Minneapolis

A modern American city, Minneapolis is a picturesque destination offering an abundance of cultural activities. As part of the Twin Cities, which also includes the charming St. Paul, Minneapolis is an ideal place to visit for travelers who wish to explore the city’s extensive green spaces, visit world-renowned museums, and enjoy the bustling nightlife.

Tourists are well aware of the most popular attractions in Minneapolis, but a worldwide local knows how to experience them from a different point of view. This insider’s travel guide allows you to discover numerous hidden gems in Minneapolis, and offers useful tips from the locals.

Built in 2006, the Minneapolis Central Library is a great place to start your Minneapolis travel adventure. Well-known for its magnificent interior, this 350,000 square foot building, houses a collection of nearly 3 million items and serves as one of the best cultural centers in Minneapolis. 

Art lovers should not miss the Walker Art Center, which focuses mostly on contemporary art. This award-winning facility is home to dozens of exhibition galleries where you can admire visual and performing arts. To keep you entertained, this art center boasts a lovely theater, cinema, and a few dining establishments. 

To snap some cool photos for your Instagram account, head out to the 23- arch Stone Arch Bridge. It offers spectacular views of the Minneapolis skyline and the best time to visit it is at night when the bridge is all lit up.

Worldwide Local Tip: Featuring an extraordinary trail system with nearly 200 Nice Ride bike stations, Minneapolis is ranked as one of the best cities for cyclists in the United States. The procedure for renting bicycles is quite simple. Rent a bike at one of the bike stations and return it to any Nice Ride location in the city.  

Often overlooked by more popular museums in Minneapolis, the Bakken Museum is a small science venue situated in a charming mansion on Lake Calhoun. It was founded by the inventor of the first transistorized pacemaker, Earl Bakken, and is a perfect place to visit for families traveling with children. Whether you wish to check out the fun Frankenstein’s Laboratory or get to know how electricity operates in our bodies, there are plenty of attractions here to keep you entertained, for a couple of hours. 

Adrenaline junkies can head out to Valleyfair, an amusement park with dozens of cool rides including the popular Steel Venom and Wild Thing. If you are visiting during summer, expect to find numerous water rides at this lovely amusement park.

Worldwide Local Tip: Beer lovers will be happy to hear that there are numerous Northeast Minneapolis breweries, including places like Indeed Brewing, Dangerous Man, Insight Brewery, Sociable Ciderworks, and many others. Located in downtown’s North Loop district, Modist is a nice brewery where you can learn more about Minnesotan beer. Here, they will tell you everything there is to know about the crafting process and you will have a chance to enjoy a tasting flight.

With multiple floors and hundreds of retail shops, the Mall of America is one of the biggest malls in the country. It has a theme park, movie theatre, an aquarium, and dozens of some of the most excellent Minneapolis restaurants. For a more local shopping experience, visit the Retro Wanderlust in Hopkins, which sells a wide variety of vintage items, such as mid-century furniture, glassware and light fixtures. 

There is a reason while Minneapolis is nicknamed “the City of Lakes.” Places like Cedar Lake, Lake Harriet, and Lake of the Isles boast a variety of ways to enjoy the Minneapolis weather, offering leisure activities such as sailing, sunbathing, canoeing, and windsurfing. 

Nestled along the western bank of the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Park is famed for its spectacular Minnehaha Falls, which is definitely a must-see natural attraction when visiting Minneapolis. In the park, you will find dozens of lovely gardens, as well as miles of trails which are ideal for cycling and hiking.

Worldwide Local Tip: The Juicy Lucy burger is probably the most famous local dish here in Minneapolis. It’s basically a cheeseburger where the cheese is stuffed in the middle of the meat. An interesting fact is that two local bars have been arguing since the 1950s over who invented this signature Minneapolis burger. You can grab a bite of Juicy Lucy at the 5-8 Club or check out the Matt’s Bar, where it is also served.

The classic Minneapolis charm ensures that your visit becomes an unforgettable experience. Exploring the city as a worldwide local allows you to discover both the finest sights and the lesser-known attractions in Minneapolis.