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Minneapolis Attractions
Sightseeing
An interesting link to Minneapolis' past is the historic Minneapolis City Hall and Courthouse, 350 S. Fifth St. Officially known as the Municipal Building, the massive stone Richardsonian Romanesque structure was constructed 1887-1906 to be equally shared by the city of Minneapolis and Hennepin County. Its prominent clock tower, statues, decorative paintings, stained-glass windows and elaborate architectural details are highlights. Tours of the building are available; phone (612) 673-5301 for details.
Bus and Limousine Tours
A guided tour is a good way to familiarize yourself with the Twin Cities. Metro Connections Inc. offers year-round narrated tours of both cities, which depart from the Mall of America. Reservations are required. Tickets may be purchased at the mall's Explore Minnesota store, or by phoning (612) 333-8687.
Sports and Recreation
The Twin Cities' lake-studded environs offer water sports from fishing to canoeing and sailing. The area rivers provide numerous opportunities for boating and water skiing. Winter visitors can take advantage of alpine and cross-country skiing, tobogganing, ice fishing and skating. During the warm months the metropolitan park system provides archery ranges and hiking and bicycling trails.
For additional information about park activities, phone the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board at (612) 230-6400 or the St. Paul Division of Parks and Recreation at (651) 266-6400.
Embracing spectator sports with their usual zest, the work-hard, play-hard residents provide an exhilarating atmosphere for their teams. In summer they rally around the American League's Minnesota Twins baseball team, which plays its games in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis; phone (612) 338-9467. The St. Paul Saints minor league team plays baseball at St. Paul's Midway Stadium; phone (651) 644-6659.
Also at the Metrodome, the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League play football in the fall; phone (612) 338-4537. If you're interested in learning about this air-supported, domed stadium, 1-hour tours are offered Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1, April through November (unless an event is scheduled); phone (612) 335-3309 for information.
The National Basketball Association's Minnesota Timberwolves bring fans of basketball to Target Center in downtown Minneapolis from October to April; phone (612) 673-1600. The Women's National Basketball Association's Minnesota Lynx play at the same venue June through August; phone (612) 673-1600.
At the Xcel Energy Center the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild takes to the ice beginning in October; phone (651) 602-6000. The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers meet football, basketball and hockey competition at the Metrodome, Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena respectively; phone (612) 624-8080 for all sports. Youth soccer teams from around the world take to the fields at the National Sports Center at 1700 105th Ave. N.E. in Blaine; phone (763) 785-5600.
Shopping
St. Paul's downtown shopping district is roughly bounded by Robert, 5th, St. Peter and 7th streets. The major department store, Macy's, is at Cedar and 6th streets.
Specialty shops dot the uptown sections of St. Peter Street between 4th and 6th streets, and 5th Street between Wabasha and St. Peter streets. Town Square, bordered by 6th, 7th, Cedar and Minnesota streets, occupies two blocks. In addition to its boutiques, the square boasts a three-story waterfall surrounded by botanical gardens. St. Paul's The Wells Fargo Place at 30 E. 7th St. offers many shops. Southwest of town historic Grand Avenue offers 3 miles of more than 300 specialty shops, ethnic restaurants, art galleries and coffeehouses.
In Minneapolis,Nicollet Mall--Nicollet Avenue between Grant Street and Washington Avenue--has shops and specialty stores bordering an attractively landscaped pedestrian street. Along the mile-long mall there are shopping areas such as City Center and Gaviidae Common as well as Macy's and Neiman Marcus department stores. Peavey Plaza, the fountain-filled park, is at the south end of the Mall.
Butler Square, an imposing architectural presence in the Minneapolis warehouse district, is a renovated landmark filled with quaint shops. Riverplace and St. Anthony Main Mall have reclaimed and transformed several blocks of Mississippi River frontage into an area for entertainment, strolling, dining and shopping.
Three outlet centers offer name-brand merchandise at a discount. Medford Outlet Center, about 60 miles south of the Twin Cities at I-35 exit 48 in Medford, has 45 stores, including Eddie Bauer, Gap and Liz Claiborne. About 40 miles north at I-35 exit 147 and CR 95 in North Branch, the 36 stores at Tanger Outlet Center feature Corning Revere, Liz Claiborne, Old Navy and Reebok. The Outlets at Albertville, 35 miles northwest off I-94 exit 202, offers more than 50 stores, including Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.
Mall of America in Bloomington, 5 minutes from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, is the nation's largest combined retail and entertainment center. The 4.2 million-square-foot complex offers shopping in more than 520 stores, dining, an aquarium and several theme parks.
Performing Arts
Supporting the Twin Cities' claim to cultural leadership of the northern Great Lakes is a full schedule of symphony, opera and theater. TheMinnesota Orchestra, considered one of the country's finest, plays its September through May schedule in Orchestra Hall on Nicollet Mall and also appears at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul. The summer schedule extends from mid-June to mid-August. The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra also appears at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.
For opera lovers, the Minnesota Opera performs at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts from November through June. Theater centers on the Minneapolis landmark Guthrie Theater, internationally known for its dynamic production of classics. The Great American History Theatre presents unique historical dramas at 30 E. Tenth St. in St. Paul.
Broadway musicals and plays are staged at St. Paul's Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and the Orpheum and State theaters in Minneapolis. In addition, theatergoers can find just about any type of production in the Twin Cities--from Shakespeare to African-American drama to children's plays, women's theater and puppet theater.
Experimental performances are staged by Brave New Workshop, Illusion Theater and Mixed Blood Theater. For a unique experience, catch a traveling show put on by In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater. Supplementing these offerings are community and summer stock theaters. The University of Minnesota Theatre offers summer programs aboard a showboat docked at Harriet Island; phone (651) 227-1100.
Some establishments offer the convenience of dinner and a show under one roof. Patrons of Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, at the junction of SR 5 and Great Plains Boulevard, can choose among four productions each night; phone (952) 934-1525 or (800) 362-3515. The Old Log Theater in Excelsior, (952) 474-5951, one of the oldest professional theater companies in the Midwest, offers Broadway comedies and British farces. American fare and a choice of two productions are offered at Plymouth Playhouse, (763) 383-1073, in the Kelly Inn.
Special Events
St. Paul's calendar of events begins with its most popular--St. Paul Winter Carnival in late January and early February. Participants crown a king and queen, build fabulous sculptures out of 300-pound ice blocks and drink plenty of hot cocoa during the 10-day event.
In mid-March the city honors the patron saint of Ireland with the St. Patrick's Day Parade; in late April and early May it is host to the Minnesota Horse Expo and Rodeo and the Festival of Nations. Diners can sample the best of St. Paul's restaurants during July's Taste of Minnesota.
Internationally famed musicians and the Minnesota Orchestra present concerts during Sommerfest in June and July. Contrasting with St.
Paul's Winter Carnival is Minneapolis' Aquatennial in mid-July. The 11-day event offers contests, entertainment, parades and water sports; most activities are free. Minnesotans exhibit their prize animals, baked goods and handmade items at the 12-day Minnesota State Fair, Como and Snelling avenues, late August through Labor Day.
On weekends from mid-August to late September the Minnesota Renaissance Festival takes place in Shakopee. Food, crafts, jugglers, magicians, mimes and music are featured in a re-created English Renaissance village. In October St. Paul and Minneapolis join to sponsor the Twin Cities Marathon. The holiday season brings light displays and the Holidazzle Parade on the Nicollet Mall.
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