A cute lakeside town opposite Wayzata on Lake Minnetonka. Stop by Licks for some ice cream (Maria's favorite flavor is Cotton Candy because she's 8 years old at heart), Lagos Tacos for some lunch, or Excelsior Brewery for a refreshment. Head down to the lake shore to walk through the park and take in the views - you can even rent your own little boat for up to 3 hours (click the link below). For those who want to stay land locked, there is plenty of cute stores to peruse as well.
This lakeside town is nearest to the celebration venue, offering great dining options for all appetites. Some cliff notes: - COV combines Minnesota nice with Nantucket vibes, offering great views from their patio - McCormick's is a classic Irish pub - Josephina has great bougie pizzas - The Grocer's Table offers local farmhouse style food options - Benedict's, as advertised, has amazing breakfast - 6Smith is for all you meat lovers out there - Macanda offers an eclectic mix of global flavors in a traditional Mexican structure (their words, not ours)
The old Warehouse District turned mid-20s hotspot, the North Loop offers plenty of restaurants and bars all within easy walking distance. Head to Graze for an indoor/outdoor two story bar that offers rotating food options with views of the MN Twins Stadium. Stop by Nolos for a Fried Rice Breakfast Bowl, or RISE Bagel for some artisanal morning grease. Speaking of grease, Parlour offers one of the best burgers in town. And finally, because you're coming to the land of sky blue waters, venture into Cuzzy's for an ice cold Hamms.
Come check out our neighborhood! We live on an island in the Mississippi River, but don't let that deter you as it is easily accessible. There are great walking paths and loops that will bring you along the riverfront, with St. Anthony Main (east side of the river) offering great patios with live music. Just up the road you'll find Gorkha Place (one of our fave Indian Restaurants), a cute wine and cheese bar called Surdyks with a side restaurant that will open up it's walls when the weather is nice, and Fletchers Ice Cream shop...try the Lemon Poppyseed flavor for a special treat. If you're like us and prefer to stay on an island, the Nicollet Inn offers a cozy dining room and intimate vibes. Link down below for those interested. About 5 minutes away you'll find one of our favorite MN breweries - Indeed. They offer great beers with cool artwork and vibes. Right next door is Centro, our taco stop of choice in the area.
Just on the outskirts of Minneapolis you can find three lakes with great walking paths, restaurants options along the way, and vibrant city energy. Lake of the Isles - Roughly 3 mile walking loop - About 5 blocks off the east side of the lake, you can venture up towards the city for delicious treats like Isles Bun and Coffee (get the puppy dog tails!), Bogart's Doughnut Co, or Sebastian Joe's for ice cream and / or coffee. Bde Maka Ska - Another ~3 mile loop - Paddle board rentals for those wanting a closer interaction with the water Lake Harriet - Another ~ 3 mile loop (are you sensing a pattern?) - Stop by Bread and Pickle at the Pavilion for some lakeside eats - Head into the vibrant Linden Hills neighborhood where you can find great restaurants like Martina, Rosalia, or Naviya's Thai Kitchen
We had to throw this in here, right? Mall of America is the largest mall in the US with over 5.6 million square feet of retail space. There's an amusement park, aquarium, and Lego Land on top of the myriad options for fried food and window shopping. Great people watching, guaranteed anxiety...what's not to like?
Overlooking the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Park is one of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks, offering a beautiful 53 foot waterfall in an urban setting. Grab some great seafood treats at Sea Salt Eatery located in the park. For the bold, you can rent a bike in Minneapolis and ride the ~7 mile route along the Mississippi River west bank for a pleasant mid-day activity.