For football fans across the nation, Sunday February 4^th is much more than a typical Sunday night game- it’s THE Big Game of the year. Whether you are rooting for the reigning champions- the New England Patriots- or their fierce competitors- the Philadelphia Eagles- the game is highly anticipated, with thousands of fans flocking to the site of this year’s big game in Minneapolis, Minnesota. If you’re one of the lucky ones traveling to Minnesota for the big game, here are a few moves to blitz boredom during your stay in the Twin Cities!

1) The Minnesota Zoo: If you are looking to get in touch with a different type of nature off of the football, look no further than the Minnesota Zoo. Opened in 1978, the zoo itself is a 485-acre campus and brings in approximately 1.29 million visitors each year. Its mission is “connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife.” In the spirit of that mission statement, the zoo serves as a “[c]oordinator of international conservation and breeding programs for numerous species”, an effort that includes tigers and Asian wild horses among others. The zoo also boasts a robust volunteer program if you are interested in doing some community service during your stay in Minneapolis! To learn more about the zoo, check out the website here.

2) The Mall of America: Traveled out for the game but still need to get your shopping done? No problem! The Mall of America, well known as the largest shopping mall in the country according to U.S. News and World Report, is close by. The mall has over 500 stores within a reported 2.5 million square feet of retail business space. Additionally, the Mall of America is houses “family-friendly” attractions, such as the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park and the SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium.

3) The Walker Art Center: If you are looking for an iconic tour of Minneapolis, one stop worth making is to the Walker Art Center. The Walker is well-known for its assortment of both modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures and photographs. According to U.S. News and World Report, one of the Walker's most popular exhibits is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Bundle up and get outside to enjoy the “largest urban sculpture garden in the country,” home to the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry!

4) The Mary Tyler Moore Statue: 1970’s sitcom star Mary Tyler Moore is credited with putting “Minneapolis on the map”. Her namesake television program, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, highlighted Minneapolis often and brought attention to the city at a time when it was starting to grow, according to Meet Minneapolis President and CEO Melvin Tennant. To honor the legacy of the late actress, the Mary Tyler Moore statue stands- forever holding her iconic pose throwing her tam in the air- at the Minneapolis Visitor Information. To learn more about the statue, visit the Meet Minneapolis website here.

5) Stone Arch Bridge: If you are looking to catch up on the city’s history in addition to football activities, take a trip over the historic Stone Arch Bridge. The bridge itself is 2,100-feet of granite and limestone. It was originally constructed in 1883 in order to increase and ease the flow of traffic and goods into and out of the city. According to U.S. News and World Report, the bridge is designated a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and remains the only stone arch bridge to have ever crossed the Mississippi River. Today, it is commonplace to see bikers and walkers crossing the landmark as well as sightseers taking in the marvelous views of the city during twilight.

This is only a short sample of the numerous activities and sites to do and see in Minneapolis. For more things to do in Minneapolis, check out the city’s website here.

Will the Patriots keep their winning streak going for another year? Or will the Eagles fly to victory? We won’t know until game day. But one thing we do know is that, just like on the field, not everything goes according to plan. Be sure you’re ready in the event you need to call an audible; if unpredictable winter weather disrupts your travels or you need to cancel for another reason, make sure your costly trip is covered with a travel protection plan. A travel protection plan can protect your costly travel investment against trip cancellation, delays, lost or delayed baggage, medical expenses (your regular health insurance coverage may be limited far from home), and more. Visit travelinsure.com to learn more about our travel plans, and contact us today to determine the best plan for you and enroll. You can enroll up to 24 hours before you depart, so act now!

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