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Minneapolis is a major city in Minnesota that forms “twin cities” with the neighboring state capital of St. Paul. Both cities are bisected by the Mississippi River. Minneapolis is the 16th largest metropolitan area in the United States. Not many people know that there is plenty to do in Minneapolis. Underneath is the 11 reasons why you should visit Minneapolis right now:
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Art
Minneapolis is a city that is known for its art. Starting from Prince being the biggest advocate of the city, and was one of the Minnesotan rock stars. There is also a big statue of a bright red cherry resting on a spoon that has become one of the iconic statues of the city. This statue can be found in Walker Art Center.
You can also spend 2 hours to half of your days celebrating more than 90,000 works of art that are being housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. They have various arrays of form of art, whether you are interested in ancient Egypt’s masterpieces or European artists like Titian and Monet. The museum is well suited for all ages, making it one of the must-go places to go with your kids.
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Chain of Lakes
To understand the city better, you have to visit the chain of lakes that are located in Minneapolis. Each of the five bodies of water that encompass the chain of lakes byway district has another thing to offer as well. Lake Harriet features live music during summer and also has become a bird sanctuary. It also houses two family-friendly beaches.
Lake Calhoun draws a much more active crowd with plenty of boat and bike rentals and paths for jogging and biking enthusiasts. There are other lakes that are not as popular to the other two; Lake of the isles, cedar lake, and Brownie Lake. All three are very suitable for a picnic, or a stroll.
Consider yourself lucky if you visit during the summer because you will find plenty of sporting and live music events.
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Minnehaha Park
It is sprawled along the banks of the Mississippi River. It offers respite from the fast-paced atmosphere of Minneapolis. Situated about 6 miles southeast of central Minneapolis, it is a park that is spread on to a 193 acres land.
Inside this park, there is a 53 foot Minnehaha falls that was made famous by Hendry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem.
The falls attract tourists from around the country while the park itself offers active visitors an array of activities such as outdoor recreation, including volleyball courts, playgrounds and bike paths for you to venture.
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Fort Snelling
The fort was established in the early 19th century as a frontier outpost. It is one of the oldest pictures of Minnesota. It is located over the converging point of the Mississippi and Minnesota river, to allow full and total control of the trade routes in the upper Mississippi valley.
It now acts as a living history museum, with costumed tour guides offering ample of information about the history of the fort. There are also exhibitions that will let you glimpse the detailed history of the fort within the visitor center. They also have plenty number of activity centers that will help the visitor learn about Dakota’s homeland, immigration, soldiers and more. In the summer, the fort also hosts numerous history-themed events, including demonstrations, competitions, and youth programs.
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St. Paul
The other twin of the city, St. Paul offers another scenic adventure in close proximity. There are even more nature, beer, outdoor activities and music that you can discover in St. Paul. St. Paul is located approximately 30 minutes away of east hike. You can even bike there through the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, and marvel at the cathedral of Saint Paul, which was modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
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Gutherie Theater
If you are a fan of theaters, then it is one place that you have to visit. Named after the founder, Sir Tyrone Guthrie, the downtown theater is one of the nation’s most renowned and one of the city’s most beloved treasures.
It opens its doors in 1953 with a production of “Hamlet”, it has made a name of itself with highly praised balanced of classical theater and grand productions. The theater also includes a full serviced restaurant, two casual eateries and the best view of Minneapolis from the banks of the Mississippi River.
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Mall of America
If you do not feel like venturing outside and prefer to do something more indoors, then head to the mall of America. It has approximately 500 stores, that covers 2,5 million square feet retail space and will ensure to keep you entertained. Even if you are not shopping, it also offers plenty of family-friendly attractions such as the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park, complete with 25 different rides and attractions and also sea life Minnesota aquarium.
It is located 11 miles south of downtown Minneapolis near the airport and is open all day of the week, although there are differences in working hours between weekdays and weekends.
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Beers
There are many local breweries that provide you with an assorted array of beers – sours to stouts which is very entertaining for people who work in the beverage industry or people who like beer in general. You can pick your choice, from a local brewery to the big pubs, or even massive beer halls across the Mississippi River.
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Stone Arch Bridge
