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Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a city of about 430,000 people (2019) and the largest city in Minnesota. Along with neighboring Saint Paul, it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolitan area in the Midwest after Chicago and Detroit.

Other notable districts
Saint Anthony Falls Historic District – This historic area of Minneapolis centers on the impressive Saint Anthony Falls: at various times a focus of indigenous peoples' spirituality, commerce & industry, and now an area of restored buildings, charming streets, and natural sights.

Understand
Minneapolis was destined to be a center of commerce due to its location at the Falls of St. Anthony, which was named by the French explorer Fr. Louis Hennepin in 1680. St. Anthony Falls is by far the largest source of water power on the Mississippi River. The falls were harnessed to power lumber mills in the 1840s and later for flour milling. By 1870, Minneapolis on the west bank and St. Anthony on the east bank formed the largest flour producing center in the world. In 1872, Minneapolis absorbed its older neighbor. Most of the old St Anthony township is now known as Northeast Minneapolis. A small part of the old township comprises most of the current suburb of St. Anthony.

The name "Minneapolis", meaning "The City of Lakes" in a mash-up of the Dakota word minne and the Ancient Greek word polis, refers to the city's 22 natural lakes. The local jewels are the "Chain of Lakes": Cedar, Isles, Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun), Harriet, Nokomis, each 3-4 miles around. The city's excellent parks department maintains walking and biking paths around the lakes, offering residents a place to exercise or stroll. The Lake Harriet Bandshell is a popular summertime event host often featuring the renowned Minnesota Orchestra. Don't miss a ride on the restored trolley between Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet operated by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum.

The city has done an excellent job fostering developed neighborhoods, each with a distinctive feel. Downtown is the visual anchor featuring the high-rise suites, sporting events (the Timberwolves, Twins and Vikings play downtown), and nightclub scene. Northeast is the oldest part of the city, showing off its working-class and immigrant roots in great ethnic food, neighborhood bars, and social clubs, and more recently home to an arts and riverfront redevelopment movement. Uptown historically has been one of the city's youth centers featuring funky food, drink, theater, and plenty of tattoos and mohawks, but is orienting more towards yuppies and young families as real estate anywhere near the lakes becomes an ever more prized commodity. Uptown and the Lakes area dissolves into quiet, tucked-away Linden Hills (a one-time bedroom community) to the south and Lyn-Lake, home to many indie stages, music-oriented cafes and boozers, and alternative lifestyles and hangouts of all sorts, to the east. The University of Minnesota's main campus straddles the Mississippi River in the southeast surrounded by the usual college campus environs.

Climate
With neither mountains nor large bodies of water nearby to moderate the climate, the Twin Cities experience extreme temperatures at both ends of the scale. Winters in Minneapolis can be very cold, while summer is often warm to hot and frequently humid. Snowfall is common in the winter, with at least a few blizzards occurring within the season. Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall occur during the spring, summer, and autumn. The winter cold from December to March can be brutal to the unaccustomed body, with temperatures often dropping below zero. The summer heat from June to September can also be harsh, with temperatures sometimes reaching into the nineties or above, with high humidity. Spring and autumn can be pleasant, with temperatures ranging between the forties and seventies, but during particularly rough years weather-wise those two seasons may either start late or be cut short.

Tourist information

 * Minneapolis tourism website

By plane
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is located 10 miles southeast of downtown Minneapolis. The airport contains two terminals: Terminal 1-Lindbergh and Terminal 2-Humphrey, with most flights arriving at Terminal 1. Savvy travelers should check to make sure they know which terminal they are arriving at/departing from.

The METRO Blue Line light rail operates service between the airport and downtown, the Mall of America, and parts of South Minneapolis, and offers connections to buses to other parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The trains are convenient, fast, and clean. Fare is $2-2.50 depending on time of day. The light rail has stations at both terminals.

By car
Interstate Highways 35W and 94 are the main arteries into town. Both will take you to the edges of downtown. I-35W runs north and south (for the most part) and I-94 east and west; both interstates will connect you to the I-494/694 beltway around the metro area. I-394 runs west from downtown to I-494, where it becomes US Hwy 12. Keep an eye on which lane you're in, as freeway interchanges come up fast, and traffic back-ups will occur at any time, day or night; the morning (7-9AM) and evening (3-7PM) rush hours are predictably congested.

By train

 * Daily long distance inter-city train service is available at Union Depot in downtown Saint Paul. See Saint Paul.

 * Northstar Line. This commuter train connects the northwest suburbs to Downtown Minneapolis, terminating at a station near Target Field with connections to the light rail. The weekday schedule is oriented to rush hour commuters, with five trips heading to Minneapolis in the morning and five trips leaving Minneapolis in the late afternoon; there is only one reverse trip in the morning and in the afternoon. There are three trips in each direction on Saturdays and Sundays, and occasional special trips scheduled to take commuters to Twins or Vikings games.

By bus
Greyhound and Jefferson Lines buses arrive at the Hawthorne Transportation Center, at 950 Hawthorne Ave (at 10th St, one block west of Hennepin) in downtown Minneapolis. It's just a few minute's taxi ride away from most of the downtown hotels. It's 4-5 blocks away from a few major bus routes and the light rail. The depot is near a homeless shelter, so it's not uncommon to see a few homeless people hanging out nearby. The area is well-patrolled and quite safe. Some routes make additional stops.

Get around
The city streets have a grid system that's helpful if you learn it. Minneapolis is divided into quadrants: North, South, Northeast and Southeast. Hennepin Avenue forms the divider between streets labeled N and S near downtown. This division continues through the smaller portion of Minneapolis east of the Mississippi, dividing it into Northeast (NE) and Southeast (SE). Further west of downtown, this division lies along Linden Avenue, just north of the I-394 freeway. In North, Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis, all roads carry N, NE, or SE prefixes on street signs. In South Minneapolis, the north-south avenues are marked S. The east-west streets are marked with W or E, depending if you are west or east of Nicollet Avenue. Even though street signs show these directions before the names, most locals read the addresses with them at the end. Thus "York Avenue South" appears on signs as "S York Ave" and "N 33rd Ave" is called "33rd Avenue North".

Minneapolis is one of few cities to use multi-colored street signs. The colors indicate the priority of plowing during winter storms. Although plowing has since changed, they still indicate what sort of street. Blue signs indicate major roads which are "Snow Emergency Routes". These are still the first to be plowed. Rust-colored signs indicate roads that run primarily east-west. Light green signs indicate roads primarily north-south. Dark green signs indicate scenic parkways that ring the city and the lakes.

By public transit

 * Metro Light Rail. The light rail system in Minneapolis consists of two lines, the Blue Line and the Green Line. Both lines run on 5th Street in downtown Minneapolis. Past downtown, the Green Line runs on Washington Avenue through the University of Minnesota campus and University Avenue through the city of Saint Paul, before terminating at Union Depot in downtown Saint Paul. The Blue Line heads to South Minneapolis along Hiawatha Avenue, and then passes through MSP Airport before terminating at the Mall of America in Bloomington.

 * Bus. Knowing your Route 2 from your Route 22 is considered one mark of a true-blue Twin Citian. The routes and fares are confusing to non-natives. The Metro Transit web site, however, is user-friendly. The Trip Planner lets you provide your beginning and ending points and times, and suggests the best route. You can customize this on walking distances, number of transfers, and the like. As routes are anything but linear, carry a schedule and map for any bus route you are riding; these are available on buses (generally right behind the bus driver) as well as at many city government buildings, libraries, and the like. Bus stops are nearly everywhere throughout the city, but some are served infrequently, and some are not labeled as to which routes serve them at which times. White Metro Transit notices sometimes posted at stops: routes often change due to construction or local events and parades.

Pass options
Unlimited ride passes are available in 1-day, 7-day, and 31-day formats. Stored value passes (pay-per-ride) are also available. Day passes are $6 and can be purchased online, at a Metro Transit Store, from a bus driver, or a ticket machine at any light rail station. 7-day ($24) and 31-day ($65-120) passes must be loaded on a Go-To card, which can be purchased online, at a Metro Transit Store, or participating Metro Transit sales outlets. Stored value passes can be loaded on a Go-To card in increments of $10 (up to $400). Once in possession of a Go-To card, reloading it with new unlimited ride passes or stored value is easy and can be done online, at Metro Transit stores and outlets, or at light rail ticket machines.

The public transit system
The northern head of the LRT is a station at 5th Street and 3rd Avenue North, next to the Minnesota Twins' (baseball) new home of Target Field. The Target Field station is also the southern terminus of the Northstar Line. Along Hennepin next to the LRT station are bus stops for Route 6, connecting Uptown, Downtown, Dinkytown/University of Minnesota. This Route 6/LRT nexus is a good start for first-time visitors, as most hotels (provided you're staying in the city and not some airport/suburban business traveler hovel) are within a few minutes' walk. If you stay at the airport you can get here via the LRT. Other suburban accommodations are likely to be near express buses, which largely terminate one block over at Hennepin and South 4th Street. Ask your concierge.

Taking the LRT south from downtown, the first stop you might be interested in is U.S. Bank Stadium, where a stadium of the same name opened in 2016. The stadium, home to the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, stands on the former site of the Metrodome, which served not only as home to the Vikings, but also to the Minnesota Twins (baseball), Minnesota Golden Gophers football team (University of Minnesota), and the occasional rock concert. U.S. Bank Stadium also hosts occasional concerts, large events such as NCAA (college) basketball tournaments and WWE (professional wrestling) shows, and even a few Minnesota Golden Gophers baseball games.

Next stop, Cedar/Riverside. If you walk a few blocks east to Cedar Avenue, there's a vibrant, diverse and sometimes dangerous neighborhood known, coincidentally, as Cedar-Riverside or the West Bank. In terms of danger, it's a neighborhood where you should stay in well-lit areas and cab home if you have a few too many or stay a little too late. (Bars are open until 2AM) Before you are frightened away, there's much this neighborhood has to offer that shouldn't be missed.

East on Riverside Avenue is the Hard Times Cafe. Hard Times is only closed for two hours every day, from 4AM to 6AM. The food can vary widely depending on who is on duty. They offer good coffee, (often) loud music, games, etc. The Nomad is a little further south on Cedar Ave. It has a nice outdoor patio for smoking and inside a stage where you can see a variety of local rock or jazz shows. Across the street from The Nomad, is Palmers. Palmers gets a little rough if you don't know how to behave yourself while drinking. Not for the weak of heart or mind. Mind your own business if you go there.

Still further down Cedar Avenue are the Whiskey Junction and The Cabooze. Whiskey Junction is a favorite hang out for bikers, but a good number of those are the suburban type with expensive Harley Davidsons. The crowd and atmosphere at the Cabooze varies widely, depending at least in part on who is doing their best interpretation of blues that night - from all those people who disappeared from campus freshman year to long-haired exurbans with Polaris ballcaps. Both venues offer live music most nights. If you make it to the Cabooze, you're already near the Franklin Avenue Light Rail stop. Get back on and head down to Lake Street.

Lake Street/Midtown has a lot to offer on weekend days in the spring and summer. Namely an outdoor market with lots of good food and locally made goodies. The neighborhood has become a center for Mexican and Central American immigrants, and hence the food of those regions, in Minneapolis. See the Eat section for more information. Worth a stop for sure. You can also catch a 21 bus from here to Uptown (make sure the bus is going west).

The next few stops take you to mostly residential neighborhoods. While there are things to do along them, they're not easily accessible on foot, so we'll skip ahead to 50th Street/Minnehaha Park. The Minnehaha Park station is adjacent to a park and Minnehaha Falls. You can see the 53 foot falls and walk along the creek on its way to the Mississippi River.

The Fort Snelling station is after the VA Medical Center station. Fort Snelling makes a great day trip. It's the original settlement in Minnesota and an early wilderness outpost.

Next is the Airport and then the Mall of America, the gargantuan monument to advanced capitalism. The MOA is not quite as sparkling as it was on its opening over two decades ago, but it is still the largest mall around and by some accounts the leading tourist destination in the United States. Tour operators from as far away as Japan organize charter flights and hotel bookings for the single purpose of experiencing "The Mall". It offers an indoor amusement park, movies, restaurants and more shopping than is comprehensible. It's a day trip in itself, but not for the thrifty. Food, shopping and the Camp Formerly Known as Snoopy (now Nickelodeon Universe) can burn through your wallet fast. Not for those with poor impulse control. For the tourist in you, check out local kitsch such as the Lake Wobegon Store.

The return trip: by disembarking at the Lake Street Station and catching a #21 Bus going west, or by returning to the LRT headwaters at Hennepin Avenue and catching a #6 Bus bearing south, one can end up at Uptown and the jewel of Minneapolis, the gorgeous Chain of Lakes. If you're here between Memorial Day and Labor Day, rent a canoe at Bde Maka Ska (stop at the nearby Lunds grocery on Lake Street for picnic materials) and see four lakes, three enchanting sheltered canals, two islands, and one classic creosote-tastic railroad trestle from a duck's eye view.

The 21 brings you past the Midtown Market and Lyn-Lake on the way, while the 6 takes you through downtown and past the gleaming Loring Park area, featuring the spectacular Basilica of St. Mary, the infamous Spoon and Cherry, and the shiny metal Rock 'Em-Sock 'Em Robot head that is the Walker Art Center expansion. Heading north on the 6 will take you across Nicollet Island, another of Minneapolis' abundant urban havens, and through the original Minneapolis/St. Anthony milling district and a touch of the ethnic food and drink haven that is Northeast Minneapolis on the way to Dinkytown and the University of Minnesota (including an old campus district which is on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as some of the top libraries in the world).

NiceRide bike sharing lets you jump on a bike in downtown and take it anywhere. The cost is minimal but the convenience isn't!

By bike
Biking in Minneapolis is a big deal. Over the years, the city has invested heavily in bike trails, lanes and "bicycle boulevards," and a good chunk of its populace uses the human-powered two-wheeler to get around. The larger Twin Cities area also offers a good mix of off-road bike trails; for example one can bike from Chaska to St. Paul using only bike trails, some thirty miles. A variety of maps show the web of on and off-road routes that span the greater metropolitan area. During the winter, major bike trails such as the Midtown Greenway are plowed at the same time as major streets. In some neighborhoods like Downtown, Dinkytown, Uptown, and near the University of Minnesota campus, bikes are seen almost as often as cars.

One of the country's largest urban bike rental programs, Nice Ride Minnesota, offers two-wheelers for rent at 150 locations in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Rides are priced at $3 per half-hour, or you can buy a day pass for $6 which allows for unlimited free rides in 30 minute increments; extra charges can be avoided if you simply return the bike to a station and hop on a new one. If staying in town a bit longer, you can get a 30-day pass for $18, which has the extra benefit of allowing you to use a bike for one full hour without extra charges. You need a credit card to rent a bike or purchase a day pass at a station; 30-day passes can only be purchased online.

The Twin Cities also offer a big variety of cycling shops from very race oriented ones (e.g Grand Performance in St. Paul and Flanders Bros in Minneapolis) to more consumer oriented shops (e.g. Freewheel, Erik's, Boehm's) to the most women-friendly worker cooperative bike shop, The Hub Bike Co-op.

A very useful cycling shop for visitors and tourists is Perennial Cycle, which offers, among other services, offers bike rental (both regular and tandem bikes).

For additional cycling information in the Twin Cities area please visit the Twin Cities Bicycling Club.

Skyway
No discussion of getting around Minneapolis would be complete without mention of the Skyway. Covering most of an approximate 7x7 block region of central downtown, the Skyway is a series of public pedestrian spaces on the 2nd floor of downtown buildings connected by enclosed bridges between buildings. It is possible to walk through most of downtown and never go outdoors, a real advantage during winter. Additionally, the Skyway allows you to bypass stoplights and quickly move through the city. Beyond the core region, the Skyway reaches about 12 blocks in the north/south direction and 8 blocks east/west. The Skyway is home to multiple restaurants, stores, shops and malls. If visiting downtown Minneapolis during the winter, using a parking deck or staying at a hotel on or very near the Skyway is well worth the investment. Hours vary slightly, but most buildings are open M-F 6:30AM-9PM or 10PM, Sa 9:30AM-8PM, and Su noon-6PM.

See
The museums, natural parks and waterfronts, malls, shopping districts, and dining zones should give you several options no matter what your age.

Museums

 * The major fine art museum in town is the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Whittier, which covers 5,000 years of art and has a particularly strong collection of Asian art. Not too far away is the Walker Art Center near Loring Park, one of the big five modern art museums in the U.S. Another (mostly) contemporary art museum is the Weisman Art Museum on the U of M East Bank campus; it tends to be more known for its Frank Gehry-designed building than any of the art collections inside. The Museum of Russian Art, housed in a former church in Southwest Minneapolis, opened in 2005; its focus is on 20th-century Russian art which means there is also a strong collection of Soviet art.
 * For history buffs, there's the Mill City Museum near the Downtown riverfront, housed in the former Washburn "A" Mill. The museum chronicles the development of the flour milling industry in Minneapolis; the city was the world's leading producer of flour around the turn of the 20th century. Down in Whittier near the MIA is the Hennepin History Museum, a somewhat low-key museum with permanent and rotating exhibits covering the history of Minneapolis and Hennepin County. They also have an archival library (free and open to the public) covering local history.

Theater
Large theaters are clustered in Downtown, the West Bank, and Uptown, with smaller venues dotting the rest of the city. The city has a vibrant theater scene that incorporates all levels of theatrical engagement. The Guthrie Theater is the regional theater for the state of Minnesota, crafting high-quality productions with local talent, as well as bringing in artists from the wider professional theater circuit. Organizations like The Playwrights' Center have made the Twin Cities a nationally-renowned center for new work, while companies like Mixed Blood Theatre Company, Jungle Theater, Penumbra Theatre, and Ten Thousand Things Theater, Theater in the Round,among others, have created a local theater scene with diverse, high-quality offerings.

Lake Street is also home to the Heart of the Beast Puppet theater, which offers family friendly shows Saturday mornings, and a variety of other unique puppet shows through the year. They also host the Mayday Parade the first Sunday in May. If you want to see the community feel of Minneapolis, it's a great event!

Music
The Twin Cities has a great and diverse local music scene- punk, folk, club, jazz, classical, house, reggae, hip-hop, etc. Check out CityPages for listings throughout the cities.

In the summers the Mpls Park and Rec sponsors music in the parks: a variety of local music groups, family friendly.

Do
Minneapolis on the surface seems like a pretty but rather quiet tourist destination. If you properly do your research though, there is plenty to do.

 * As mentioned earlier above, Minneapolis has beautiful lakes and riverfronts that the local residents work hard to keep clean. It is also easy with a car, the proper permits, and necessary equipment to go camping as close as twenty miles east on the St. Croix River, or as far as seven hours north on the Canadian border. And it can be delightfully cheap.
 * Biking. An old freight train railway has been converted into the Midtown Greenway, which cuts through the middle of South Minneapolis beginning on the West Bank and crossing west all the way to the Bde Maka Ska area and meeting up with the, Kenworth Trail which in turn connects with the, Cedar Lake Trail.

Lakes and parks

 * Walk, bike, drive, swim or paddle around the chain of lakes running north to south along the western side of Minneapolis proper. Some are connected by lagoons and creeks which eventually spill into the Mississippi River at the famed Minnehaha Falls, inspiration of Longfellow's "Song of Hiawatha". These are all part of the Minneapolis Grand Rounds, a 40-mile loop around the city begun over a century ago during the nation's first grand movement to toss the "Keep Off the Grass!" signs into the dustbin of history. Each of the Chain of Lakes has a walking path and a one-way biking/skating path. At least one path is kept clear even during snowy winter month, and it is possible to use the paths almost every day of the year.
 * Cedar Lake. Cedar Lake has three public beaches, and is accessible by canoe, rowboat, or kayak by its connecting lagoon to Lake of the Isles and, by extension, Bde Maka Ska. It is also the only one of the Chain of Lakes where private property actually fronts the lake.
 * Lake of the Isles. Lake of the Isles has bird sanctuaries on its (officially off-limits) islands, and a public skating rink, with a warming house, is groomed in the winter months. Check the newspaper; you may get lucky and catch a world-class speed-skating competition here. Its shores also feature some of the best climbing trees in the city, particularly for those who carry a short rope ladder in their pack. Although residents can lease rack space for their rowboats, canoes, or kayaks, there is no public boat rental. Boats rented or launched from Lake Calhoun can access Lake of the Isles via the lagoon which flows under Lake Street. There are also no public swimming beaches.
 * Bde Maka Ska. Bde Maka Ska (formerly 'Lake Calhoun') has several public beaches, including volleyball nets on the South beaches. It also has rowboat and canoe rentals (and lessons) and sailboat lessons. There is an active yacht club that sponsors several races weekly. Also, the surface conditions on Bde Maka Ska make this lake most popular among sailboarders, often well into the Fall. While sails can't pass the low street crossings above the lagoons, paddlers can easily reach Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake. The commissary is an affordable fish restaurant that's well rated by local residents and guides.
 * Lake Harriet. Lake Harriet also has boat rentals. Lake Harriet's features include a bandshell at which numerous local and regional talent perform, and has included the Minnesota Orchestra, among others. It has several public swimming beaches, a marina, and is arguably the most popular and crowded lake among local residents for swimming, boating, walking, biking, and organized family and group celebrations.
 * Lake Nokomis. Lake Nokomis has several beaches. In Minneapolis, a public swimming beach is identified by at least a small stretch of sand, and at least one lifeguard during midday hours. Lake Nokomis qualifies. It also has public boat access for canoes, kayaks and sail boats. Several convenience stores and a grocery store are nearby on Cedar Avenue if you need to make a run for that item you forgot on your picnic.
 * Minnehaha Creek. Minnehaha Creek connects Lake Minnetonka in the far west suburbs with the Mississippi river, running through Lake Nokomis and other small lakes along the way. A short tributary connects it to the southeast corner of Lake Harriet, but it is not navigable directly from any of the lakes..

 * The Chain of Lakes is not a continuous navigable waterway by any means, although the bike and walking paths, and auto parkways, connect parks and waterways from North Minneapolis almost without interruption to the Mississippi River. Minnehaha Creek is a shallow creek that allows canoeing or inflatables' traffic for only a couple months of the year. It terminates into the Mississippi, just after the dramatic Minnehaha Falls, a popular family park destination.
 * Minneapolis features many other parks with recreational, natural, and historical merit in various degrees. Boom Island Park, just North of Nicollet Island and most easily accessible from the Stone Arch Bridge, features nice fishing on side channels and some of the most unique skyline views in the United States, as well as a look at the century-old remains of massive brickworks and water-power tailrace tunnels of the Pillsbury A Mill. The Mill was the last functioning reminder of Minneapolis' boomtown heyday to shut down in 2005.
 * Directly across the river is the Mill Ruins Park and Mill City Museum, next to the St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam—the final lock on the journey up the Mississippi. The Mill Ruins was the site of the Washburn A Mill among others, host of an infamous explosion and fire in the 19th century. And the 20th. And the 20th again. Oh, and there were two more in the 19th. Eventually, the burnt shells were given up on and left standing, and much of the canal and tunnel system which provided water power was covered with earth and paved over to form West River Road. The park features excavations of quite a bit of these early stoneworks from an age when very rich men prided themselves on the quality of even the most mundane, invisible, underground works; as well as the outfall of Basset Creek, buried for the last 1.5 miles of its run beneath downtown.

Sports

 * Minneapolis is home to the Minnesota Twins (Major League Baseball), Minnesota Vikings (National Football League), Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA basketball), and Minnesota Lynx (WNBA basketball). The Twins play at Target Field and the Timberwolves and Lynx at Target Center, both of which are located in Downtown Minneapolis. The Vikings moved into their new U.S. Bank Stadium, also in Downtown Minneapolis and occupying the site of the team's former home of the Metrodome, for the 2016 season.
 * The Twin Cities have an NHL hockey team, the Minnesota Wild, but they play next door in Saint Paul at the Xcel Energy Center. The Lynx played here in 2017 during the latest renovations to Target Center.
 * Minnesota United FC is a professional soccer team that began playing in Major League Soccer in 2017, replacing a team of the same name that played in the second North American Soccer League. The team was to build a new stadium in downtown Minneapolis, but those plans fell through, and Allianz Field was instead built in St. Paul and opened in 2019. The games can be very exciting and the team has a strong group of supporters at each match.
 * The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports teams for the University of Minnesota, and their venues are naturally near the U of M campus in Southeast Minneapolis. The Gophers football team plays at Huntington Bank Stadium, where the Vikings played while U.S. Bank Stadium was being built.

Learn

 * University of Minnesota.
 * Augsburg College.
 * Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
 * Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

Buy
See the Districts articles for more listings.

Shopping Districts

 * Uptown area, centered on Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street, south of Downtown Minneapolis and extending East to the Lake/Lyndale avant-garde theatre district. In this area you'll find all kinds of retailers.
 * Nicollet Mall is a pedestrian mall right in the heart of downtown.

Clothes
Clothing boutiques tend to be clustered near Uptown and Lyn-Lake. There are also boutiques in the 50th and France area.

Bookstores
The Twin Cities are a hotbed of independent presses and bookstores. Specialty and used bookstores can be found scattered across the city.

Record stores
Southwest is home to the bulk of record stores in Minneapolis, including the Electric Fetus, Roadrunner Records, Extreme Noise Records (specializing in punk), and Cheapo. South is home to Hymie's Vintage Records.

Groceries and other basics
The major supermarket chains in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area are Cub Foods, Hy-Vee, Lund's and Byerly's, Kowalski's, Aldi, Whole Foods Market, and Trader Joe's. The discount store chain Target also has a store in Minneapolis. The Walgreens drug store chain is ubiquitous throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, and its suburbs with many locations open 24 hours a day.

Minneapolis and St. Paul have a large variety of ethnic grocery stores catering to the sizable Mexican, Somali, and Hmong community. These tend to be found along Lake Street in Minneapolis and along University Avenue in St. Paul.

Eat
See the Districts articles for more listings.
 * Don't miss Nicollet Avenue's Eat Street for a variety of ethnic fare; it is particularly heavy on Southeast Asian options. Options include Quang and Jasmine Deli for Vietnamese and the Black Forest Inn for German cuisine. The Vietnamese restaurants are incredibly cheap ($5-10 per person) and have received consistently exuberant reviews since their openings.
 * The Dinkytown and Stadium Village areas near the University of Minnesota have great offerings mostly catering to the collegiate crowd. Plenty of Americanized Chinese and cheap burgers-and-fries joints.
 * Midtown is home to the Midtown Global Market, operating on the first floor of what used to be a large Sears store. It is now home to a variety of cafes and restaurants from all around the world. Favorites like Holy Land Deli and Bakery, Andy's Garage, and several restaurants from around the city have opened satellite locations here. Mercado Central is another indoor market featuring several Mexican eateries. Outside of the markets, plenty of Mexican and other Latin restaurants dot the Lake Street strip.
 * Northeast contains a wide variety of establishments. Old Saint Anthony is home to decades-old Eastern European mainstays like Kramarczuk's Deli. Closer to Central and Lowry you can find well-regarded Middle Eastern eateries like Holy Land and Crescent Moon and Mexican restaurants such as Taco Riendo and Adelita's.

Food trucks have also become very popular throughout the twin cities. On weekends during the summers (approx. May- Oct) they can be found at the variety of neighborhood farmer's markets, including Midtown, Kingsfield, Linden Hills, and Northeast.

Local dishes
Traditional foods associated with Minnesota, including hotdish (casserole) and lutefisk (a Norwegian fish delicacy) are rarely found in restaurants. However, one uniquely Minneapolitan item that can be easily located is the Juicy Lucy (sometimes spelled Jucy Lucy), a cheeseburger variation in which the cheese is cooked inside two molded-together meat patties rather than on top. The cheese inside the burger is gooey and piping hot. While the origin, and spelling, of the Juicy Lucy is disputed, popular places to order a Juicy Lucy include Matt's Bar and the 5-8 Club in South Minneapolis, and a short distance across the river in Saint Paul at the Nook, among others.

Drink
See the Districts articles for more listings.

Music
Minneapolis has one of the most vibrant and independent music scenes in the country. The city is probably most famous for its purple pop wonder, Prince, but also has bands such as Soul Asylum, The Replacements, The Jayhawks, Atmosphere and Hüsker Dü. Several clubs in town play host to shows by local bands and your chances of finding a good one are better than average.

 * Downtown is home to the internationally renowned First Avenue. First Avenue is famous as setting for the film Purple Rain and for the silver stars that cover the outside of the building. The venue is split into three: the Mainroom which hosts national and international touring bands (usually of the punk, indie, and hip-hop variety), the smaller 7th Street Entry which hosts local and less-known touring bands, and the Record Room a small dance lounge primarily used for DJ's and smaller dance nights. Also in the area are the Fine Line Music Cafe, the Dakota Jazz Club, Grumpy's, Lee's Liquor Lounge, and Bunkers.
 * The West Bank contains the Cabooze, a biker bar featuring mostly classic rock-type music. Other venues include the Nomad, the Red Sea, and in the nearby Seward neighborhood, the Hexagon Bar.
 * Northeast has some venues scattered around like the Terminal Bar and the 331 Club. In nearby Dinkytown, don't miss the elegantly decorated Varsity Theater and college band favorite, the Kitty Cat Klub.

Alcohol
The nightlife in general can be vibrant in several areas. The Warehouse District is great for clubbers, Dinkytown is good for college party-goers, Uptown is good for those with a bit more money, and Northeast is great for dive bar aficionados. Minneapolis is not the 24-hour city that New York is, but bars close at 2 AM so that is still plenty of time, especially if you find a party to go to afterwards.

Minneapolis certainly accommodates those seeking a good drink, a tendency which certainly complements the alcohol culture endemic to the Upper Midwest. There are over a dozen Irish, German, or British pubs, such as The Local, Black Forest Inn, Brit's Pub, Gastoff's, O'Donovan's or Kieran's. Local dining, clubs, pubs, and bars tend to compete for the best Happy Hour specials. It's a good idea to do an internet search to find the best deals.

Coffee and tea
The Scandinavian and north African influence can be seen quite clearly in the ubiquitous access to coffee shops in Minneapolis. This is a place where important things are discussed over a cup of coffee. Caribou is a locally-based national chain that actually outnumbers Starbucks in Minnesota and has a similar feel and quality in the drinks, except the shots are 1.5 oz compared to Starbucks 1.0 ounce, and they usually offer free WiFi. Dunn Brothers is also locally-based and is third in chains for a number of locations, and their coffee is fresh-ground daily in the shop but somewhat stronger than most places in town. Their fantastic brewed coffee is a little more impressive than the espresso, but their shots are at least a mighty 3.0 oz. Dunn Brothers also excels at offering free WiFi access and (often) free Internet terminals. If you're looking for something a little less corporate, you can rest assured that there will be a coffee shop nearby in most parts of town, as Minneapolis' independent spirit has yielded good cups of coffee in so many places that one can hardly throw a rock without it landing in a latte. The number of independent coffee shops per block reaches critical mass near Uptown and Lyn-Lake and around the University of Minnesota neighborhoods. The density of coffee shops isn't quite as great in South and Northeast Minneapolis, but there will still be enough options to keep you satisfied. Comparatively speaking, North Minneapolis is somewhat of a coffee desert, but there will still be a couple of options to which locals are fiercely loyal. There is also a growing specialty coffee shop movement in Minneapolis if you're willing to pay an extra dollar (or three) for a better cup.

Sleep
See the Districts articles for more listings.

There is a good variety of hotels. Downtown hosts many independent and international hotel chains from the mid-range to the high-end. The University of Minnesota campus, not too far from downtown, has many mid-range options. South Minneapolis has limited options but they are also close to downtown. Travelers getting by without a car will want to avoid staying in a hotel outside the city.

Smoking
Smoking is prohibited by Minnesota state law at all restaurants, bars, nightclubs, workplaces, and public buildings. Violating the ban can result in a misdemeanor charge and a $300 fine.

Stay safe
Dial 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.

As with any major American city, keep your eyes open and your wits about you. Crime is relatively low in most parts of Minneapolis that you're likely to visit, but is not unknown.

Be wary of the Near North, Camden, and Phillips communities, particularly at night. Violent crimes have occurred in all parts of the city.

As in all other cities, these crimes receive a disproportionate amount of attention from local media. These tragic events are typically not random so they will probably not impact your visit. You are more likely to be a victim of crimes of opportunity.

When traveling, do not leave any items that can be quickly converted to cash in plain view in cars or unattended at restaurants and other public areas. These crimes can and do occur in all areas.

When you take in the great park system or travel to the unique urban shopping destinations ensure that all valuables remain with you or are secured out-of-view in your vehicle.

Also if you are going to secure your valuables in a vehicle, make sure you store them prior to arriving at your destination.

Telephones
Minneapolis, along with the airport, the suburbs of Richfield and St. Anthony, and the entire University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus is in the 612 area code. From 612, it is not necessary to dial a 1 before the area code when calling numbers in the 651 (Saint Paul and east suburbs), 763 (northwest suburbs), or 952 (southwest suburbs) area codes.

Internet
Internet cafes are nonexistent in Minneapolis. Many coffee shops offer free wifi, but very few will have computer terminals.

The Hennepin County Library has computer workstations with internet access at all of their locations. Access to a computer is on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations can only be made in person. Out-of-town visitors will need to obtain a temporary internet pass from a librarian. The library also offers unlimited wireless internet access (no pass needed). See district articles for specific locations.

The city of Minneapolis maintains a number of free wifi hotspots throughout the city.

Publications

 * Star Tribune. Minneapolis' daily newspaper. $1 daily, $2 Sunday.
 * Pioneer Press. Daily newspaper based across the river in Saint Paul, but still available in Minneapolis and around the Twin Cities. $0.50 daily, $1 Sunday.
 * Lavender. Free biweekly LGBT magazine.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇪🇨 Ecuador
 * 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Go next
There are several day or overnight destinations near the city.

In the Twin Cities metro

 * Mall of America in nearby Bloomington. Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing.
 * Valleyfair is an amusement park that's within an hour's drive in nearby Shakopee.
 * Minnesota Zoo is in nearby Apple Valley.
 * Stillwater is a beautiful, historic town about an hour away.
 * Chaska is home to the Minnesota Arboretum. There are events and nature explorations year round. The third Monday of the month is free. Other days admission is $15 for anyone over the age of 15. Free for ages 15 and under.

Greater Minnesota

 * Lutsen has what may be the best skiing in the state (or a few states, given the otherwise flat geography) with cheap ski/stay packages. At 5 hours from Minneapolis, this is not exactly a day trip but worth the drive if you are a gravity addict!
 * Lake Mille Lacs offers good fishing, boat rentals and fishing guides.
 * New Ulm is famous for its German beer, German festivals, and amateur baseball tradition.
 * Pine City is north, nice and close, just an hour's drive from downtown. It's a great glimpse of small-town Minnesota life.
 * State Parks. The state has many well-kept state parks for those who like to camp and fish.
 * Duluth, the gateway to the North Shore, is 155 miles north on I-35, and is great for an overnight trip.

title: Minneapolis


text:
Minneapolis (Kansas)

Minneapolis is a city in Central Kansas.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Minneapolis (Kansas)


text:
Minneapolis/Downtown

Downtown is the central business district of Minneapolis. It is sprinkled with architecturally interesting skyscrapers, most of which are interconnected, mainly on the second level above the street level, by a growing web of skyways, now approaching eight miles in total length. Nicollet Mall is the main semi-pedestrianized shopping street in downtown Minneapolis. The central business district, officially known as Downtown West, but commonly called Downtown, is surrounded by the other downtown communities: Downtown East, Elliot Park, Loring Park, and the North Loop neighborhoods.

By METRO Light Rail
The Blue Line and Green Line run on 5th Street through Downtown Minneapolis. The Blue Line links to South Minneapolis, the airport, and the Mall of America in Bloomington, while the Green Line links to the University of Minnesota and Saint Paul. The METRO is probably the easiest way to get into Downtown if you are coming from any of those areas.

By commuter rail
The Northstar Line runs from the northwest suburbs and terminates in Downtown Minneapolis at Target Field Station, which is also a transfer point to the light rail. However, service hours are limited and geared more towards weekday commuters than average visitors. Trains mostly run inbound during weekday mornings and outbound during weekday afternoons. There is also some limited service on weekends and special service timed around Twins and Vikings games.

By bus
Numerous buses serve Downtown Minneapolis, far too many to name individually. Local buses from Southwest or Northeast Minneapolis generally run along Hennepin Avenue or Nicollet Mall (a pedestrian/transit mall). Buses from the University of Minnesota and Saint Paul mostly run along 4th Street. Buses from North and South Minneapolis are less predictable, and may run along 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th Streets depending on the route and the direction it is traveling in.

By car

 * Interstate 35W from the south suburbs or the northeast suburbs.
 * Interstate 94 from Saint Paul and the east suburbs or the northwest suburbs.
 * Interstate 394 from the west suburbs. I-394 directly connects to some parking garages along the western edge of downtown.
 * Hiawatha Avenue (Minnesota State Highway 55) from the airport and the southeast suburbs.

Get around
Although most of the city's grid is along a strict north-south/east-west layout, the area near downtown on both sides of the river lies at an angle to the rest of the city's grid to better align with the river. Here streets run parallel to the river, and avenues run perpendicular (except for Washington Avenue, which parallels the river). Downtown contains mostly numbered streets and avenues, although a few important ones are named. Most of Downtown is within South Minneapolis, although the Warehouse District extends into North Minneapolis. This is the only part of town, other than the West Bank, where you will encounter streets as well avenues designated "South". The intersection of S 2nd Ave and S 5th St is many blocks from the intersection of S 2nd St and S 5th Ave!

Much of downtown uses a series of Skyways to connect downtown shops and businesses. Navigating the skyway system can be confusing since one often has to take a curcuitous route to reach their destination. However, it's often a welcome alternative to walking outside in Minneapolis' harsh winter cold. For example, one could walk from the Convention Center in Minneapolis to Washington Avenue (a block before the Mississippi) without going outside, and without stopping at a pedestrian traffic light.

If you get tired of walking, Metro Transit buses are only $0.50 per ride within the Downtown Zone; keep in mind that no transfers are issued when paying the downtown fare. You can also ride a light-rail train between Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium stations for this same fare. In addition, certain buses on the Nicollet Mall are marked "Free Ride"; specifically, they are the northbound Route 18 and southbound Route 10 buses. You can board these buses without paying a fare.

Buy
The Skyways boast an excellent variety of retailers, and one can find almost anything, though the distances between stores can be very inconvenient. That said, it's like a mall for the agoraphobic or claustrophobic. The best times to find what you want are between 10AM and 2PM, as many excellent food shops are opened just to handle lunch hour.

Nicollet Mall
Nicollet Mall is not an enclosed shopping mall but rather the downtown portion of Nicollet Avenue, one of the major streets in Minneapolis, running more or less north-south. The Mall is a two-lane busway with wide sidewalks that stretches from Washington Avenue to Grant Street, about one mile, and private automobiles are prohibited from it, except for the southernmost block between Rainville Place and Grant Street. Retail is heaviest on the wavy portion of Nicollet Mall, between 5th and 10th Streets. Many national chains such as Target call Nicollet Mall home. The Skyways cross Nicollet Mall in only three places and integrate the indoor malls with Nicollet. Buses running frequently through the Nicollet Mall, the Light Rail running along 5th Street, and numerous parking decks connected to the Skyways combine to provide good access to downtown.

Drink
Hennepin Avenue is probably the single best-known street for drinking and clubbing in Minneapolis. The street is lined with late-night bars, dance clubs, and music venues. Similairly 1st Avenue which is the next street directly west of Hennepin Avenue, is also lined with late night destinations. There is also a good cluster of bars and nightclubs in the Warehouse District, which is just north-west of Hennepin Avenue and very much within walking distance.

Connect

title: Minneapolis/Downtown


text:
Minneapolis/North

North Minneapolis is a district of Minneapolis bounded to the east by the Mississippi and I-94, and stretching 5 km west through Victory Memorial Drive. It takes in Camden, Bryn Mawr and Theodore Wirth Park.

Get in
Interstate 94 goes north-south along the eastern edge of the district, and Minnesota State Highway 100 along the western edge. There are many major streets leading into North Minnepolis from these two as well as from downtown.

MetroTransit operates buses in the north-south direction (connecting to downtown) along Thomas Avenue, Penn Avenue, Fremont Avenue and Lyndale Avenue. In the east-west direction there are bus services along Lowry Avenue and 44th Avenue among others.

Get around
North of downtown, the same alphabetic north-south avenue names are used west of Lyndale as South Minneapolis. Here the east-west numbered cross streets are also called avenues, however, and ascend numerically as you go north from downtown. Intersections in North Minneapolis are thus of the form N 42nd Ave & N Penn Ave. A few numbered streets from downtown also extend northward into North Minneapolis between Lyndale Ave and the Mississippi River.

Sleep
There are no lodging options to speak of in North Minneapolis. Your best bet is to stay Downtown.

Go next

 * Keep heading south along the trails of Theodore Wirth Park and you'll eventually hit the Chain of Lakes.

title: Minneapolis/North


text:
Minneapolis/Northeast

Northeast Minneapolis is a district in Minneapolis.

Understand
Once a working-class, largely Eastern European neighborhood, the "Nordeast" has had an influx of young professionals and artists. This demographic swing, combined with neighborhood revitalization efforts, have resulted in a resurgence of commercial space and a thriving artistic community. Northeast Minneapolis, with its plethora of neighborhood bars and eating establishments, is becoming a nightlife hotspot for those wishing to avoid the cost and clientele of Downtown and Uptown drinking.

While Northeast is larger than you might think, a kind of 'downtown' Northeast has formed in the Old St. Anthony area (which occupies about equal areas of Northeast and of Southeast) and continues to develop around the triangle of Hennepin Ave, University Ave, and Central Ave. This area houses a thriving commercial district with new and developing urban residential buildings.

Along the river on the Northeast side is St. Anthony Main, signed in neon as such and visible from the Hennepin Ave bridge. St. Anthony Main houses several good restaurants, bars, a movie theater, and businesses. It can be quite lively on warm summer nights, and often deserted during winter.

The city has designated the area bounded by Lowry Avenue, Central Avenue and Broadway as the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. It includes most of the major studio buildings which are open during Art-a-Whirl every May: The Northrup-King Building near Central Avenue and 14th Avenue NE, the California Building south of Lowry at 23rd and California, the Thorp Building just north of the railroad tracks 1t 1620 Central Avenue, and the Grain Belt complex on the Mississippi River at Marshall Street and Broadway. There is also a small, arts-heavy commercial district on 13th Avenue NE between 2nd Street NE and 4th Street NE, including several prominent galleries, the Ritz Theater (the home of Ballet of the Dolls), and bars and restaurants including the Modern Cafe and Erté.

From Old St Anthony, keep heading up Central Avenue. At first you will pass through a bleak industrial area, but afterwards you will find a thriving commercial strip along Central stretching from 18th Avenue onwards. A hub of Indian groceries and stores is around 19th Avenue, and another hub of Middle Eastern and Latin American restaurants and stores has emerged around Lowry Avenue and Central Avenue. Once you pass 27th Avenue, the activity drops off and the street turns mostly residential on the east side and with the Shoreham rail yards and Columbia Park (largely occupied by a golf course) on the west side. Commerce picks up again just north of the city limits of Columbia Heights at 37th Avenue.

Get in
From downtown Minneapolis, head north east across the Hennepin Ave bridge or the 3rd Ave bridge. The triangle formed by Hennepin Ave, Central Ave, and University Ave places you squarely in 'downtown' Northeast.

Northeast can be accessed from the freeway system via I-35W.

By car
Similarly to North Minneapolis, numbered avenues run east-west. Due to the geometry of the river, these numbers are lower than the numbers of the North Minneapolis avenues opposite them. This only comes into play when you are crossing one of the bridges. Plymouth Ave is equivalent to N 13th Ave, but becomes NE 8th Ave. Lowry Ave is equivalent to N 32nd Ave, but becomes the equivalent of NE 25th Ave east of the river. N 42nd Ave crosses the Camden Bridge to become NE 37th Ave. Except for a few numbered streets near the river and a few "half-blocks", the north-south running roads are called streets and are named after U.S. presidents in chronological order heading east.

The above rules break down in the area closest to downtown. The street grid turns from the strict compass-points grid to line up with the river, and a grid with both numbered streets (parallel to University Ave) and avenues (parallel to Hennepin Ave) holds sway. In the transition zone between the two grids, a brief mini-grid uses the names of the seasons.

Finally, streets in the industrial area on the eastern side of the area are more randomly named

By bus

 * Route 4 goes up Johnson Street (every 30 all week except 10-15 minutes weekday rush)
 * Route 10 provides frequent (M-F every 10 minutes, 15 on Saturday, and 20 on Sunday. Service also operates only every 30 minutes after 7PM) north-south service along Central Avenue.
 * Route 11 goes through the heart of the Arts District on 2nd Street (service every 15 minutes M-F 6AM-7PM and Sa 9AM-6PM, every 30 minutes at all other times).
 * Route 17 zig-zags along Monroe Street and Washington Street, ending up at Washington and 27th Ave (service every 30 minutes from 5AM-1AM everyday).
 * Route 30 runs east-west along Broadway Street, M-F only.
 * Route 32 runs east-west along Lowry Avenue; frequencies are only every 30-60 on middays and every 30 during rush hour. 32 service operates M-Sa from 7AM-7PM.

Buy

13th Avenue galleries include Bob Sorg Gallery half a block east of 2nd St, and Rogue Buddha Gallery, half a block east of University Ave on 13th Ave.

Other notable Arts District shopping includes Icebox Gallery in the Northup King Building at 1500 Jackson St and Clay Squared to Infinity in the Keg House Building of the Grain Belt complex, on 13th Ave at the Mississippi River (just north of Broadway).

Connect
For coffee shops with internet access, see coffee listings.

title: Minneapolis/Northeast


text:
Minneapolis/South

South Minneapolis is a district in Minneapolis.

Understand
South Minneapolis has several interesting neighborhoods. Midtown on Lake Street between Interstate 35W and Hiawatha Avenue is home to many Latino businesses. The Seward and West Bank neighborhoods also has several interesting bars, shops and restaurants. The corner of 48th and Chicago Avenue has several restaurants, an independent movie theater, and other shops.

Get in
Streets run east/west and generally have numbers that increase as you go further south. Nicollet Avenue in Southwest Minneapolis divides the streets. Append the direction at the end of streets such as E 27th Street to indicate east of Nicollet. Avenues are numbered from Nicollet Avenue (18, 19, ... 32) continuing east to the Mississippi River, where you reach Saint Paul. The first part of addresses on the avenues are based on the nearest cross street. For example, 4000 28th Avenue South is at the corner of 28th Avenue and 40th Street.

By car

 * Interstate 35W runs along the western and northern edges of the district, separating it from Southwest and Downtown.
 * Interstate 94 runs to the north of the district, running alongside Interstate 35W part of the way. Further east, it separates the West Bank and Seward neighborhoods.
 * Minnesota State Highway 55 (Hiawatha Avenue) runs through the district in a roughly northwest-southeast fashion. It connects the district with Downtown to the north and the airport and Fort Snelling to the south.

By METRO light rail
The Blue Line runs through South Minneapolis mostly along Hiawatha Avenue as it travels between Downtown Minneapolis, the airport, and the Mall of America. The Green Line runs between the downtowns of Minneapolis and Saint Paul and has a stop on the West Bank.

By bus

 * Route 2 begins at Franklin and Hennepin in the Wedge and travels along Franklin Avenue to 26th Avenue through the Phillips and Seward neighborhoods (connecting with the METRO Blue Line at Franklin and Hiawatha), then travels along Riverside Avenue through the West Bank to Cedar Avenue, finally turning on to the Washington Avenue Bridge to head to the U of M East Bank.
 * Route 3 has a couple stops on the West Bank, one near 3rd and Cedar and another in the trench leading to the Washington Avenue Bridge. This route starts in Downtown Minneapolis and continues towards the East Bank and Saint Paul.
 * Route 5 is a fairly frequent route running along Chicago Avenue through South Minneapolis, passing by the Midtown Exchange (Chicago-Lake Transit Center) along the way. The route begins in Brooklyn Center, runs through North Minneapolis and Downtown, and south of 60th Street shifts over to Portland Avenue and continues through Richfield and Bloomington, terminating at the Mall of America.
 * Route 7 starts near Theodore Wirth Park in North Minneapolis and continues through Downtown. On the West Bank it passes through Seven Corners and then runs most the length of Riverside Avenue, continuing along 27th Avenue in Seward. At Lake Street in Longfellow it shifts over to Minnehaha Avenue and continues until 46th Street, connects with the METRO Blue Line at 46th and Hiawatha, and travels down 34th Avenue in the Nokomis area until its terminus near Highway 62.
 * Route 9 starts in the west suburbs and runs through North Minneapolis and Downtown. It runs along Franklin Avenue through the Phillips neighborhood, connects with the METRO Blue Line at Franklin and Hiawatha. In Seward it runs down Minnehaha Avenue for three blocks, then along 25th Street to 36th Avenue, running down 36th Avenue through Longfellow until it reaches 34th Street. At 34th Street it runs east to 42nd Avenue, then south along 42nd Avenue to 42nd Street, then shifting back to Minnehaha Avenue which it runs down until 46th Street, finally terminating at the METRO Blue Line station at 46th and Hiawatha.
 * Route 11 begins in Columbia Heights and runs through Northeast Minneapolis, Downtown, and the Whittier neighborhood. In south Minneapolis it serves the western edge of the Phillips, Powderhorn, and Nokomis areas, running along 4th Avenue from 28th Street down to 46th Street, then terminating at 46th and Nicollet.
 * Route 14 comes from Robbinsdale and Golden Valley and runs through North Minneapolis and Downtown. In South Minneapolis it runs along Bloomington Avenue (through the Phillips, Powderhorn, and Nokomis areas), eventually terminating in Richfield near 66th and Cedar.
 * Route 21 is a frequent-running (and frequently overcrowded) bus route running along Lake Street through South Minneapolis, passing through the heart of Midtown and connecting with the METRO Blue Line at Lake and Hiawatha. The route begins in Uptown and continues all the way to downtown Saint Paul via Marshall and Selby Avenues.
 * Route 22 comes from Brooklyn Center and runs through North Minneapolis and Downtown. On the West Bank it passes through Seven Corners and then runs down Cedar Avenue through the Phillips and Powderhorn areas until 35th Street. The bus then runs east on 35th Street, south on 23rd Avenue, and east on 38th Street to meet up with the METRO Blue Line at 38th and Hiawatha. The bus then continues south on 28th Avenue through the Nokomis area until 58th Street, then meanders eastward to its terminus at the VA Medical Center, where it meets up with the Blue Line once again.
 * Route 23 begins in Uptown and runs along the length of 38th Street through South Minneapolis, connecting with the METRO Blue Line at 38th and Hiawatha. Half the buses terminate at the Veterans Home in Minnehaha Park and the other half terminate in Saint Paul's Highland Park neighborhood.
 * Route 46 runs mostly along 46th Street through South Minneapolis, briefly jogging over to 42nd Street between Cedar and 34th Avenues to avoid Lake Hiawatha, and connects with the METRO Blue Line at 46th and Hiawatha. The route begins in Edina, runs through Southwest Minneapolis, and continues all the way to the Highland Park neighborhood in Saint Paul.
 * Route 67 begins at the Franklin Avenue METRO Blue Line station and runs east along Franklin Avenue through the Seward neighborhood before continuing on to Prospect Park and Saint Paul.

By bicycle
The Midtown Greenway is a paved, off road bike path that runs east/west through South Minneapolis (paralleling 28th Street) connecting the Mississippi River trails to Highway 169 in Hopkins, passing Lake Calhoun along the way. The Greenway intersects with the river trails at its easternmost point, the Hiawatha LRT trail (to downtown) at Hiawatha Avenue, and bicycle lanes at Park Avenue and Portland Avenue. The trail continues into Southwest Minneapolis, intersecting the Chain of Lakes paths via connector at Lake Calhoun, and the Cedar Lake Bikeway as well as the SW LRT Trail in Hopkins.

Bike racks are provided on the front of all city buses and inside light rail cars. The greenway and river bike paths are plowed in winter allowing year round use.

Minnehaha Park
Nestled in the far southeastern corner of the city, Minnehaha Park is popular with city residents for picnics, weddings, and other festivities. It is the point where the Minnehaha Creek empties into the Mississippi River. The upper portion (above the Minnehaha Falls) is trimmed and well-maintained, while the portion below the falls is largely left in a natural state.

Go next

 * While Midtown now has the largest concentration of Mexican businesses in the Twin Cities, the oldest Mexican neighborhood in the area is on the West Side of Saint Paul, where the community dates back to the 1930s.

title: Minneapolis/South


text:
Minneapolis/Southeast

Southeast Minneapolis is a district in Minneapolis. Although it isn't in the southeastern quadrant of Minneapolis, it is called "Southeast" because it is east of the Mississippi River and south of East Hennepin Avenue, which divides streets into Southeast and Northeast. It is home to the University of Minnesota's East Bank campus, the largest portion of the U of M's Minneapolis campus.

Get in
Almost all streets and avenues in SE Minneapolis are numbered, except for a few named on or around the University of Minnesota campus. Most of this area follows the same river-aligned grid as downtown. Like downtown, streets parallel the river and avenues are perpendicular to it; the only exception is University Avenue, which in Southeast is the equivalent of "3rd St SE". The famous Dinkytown area is a good place for hanging out at a coffee shop. It's located nearby 14th Ave and 4th St SE. The Prospect Park neighborhood is also part of Southeast Minneapolis, but it has an entirely different street grid, with winding streets with English names, such as Seymour, Warwick, and Arthur.

By car
If driving along Interstate 35W, take the exit marked "University Ave SE/4th St SE" and turn on University Avenue (a one-way street). Most of Dinkytown is between 13th and 15th Avenues; turn on one of these streets as most of the action is not along University Avenue, but along 4th Street SE (one block to the left; it's a one-way in the opposite direction) and the cross-streets mentioned above (especially 14th Avenue SE). If you are going to Stadium Village, continue driving down University Avenue past Dinkytown until you get to Oak St SE, then turn right.

If driving along Interstate 94, take the exit marked "Huron Blvd"; there will only be one direction to head in: north. If heading to Stadium Village, turn left on Washington Ave SE. If heading to Dinkytown, keep driving along Huron Blvd, which runs directly into 4th St SE. Continue along 4th St SE until you get to Dinkytown. You can also take the MN-280 exit off I-94 and either go west on University, which will turn into 4th St, or go west on Kasota which will turn into Rollins, make a left on 15th Ave straight into Dinkytown.

In addition to the freeways, car access to Southeast from the other side of the river is available via the Hennepin Avenue, Third Avenue (connects 3rd Ave S on the west side with Central Avenue on the east side), 10th Avenue (connects 19th Ave S on the west side with 10th Ave SE on the east side), Washington Avenue, and Franklin Avenue bridges.

The stretch of Washington Avenue between the Mississippi River and Oak Street has been converted to a pedestrian/transit mall and is inaccessible to cars.

By Metro light rail
The Metro Green Line cuts through the University of Minnesota campus along Washington Avenue as it runs between the downtowns of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The relevant stations are East Bank (on Washington Avenue between Union and Harvard Streets, and the most convenient stop for the U of M East Bank campus), Stadium Village (on 23rd Avenue between University Avenue and 4th Street, next to TCF Bank Stadium), Prospect Park (on 29th Avenue between University Avenue and 4th Street), and Westgate (on University Avenue at Berry Street in Saint Paul right at the Minneapolis border).

By bus

 * Route 2 comes from Franklin and Hennepin and runs down Franklin Avenue through South Minneapolis and Riverside Avenue through the West Bank. The bus zig-zags its way through Southeast Minneapolis, running on Washington Avenue through the middle of campus until Oak Street (in the middle of Stadium Village), then turns north toward 4th Street, which it runs on through Dinkytown (in the opposite direction, the bus runs on University Avenue). At 10th Avenue the bus jogs over to 8th Street where it runs northwest to its terminus at 6th Street and East Hennepin Avenue in Old St. Anthony.
 * Route 3 comes from Downtown and the West Bank and runs on 15th Avenue through Dinkytown, then Como Avenue through the Como neighborhood. The bus continues into Saint Paul, going past the State Fairgrounds and Como Park before terminating in Downtown St. Paul.
 * Route 6 comes from Southwest Minneapolis, Downtown, and Old St. Anthony. In Southeast, University-bound buses run on University Avenue while Downtown-bound buses run on 4th Street, through Dinkytown, until Oak Street at which point they run on University in both directions. The bus runs past the Stadium Village Metro Green Line station and terminates at 27th and University.
 * Route 67 comes from the Franklin Avenue Metro Blue Line station in Seward and runs along Franklin Avenue through Prospect Park. The bus continues into Saint Paul, running mostly along Minnehaha Avenue before terminating in Downtown Saint Paul.

There are also many limited-stop buses linking the U of M with various spots around the Twin Cities, but service is limited.

See
The best part of Southeast Minneapolis is the Mississippi River. Walk across the Stone Arch Bridge and see St. Anthony Falls (now manmade) and the lock and dam. Maybe you'll get to see a boat go through. The Southeast side of the river also features restaurants with great views of the downtown skyline, and if you turn north on East Hennepin, you'll find a wonderful collection of restaurants and shops.

Dinkytown
Around 14th Ave and University Ave SE.

Stadium Village
Located closer to Oak St and Washington Ave SE.

Connect
There is free wifi available to the general public on the University of Minnesota campus. Look for the network UofM-Guest.

title: Minneapolis/Southeast


text:
Minneapolis/Southwest

Southwest Minneapolis is a district in Minneapolis. It includes Uptown, Lyn-Lake, the Wedge, Eat Street, Linden Hills, the popular Chain of Lakes, and other areas. Part of the 50th and France commercial district bleeds into the Fulton neighborhood, but most of it lies in Edina.

Get in
Streets run east/west and generally have numbers that increase as you go further south. Nicollet Avenue divides the streets. Append the direction at the end of streets such as W 27th Street to indicate west of Nicollet. Avenues run alphabetically west from Lyndale (Aldrich, Bryant, Colfax) far into the suburban surrounding communities. When the alphabet reaches Z, it starts again at A. Avenues are named in no particular order in a small half-mile band between Lyndale and Nicollet, then numbered east from Nicollet Avenue heading towards South Minneapolis, where the numbered avenues continue until you reach Saint Paul. The first part of addresses on the avenues are based on the nearest cross street. For example, 4000 France Avenue South is at the corner of France Avenue and 40th Street.

By public transit

 * Route 2 begins at Hennepin and Franklin and travels east along Franklin Avenue through the Wedge and Whittier neighborhoods before continuing on to Phillips, Seward, the West Bank, and the University of Minnesota.
 * Route 4 travels along Lyndale Avenue from downtown to 50th Street (passing through Lyn-Lake). At this point, the route splits into two branches, with one continuing on Lyndale Avenue and the other turning on 50th Street, where it goes west to Penn Avenue, and then goes south from there.
 * Route 6 travels along Hennepin Avenue from downtown to its end at 36th Street (passing though Uptown), turns west, and skirts the southeastern edge of Bde Maka Ska. The route splits in two at 39th Street and Sheridan Avenue; one continues west on 39th Street to France Avenue, then travels south from there (passing through the 50th & France commercial district), and the other travels south on Sheridan Avenue, which merges onto Upton Avenue (passing though the Linden Hills commercial district), turns west on 44th Street, and then continues south on Xerxes Avenue.
 * Route 11 begins in Columbia Heights and runs through Northeast Minneapolis and Downtown. In the Whittier neighborhood it runs along 3rd Avenue, passing by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Hennepin History Museum, and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. At 28th Street it jogs over to 4th Avenue in Phillips and continues through western Powderhorn and Nokomis before terminating in the Kingfield neighborhood at 46th Street and Nicollet Avenue.
 * Route 12 enters Minneapolis along Excelsior Boulevard, which soon ends and merges onto Lake Street. The route continues until its end at the Uptown Transit Station; during rush hours it will continue travelling along Hennepin Avenue into downtown.
 * Route 17 travels along Nicollet Avenue from downtown to 24th Street, turns west, then turns south on Hennepin Avenue. Past the Uptown Transit Station, it will turn west on Lagoon Avenue, which then merges onto Lake Street, and continue from there into the west suburbs.
 * Route 18 travels along Nicollet Avenue through the entirety of Southwest Minneapolis, passing through Eat Street along the way.
 * Route 21 travels along Lake Street from neighborhoods to the east until its end at Uptown Transit Station, passing through Lyn-Lake along the way.
 * Route 23 travels along 38th Street to Bryant Avenue, jogs two blocks north to 36th Street, then travels west to Hennepin Avenue, continuing north from there until its end at the Uptown Transit Station
 * Route 46 travels along 46th Street to 34th Avenue, jogs four blocks north to 42nd Street, then travels west to Cedar Avenue, jogs four blocks south to 46th Street, continuing west from there until either Nicollet Avenue or Bryant Avenue, jogs four blocks south to 50th Street and continues from there into the west suburbs.
 * Route 53 is a limited stop route travelling on Lake Street alongside the 21 (see above); stops are located at Uptown Transit Center, Lake & Girard, Lake & Lyndale, Lake & Nicollet, and Lake & 1st. This service only operates during rush hours, eastbound in the morning and westbound in the afternoon and evening.

By bike

 * Midtown Greenway is a bike path (grade-separated east of Hennepin) that runs east-west one block north of Lake Street. It continues east into South Minneapolis, and the west end of the Greenway links to the Southwest LRT Trail that heads to St. Louis Park, Hopkins, and beyond.
 * Kenilworth Trail runs roughly north-south between Cedar Lake and Lake of the Isles. It acts as a connector between the Cedar Lake Trail to the north (a commuter trail running between Downtown and the west suburbs) and the Midtown Greenway/Southwest LRT Trail to the south.

By car

 * Interstate 35W is along the eastern edge of the district, with exits at Lake Street/31st Street (northbound exit/southbound entrance only), 35th Street/36th Street, 46th Street, Diamond Lake Road, and 60th Street. For northbound travellers, the 31st/Lake exit will be useful for getting to Lyn-Lake and Uptown areas, just travel westbound on either street. Southbound I-35W travellers wanting to get to those two areas should exit onto westbound I-94 (see below).
 * Interstate 94 is to the northeast of the district. The Lyndale Avenue/Hennepin Avenue exit is useful for getting into the area. Follow Lyndale southbound to get to Lyn-Lake or Hennepin southbound to get to Uptown.
 * Interstate 394 is along the northern edge of the district.

Film
Head to Uptown for some independent film:

Sleep
There aren't many lodging options in Southwest Minneapolis, but the Downtown hotels aren't too far from the Uptown, Lyn-Lake, and Eat Street areas.

Go next

 * Much of the artist community that has been priced out of Uptown moved to Northeast.
 * If you're still hungry for more Southeast Asian food after eating your way through Eat Street, there's another large concentration in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul.
 * If you keep heading north along the trails near Cedar Lake you'll eventually find yourself in Theodore Wirth Park.

title: Minneapolis/Southwest


text:
Minnesota

Minnesota is a state in the Midwest of the USA. It is commonly referred to as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". The state is home to many native American reservations, and is a center of Scandinavian culture. Combine Minnesota's cultural eccentricities with its beautiful forests and lakes and you have a gem for any tourist in the Midwestern US.

Cities

 * , the capital and second-largest city, with a historic-looking state capitol.
 * , home of the Mall of America, and the only IKEA in the state.
 * , the primary city in northeastern Minnesota and gateway to the North Shore and Arrowhead Region.
 * , the hub of the smallest metropolitan area in Minnesota.
 * , the largest city in the state and the center of the "North". Extremely rich in culture and diversity.
 * , on the Cannon River with the motto "Cows, Colleges, and Contentment" and the annual "Defeat of Jesse James Days" celebration.
 * , the primary city in the East Central region, equidistant to Minneapolis and Duluth, and home to the Snake River Fur Post.
 * , the primary city in southeastern Minnesota and a global destination for health and wellness, home to the Mayo Clinic.
 * , the largest population center in the State's central region.

Other destinations

 * – Minnesota's only national park, commemorating the French–Canadian fur seal traders
 * – Minnesota's only national park, commemorating the French–Canadian fur seal traders
 * – Minnesota's only national park, commemorating the French–Canadian fur seal traders
 * – Minnesota's only national park, commemorating the French–Canadian fur seal traders
 * – Minnesota's only national park, commemorating the French–Canadian fur seal traders

Understand
Minnesotans generally present a cheery, genial attitude ("Minnesota nice") and may be caught off-guard when people don't reciprocate. Minnesotans' cheery attitude combined with a sing-song accent contrasts them with their fellow Midwesterners. Also, Minnesota represents a rare left-wing presence in the Midwestern United States, famously described in the book Main Street by Minnesota author Sinclair Lewis as Mr. Stowbody, "Trouble enough with these foreign farmers; if you don't watch these Swedes they turn socialist or populist or some fool thing on you in a minute." In fact, these Swedes and foreign farmers did turn socialist, forming the Farmer-Labor Party in 1918, electing three successive governors, four senators and eight US representatives, until it merged with the Minnesota Democratic party in 1944. The state maintains liberal leanings and is home to the second largest LGBT population in the US.

Unlike many other US states that sport several major urban centers, most of Minnesota's urban culture is centered in the "Twin Cities" of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which effectively form one large city divided into separate political areas. Although other urban centers exist in Rochester and Duluth, the centralization of population, wealth, and political power in the Twin Cities makes visiting "the Cities" a very different experience than the rest of the state.

It is the 12th largest state in the country.

Tourist information

 * Explore Minnesota website

Talk
The stereotypical Minnesotan dialect as popularized in the film Fargo is more prevalent in northern (Iron Range) and rural parts of the state than it is in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. In fact, in the metropolitan area, the accent is rarely noticed by visitors, much less the locals. The dialect is characterized by long vowels and a slight inflection (especially Os as found in the word "boat"). The sing-songy intonation is less common with each generation removed from the Scandinavian ancestors. Some Native Americans (primarily Ojibwe) have an accent of their own.

In addition to a unique dialect, Minnesota also has several phrases and colloquial expressions that can be overheard somewhat frequently. These are most frequently heard in the northern parts of the state, and are rarely heard in urban areas. These include:
 * Uff-da – Norwegian exclamation meaning "Off it!" Typically used as a response to surprising or exasperating circumstances.
 * You betcha – You bet/of course.
 * Yah sure – I agree. Sometimes used in conjunction with "You betcha". "Yah sure you betcha".
 * Don-cha-no – Meaning "Don't you know". Used at the end of sentences as a sort of emphatic phrase. "Sure is cold outside, don-cha-no!".
 * Hot dish – Casserole.
 * Oh yah – Yes.
 * Oh, for [adjective]! - "Oh, for cute" or if you went sledding last weekend one might say "oh, for fun!" ("Oh, for silly; oh, for funny; oh, for crazy") - the word "for" is used in place of the standard word, "how." - "Oh, how fun!"
 * Choppers – Leather mittens with wool inserts, used for the really cold days.
 * Tuque – [Pronounced "Tuke"] or *Stocking cap (Knitted winter hat).
 * Boughten – Adjective for a store-bought item, as opposed to home-made, as in 'boughten bread.'
 * Sled – Slang term for a snowmobile.
 * Popple – Aspen or poplar tree, one of the most common trees in northern Minnesota and important part of the logging industry.
 * A forty – 40 acres (about 16 hectares), or quarter-mile by quarter-mile of land, a derivative of the Public Land Survey (PLS) system.
 * Acrost – Scandinavian influenced regional pronunciation of "across."
 * Up north – Usually refers to anywhere that is north of the Twin Cities or where the person is at that time. ex.- Up north to Ely [while in Duluth].
 * Whipping Shitties – Braking suddenly in an icy parking lot while the steering wheel is turned sharply causing the vehicle to spin.
 * Skol – From the Swedish term skål, a common drinking phrase used when clinking glasses together, such as "Cheers", "Salud", or "Chin Chin." Also used in their song for the Minnesota Vikings American football team, "Skol Vikings."
 * Snus – A Swedish word for wet snuff, a tobacco variety common in the North.
 * schnort – ("Would you like a schnort?) an extra splash or shot of whatever your drinking, schnapps, whiskey, rum. usually hard alcohol.
 * The Cities – (The Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul). For those living outside "The Cities" it is rare to refer to Minneapolis or St. Paul individually.  Instead, the collective name is typically used.)
 * Outstate – Used to describe non-metropolitan (i.e., non-Twin Cities) Minnesota. Also sometimes known as "Greater Minnesota".
 * Duck Duck Grey Duck – A version of "Duck Duck Goose."

By car
Three Interstate highways travel through Minnesota. I-90 and I-94 travel east-west, while I-35 travels north-south. Highway 2 travels through the state. Several other national and state highways also travel through the state.

By plane
The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and has many international flights to Europe and Asia, while smaller international airports exist in Duluth, Rochester , and regional airports in Saint Cloud , Brainerd , Bemidji , Thief River Falls , Hibbing , and International Falls.

By train
For rail travel, there are Amtrak stations in La Crosse (Wisconsin), Winona, Red Wing, Saint Paul, Saint Cloud, Staples, Detroit Lakes, Fargo (North Dakota), and Grand Forks (North Dakota). These are served by the Empire Builder daily, which runs from Chicago to Seattle/Portland.

By bus
For bus travel, Minneapolis is served by Greyhound and Jefferson Lines (popular for intrastate travel). Megabus also stops in downtown Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul, with direct service to Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee.

Get around
Metro Transit offers bus and light rail services to the Twin Cities and their surrounding suburbs. Average fare for either service is typically $2 ($2.50 for the peak times of 6AM-9AM and 3PM-6:30PM.) The fare buys the rider a pass that can be used to ride on or transfer to any Metro Transit bus or train for 150 minutes. The Duluth Transit authority offers bus and trolley service to the Twin Ports area.

Senior citizens and individuals with a disability are able to ride the buses and light rails for a reduced fair of $1 upon verification.

The relatively new light rail service offers a visitor-friendly line that connects the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), the Mall of America, the Warehouse District, and downtown Minneapolis among other places.

Information on transit can be found here.

If your vehicle can run on E85, you can save money by using E85 instead of gas—however, if you have a "flex fuel" vehicle that can run on any gasoline/ethanol combination from E0 (pure gasoline) to E85, you're likely to get 20–25% lower fuel economy when running on E85 than on standard gasoline, which in Minnesota is 10% ethanol. The mileage loss will vary with the actual composition of E85, which differs seasonally (winter blends of "E85" are actually 70% ethanol). There are over 350 stations that sell E85.

Twin Cities

 * The Walker Art Center and adjacent Sculpture Garden, near downtown Minneapolis, is one of the "big five" modern art museums in the United States.
 * The Minnesota Children's Museum in St. Paul is an exciting, immersive world and a hands-on, stimulating environment for children six months to 10 years old.
 * The Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown Saint Paul.
 * Valley Fair in Shakopee is a theme park located in Shakopee that includes 6 roller coasters, a water park and an assortment of family rides.
 * Summit Avenue in Saint Paul is home to the nation's largest stretch of Victorian-style homes. The east end is anchored by the St. Paul Cathedral, and the West end by the University of St. Thomas.  Other notable homes on Summit Ave. include the Governor's mansion, and the James J. Hill house.

Duluth

 * Canal Park is a neighborhood where plenty of stores line the streets
 * Enger Tower and Park provides panoramic views of Duluth and the Twin Ports area, and boasts lovely and distinct gardens.
 * Glensheen Mansion is a locally famous "haunted" mansion and historic estate.
 * The Great Lakes Aquarium is devoted exclusively to freshwater exhibits
 * Lake Superior Zoo has hundreds of animals and exotic species.
 * Karpeles Manuscript Museum
 * The Downtown Waterfront District

Rochester

 * The Mayo Clinic is an internationally-known medical care facility.
 * Soldiers Field is a memorial dedicated to Minnesotan and American veterans.

Outstate/Greater Minnesota

 * Tenney, the smallest incorporated city in America, with a population of 6.
 * Grand Marais, a small town on the upper tip of the Arrow Head of Minnesota, Grand Marais is about 2.4 hours northeast of Duluth by car. Grand Marais maintains a beautiful lake-front and such local novelties as World's Famous Donuts, Sivertson's Gallery, Sven & Ole's, and The Angry Trout. During the day tourists enjoy walking around town and experiencing the northwood's culture as well as walking out on the old rock formations that create the semi-natural harbor, skip a few stones and live the true north life.
 * Pine City, a small rivertown in east central Minnesota, Pine City is about one hour northeast of Minneapolis by car. The town is surprisingly interesting with enough to do (museums, restaurants, shops, etc.) to keep from getting fidgety.  Oh, and it the first rural community in the U.S. to have held a gay pride, held annually to this day.
 * Red Wing, 60 miles from the Twin Cities, is a very nice rivertown. If you visit, make sure to climb Barn Bluff, the large hill to the south of town.  Red Wing is home to the Red Wing Shoe Company, and visitors can watch the famous boots being made on-site.  Red Wing is also a sort of gateway to the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota.
 * Red Wing, 60 miles from the Twin Cities, is a very nice rivertown. If you visit, make sure to climb Barn Bluff, the large hill to the south of town.  Red Wing is home to the Red Wing Shoe Company, and visitors can watch the famous boots being made on-site.  Red Wing is also a sort of gateway to the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota.

Do

 * Minneapolis means "City of Lakes" and is home to an impressive array of recreational lakes. Lake Nokomis, Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun), Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake, and Lake Harriet are just a few that make up the city's waterfronts.  Many have biking/running/walking trails, or canoe/paddleboat/kayak rentals.
 * Quarry Hill Nature Center in Rochester provides recreational activities, cross country skis, and snowshoes.

Sports teams
In Minneapolis/St. Paul, sports fans can take in games of the Minnesota Twins MLB Baseball, Vikings of NFL football, Wild of NHL hockey, the Timberwolves of NBA basketball, the Lynx of WNBA basketball, Minnesota United FC of MLS soccer, the Saints minor league baseball, and the various Minnesota Golden Gophers teams of the University of Minnesota sports.

Entertainment

 * Canterbury Park is a horse race track & card club casino in Shakopee. The card club is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 * Canterbury Park is a horse race track & card club casino in Shakopee. The card club is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 * Canterbury Park is a horse race track & card club casino in Shakopee. The card club is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 * Canterbury Park is a horse race track & card club casino in Shakopee. The card club is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 * Canterbury Park is a horse race track & card club casino in Shakopee. The card club is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Buy
The Mall of America in Bloomington is the nation's largest indoor mall boasting over 500 shops, and an indoor amusement park.

Eat
Traditional Minnesotan food is generally of the hearty meat & potatoes variety found all over the Midwest, but, as you might expect from The Land of 10,000 Lakes, with more of an emphasis on fish. Two locally popular fish are walleye, with fine, firm, white flesh, and lake trout, with firm, pinkish flesh vaguely similar to salmon.

Lutefisk is a popular dish brought to Minnesota by Norwegian immigrants. Made from dried cod reconstituted in caustic lye, it is an acquired taste, to say the least. This dish is more often brought out at Christmas time, in church basement suppers all over the state. For the less adventurous, there is lefse, a kind of tortilla-thin flatbread made with potato flour that can be used in a variety of ways, but is usually slathered with butter and sugar and rolled up into a tube.

If you are in the Twin Cities area, you can find almost any kind of ethnic cuisine you desire, especially along Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, popularly known as "Eat Street". St. Paul has a large southeast Asian population, and there is a large East African population spread throughout the Twin Cities, but centered mostly in Minneapolis--the Safari Restaurant (Somali), the Blue Nile (Ethiopian), and the Holy Land Deli (Middle Eastern) are three well-known restaurants catering to those communities, along with countless hole-in-the-wall places along Franklin, Nicollet, and Central Avenues.

State liquor laws
As in the rest of the United States, the drinking age is 21. Minnesota has an ingrained drinking culture that is prevalent even in rural areas. Bars and restaurants that serve liquor may do so until 2AM seven days a week, although not all do (especially on Sunday through Thursday), and some municipalities may enforce an earlier closing time.

Unlike most other states, you cannot buy alcohol in a grocery store or convenience store, unless it is 3.2 beer, which is a low-alcohol beer containing only 3.2% alcohol by weight (4% alcohol by volume). Some grocery stores don't even bother selling 3.2 beer even though they are allowed to, a testament to the state's rather prevalent drinking culture.

If you want regular beer, wine, or liquor, but don't want to drink it at a restaurant or bar, then you must go to a liquor store. Per state law, liquor stores are allowed to operate M-Sa 8AM to 10PM, and Su 11AM to 6PM. Local jurisdictions are allowed to greater restrictions as they see fit. For example, Sunday sales were only legalized at the state level in 2017, and some towns have opted to keep the prohibition on Sunday sales. Some cities and towns may operate municipal liquor stores and prohibit private ones. Despite this puritanical approach to alcohol sales, even rural towns have a fairly active drinking culture (the cliche of "more bars than churches"). Identification is checked less often than in other states, though it happens more frequently in areas with a high number of college students or tourists.

Severe weather
Perhaps the biggest danger is the weather. Given that the state has a continental climate, Minnesota often experiences extreme temperatures. The weather can be quite nasty, so prepare and plan accordingly.

Thunderstorms and tornadoes
During the spring and summer seasons, the state (particularly its southern region) has the tendency to experience violent thunderstorms which do, on occasion, spawn tornadoes. It is a good idea to pay attention to weather conditions during these seasons to maintain an awareness of any potential for these severe storms to occur. Keep in mind that weather conditions change very quickly, and therefore, frequently updating yourself in regards to the conditions is something to consider while traveling to or through the state during the spring/summer seasons.

Refer to the Tornado safety page for more information.

Winter storms
When traveling outside major metropolitan areas during winter months it is advisable to take extra blankets or warm weather gear in the event of an accident or mechanical difficulties. One rule of thumb for native Minnesotans is to always have your vehicle's gas tank at least half full during the winter months. The high temperatures during the winter are typically in the 10-30 °F (-10–0 °C) range, but can go below zero a few weeks during the winter. Native Minnesotans are taught to bundle up and wear layers during the winter at a very early age. You might also note that unlike many other states, Minnesotans are quite accustomed to driving on icy and snowy roads. Furthermore, the Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles has a great number of snowplows that clear and salt roads after snowstorms. Therefore do not be surprised if businesses and schools remain open even after a heavy snowfall.

In winter months, make sure to check the ice thickness before going out on a frozen lake or pond. Do not park your vehicle on a lake or pond unless it is deemed safe by the local DNR officers. Never walk on river ice. It may appear safe but may not be thick enough to support your weight, due to the river current flowing underneath.

Camping
Minnesota - the land of 10,000 Lakes - has beautiful wilderness and camping sites. It is home to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW or BWCA), a 1,090,000-acre (4,400 km²) wilderness area within the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota (USA). Northwest of the BWCA is Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota’s only national park. There are also numerous state parks.

See also Camping in the United States.

Go next

 * North Dakota - Minnesota's western neighbor is America's least visited state, but its isolation provides opportunities for uncrowded visits to the state's hills and lakes, badlands, plains, and old frontier forts.
 * South Dakota - Home to such natural and cultural wonders as Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park and Mount Rushmore, Minnesota's neighbor to the southwest offers a surprising amount for travelers to see and do.
 * Iowa - Rural Iowa is Minnesota's southern neighbor and provides the opportunity to explore America's agricultural heartland.
 * Wisconsin - "America's Dairyland" borders Minnesota to the east.
 * Michigan - The Upper Peninsula offers wilderness areas similar to those found in Northeastern Minnesota and can be reached by heading east across Lake Superior.
 * Ontario - Northeast of Minnesota, Northern Ontario covers 90% of the actual land mass of Ontario but only holds 6% of its population.
 * Manitoba - Minnesota's northwestern neighbor is known for its prairies, agriculture, culture and history.

title: Minnesota


text:
Minnetonka

Minnetonka is a suburban city of 54,000 people (2019) in the Twin Cities area. The city’s forests, wetlands, prairies and lakes give it a natural environment unlike that of other suburbs.

Understand
The word "Minnetonka" comes from the Dakota Indian mni tanka meaning "great water". The city is home to Cargill, the country's largest privately owned company and United Healthcare, the state's largest publicly owned company.

Minnetonka's close proximity to Minneapolis makes it an attractive location for people wishing to visit the Twin Cities, yet not spend the money on a hotel downtown.

By plane
The Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is only fifteen miles from Minnetonka.

By car
Minnetonka is intersected by two major interstates and a number of major highways. Interstate 494 runs north/south through the center of Minnetonka. Interstate 394 runs east/west, into Minneapolis and joining with interstate 94

Get around
Most people travel by car in Minnetonka. Metro Transit serves the Minnetonka area with bus service and the schedule can be found on the Metro Transit website. Express busses to Minneapolis run most mornings and evenings. Taxi service is also available by request, although it would be rather hard to hail a cab down from the street.

See

In the Twin Cities metro

 * Mall of America in nearby Bloomington. Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing.
 * Valleyfair is an amusement park that's within an hour's drive in nearby Shakopee.
 * Minnesota Zoo is in nearby Apple Valley.
 * Minneapolis is only a five minute drive from Minnetonka and offers plenty to do.

title: Minnetonka


text:
Mino

There are several places called Mino.

Japan

 * Mino (Gifu), a city in Gifu Prefecture
 * Minō, Minoh or Minoo, a city in Osaka Prefecture

title: Mino


text:
Mino (Gifu)

Mino (美濃) is a city in the Mino area of Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

Understand
The Mino area is renowned for its ceramics, known as Mino-yaki (美濃焼). Mino City is specifically known for its production of traditional Japanese paper, Mino-washi (美濃和紙), which have been a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2014. An annual Japanese paper lantern festival has been held in Mino since 1994. The festival is in the fall, usually early- to mid-October. Mino is a small city and it shares its suburban sprawl with Seki, which lies immediately South.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Get around
A private Nagaragawa Railway line passes through the city and is used by commuters, especially students. The annual Japanese paper festival is usually held at a location within walking distance of the main station, Mino-shi　(美濃市).

However, the easiest way to access different parts of the city is to use a car.

Do
The annual Japanese paper lantern festival, called the "Mino-washi Akari Art Exhibition" (美濃和紙あかりアート展 Mino-washi akari āto ten) is by itself worth a trip to Mino. The festival is held over one weekend in early- or mid-October. (Check the link for details.) Contestants from around the country build and submit hundreds of illuminated displays out of traditional Japanese paper. Designs range from abstract to exotic, and a handful of winners (often professional designers) receive awards and cash prizes on the second day of the event. Thousands attend this event each year, meaning parking becomes sparse within the city. Arrive at least two hours before dark to find a free parking space near the event. Alternatively, the city converts soccer and baseball fields into parking lots for each night of the event. The charge is reasonable (about ¥500), and shuttle buses are chartered at 10-minute intervals between these makeshift parking lots and the event. The festival generally runs from dusk until about 21:00.

Go next

 * Gujo
 * Seki
 * Gifu
 * Yamagata
 * Tomika
 * Minokamo
 * Kakamigahara
 * Kani
 * Tajimi

title: Mino (Gifu)