The Twin Cities have been on my list for a really long time. The art, fashion, and food scenes are thriving and the ease of access to nature within the metro area is utterly appealing (in fact, I warned Michael before we visited to watch out – we might just leave with a desire to move there). But the price and flight times never really lined up according to our general travel practices. That is, until one night in mid-May when I stumbled on two one-way flights to Minneapolis over Memorial Day weekend for under $150 each.
With just two weeks to plan our itinerary, I turned to Instagram and received a wealth of suggestions for where to go, what to see, and most importantly, where to eat (a huge thank you to Jaylene in particular, who gave us enough info for several return visits – and I can’t wait!).
Planning to visit Minneapolis-Saint Paul? I’ve got you covered. Here’s how to sample all that the metro area has to offer, without breaking the bank:
MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL SIGHTS + ATTRACTIONS
Art & Culture in the Twin Cities
American Swedish Institute | 2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407 Minneapolis Institute of Art | 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 Minneapolis Sculpture Garden | 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403
There is no shortage of cool galleries in the Twin Cities, but in order to maximize your time, you’ll need to go big over such a short visit. The Minneapolis Institute of Art is free and covers a multitude of centuries and styles of art within its towering walls. And though not free, the American Swedish Institute offers a unique look at Nordic influences on the world and in the U.S. and the mansion is also simply a wonder to stroll. You’ve probably seen the big blue rooster (Cock) or the cherry on the spoon (Spoonbridge and Cherry) on Instagram, but there are over sixty sculptures in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which is open year-round and is free to visitors.
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Getting Outside in the Twin Cities
Minnehaha Falls | Minneapolis, MN 55417 Lake Bde Maka Ska | Minneapolis, MN
If the weather cooperates, pick up a bike from a rental company or one of the Nice Ride docking stations in Minneapolis and head out to explore. Dedicated bike paths/trails are abundant throughout the metro area, but we personally only had time to explore two: Minnehaha Regional Park (with an obligatory stop at Minnehaha Falls) and the Chain of Lakes (though we primarily biked and walked around Lake Bde Maka Ska). Even if you’re not bike-confident, there are so many opportunities for exploring the outdoors. During our visit, there was a free fishing pop-up at the lake, but check local calendars before you go to see what else is going on during your visit.
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Twin Cities Sports
CHS Field | 360 N Broadway St, St Paul, MN 55101
The Twin Cities are home to six professional sports teams, so chances are there will be a game or match taking place when you visit. But rather than attending the Twins game, we instead headed to Saint Paul for a Saint Paul Saints Game – and I dare say we made the right choice. Once the baseball game began it became clear that most of the fans in attendance were there for the atmosphere rather than the game itself. Though the game was nearly sold out, many of the seats in the stands were emptied – everyone was up and about eating, drinking, and hanging out. We settled in for most of the game, cheering the Saints on to victory, and then joined the crowd on the field after the game to run the bases and order dessert from one of the food trucks rolled onto the outfield. After dark, the lights in the stadium were turned off and we were treated to a Memorial Day fireworks show. Just a few games per season include fireworks, but it seems like just about every game has a theme. Check the schedule to see which theme speaks to you.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN THE TWIN CITIES
Hip Breakfast & Brunch Spots
The Bachelor Farmer Cafe | Now Closed Alma Café | 528 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 Hola Arepa | 3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408 Hazel's Northeast | 2859 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
The Twin Cities ooze hip and cool. Places like The Bachelor Farmer Cafe (now closed) and Alma Café offer trendy, minimal Millennial menus and environs (and friendlier prices than their adjacent full-service restaurants). Grab a coffee, pastry, and a local paper and settle in for reading and people-watching. For a more classic, neighborhood feel, check out Hazel’s Northeast. The waffles are the go-to, and the staff will go ahead and grab your coffee for you while you wait for a table. And for a different flavor, Hola Arepa offers a mean weekend brunch menu – with equally-mean cocktails.
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Only in the Twin Cities
FIKA Café | 2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407 The Nook | 492 Hamline Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116 Sea Salt | 4825 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Though we were only there a few days, it seems that everyone in the metro area has an opinion on who makes the best Jucy Lucy (or Juicy Lucy; however you spell it, it is essentially a cheeseburger with the cheese inside the meat) – and they’re very sure that their opinion is correct. We chose our spot, The Nook, not because of this video (although it is a good watch), but because of time, location, and accessibility to public transit. I went with the standard, and Michael ordered the Spanish Fly, which combined chorizo with beef and was stuffed with queso blanco – and he hasn’t stopped talking about it. Another local spot we stumbled on is Sea Salt Eatery, located just upriver from Minnehaha Falls. The food smelled amazing, but the line looped way, way around the building so we just picked up a beer from the beer cart. And even if you don’t plan on visiting the American Swedish Institute, stop by their cafe, FIKA Café, for well, a fika (a break with coffee and a sweet treat). Maybe you’ll even get lucky as we did and they’ll bring out an extra dish to nosh on.
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Twin Cities Sweets + Treats
Cold Front | 490 Hamline Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116 Bogart's Doughnut Co. | Multiple Locations Spyhouse Coffee | Multiple Locations
Although I try to limit my indulgences at home, my sweet tooth comes out in full force when we travel. Luckily, the MSP area offers a lot of things to satiate it. After enjoying our burgers at The Nook, we popped next door to Cold Front – an adorable, retro soda fountain – and I suggest you do the same (you’ll find room in your stomach, promise). If you’re searching for something more solid to munch on, definitely make Bogart’s Doughnut Co. a stop on your list for a brown butter doughnut. And of course, local roaster Spyhouse Coffee has some amazing pastries in their case to go along with their great cup of coffee.
MINNEAPOLIS SHOPPING
Boutiques in Minneapolis
PARC | 212 N 2nd St #102, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Russell and Hazel | Now Online Only
There were a ton of shops on my list to visit while in the Twin Cities, but limited opening hours and distance between them all prevented us from going to all but two: well-curated ethical gem PARC and a place for those craving the analog, Russell and Hazel. (If you have time during your trip, promise me you’ll visit one or some of the following and report back: Forage Modern Workshop, Mille, The Foundry Home Goods, IDUN, Rewind, Cave Paper, Arlee Park, Hazel & Rose).
WHERE TO STAY IN MINNEAPOLIS
The Grand Hotel Minneapolis (now the Hyatt Centric Downtown Minneapolis)
Hyatt Centric Downtown Minneapolis | 615 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Though we checked pricing on the Alma Hotel and Airbnb, we couldn’t pass up the value offered by The Grand Hotel (now the Hyatt Centric Downtown Minneapolis) in downtown Minneapolis. The location was perfect for accessing public transport and also for simply walking around. The rooms were simple and lovely, and the service (though we really don’t ask for much) was more than adequate. The only downside of staying downtown is that there is little to do within the city core. Most of what is nearby are chain shops and restaurants – and that’s not at all what we traveled this far to see.
TRAVEL TIPS FOR MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL
The Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area is larger than it looks on the map, and any itinerary should be created with this in mind. Uber and Lyft are prevalent, but we found public transit to be widely available and inexpensive – and as an added benefit, the Blue Line runs right to the airport without an added surcharge. We ordered three Visitor’s Passes each online before we left, but we could have also purchased all-day mobile fares after we arrived. Either way, $4 or $5 per day for unlimited rides is a great deal. Bus and light rail schedules are integrated with Google Maps, but it’s important to note that GPS is not integrated (i.e., if a bus is running early or late, Google Maps won’t know). We did find most of the routes to run on time, but a few only stop once every thirty minutes or hour – which is a long time to wait if you miss it. Staying downtown offered access to many bus routes and the blue and green rail lines as well as the Skyway during a downpour, however, there were some moments after dark that we felt a tad uneasy (and as this occurred during our stay, I guess our instincts weren’t totally off).
Those who are bike confident can pick up a Nice Ride bike from one of the many docks around town. You’ll need to determine if a day pass or pay-per-ride will better suit you; if you plan on biking in many short jaunts across the city, a day pass would be your best bet. But if you just plan on leisurely rolling around for a bit, you’d be better off paying for each ride individually.
The weather cooperated with us for the majority of our stay, and late May was a really beautiful time to visit. According to annual weather averages, summers in Minnesota are generally mild, but winters look brutal. So bear that in mind – even if you find a great deal on a flight, January may not be the best time to go!
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What are your favorite things to do in a new city? Museums, sports, shopping, or something else?
Great write-up of your visit to our area! I love the tips you provided to first-time visitors, and appreciate the links to our site. One thing for your next visit; there are plenty of non-chain restaurants and things to do downtown. I can recommend more but start with restaurants like Hell’s Kitchen, Union Rooftop, Mercury and many more that are within walking distance of your hotel. We actually have more NON-chains than chains! While the downtown shopping tends towards the bigger stores, you can do things like visit Orchestra Hall, the Mill City Museum and Guthrie Theater (free/open daily, it’s great for just the views if not the shows, which are also amazing and offer rush line tickets if you’re hoping for a deal). Hit us up for more ideas next time at minneapolis.org. 🙂 Thank you for visiting!
Thanks so much for reading along, and for your tips for our next visit (and there will definitely be a next visit!).
I don’t know much about Minneapolis (and didn’t know it was a twin city) but it looks like there’s a lot of cool things to do there. You had great weather most of your visit as well!
It’s definitely an underrated destination for sure; I hope you get the chance to visit one day!
What a beautiful day! The weather really looked good and love your navy green jacket. ♡
We really lucked out weather-wise – just cool enough to need that jacket (it’s a fave!). Thanks for reading, April!