South of the Minnesota River lies the lovely city of Burnsville. Originally a rural community dedicated to farming, the city takes its name from an early Irish settler named William Byrne, whose name was recorded incorrectly. Today the Byrnes still live in greater Minnesota. In recent years, redevelopment of the city has led the centre of Burnsville to be a place abundant with art, culture, and music. This place is also home to nearly 80 parks and recreational areas, as well as undeveloped parkland that is preserved as a natural habitat. Check out below for all the different things to do in Burnsville, Minnesota.
1. Picnic the afternoon away at Day Park and Earley Lake
Take the afternoon off and go for a relaxing picnic at Day Park and Earley Lake Trail. This green space stretches over 4 acres (1.61 hectares) of land and has a handful of different recreational activities available for visitors. There is a play area here for children, as well as a walking trail if you fancy a stroll after lunch.
Day Park and Earley Lake Trail
Address: 14625 Co Rd 5, Burnsville, MN 55306, United States
Website: Day Park and Earley Lake Trail
Opening hours: 5am - 10pm (daily)
2. Go for a hike at Neill Park
Perhaps you are looking for something a little more active? Neill Park has a wide variety of facilities, including a basketball court, an inline skating rink, soccer field, tennis courts, basketball courts, and more. A must-do at this park is to go for a hike on the hard trail and also play pickleball on the designated courts. Be aware that pickleball courts are only open from Monday to Thursday. If visiting in the winter, you can go sledging down the hill.
Neill Park
Address: 13501 Upton Ave S, Burnsville, MN 55337, United States
Website: Neill Park
Opening hours: 5am - 10pm (daily)
3. Check out a gig at the Garage
The Garage is a music venue, recording studio, and educational facility for all ages, operated by a non-profit organisation called Twin Cities Catalyst Music. This is a great opportunity for young people to see, experience, and participate in the local music scene. In the rear of the venue is the recording studio, fully equipped with a live room, control room, and isolation room. There are also musical instruments available for use, as well as several types of recording software. This is a location that strictly prohibits guns, alcohol, and drugs; striving to create a safe space for the youth of Burnsville to create music. You can check their website for specific showtimes and artist line-ups.
The Garage
Address: 75 Civic Center Pkwy, Burnsville, MN 55337, United States
Website: The Garage
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4. Spend the day at snowy Buck Hill
Hit the slopes at Buck Hill for a day of skiing, snowboarding, or tubing. If you haven’t tried your hand at a snow sport before, you can easily join one of the many lessons on offer. If you’re a little savvier, you could consider joining one of the camps or clinics to really hone in on your skills. Not only a great place during the snowy months, you can also go mountain biking in summer and spring or even enjoy concerts, events, and festivals all year round. Hit up the Waffle Bar if you’re feeling peckish - order yourself a heavenly, made-to-order waffle to make up for all the calories you just burned.
Buck Hill
Address: 15400 Buck Hill Rd, Burnsville, MN 55306, United States
Website: Buck Hill
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 2pm; Sat:10am - 5pm (closed on Sun)
Price: from 34 USD
5. Soak in the sun at Crystal Beach
Take in some vitamin D by sunbathing on the banks of Crystal Lake. You can also play volleyball or rent a canoe or paddleboard while you’re here. If you go with a group of your friends, be sure to reserve a group shelter in advance so that you can secure a good spot for a beach picnic.
Crystal Beach
Address: 1101 Crystal Lake Rd E, Burnsville, MN 55306, United States
Website: Crystal Beach
Opening hours: 5am - 10pm (daily)
6. Catch a show at Ames Center
Posted by Ames Center on Thursday, 29 March 2012
Previously known as Burnsville Performing Arts Center, Ames Center houses two theatres: a Masquerade Dance Theatre that seats an audience of 1000, and the Black Box Theatre that seats just 150 patrons. Ames Center also has an art gallery, meeting rooms, rehearsal rooms, and additional spaces for special events. The venue is managed by VenuWorks, a consulting firm that takes care of a wide variety of arenas, theatres, and convention centres. For an updated schedule of what is currently showing at Ames Center, check out their website.
Ames Center
Address: 12600 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville, MN 55337, United States
Website: Ames Center
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm; Sat: 10am - 2pm (closed on Sun)
7. Take your pup for a walk at Alimagnet Dog Park
Credit Gregour Beatty
Posted by Jen Selvig on Wednesday, 23 October 2019
Bring your furry family member with you and let them run leash-free around Alimagnet Dog Park. You can also test out the cross-country skiing trail when the weather gets chillier. For the convenience of dogs and their owners, the dog park is divided into “large dog” and “small dog” sections.
Alimagnet Dog Park
Address: 1200 Alimagnet Pkwy #2, Burnsville, MN 55337, United States
Website: Alimagnet Dog Park
Opening hours: 5am - 10pm (daily)
8. Immerse yourself in the spectacular performances at Mediterranean Cruise Café
Happy New Years from us all at the Mediterranean Cruise Cafe! Come Join us to tonight in celebration!
Posted by Mediterranean Cruise Cafe on Monday, 31 December 2012
Mediterranean Cruise Café has been operating for over 30 years, providing customers with not only a great meal, but also a fun experience. You cannot miss out on the belly dancing performances - complete with dancers, finger cymbals, and the iconic beaded costumes. For more dancing, head to this establishment on a Saturday for salsa night, complete with live music from local bands.
Mediterranean Cruise Café
Address: 12500 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville, MN 55337, United States
Website: Mediterranean Cruise Café
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 2am
9. Have a blast at Grand Slam
Posted by Grand Slam Sports in Burnsville on Tuesday, 16 July 2019
Release your inner child - go wild and have fun at Grand Slam. Try your hand at the wide range of attractions like mini-golf, laser tag, trampoline, bumper cars, and the arcade. This is a great option if you’re looking for a place to hold a party, or even just to have a fun day out with your family or friends.
Grand Slam
Address: 12425 River Ridge Blvd, Burnsville, MN 55337, United States
Website: Grand Slam
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 10am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 11pm
10. Sip on a margarita at El Loro
Feast your eyes on the huge menu El Loro has to offer. Boasting traditional and authentic Mexican food, this eatery has a wide range of different dishes, including fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, tacos - you name it! They even offer lunch specials and a range of tasty Mexican desserts. The must-try menu item here, though, is a house-made margarita. These margaritas are served in an array of flavours and sizes. You can even catch the live mariachi band that often performs here, so just sit back and sip on your drink while you enjoy the show.
El Loro Mexican Restaurant
Address: 2501 Horizon Dr, Burnsville, MN 55337, United States
Website: El Loro
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm
11. Glide through the evening at Skateville Family Rollerskating Center
Posted by Skateville on Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Skateville Family Rollerskating Center has been a staple in Burnsville’s nighttime attractions for over 40 years. People who grew up skating now bring their children and even grandchildren here. A fun and affordable social outing for all ages, it can be booked for birthday parties and other social events. Not confident in your skating skills? No problem - Skateville hosts open skating sessions where they have “skate mates” to help beginners. They also offer lessons that cover not only basic skating but dancing, jumping, spins, and freestyle choreography. If you’re a seasoned skater, you can freely zip and glide the 14,000-foot (4,267.2-metre) skating rink. Check out their website for specific lesson times.
Skateville Family Rollerskating Center
Address: 201 South River Ridge Circle, Burnsville, MN 55337, United States
Website: Skateville Family Rollerskating Center
Opening hours: Wed: 4pm - 7:45pm; Fri: 4:30pm - 10pm; Sat: 10am - 3:45pm, 7pm - 10pm; Sun: 11:30am - 3:15pm, 6:15pm - 8:15pm (closed on Mon, Tue & Thu)
Price: from 8 USD
12. Indulge yourself at Abdallah Candies And Gifts
Posted by Abdallah Candies on Tuesday, 4 September 2018
Founded by Albert Abdallah in 1909 in Minneapolis, Abdallah Candies and Gifts is a confectionary shop committed to quality goods. Now in the hands of fourth-generation owners, the chocolate and candy shop is located in Burnsville as well as in Apple Valley. Their tasty treats range from delicious chocolates to wrapped caramels and jarred sweets. They now offer sugar-free options for the health-conscious. Be sure to stop by and sample the specials!
Abdallah Candies And Gifts
Address: 3501 County Rd 42 W, Burnsville, MN 55306, United States
Website: Abdallah Candies And Gifts
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm; Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed on Sun)
13. Shop 'til you drop at Burnsville Center
Posted by Burnsville Center on Monday, 15 February 2016
Treat yourself to a bit of retail therapy at Burnsville Center. Opened in 1977, this place is now an impressive mall with over 150 shops, including Macy’s, Sears, Dick’s Sporting Goods, JCPenney, and so much more. It is also used as a major transportation stop, allowing for easy access without having to worry about finding a carpark.
Burnsville Center
Address: 1178 Burnsville Center, Burnsville, MN 55306, United States
Website: Burnsville Center
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 9am - 10pm; Thu: 10am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 10pm; Sun: 11am - 7pm
14. Nab a good find at AntiQues Minnesota
Now known as the largest antique mall in all of Minnesota, AntiQues Minnesota has over 350 in-house dealers. It has been providing people with interesting antique finds for 40 years now. Give yourself plenty of time to discover this place, as each vendor sells different things - you’re sure to find something from every decade. Being so close to both Grand Slam and Skateville Family, you can easily drop the kids off and get lost in the huge selection of items.
AntiQues Minnesota
Address: 191 River Ridge Cir S, Burnsville, MN 55337, United States
Website: AntiQues Minnesota
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm
15. Catch the latest film at CMX Odyssey
Tag someone who you would want to sit back and relax next to at #CMXCinemas! #ExperienceCMX
Posted by CMX Cinemas on Wednesday, 21 August 2019
See the latest blockbuster, rom-com, or comedy at CMX Odyssey. An IMAX theatre chain company with cinemas in over 39 locations around the US, this theatre shows all the latest Hollywood films, 3D films, and also has “flashback screenings” where they screen classic films that are sometimes season or holiday-specific. You can pre-book tickets online for films now showing, as well as purchase pre-sale tickets for upcoming films. Equipped with electric recliners and footrests, this is a luxury cinema experience in Burnsville. For an updated list of what films are currently screening, head to their website.
CMX Odyssey- IMAX
Address: 14401 Burnhaven Dr, Burnsville, MN 55306, United States
Website: CMX Cinemas
Opening hours: 11am - 11pm (daily)
Price: from 5 USD
A relaxing getaway
Burnsville is a city filled with countless activities. From outdoor adventures to shopping and watching shows, there is something here for everyone. It’s both a kid and pet-friendly destination, which makes it an easy holiday pick for the whole family. For a nice, relaxing trip with options to keep you entertained, head on over to Burnsville and have yourself a good time!
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