Minneapolis

A giant spoon with a red cherry in a sculpture garden, canoes on sparkling lakes in the middle of the city, and glass-enclosed bridges that link office towers in winter: Minneapolis is full of surprises. A trip to Minneapolis takes you to the Mississippi, to one of the best theater scenes in the U.S., and to the hometown of Prince. For a summer city break, when life revolves around the lakes, the "City of Lakes" is ideal.

Mills on the Mississippi

Sawmills and flour mills sprang up in the 19th century at Saint Anthony Falls, the only true waterfall on the Mississippi. Minneapolis became the "Flour Milling Capital of the World," and companies like General Mills and Pillsbury have their roots here. Scandinavian and German immigrants shaped the region. Together with the state capital, Saint Paul, on the other side of the river, Minneapolis forms the "Twin Cities." In 2020, after the death of George Floyd, the city became the starting point of worldwide protests against racism.

Sights in Minneapolis

On the Mississippi, in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood and across the river in Downtown East, the Stone Arch Bridge, a former granite railroad bridge, crosses the river with views of the falls. The ruins of a mill house the Mill City Museum, and next door stands the blue Guthrie Theater with its cantilevered "Endless Bridge." The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home to the "Spoonbridge and Cherry" sculpture, adjoins the Walker Art Center, one of the most important contemporary art museums. The Chain of Lakes, including Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Isles, is ringed by bike paths and walking trails; in summer you can rent canoes and paddleboards. Minnehaha Falls, in the south of the city, is a popular destination for an outing.

Neighborhoods, Music, and Food

North Loop, set in old warehouses, is the trendiest neighborhood, with restaurants and boutiques; Loring Park and Lowry Hill East, with their historic buildings, are green residential areas; and in Whittier you'll find "Eat Street" on Nicollet Avenue, lined with Vietnamese, Mexican, and Somali restaurants. In Downtown West, the skyways, a network of second-floor pedestrian bridges, connect dozens of buildings, which is ideal in winter. The club First Avenue, where Prince filmed scenes for "Purple Rain," is still a stage for live music today, and you can tour Paisley Park in Chanhassen. Restaurants in Minneapolis serve the Jucy Lucy, a burger with molten cheese inside, and hotdish, a hearty casserole. The craft beer scene is one of the strongest in the Midwest.

Getting Around, When to Go, and Day Trips

From Minneapolis–Saint Paul Airport, the Blue Line light rail takes about 25 minutes to reach downtown, while the Green Line connects to Saint Paul. Rental bikes and a dense network of bike paths make Minneapolis one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S. The best time to visit is summer; in winter, temperatures often fall far below zero. Day trips lead to Saint Paul with its cathedral and Summit Avenue, to the enormous Mall of America in Bloomington, and to Duluth on Lake Superior.