The Twin Cities area is home to many different types of attractions that we’re sure you will find interesting to visit if you so desire. From museums, historical sites and outdoor attractions, there are many to choose from. Here are some of the most popular:
Explore Minnesota
Are you considering vacationing in Minnesota, ‘The Land of 10,000 Lakes’ before or after our convention? You can check out all that the great state of Minnesota has to offer at Explore Minnesota.
Bloomington Convention and Visitor Bureau
Looking for more information on activities to do that are close by our convention hotel? You can learn a lot more by visiting the Bloomington Minnesota Travel & Tourism website.
Railroad related activities
The Minnesota Streetcar Museum Charter
Our convention planning committee has worked with the Minnesota Streetcar Museum to bring you an opportunity to enjoy a private, VIP streetcar experience at the Excelsior Streetcar Line that you will surely enjoy!
See more photos and details for our Minnesota Streetcar Museum Charter.
Minnesota Transportation Museum – Jackson Street Roundhouse
Twin City Model Railroad Museum
Non-railroad related activities
Shopping
Boat cruises
Animals and Plant life
Como Park Zoo & Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum & AppleHouse
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a 1200 acre facility located in Chaska, Minnesota an easy 13-mile drive from the DoubleTree hotel.
See more photos and details on for the U of M Landscape Arboretum & AppleHouse
Fairs
The Minnesota State Fair
“The Great Minnesota Get-Together” is deemed by many to be the premier state fair in the USA! Drawing over 2 million people over its 12-day run is an indication of how popular it is. From its wide variety of unique foods and iconic attractions, there is always something for all age-groups to enjoy! You can check out this year’s attractions at Minnesota State Fair.
Valleyfair
By our convention time, Valleyfair will only be open on the weekends. So if you are planning a vacation prior to or after our convention, check out all that Valleyfair has to offer at Valleyfair & Soak City Waterpark.
Major Minnesota Sports Teams
Below is a list of the Minnesota sport teams that are active right before, during or directly after our convention time.
Minnesota Vikings™
Do you like football? The Minnesota Vikings‘™ preseason and season schedules have not been set yet. We’ll keep an eye on things and let you know here if any of the Vikings home games will be close to our convention dates. Please stay tuned!
Minnesota Twins™
Do you like baseball? The Minnesota Twins schedule shows that they are home hosting the Detroit Tigers right before our convention. Take in a game the night before our convention officially begins. How will the Twinkies be doing by early September? Check it out here.
Minnesota Lynx™
Do you like basketball? Unfortunately, the Lynx’s 2026 Schedule shows that they are not scheduled to play in town during our convention’s time.
Minnesota United™
Do you like soccer? The Loon’s 2026 Schedule shows that they are in town the weekend before our convention. If you are vacationing in the area before our convention, you could take in a game if you like!
University of Minnesota Football
Do you like college football? The Golden Gophers 2026 Football Schedule shows the Gophers are playing Eastern Illinois on September 3rd (time to be announced), the opening night for our convention! We hope you are at our convention enjoying yourself, but if you must go…