If you've ever done some traveling you know that the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in Bloomington is a HUGE place, that has thousands of people entering and exiting every day, by plane, car, or light rail. There are a TON of 'hidden' things at the airport that you may have never noticed before. One thing I never knew about the airport is that there is a 'secret' park that allows you to watch planes take off and land.

The 'secret' park isn't really a secret, but I would guess a bunch of people do not know its existence which is a shame. If you've got a little one who is a fan of airplanes, this might be just the place where you could take them to really put a smile on their face.

Image Credit: Google Maps
Image Credit: Google Maps
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The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport calls the park, the 'Aircraft Viewing Area' and it's open to the public every day from dawn to dusk.

So how does someone get into the aircraft viewing area if you aren't actually traveling to another state or country? Well, it turns out you don't need to know a secret handshake or password, you simply drive up to it.

According to an MSP online document, this is how you access the viewing area from both the North or the South of Terminal 1, or what I still call it, the Lindbergh terminal. (I also seemingly always call US Bank Stadium 'The Dome' too)

From Cedar Avenue: From the south, take the 66th Street exit. Turn right at the intersection and take Longfellow Avenue to the south to Cargo Road. Turn left on Cargo road and take it all the way to the end, just past the FedEx shipping center. From the north, take the 66th Street exit. At the light, take a left and go across the freeway bridge. Continue straight onto Longfellow Avenue. Continue going south and take a left on Cargo Road. Take Cargo Road to the end.

From Hwy 494: From the east, take the 24th Avenue Exit. Stay to your right and turn right onto International Drive. Take International Drive to the end and take a right onto Longfellow Avenue. Take a right on Cargo Road and take it all the way to the end, just past the FedEx shipping center. From the west, take the 24th Avenue Exit. At the stoplight, take a left and cross over the freeway bridge. Continue straight onto International Drive. Take International Drive to the end and take a right onto Longfellow Avenue. Take a right on Cargo Road and take it all the way to the end, just past the FedEx shipping center.

The best part about all of this is it's free! Well other than gas to get you to the International Airport it is free. Check it out the next time you've got some extra time as you head up to the Twin Cities, or simply to make a kids day who is a BIG fan of airplanes.

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