Travel Guide to the Twin Cities
Minnesota is a state amidst the western USA; its borders meet with Canada and Lake Superior. The state covers an area of 225,181 square kilometers—the largest city in the state in Minneapolis, which is the twin to Saint Paul. The Twin Cities of Minnesota are known to provide a diverse set of environments for all kinds of travelers to enjoy and love. Tourists often make the mistake of thinking that Minnesota vacation means winter activities only. This travel guide to the Twin Cities is definitely going to break that stereotype because they have quite a lot to offer.
The cities offer activities like boating, sunbathing, dining at the waterfront, bars, and restaurants that offer the most amazing cuisines. The Twin Cities vacation also provides nature lovers with long hiking and bike trails to explore, mighty waterfalls like the Minnehaha falls, and walks along the rushing river. The best thing about the Twin Cities in Minnesota is that it will provide a lot of alternative options for tourist attractions, even if you change your mind at the last second.
Things to do in Minneapolis
1. Minnehaha Park
The recreational park is named after its infamous waterfall that pours water from a height of 53ft into the Mississippi River. The sight of the waterfall is enchanting and beautiful. People tend to enjoy strolls and picnic along with this masterpiece of scenery. Tourists from all around the world enjoy the view from the gorge below the falls, and the view will certainly refresh your soul.
This is a must-do in Minneapolis if you are looking for an adventure. Down the gorge, there is a trail that leads to picturesque stone bridges and ends on to the Minnehaha beach. This hidden spot will serve as an amazing picnic spot, and travelers enjoy a barbeque at the grills.
2. Minneapolis Institute of Art
If you are one artsy soul then this place - Minneapolis institute of art, is just right to quench your thirst. The museum holds a huge variety of masterpieces of historical art. Tourists can relish the lovely modern and contemporary collections of art as well. The museum has Asian art as well as decorative art rooms; hence you would need at least 3 to 4 hours in Minnesota this weekend to cherish each of the works of art displayed in the museum.
3. Bike rental
Calhoun bike rentals allow visitors to rent a bike for tours. You can rent a bike to explore the twin city - Minneapolis with a guided tour, or you can customize your own tour as well. The staff at Calhoun bike rentals will be pleased to assist you, however, you like. Guided tours will help you cover the highlights of Minneapolis in a short time.
4. The scenic byway of Grand Rounds
This will provide you with a memorable experience as you can enjoy a long drive along with the serene beauty of this byway or indulge in the bike trails of the beautiful city of Minneapolis this weekend. Tourists enjoy a stroll or a bike ride around the highlights of Minneapolis, which includes the chain of lakes, including the Harriet Lake, Calhoun Lake, Isles Lake, and the Mississippi River itself. Just imagine jogging or riding a bike along the creeks and river with the wind brushing across your cheeks, isn’t it a dream come true?
5. Stone Arch Bridge
Praise the architectural beauty of this historic stone bridge that stands amidst the Mississippi river. This bridge has historical value as it previously was a railroad bridge; this bridge also oversees the St. Anthony’s Falls and ends in a recreational park. The bridge is said to be made of granite and limestone and is one of its kind all over the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
6. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Covering a wide area of 11-acres, this park in Minneapolis is a great tourist attraction. It is like a museum that displays unique sculptures of art, only in a recreational park. Once located near the Walker art gallery, both these sites were paradise for the artsy travelers. After a reconstruction, both the sites were fused, now covering 19 acres of land with over 40 masterpieces installed.
7. Minneapolis Indoor Skydiving
Experience the skydiving state indoor with iFLY in Minneapolis. You will be guided and trained by an instructor so that you can make the most of it. The trainer will guide you to experience the free-fall state, and later you will be thrilled to experience the skydiving state in the facility that actually works with a vertical wind tunnel. You’ll be floating in the air with the wind in your hair in an 800 horsepower wind tunnel; it’ll be an unforgettable adventure story.
8. Food and drinks
Minneapolis is known to provide the best of the best in all kinds of food items, from bakery items and fast food to local and international cuisines. Northeast Minneapolis is host to a number of the finest restaurants, bars, and diners. The northeast Minneapolis food tour is known to serve delicious treats for all kinds of tastes for natives as well as ex-pats. Discover some new flavors on this tour.
Minneapolis hosts other food tours as well, such as the Riverwalk food tour and guided beer tasting tours. The union rooftop, Surley brewery, Spyhouse coffee, and Matt’s Bar are a few places that one must try while in Minneapolis. Minneapolis is also known for its desserts. The restaurants serve home-made gelato, which is known for its richness.
Where to stay in Minneapolis?
Minneapolis provides rooms for kinds for every vacationer, both cozy yet affordable and expensive, and luxurious. Downtown Minneapolis hotels are the best for staying right in the middle. So that everything is in range, this will save you a lot of vacation money as you’ll be walking to parks, restaurants, theatres, and much more. The Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, Doubletree Hotel, and Loews Minneapolis provide the best services and accommodation that fits your Minnesota vacation perfectly, making it a memorable one. There are numerous hotels near the chain of lakes. You could be rising to the view of a beautiful lake in Sonder - Lake Suites.
Things to do in Saint Paul
Saint Paul is the capital city of Minnesota, and together with its neighboring city, it forms the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Saint Paul is a city for history buffs and science geeks, but it also provides entertainment for all kinds of travelers with its skyscrapers, mansions, cathedrals, and boat rides.
1. Cathedral of Saint Paul
The St. Paul Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals as the main sanctuary has 12 wooden doors for entrance and seating of 4000 people in total. The dome is designed elegantly and oversees a large audience of 4000 people perfectly. With the painted glass windows, the bright sunlight lights up the church in the morning. The church has sculptures of the four apostles in the corners, whereas the bronze work sheds light on the life of St Paul. Visiting the mighty St Paul cathedral must be on your Minnesota vacation ideas.
2. Science Museum of Minnesota
The science museum of Minnesota displays fascinating exhibitions, huge screen films, and hosts captivating events. The science museum has guided tours, and the education programs of the museum reach out to students all over Minnesota, engaging them in a world of Science. Visitors are stunned when they gather new information in each corner of the science museum. Since the Coronavirus, the Science museum hasn’t opened to the public just yet.
3. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
The Como Park Zoo is for nature lovers as it has a wide variety of exotic animals like the California sea lions, gorillas, giraffes, and felines. Visitors take a stroll through the lush green gardens of the Como Park. The combination of a park, zoo, and conservatory provides quite the entertainment on your Twin Cities vacation.
4. Minnesota State Fair
Minnesota’s state fair has been ranked as one of the top fairs. At the end of summer, the state fair is held with lots of fun activities to do and delicious food and wines to enjoy. The state fair entertains all age groups with carnival rides, food, sports, international affairs, and political activities, a great chance to mingle with the natives. You’ll definitely find something of your interest at the fair.
5. Summit Avenue walking tour
You can cover the highlights of St. Paul by joining a guided tour. The summit avenue walking tour can be fun for you. This tour starts at the St. Paul Cathedral and touches a lot of the major sites of St. Paul including the:
· Stanford Newel Castle: a historic limestone castle built the mid-19th century.
· James J Hill Carriage House: a beautiful brick mansion with wine covered alleyways.
· Laurel Terrace: another historic site from 1887, a row house with carved stone in different corners.
This tour is for the history buffs and ones who have an eye for historical architecture as it covers a lot of other historic buildings of St. Paul like the Sunflower house, Virginia church, Blair flats, and Albion Hotel, etc.
6. Shopping
St. Paul can be a perfect host to your shopping spree as it has many shopping malls and centers like the Uni-Dale Mall, West Mall Victoria Crossing, and Highland Shopping Centre, etc.
Where to eat in Saint Paul?
Saint Paul has some of the best restaurants in the Twin Cities if Minnesota. Red Cow St. Paul serves the yummiest hamburgers all over MN. The St. Paul Grill is a must-try for people who enjoy barbeque items, and DeGidio’s serve some Italian and a few American dishes. Saint Paul has witnessed some new restaurants that have become a hit amongst natives as well as tourists.
In Bloom has been rewarded as the Restaurant of the Year. The restaurant serves top-notch sandwiches and grilled steaks. Estelle is a haven for people who are searching for simple comfort food, serving Spanish, Italian and Portuguese dishes this restaurant is an easy choice when you don’t want to visit any place fancy.
A great breakfast can make your day if you believe in that you must try the Hope breakfast bar as it serves its customers with the best-cooked breakfast items all day long. There is a lot to explore in St. Paul in terms of food. However, many of these restaurants have restricted their timings and services since COVID; hence you might want to make sure if they are open.
Where to stay in St. Paul?
St. Paul has quite a lot of premium class restaurants that make your Minnesota Vacation even more memorable. Resorts like The Covington Inn, The Saint Paul Hotel, Cambria Hotel Bloomington Mall, and Holiday Inn Express provide luxury and comfort in the way it serves its guests. These luxurious resorts offer amenities like free wifi service, valet parking, breakfast buffets, 24- hour room and housekeeping services, and luxury suites and elegantly designed rooms. The St. Paul hotel sits right in the heart of the city, making it easier for travelers to reach public transit or other outdoor activities.
A Perfect 3-Day Getaway Itinerary to the Twin Cities
For the perfect getaway, you don’t have to look any further than the Twin Cities vacation. Don’t peg the cities only to be full of winter harshness. It is where many named music stars took a start to their successful journies. You can find the best hiking trails and bike trails as well.
Plus, it is home to multiple rollercoaster rides in one mall. It is full of culture that attracts its visitors often. Spending a weekend or a short trip to the place is a tough choice to choose between which locations to visit first. But let’s dive into what we can get in three days while exploring the best places. The trip will be worth it.
Day#1
Whenever you reach your destination, a must-do in Minneapolis is to stay at the best luxurious hotel. You can opt for Loews Minneapolis Hotel, a luxury hotel named in the list of best hotels in Minnesota. The hotel has so much to offer, from free wifi to an indoor fitness center, you can get everything you want under one roof.
Or you can opt for any other boutique or luxurious hotel of your choice and budget. Many offer pet-friendly services while staying regal and as elegant as ever.
After you take a rest and freshen up, take yourself to the place of art, the Walker Art Center. You will pay for a meager ticket fee here, but it is worth the thousands of art pieces lining the gallery’s walls. It is not your simple art gallery; it boasts live art as well.
When you’re done with the painting, you can relax a bit in the free Minneapolis Sculpture Garden right next to the art gallery. You will find famous pieces like Cherry etc. here.
It’s no surprise that your stomach will growl at you by evening. So, head towards Butcher and Boar. The place is famous for serving huge portions of meals, so not a single corner of your stomach goes unfilled. They prepare the best food in the city, serve craft beer and bourbon too.
Now head to your hotel room and call it a night. It was perfect one day to start your trip.
Day#2
For your next day, start from eating breakfast at the Hen House Factory. This chic café serves healthy food all day long to its customers, made from freshly sourced ingredients. Enjoy tiramisu pancakes with maple syrup (the pure kind) on top for a perfect breakfast.
Shake off those calories by strolling in the Historic Mill District. It’s famous for the ancient and newly designed flour mills and farmers market. When you’re done here, let’s say by noon, then eat lunch at Afro Deli.
The multi-cultural restaurant serves African, American, and Mediterranean halal dishes for its Somali people. It will be a mouthwatering lunch. Stroll through the Stone Arch Bridge in Downtown West.
The bridge is a walkers and bikers link connecting east and west of the banks. Look over for the stunning views of the river and of St. Anthony Falls. For the next part, you will have to take an early dinner at the Sanctuary restaurant.
The restaurant near the Guthrie Theater is perfect so you can catch a show at the theater early at night without a hassle. The lives shows include classical literature and modern pieces as well in the award-winning theater.
Day#3
Alas! The last day arrived. Your trip to Minneapolis this weekend is coming to its end. Let’s make the most of it. So, get up early and head straight to Lowry for breakfast. The restaurant serves American style breakfast with a twist to it. For example, if you try its avocado toast, it will come with crab cakes.
After breakfast, go to the Mall of America. It boasts so many fun attractions like Nickelodeon universe, a park with rollercoasters. It also houses the Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium filled with sharks and other types of fish.
Then visit the Midtown Global Market for an early lunch. It’s a public market with a wide variety of food stalls in every corner. It also has an arts and crafts section. The market is a perfect blend of culture and diversity with live music performances at weekends, mostly.
Shop from the stalls or grab a delicious bite and then go on a tour of Surly Brewing Company. It’s famous for its craft breweries in Minneapolis. It offers exclusive tours of the making of breweries every day. You can even taste some of the brewing samples.
After that, pack your luggage and leave the vacation spot with a not-so-heavy heart because you can come back the next weekend or whenever you like.