time to slow down and spend some true quality time with your children is priceless.

The Minnesota Zoo has a great Winter Passport deal! From now until March 31st, you can have a full family membership for just $69! The thing I really enjoy about having a membership is obviously being able to go multiple times, but I also love not having to worry about seeing everything, or making sure you are there for hours on end. I’m the type of money-conscious person that if I’ve paid to be somewhere, we’re going to get our money’s worth. But being able to stop in, stay for a bit, and really slow down and dig deep into each exhibit. Read the info. Talk to a worker of volunteer. Answer the questions. Learn together. Take a Staycation at the Minnesota Zoo!

Take the Family to the Tropics for 3 months for just $69

Enjoy unlimited visits to the Minnesota Zoo with your entire family through March 31, 2015 – and park for free – for just $69. That’s like getting 3 months access to the Zoo for the cost of one day of full admission for a family of four!

Minnesota Zoo is your year-round destination for inspiring encounters with the natural world. Located just south of Mall of America in Apple Valley, the Minnesota Zoo’s 485-acre campus features more than 4,700 animals, three and a half miles of outdoor trails, and the largest indoor, interconnected zoo exhibit areas in the country.

Visit mnzoo.org/winterpassport2 to help beat the winter blues at a great price!

Four great reasons to make Minnesota Zoo your Winter Staycation Destination:

It’s 80 degrees and humid every day

Winter may be the BEST time of year to visit the Minnesota Zoo. The Tropics Trail offers a warm, lush getaway to rival any polar vortex, and it’s a hotspot for smart fun. While the playful lemurs, inquisitive gibbons and agile tree kangaroos are just a few of the animals waiting to be discovered at each turn, the Tropics Trail also showcases several of the world’s biodiversity “hotspots”—areas especially rich in species found nowhere else that are also at extreme risk of destruction.

It’s a great place to walk off the wiggles (or jiggles)

Whether you like a speedy jaunt or a meandering stroll, the Minnesota Zoo is a great place to get moving all year round, especially during mornings when many animals are at their most active. Kids can let off steam running through the largest indoor, interconnected zoo exhibit areas in the country as their grownups get a jump start on their New Year’s fitness resolutions (bring a step counter!). The cold hardy who opt to explore the Zoo’s three and a half miles of outdoor trails are often rewarded with the most striking sightings of Amur tigers, woodland caribou and moose.

Every day is a new adventure

From penguin and shark feedings and tropical reef dive shows to Close Encounters, the Wings Financial World of Birds Show, IMAX movies, each day at the Minnesota Zoo offers endless variety to beat the winter doldrums. Visit mnzoo.org to find a daily schedule, admission information, hours and menus for the array of on-site dining options, and much more.

Your visit helps save wildlife

Beyond being the perfect recreation destination for all seasons, the Minnesota Zoo is on a mission to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife. By visiting the Zoo, you are contributing to our efforts to save animals big and small. From endangered native butterflies to the exotic black rhino, animals with local and global roots benefit from a percentage of the cost of your admission. Learn more about our conservation efforts at the Zoo, in Minnesota, and around the world.