BLOOMINGTON, Minn - Spring and summer are getting closer and there's a new resource to help you plan a warm weather getaway.
The "Adventure Station" officially opened Monday at the REI store in Bloomington.
The station was started through a partnership between REI and the DNR with the goal of getting more Minnesotans outdoors.
The interactive exhibit will be staffed six days a week by a mix of workers and volunteers.
"We want to bring more diverse audiences into our Minnesota state parks and trails," Fort Snelling Park Manager Kelli Bruns says.
Potential travelers will have access to iPads, maps and brochures that show everything the state's 75 parks and trails have to offer.
"We have a park finder where you can search for specific amenities, make a reservation, and even buy permits," Adventure Station worker Kelsey Wotzka says.
DNR officials are hoping the new station will remove some of the guesswork from planning your first camping trip.
They say park visits have actually increased in recent years, but the DNR is still struggling to attract young people.
"Some people just don't know where to start," Adventure Station worker Aimee Gerhartz says. "It's just having that conversation with them and pointing them in the right direction."
Starting this Friday, the station will be open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
DNR officials say all the tools they offer at the Adventure Station are also available on their website.
For more information click here.