This post has been over a year in the making. No joke, the visit that is pictured in this blog post was actually about a year ago.My kids have gotten so much bigger since these photos were taken it makes my mom heart a little sad inside.
On the particular day that we visited Sibley Park & Petting Zoo was so warm..like 95 degrees, plus humidity, and that means a lot for the mid-west.
My daughter still fondly talks about our trip to Sibley Park & Petting Zoo and Highly recommends it (as do I) but we didn’t go the trip without any tears…
Our initial trip to Mankato included our usual stops Target, Sam’s Club, Aldi, and The Children’s Museum. Except this particular day was a Monday, and Monday’s in Mankato means, The Children’s museum is closed. The children’s museum is ALWAYS CLOSED on MONDAYS. REMEMBER THAT MOMS. LIFELESSON. I was a bad mom and totally forgot. Meltdown.
I finally got the kids back in the mini-van and headed over to Plan B. Always have a Plan B. If you don’t make one up, as you go.
Sibley Park & Petting Zoo. I first heard/discovered Sibley Park & Petting Zoo a few years prior when I ran then Mankato half marathon (BEST 1/2 marathon EVER). Park of the 1/2 marathon course goes through both the park and through the petting zoo. At that point I didn’t have kids (just one in my tummy) and my husband & I hadn’t moved out to the farm yet. So I just thought it was neat, not the AMAZING farm themed park I now think it is.
Meltdown # 2 I finally got #1 to calm down and convinced that the park might be as cool as the children’s museum. We get out of the van.. and her fingers get squeezed in the door when the were placed in the door frame right before it closed… It happens I felt bad, she was terrorized. But we all survived. Back to the park.
The park was established in 1887 by Henry Hastings Sibley (Minnesota’s first governor).
** Mankato contains A LOT OF MN famous people.
The park is located at 900 Mound Ave, Mankato, MN 56001 PRETTY CLOSE to The Children’s Museum.
Park Features:
Farm themed Petting Zoo
Restrooms
Paved Walking Paths
Sliding hill
Fishing
Tennis court
Softball field
Beautiful Landscape & Gardens
Farm themed playground
Picnic Shelter
Outdoor amphitheater
Sibley Health Beat Outdoor Exercise Equipment
** At one time even contained a horse racing track.
Bottom Line: WE LOVE IT & Its free (there are donation boxes in several spots throughout the petting zoo). Would be great for any “vacation, stay-cation, birthday party, family reunion. field-trip, pit stop, or plan B.”
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