Sun Country Tropics Days - February 22-23 and March 1-2.

Grab your sunglasses and Hawaiian shirt, it’s always sunny and 78 degrees at the Minnesota Zoo! Come feel the spirit of spring break on days full of tropical treats. Get Zoo tickets and warm up your weekends, February 22-23 and March 1-2.

Wild New Partnership Takes Flight: Sun Country Airlines and the Minnesota Zoo Foundation

Tropics Days are made possible thanks to the support of Sun Country Airlines for the Minnesota Zoo’s environmental education and wildlife conservation efforts. Sun Country is sponsoring the Tropics Trail, which gives Zoo guests immersive experiences with animals that inhabit biodiversity hotspots around the world. This partnership brings the organizations together to help Minnesota families make connections with and explore the natural world through travel and conservation. While winter is of course a great time to travel, it’s also a great time to visit the Minnesota Zoo for a taste of the Tropics!

Special Programs and Experiences

Bring Towels to our Animals – Get a Beachy One for You
When you visit the Zoo for Tropics Days, please bring a pre-loved beach or bath towel – in clean condition – to donate to our animals. In exchange, receive a brand-new Sun Country beach towel. Limit 1 towel per family, while daily supplies last.

Sun Country is sponsoring the Tropics Trail, which gives Zoo guests immersive experiences with animals that inhabit biodiversity hotspots around the world.

Zookeepers and Animal Health staff use towels every day to keep animals clean, dry, and cozy. Orphaned sea otter pups Nuka and Denali are good examples of the importance of towels!

In the wild, sea otter mothers groom their pups to keep them warm and waterproof in the cold ocean. But when Nuka and Denali were rescued in Alaska, they were too young to know how to groom themselves. To provide the essential care that an otter mother would, Zookeepers used stacks of towels (and brushes and hairdryers!) for hours every day to keep the girls fluffy, warm, and buoyant in the water.

Your towel donations support expert care for animals – thank you!

Responsible Traveling
Discover the hidden dangers of animal trafficking with our responsible traveling activity, available from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Upper Tropics. Step into the role of a TSA agent as you inspect a traveler’s suitcase and uncover items that shouldn't be there. This hands-on experience sheds light on the impact of wildlife trafficking, with a special focus on how to be a responsible traveler in tropical regions. Come learn how to protect endangered species and make informed choices while exploring the world.

Wings & Things! presented by Wings Credit Union. - Located Indoors at the Target Learning Center (between Tropics Trail + the Medtronic Minnesota Trail)
Join us at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Target Learning Center for our amazing animal show, Wings & Things! See owls, porcupines, and more strut their stuff while learning fascinating facts about our natural world. This educational and entertaining show is fun for all ages and included with your Zoo admission. Show run-time is roughly 20 minutes and seating is first-come, first-served. For those with sensory sensitivities, please note that music is played before the program and microphones are used throughout.

Fuel Your Staycation with Tropical Treats
Snack on two varieties of Trail Mix ($7.99) or cool off with a refreshing fruit smoothie ($7.99)—topped with a fresh fruit skewer and a flower garnish for an extra touch of paradise. For adults age 21+: add a shot of Malibu ($4.99) for a tropical twist!

At Call of the Wild, dine on Chicken Teriyaki topped with tropical salsa ($14.99) and a classic Hawaiian Pizza ($13.99) loaded with ham and pineapple.

Did you know that the Minnesota Zoo sells delicious Dole Whip? Get into vacation mode with Dole Whip ($5.99 cup/$7.99 large cone), available in pineapple, strawberry—or a twist of the two—topped with fresh pineapple chunks or strawberry drizzle. And for the perfect pick-me-up, sip on a Coconut Mocha ($5.99 reg./ $6.99 large), served hot or iced.

Don't miss these tastes of the tropics! These limited-time offerings are only available during Tropics Days.

Thanks to a partnership with the Minnesota Zoo Foundation and Sun Country Airlines. stop by the Sun Country Airlines table during the event and register to win fabulous prizes, including a Sun Country Airlines $1,000 voucher; an early morning Tropics Trail guided tour for 6 and a Minnesota Zoo Summer Sizzle Party package.

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