Richfield, Minnesota
Richfield was our holiday base in December 2024 — a week at the Sonesta Simply Suites over Christmas in this inner-ring Twin Cities suburb just south of Minneapolis.
Our experience
Wedged between Minneapolis, the airport, and neighboring Bloomington, Richfield is wonderfully convenient: close to downtown, MSP, and the Mall of America.
We spent a snowy Minnesota Christmas here, close to family and city alike. It's an unpretentious, established suburb — not a tourist headline, but a practical and comfortable spot to settle in for the holidays with everything the metro offers a short drive away. For a winter family stay, it hit exactly the right note.
Richfield has an impressive amount of green space for an inner-ring suburb, with around 450 acres of parkland spread across 23 parks. One of its standouts is Wood Lake Nature Center, a 150-acre natural area with trails and boardwalks through wetlands and woodland.
Must-sees and must-dos
- Mall of America — head just south into Bloomington for shopping, dining, and indoor attractions, including the seven-acre Nickelodeon Universe theme park.
- Wood Lake Nature Center — explore Richfield's local nature preserve, with trails and boardwalks through wetland and woodland. The trails remain open during construction of the new nature-center building in 2026.
- Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge — head into nearby Bloomington for trails, wildlife watching, and Minnesota River Valley scenery. The refuge has more than 45 miles of trails across the south metro.
- Downtown Minneapolis — use Richfield's central location for an easy trip into Minneapolis for museums, restaurants, theaters, and winter activities.
- MSP airport convenience — Richfield works especially well when arriving or departing through Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport.
- Twin Cities holiday season — if you're here around Christmas like we were, combine the suburban stay with holiday events, shopping, and indoor attractions around Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington.
Our pro tip
We found Richfield an ideal central base — close to the airport, Mall of America, and downtown Minneapolis all at once. For a winter visit like our Christmas stay, pack serious cold-weather gear and lean into the indoor attractions when Minnesota temperatures drop. A car makes exploring the wider metro especially easy from here.
If you want to stay right beside Mall of America, JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America is available through Klook and is a short walk from both the mall and Nickelodeon Universe. Another convenient option is Park Plaza Minneapolis Mall of America, close to the mall and its light-rail station.
For sightseeing beyond Richfield, browse Minneapolis activities and tours on Klook.