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Bloomington Travel Articles
- What Bloomington Has to Offer
- Beyond Shopping
When the Mall of America opened in the summer of 1992, this Midwest city, which lies between its more famous neighbors, Minneapolis and St. Paul, became an overnight mecca for shoppers. But there is much more to Bloomington than retail.
Recent economic investment projects in the "third Twin City" include a new light-rail transit system connecting Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport to the Mall of America, with several of Bloomington's hotels within walking distance of one of the stations. The former Grand Lodge at the Waterpark of America, with 5,300 square feet of meeting space, was renovated and rebranded a Radisson. And in January 2008, the new 257-room Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington opened with 9,000 square feet of meeting space.
And at a time when airlines are cutting routes and capacity, Bloomington stands to benefit next month, when Southwest Airlines begins service between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago's Midway Airport, out of which Southwest serves a total of 50 cities.
Bloomington also prides itself on a commitment to open spaces. One-third of the city (8,000 acres) is designated parkland, and it is home to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, one of only four urban wildlife refuges in the country.
This August, Bloomington will host the 91st annual PGA Championship, to be held at the prestigious Hazeltine National Golf Club, one of three professional golf courses in the city.
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