Minneapolis
Discover 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. 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.
Taste of Minneapolis...
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. 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. 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. The nightlife in general can be vibrant in several areas.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Minneapolis into what it is today.
Mill Ruins Park in Downtown Minneapolis includes an archaeological site at the location of former flour mills and other industrial buildings. A canal that ran through the area has been restored. George Floyd Square in South Minneapolis is a public art installation to memorialize George Floyd, who was murdered by a police officer in 2020. 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. 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. Walk, bike, drive, swim or paddle around the chain of lakes running north to south along the western side of Minneapolis. 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"....
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. Daylight hours vary between 5:30AM - 9PM in the summer months, and 7:45AM - 4:45PM in the winter months. Winters in Minneapolis can be very cold. The winter cold from December to March can be brutal to the unaccustomed body, with temperatures often dropping below zero. Snowfall is common in the winter, with at least a few blizzards occurring within the season. 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. Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall occur during the spring, summer, and autumn. Summer is often warm to hot and frequently humid. The summer heat from June to September can also be harsh, with temperatures sometimes reaching into the nineties or above, with high humidity.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsMinneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) 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. There is no airside connection between the terminals, transferring between the two requires use of the metro, which is free between the two stations. Ensure you know which terminal you are arriving at/departing from, as transferring between the two can be time consuming. 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 regardless of time or day. This fare includes a transfer to any local bus or train for 2.5 hours after purchase. The light rail has stations at both terminals. Interstate Highways 35W and 94 are the main arteries into town....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting 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".
Where to Stay
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 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. Dial 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies. As with any major American city, keep your eyes open and your wits about you, particularly at night. Crime is relatively low in most parts of Minneapolis that you're likely to visit, but is not unknown. 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.
Money & Budget
Clothing boutiques tend to be clustered near Uptown and Lyn-Lake. There are also boutiques in the 50th and France area. The Twin Cities are a hotbed of independent presses and bookstores. Specialty and used bookstores can be found scattered across the city. 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. 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.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Dial 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies. As with any major American city, keep your eyes open and your wits about you, particularly at night. Crime is relatively low in most parts of Minneapolis that you're likely to visit, but is not unknown. 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.