Twin Cities Guide
Angela Christy's Guide to the Twin Cities
Jessica's mother Angela is a proud hype woman for the Twin Cities. She has written a multi-page guide with practical tips, fun facts, and assorted recommendations for dining, drinking, and sightseeing. You can read the full guide by clicking the "view" button bellow. A few highlights follow:
Mill City Farmers Market and Guthrie Theater
Grab Saturday breakfast at the Mill City Farmer's Market downtown (open Saturday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.). It is located next to the Guthrie Theater and extends under the Mill City Museum along the old railroad line. After you've eaten, step into the Guthrie Theater for a spectacular view of St. Anthony Falls. There is no charge to access the public spaces. Take the escalator upstairs, walk up the wide ramp, and continue through the doors to the "Endless Bridge," a cantilevered walkway that extends out to the river. There is seating with a great view of the falls and the east bank of the Mississippi. Immediately to your left are the mill ruins that now house the Mill City Museum.
Mississippi River, Stone Arch Bridge, and Mill Ruins Park
Weather permitting, the riverfront is a great place for a stroll. Check out Mill Ruins Park and the beautiful Stone Arch Bridge. Unfortunately, the Stone Arch Bridge is partially closed for renovations, so you can only walk from downtown to the midpoint. The following link leads to a set of walking guides assembled by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Acclaimed Dining in Northeast Minneapolis
Two Minnesota restaurants were recently named to the New York Times' list of the top 50 restaurants in the U.S. Both are located in Northeast Minneapolis, not far from the Delta Hotel. The first restaurant is Oro by Nixta, a Mexican restaurant that focuses on nixtamalized heirloom corn (i.e., amazing tortillas). The second restaurant is a Hmong restaurant named Vinai. It is named after the refugee camp in Thailand where the chef was born and features dishes inspired by the chef's family history and Hmong culture, traditions, and stories.
Lakes! (Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway)
There are over 22 lakes in Minneapolis. The Grand Rounds is one of the country’s longest continuous systems of public urban parkways, and goes around several of these lakes. Activities will depend on the weather, but biking or driving along the Chain of Lakes is worth the excursion. The Grand Rounds system includes approximately 51 miles of trails for cycling and walking and 55 miles of parkways for cars. Despite the cold winters, Minneapolis is regularly ranked one of the best cities in the country for biking.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
See over 40 works of free public art, including the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry, at the nation's largest urban sculpture garden. Admission is free. The adjacent Walker Art Center is a contemporary art museum (which charges admission).
Mall of America
The MOA is located near the airport and is easily accessible by the light rail. Although most locals rarely go to the MOA, it's worth seeing. It contains a full indoor amusement park, a large interactive Lego store, an aquarium, and over 500 stores. (Jessica's generation is still bitter that the amusement park changed from "Camp Snoopy" to "Nickelodeon Universe" in 2006.)
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
A great free zoo in Saint Paul, featuring polar bears, gorillas, wolves, seals and sea lions, tigers, and much more. Adjacent to the zoo is a lovely conservatory where the full flower show should be on display. The outdoor Ordway Gardens is a Japanese Garden that boasts an impressive bonsai collection. Dock & Paddle at the Como Lakeside Pavilion is a nice place to eat while at the zoo or conservatory. The Minnesota Zoo is larger, but is approximately 30-40 minutes south of Minneapolis and has paid admission. Throughout October, the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is a very popular evening attraction.
