As Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes, the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul are known as the land of 10,000 things to do. The area enjoys four distinct seasons, offering a true variety of experiences. Take in an outdoor music festival. Be awed by ancient gallery artifacts. Dine at one of the many sidewalk cafés. Visit world renown art galleries and museums.
Get a Taste of Minneapolis
Minneapolis has dining options to meet every palette, from favorite fast-food haunts to four-star cuisine. Distance isn't an issue when it comes to dining downtown. Whether on your own, or in a group, there are numerous options to fit your needs; check out spots within walking range of the MCC. Visit the MCC Visitor Information Center on the first floor of the MCC to get dining recom-mendations and maps to direct you through the skyway system or to unique neighborhood hot spots.
The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) is situated
between two of the most diverse dining areas— "eat street" and downtown
Minneapolis.
Just a few blocks from the MCC is "eat
street" on Nicollet Avenue. In this eclectic area you'll find
diverse restaurants from Greek to Mexican and everything in between.
Sample foods from around the world along this 17-block span.
Shopping in Minneapolis
When most people think of Minneapolis for shopping, they think the Mall of America, but there is much, much more.
For example, there's Southdale, which in 1956, became the first covered, climate-controlled indoor mall in America. It was also the first mall to feature two competing department stores under the same roof. Even after 50 years, with it's 72 stores and over 800,000 SF, it's still one of the hottest suburban shopping destinations.
Then
there's
Nicollet Mall right in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.
Nicollet Avenue is an outdoor pedestrian mall that has very wide
sidewalks surrounding a two-lane taxi-and-buses-only street, promoting a
pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. It has a plethora of upscale
shopping and is a popular dining district. Nicollet Avenue, along
with Hennepin Avenue which is one block to the west, forms the cultural
and commercial heart of the city. One of the trendiest shopping
venues on the mall is
Target's multi-floor flagship store which is quickly becoming the world
headquarters for fashion-forward, innovative design.
With
over 500 shops, entertainment venues, and dining options under one roof,
it's easy to understand why the
Mall of America
is one of the top destinations for shopping in the entire country. One
day just isn't enough to see it all, and each time you come back you're
bound to find a new store or two or three. So even if you've been
there once, plan on coming again.
Minneapolis is a shopping destination! With no sales tax on apparel and endless options, shopping in Minneapolis is sure to have your style covered.
Theater and Nightlife
Perhaps the
Guthrie Theater is the most famous theater in Minnesota, and
with it's new home along the bank of the Mississippi River near the
historic Saint Anthony Falls, it's new location matches it's stature as
a premier venue. Perhaps the Wednesday evening "Night on the Town"
that we've planned will find you nestled in a set in this lovely
theater.
There are also many more place you may want to check out on the "Night on the Town", such as in the historic Hennepin Theater District or in the historic Minneapolis Warehouse District. You won't be lacking for entertaining places to visit when your in town.
Conveniently
located right inside the Minneapolis Convention Center is TCTix,
a local discount ticket outlet featuring great deals – up to 50% off –
on the hottest theater shows, music performances, attraction tickets and
other festivals and events in the Minneapolis area.
When you come to town, check out TC Tix to find the latest deals.
Art Museums
Minneapolis has art crawls, art galleries, and museums on various topics from electricity to social history. The major art museums are the University of Minnesota's Weisman Art Museum, the Walker Art Center, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The Walker and the Minneapolis IofA both featured major architectural innovations in 2006 winning Minneapolis national renown. The others on the list also merit a visit for architectural reasons -- as well as the art displayed in the interior.
Selected Websites for More Information
http://www.minneapolis.org/ ... official site of Minneapolis tourism
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/visitors/
http://www.hennepintheatredistrict.org/
http://www.exploreminnesota.com