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Minneapolis - Things to Do

Posted on 5/25/22 at 9:20 pm
Posted by Dunder Mifflin
Naples, FL
Member since Dec 2009
660 posts
Posted on 5/25/22 at 9:20 pm
Headed to Minneapolis with family in a few weeks to watch a game at Target Field.

Just wanted some suggestions on things to do. Places to avoid? Thanks!
Posted by hoopsgalore
Chicago, IL
Member since Nov 2013
9034 posts
Posted on 5/25/22 at 9:42 pm to
I have quite a few college friends that are from Minneapolis / live there now, so I try to get up there every couple months (heading back next month). It's only an hour flight from Chicago. I'm still on the younger side (30), so my Minneapolis weekends are probably a bit different than visiting with family, but will do my best

Minneapolis breweries are terrific to visit + friendly with kids joining their parents. If you're going to a game at Target Field, stop by any of Fulton, Modist and Inbound in North Loop. Graze is right there, too - reminds me of Avanti in Denver. There are a number food vendors in stalls inside, and a couple of bars with outdoor seating on the lawn and rooftop. You get a nice view of downtown.

Loring Park is a beautiful stroll on the other side of downtown and you can take the pedestrian bridge over to the Sculpture Garden. Sebastian Joe's makes terrific ice cream and it's just a 10-15 minute walk from the Garden.

The Mississippi is a separator between MPLS and St. Paul, but Minnehaha Falls and the surrounding trails of the park is worth a go in South Minneapolis. Doesn't even feel like you're in an urban area.

My favorite view of the Minneapolis skyline is from Stone Arch Bridge. Used to run it quite a bit between downtown and Dinkytown (where University of Minnesota is).

Bike or walk the Greenway. One of the better pedestrian and cyclist trails you'll find in a major city. Very popular commute trail.

Lake of the Isles is a nice walk. Multiple lakes to walk around, including Lake Calhoun. Technically, it was renamed to Bde Maka Ska, but everyone still calls it Calhoun.

The immediate downtown core sucks these days. Still recovering from the George Floyd killing a couple years ago with protests, riots and looting. Really, there is no reason to be down there longer than you have to.

Northeast is a great neighborhood. Pretty family-friendly, eclectic and chalked with restaurants/bars. Stay on that side of the river, though. Really no reason to wander across into Hawthorne, for example.

The light-rail is super convenient, but there's a time and place. The Blue Line is convenient for getting from MSP to downtown, but you may encounter a few weirdos. Other than that, the Green Line is easy to get to the U of M or St. Paul.

Pretty sure SpartyGator lives in Minneapolis and can help on quite a bit.
This post was edited on 5/26/22 at 7:12 am
Posted by Dunder Mifflin
Naples, FL
Member since Dec 2009
660 posts
Posted on 5/25/22 at 10:47 pm to
Thanks for all the info. Very appreciative.

We’re staying at the Emery Hotel. It’s pretty close to the stadium. Is that area relatively safe, or should we book a hotel in a different area?
Posted by hoopsgalore
Chicago, IL
Member since Nov 2013
9034 posts
Posted on 5/25/22 at 11:33 pm to
It’s safe + there are plenty of other hotels in the area, too. Just a bit of a dead zone these days, but not a huge issue since North Loop / Target Field is an easy walk (10-20 minutes, depending where you go).
Posted by Nole Man
Somewhere In Tennessee!
Member since May 2011
8699 posts
Posted on 5/26/22 at 5:53 am to
I go up there periodically. Rarely in January!

What I've enjoyed doing (and yes there are many bars/restaurants etc. to explore).

Go spend the day at Minnehaha Park, a city park in Minneapolis and home to Minnehaha Falls. Surprisingly beautiful falls in the middle of a city!

Visit the Mall of America in nearby Bloomington, about 15 minutes from Minneapolis. Yeah, I know. A mall? Yep. This thing is HUGE and the kids would probably get a kick out of visiting it. AND, it includes an amusement park and the Aquarium.

My thing after work would be to go walk around Bde Maka Ska (formerly known as Lake Calhoun). The city’s largest lake and a popular spot for swimming, sailing, and stand-up paddle boarding.

The Mississippi River runs through the heart of the city, so there are a lot of things you can do. See the Stone Arch Bridge and the Mill City Museum. Look at Saint Anthony Falls in the river. Walk on the Pedestrian bridge over the river, that eventually leads to the campus of the University of Minnesota. People watching is a huge plus if you get my drift.




This post was edited on 5/26/22 at 5:56 am
Posted by jdd48
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2012
23455 posts
Posted on 5/26/22 at 6:44 am to
If you want to get away from the city a bit, take a ride out to Wayzata. It's about 20-30 mins away and right on Lake Minnetonka. You can rent a boat, eat at 6Smith, etc.
Posted by hoopsgalore
Chicago, IL
Member since Nov 2013
9034 posts
Posted on 5/26/22 at 7:09 am to
quote:

Visit the Mall of America in nearby Bloomington, about 15 minutes from Minneapolis. Yeah, I know. A mall? Yep. This thing is HUGE and the kids would probably get a kick out of visiting it. AND, it includes an amusement park and the Aquarium.


Not sure how I forgot this when he mentioned visiting with family. Good call. I’m not a MoA guy, but definitely a great visit for the kids. Nickelodeon Universe (amusement park that you mentioned) used to be called Camp Snoopy a long time ago. Great name. Bummer they changed it, but a place I loved going to as a kid.
Posted by tadman
Member since Jun 2020
5199 posts
Posted on 5/26/22 at 8:23 am to
How long are you there? I never really fell in love with MSP so if I'm there for more than a few days, I rent a car and go to the north shore of lake superior. Any baw who loves the outdoors and worth his salt will find the north shore / iron range area attractive. Really nice quiet country, very remote. Big beautiful lake. Lots of good fried fish.

Also if you do need a hotel, my favorite is Hyatt Place downtown St. Paul. Very new and nice and very spacious too. If you have kids coming, most rooms are suites. But probably better with your agenda and team to stay out in the burbs where you can find a pool and spread out.
This post was edited on 5/26/22 at 8:29 am
Posted by NOLALGD
Member since May 2014
2695 posts
Posted on 5/26/22 at 9:09 am to
Consider finding a bike shop and renting bikes for a day or half day (there is a decent bike share but if you have kids will probably want some smaller bikes). The city has relatively decent biking infrastructure and you can spend a whole day just doing the trails along the river which are very accessible from anywhere downtown.
Posted by Dunder Mifflin
Naples, FL
Member since Dec 2009
660 posts
Posted on 6/9/22 at 8:52 pm to
Thanks for all the suggestions. We’re heading there this weekend. Really looking forward to this trip.
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