Officially known as the Bloomington Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area, Bloomington–Normal is a metropolitan area in Central Illinois including twin municipalities of Bloomington and Normal. These twin cities have an excellent mix of qualities of mid-sized Midwestern town and an assorted wealth of cultural attractions. In addition, these twin cities offer over a dozen shopping centers and recreation areas. There are lots of eateries in Bloomington-Normal encompassing cuisines as varied as upscale Italian, barbeque, and casual pub fare.
Miller Park ZooLocated in Miller Park in Bloomington, Miller Park Zoo offers many wildlife species and zookeeper interaction opportunities and is an excellent place to visit with family. The zoo is home to animal species including a Sumatran tiger, Galapagos tortoise, river otter, red wolves, Amur leopard, sea lion, lemus, reindeer, red pandas, sun bears, pallas cats, and bald eagles. Miller Park Zoo features several exhibits such as Children's Zoo, Wallaby WalkAbout, Katthoefer Animal Building, Animals of Asia, and Tropical America Rainforest.
Children's Discovery MuseumLocated in uptown Normal, Children's Discovery Museum offers hands-on exhibits, programs, and classes for children. There are three floors of exhibits in the museum including a two-story mesh to the third floor. These exhibits in the museum are a celebration of exploration and discovery. There is also a 2,000-square-foot agricultural exhibit named as AgMazing.
The Bloomington-Normal Constitution TrailOne of the most popular attractions in Bloomington-Normal, the Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail is a 39 kilometers long jogging, rollerblading, cycling, and walking trail. Tunnels and bridges are used to separate this trail in order to traffic when crossing the busy streets. The Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail is open to runners, walkers, cyclists, skateboarders, and in-line skaters. During winter months, the trail remains filled with snow and is available for skiers.