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Burnsville is a city of about 64,000 people in Dakota County, Minnesota, on the south bank of the Minnesota River about 15 miles south of downtown Minneapolis. Named after William Byrne, an Irish settler who arrived in the 1850s, it stayed a rural township until highway construction in the 1960s turned it into a busy suburb at the junction of I-35W and I-35E.
Burnsville's most distinctive attraction is Buck Hill, a small ski area right beside the freeway where Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn learned to race. The Heart of the City district centers on Nicollet Commons Park and the Ames Center, a performing arts venue with concerts and theater. Crystal Lake, the city's largest lake, has a public beach and boating.
Nature lovers can walk the trails and off-leash dog area at Lake Alimagnet Park or head to the Minnesota River bottoms nearby. Burnsville Center is the main shopping mall, and the Mall of America in Bloomington is about 15 minutes north across the river.
A compact ski and snowboard area beside I-35 in Burnsville, open since the 1950s, with lifts, lit runs for night skiing, a terrain park and a busy snow tubing hill. It is famous as the training ground of Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn. Rentals and lessons are available, and weeknights are less crowded.
Burnsville's performing arts center in the Heart of the City district, with a main theater and a smaller black box stage hosting touring concerts, comedy, community theater and dance. Its glass lobby overlooks Nicollet Commons Park. Check the calendar and park in the nearby ramp, which is free for most shows.
A small urban park at the heart of Burnsville's Heart of the City district, with an amphitheater, a seasonal water feature for kids, gardens and seating. It hosts summer concerts, movies and festivals. Combine a visit with a meal at the surrounding restaurants or a show at the Ames Center next door.
A park on the shores of Lake Alimagnet with wooded walking trails, a large fenced off-leash dog area, sports fields and picnic spots. The trails are pleasant for a short hike and birdwatching. Dog owners love it, so it can be busy on weekends; bring water for your pet and clean up after it.
Burnsville's largest lake, with a public swimming beach at Crystal Beach Park, a boat launch and a fishing pier. It is popular for boating, paddling and fishing for panfish and bass in summer, and ice fishing in winter. The beach has lifeguards only in peak season, so check the schedule before swimming.
Burnsville's walkable downtown district along Nicollet Avenue, with apartments, restaurants, cafes, Nicollet Commons Park and the Ames Center. It is the best place in the city for an evening out, with outdoor patios in summer. A transit station connects it to Minneapolis by express bus.
An enclosed regional shopping mall near the junction of I-35W and County Road 42, open since the 1970s, with department stores, national retailers and places to eat. Many more shops and restaurants line the surrounding roads. It is handy on cold days, and parking is free and plentiful.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Tyler Vigen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Tyler Vigen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nick Ortloff from Minneapolis, MN, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jayesh Naithani, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Tyler Vigen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Eóin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Crispus MSP, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Crispus MSP, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Crispus MSP, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Crispus MSP, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
