Minneapolis Travel Guide

  St. Anthony's Falls/Mississippi River
by Donna_in_India
 
  • St. Anthony's Falls/Mississippi River
      St. Anthony's Falls/Mississippi River
    by Donna_in_India
  • Mississippi river at Point Douglas park
      Mississippi river at Point Douglas park
    by abi_maha
  • Downtown from the Sculture Garden
      Downtown from the Sculture Garden
    by lkdahl
  • Stairway, Rand Tower
      Stairway, Rand Tower
    by goodfish
  •   "Wings", Rand Tower, MN
    by goodfish
 

Pro

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 Lots of things to do outdoors, inexpensive, diverse 


Con

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 cold as heck in winter 


In a nutshell

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 cheaper than Seattle, trendier than Milwaukee 

 

Explore Minneapolis

Things to Do  

Mall of America

Mall of America, Minneapolis

 30 Reviews  One should see the biggest Mall in the US whenever visiting Minneapolis. It's really big I don't have time to scan the whole mall. It is located in Bloomington area. The mall has over 500 stores and numerous restaurants in the second floor. Kids will also love this mall because of Nickelodeon... 

Downtown

Downtown, Minneapolis

 33 Reviews  Minneapolis’ largest urban park may not be as expansive as those in other major U.S. cities but Loring is a pleasant place and one of the few downtown locations with activities to entertain the wee folk. It’s also a nice passageway between city hotels and the Walker Art Museum/Sculpture Garden and ... 

Hotels  

Northland Inn

 1 Review and 45 Opinions  All rooms are suites. 

The Marquette

 1 Review and 512 Opinions  The Marquette is a modern hotel, now part of the Hilton brand. Its location next to the IDS Crystal... 

Restaurants  

Sea Salt Eatery

Sea Salt Eatery, Minneapolis

 3 Reviews  Did you know that Minneapolis has a gem of a seafood restaurant, operated only in summertime in the northwest corner of Minnehaha Park? At Sea Salt, the menu is updated daily, but always includes traditional favorites, including the simple but satisfying fish sandwich for only $5.95. This place is... 

Famous Dave´s Barbecue and Blues

Famous Dave´s Barbecue and Blues, Minneapolis

 4 Reviews  Famous Daves--which I call the "pig shack"--is one of my favorite places to go when I want a lot of food (in particular, meat). They have a pretty large menu and excellent barbecue sauces. If you like it hot, try the Devil's Spit sauce. If you like a lot of flavor, but with a little kick, try the... 

Nightlife  

First Avenue & 7th Street

First Avenue & 7th Street, Minneapolis

 12 Reviews  Most happening after 11pm or whenever there's live music. Music varies depending on the night, anything from salsa to metal to techno. It's dark, the beat doesn't stop, and if nothing else it's a great place to people watch. Pretty much anything goes - you can go from leather and studs to the... 

Eating / Drinking

Eating / Drinking, Minneapolis

 17 Reviews  Another one of the great new “Nordeast” taprooms, you’ll be lifting your pints within view of their fermentation tanks. They have 4-6 of their craft beers on tap including a couple of in-and-out seasonals, and you can sip al fresco during the warmer months. It was crazy busy with happy pubcrawlers... 

Transportation  

By Bus

By Bus, Minneapolis

 8 Reviews  Holiday inn metrodome is right on the busline, easy to get to the Orpheum Theatre, Nicollett Mall, First Avenue Bar (where Prince was discovered). It's a .50 cent ride on the bus as long as your staying in Minneapolis-we didn't know this so paid the $1.75 price as listed on the entrance of the bus,... 

By Bicycle

By Bicycle, Minneapolis

 6 Reviews  Biking is huge here and a great way to explore the Twin Cities on a sunny day. Minneapolis was rated the best biking city in the country by Bicycling Magazine, and we're #2 for percentage of commuters who cycle to work. We have 92 miles of streets with dedicated bike lanes and another 85 miles of... 

Shopping  

Mall of America

Mall of America, Minneapolis

 14 Reviews  Yes, it's here. Yes, it's the biggest in the U.S. Yes, we get a little sick of being famous for a big giant mall. Yes, there are WAY better things to do. Best reason to go here? To stretch your legs when it's too cold to be outside. And watch the people. Or take the kiddies to ride the rides. By... 

Shopping Centers / Other Malls

Shopping Centers / Other Malls, Minneapolis

 5 Reviews  Honestly, this is a GREAT place to shop for all kinds of things. From clothing to home furnishings to luggage. It is an outlet mall, but don't let the word outlet scare you. It's still quality stuff with stores like BCBG Max Azria, Banana Republic and Ralph Lauren. This is NOT a place for those... 

Local Customs  

People

People, Minneapolis

 9 Reviews  It's best not to overgeneralize and expect that the behavior of several Minnesotans represents the people as a whole. We have a lot of diversity (typically more in the twin cities area), which means a lot of different personalities. I've lived here my whole life and have encountered both rudeness... 

Warnings and Dangers  

Areas to Avoid

Areas to Avoid, Minneapolis

 16 Reviews  Just be sensible. I am 22 and I have lived here my whole life. Minneapolis and St Paul are like any other cities. There are spotty areas around downtown to avoid, but pretty much nowhere is a good idea to be in the middle of the night unless you are in the suburbs. Still even then nighttime can be... 

Be Aware

Be Aware, Minneapolis

 11 Reviews  In a (fairly) recent article in the Star Tribune (local newspaper), many people have gotten injured leaving a Downtown club or bar when it closes. Most clubs close around 2 am, so to avoid being mugged or stabbed, use common sense and leave before drunk people come out in droves. If you need to,... 

Tourist Traps  

Mall of America

Mall of America, Minneapolis

 17 Reviews  As a local of Minneapolis, I have been to the Mall of America many times. Each time I'm there, somebody ends up dropping at least $50 to $100 on food and other things. Lots of stores have higher prices because the Mall has so many tourists. The biggest offenders: Nickelodeon Universe. The deal is,... 

What to Pack  

Weather Wise

Weather Wise, Minneapolis

 3 Reviews  something water proof is always good.. Minneapolis is known for being cold... That being said, most locals own a pair of snow boots (the garrish things that your mom maybe made you wear as a little kid) but never wear them.. I haven´t worn know boots for years.. I just wear regular shoes, or my zip... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Zoo / Parks / Gardens

Zoo / Parks / Gardens, Minneapolis

 11 Reviews  You can visit wolves,porcupines, bobcats, raccoons, gray foxes, black bears, and raptors, such as a red-tailed hawk,New Guinea Highlands wild dogs and an assortment of owls. They are located about 20 miles north of the Twin Cities near Forest Lake. Check their website for ongoing events. 

Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods, Minneapolis

 10 Reviews  1,840 acres to hike with rampant wildlife,picnic shelters,indoor amphitheater,a children's playground,and a water slide/pool facility. Take I-94 east past downtown St. Paul to McKnight Road and take a left. Both park entrances are on the left off of Lower Afton Rd. 

Sports & Outdoors  

Spectator Sports

Spectator Sports, Minneapolis

 8 Reviews  After years of political wrangling, threats by the owner to move or contract the team, Minnesota and Minneapolis openned the state of the art $545 million Target Field. ESPN The Magazine ranked Target Field as the #1 sports stadium in North America, beating out such notable stadiums like the new... 

Favorites  

Downtown

Downtown, Minneapolis

 13 Reviews  This Romanesque Revival pile was designed by the firm of Long and Kees, who would just three years later create the plan for the much more "refined" Minneapolis City Hall a few blocks away. Wikipedia describes this building as "Richardsonian Romanesque," but I don't see very much Richardson here!... 

Mall of America

Mall of America, Minneapolis

 6 Reviews  I hate shopping, especially in busy malls during the weekend, but Mall of America was a totally different experience. The mall is huge, but it is not intended only for shopping lovers. Inside the building there is big entertainment complex, for kids and for adults, unique restaurants, movie... 

Comments

Map of Minneapolis