Twin Cities Area Attractions

Minneapolis is a city with natural beauty and urban sophistication. The Chain of Lakes, the Mississippi River, and 200 miles of walking and biking trails are within city limits. Steps away are a vibrant theater and music scene, the best shopping in the region, and museums that are among the finest in the country. Below is a sampling of things to do and see in the Minneapolis area.

1. Mall of America Largest U.S. mall and #1 tourist destination in U.S.
2. Minneapolis Institute of Art Traditional and Asian art may be seen at the MIA, one of the largest art museums in the country.
3. Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Contemporary art
4. American Swedish Institute This museum and cultural center is located in the historic Turnblad Castle.
5. Mill City Museum Built in the historic ruins of a flour mill, Mill City Museum provides a history of MN grain milling and the Pillsbury and General Mills companies.
6. The Museum of Russian Art Minneapolis is home to the only Russian art museum in North America.
7. Guthrie Theater This world renowned regional theater presents live plays on three stages and features a 178-foot cantilevered bridge overlooking the Mississippi River.
8. Children’s Theater Company is recognized as the best theater for young audience and families in the U.S.
9. Brave New Workshop is a local favorite for satirical comedy sketch and improvisation and it's where Senator Al Franken and Louie Anderson got their start in comedy.
10. Hennepin Avenue Theater District Orpheum, State, Pantages Theaters, and Cowles Center for Dance provide stages for plays, concerts, and other performing arts by national and local artists.
11. Target Field Minnesota Twins baseball field
12. Chain of Lakes Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, and the Lake of the Isles are joined by trails to provide outdoor recreation in the form of walking, biking, rollerblading, canoeing, sailing, or windsurfing as well as lakeside restaurants and music clubs.
13. Minnehaha Regional Park features a natural 53-foot waterfall with picnic areas, music, restaurants.
14. Nice Ride Bikes Rental bikes are available at stations throughout the Twin Cities.
15. Minnesota Zoo features local and global animals – weekly summer concerts with national performers.
16. Midtown Global Market was created to assist immigrants and emerging entrepreneurs in building a business involving foods, arts, crafts, or other aspects of their heritage – 40 businesses share this location.  
17. Award-winning Restaurants Scandinavian, American, European, Asian, Middle-Eastern food 
18. Music Venues
    • The Dakota mounts nightly concerts by national and local performers.
    • Orchestra Hall is home to the award-winning Minnesota Orchestra.
    • First Avenue is a venue made famous by Prince.

St. Paul, the other half of the Twin Cities and the state capitol of Minnesota, is across the river and easily accessible by light rail for $1.75 - $2.25.

1. Ordway Theater for Performing Arts hosts theater, dance, music, and other performing arts events and is home of the world class St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
2. Science Museum of Minnesota offers multiple exhibits and 90-foot Omnitheater for films.
3. Minnesota Children’s Museum has hands-on exhibits that are great for kids.
4. Fitzgerald Theater is home to Prairie Home Companion hosted by Chris Thiele.
5. Minnesota History Center is an interactive museum with MN history exhibits.
6. Penumbra Theater One of three African American theaters in the country, Penumbra launched the career of the late Pulitzer Prize winning playwright August Wilson.
7. Harriet Island is the home of the Minnesota Centennial Showboat, a theater on a paddleboat docked in the Mississippi that features U of M students.
8. Como Zoo and Conservatory features a free zoo and beautiful flower exhibits in the middle of a vast park.
9. CHS Field – St. Paul Saints Minor league baseball team co-owned by actor Bill Murray.  The team slogan is “Fun is Good.”
10. Historic Summit Avenue is a 4-mile stretch of mansions built 1890-1920.  The James J. Hill House is a National Historic Landmark with tours. James J. Hill built the Great Northern Railway.
11. Wabasha Street Caves is a former 1930’s gangster nightclub built into the sandstone caves located on the south shore of the Mississippi River.  
12. Minnesota State Capitol Built in 1905 and designed by Cass Gilbert, our state capitol building is considered an architectural masterpiece; it boasts the second largest self-supporting marble dome in the world.