Visit the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, the most prominent American national wildlife refuge near an urban area, to explore the stunning beauty of the Minnesota River Valley. The sanctuary offers eight units and a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, birdwatching, and hunting. In addition to being a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts, the refuge also serves as a thriving urban refuge that welcomes diverse communities with meaningful connections, educational opportunities, and recreational experiences. Its primary goal is to bring people, communities, and wildlife together while preserving the wildlife habitat in the Minnesota River Valley.
If you are interested in natural history, check out the Bell Museum. They have various animal specimens, such as mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants. Additionally, the museum has many traveling exhibits, dioramas, and touch-and-see exhibits that you can explore. Furthermore, you can visit the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. It is the state's natural history museum and a planetarium. There, you can take exciting journeys from the cosmos to the human brain and learn about the universe's origins, diverse life on Earth, and Minnesota's wildlife dioramas. You can also experience the Touch & See Lab, which has a wide range of items such as 10,000-year-old fossils, living plants and animals, and more. Also, you can explore the native plant landscape, geology gardens, and solar station outside the museum.