The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley is featuring an African Safari this summer from May 23rd through September 7th.  Complete with antelope, giraffes, zebras, and even wildebeest.   That’s a great staycation that your whole family can enjoy, and it’s right in our back yard.  There’s nothing like a trip to the zoo for creating family memories.

The Minnesota Zoo is a real treasure, and if you haven’t been there in a while I think you’ll be surprised at the changes they’ve made.  I remember when the Zoo first opened and had the Beluga Whales in a special tank with an indoor aquarium so you could see them swimming together.   One of the whales developed a skin irritation from the tank water and the resourceful folks at 3M developed a special bandage-cum-PostIt-Note to help let it heal.  Sadly, they found that the facilities just weren’t suitable for the whales and they had to send them elsewhere.

The Minnesota  Zoo now has over 380 animals on exhibit and offers tours and daily shows.   You can visit their website linked above, or call them at 952-431-9200 for more information.