in Minneapolis

[funkychunkymonkey]

WHat are the best things to do? Were a history, animal, law enforcement, military loving family. TIA No kids on this trip

 

[bambii]

is

the mall of america. the twins or vikings..

 

[funnygarcia]

Twins games are the hot cool thing right now, saw lots of people downtown today after the game. Lots of them taking the bus and the LRT .. awesome!

Stroll around downtown, take the bus up and down Nicollet Mall - free now from 3rd (by the library) to 12th (by convention center).
Admire our unique skyways crossing overhead, making it possible to walk most of downtown without every setting foot outside in the frigid winter temps!
Take a pic with the Mary Tyler Moore statue in front of Dayton's.. err Macy's. (It will always be Dayton's to this MN gal!)
Not sure when it closes but Macy's 8th floor auditorium has the flower show going on right now. Take the escalators all the way up, it's fun to see the marvel of this very old department store location. There are nice restaurants on the top floor or the deli on basement level.
The farmer's market along Nicollet Mall should be opening soon, or go to the Minneapolis one on the weekend.. it's wonderful and BIG!

Haven't gone but hear good things about Mill City Museum, good for the history lovers. They also have a farmer's marke ton weekends but they have a later kick off date. Most of it is organic, sustainable/local agriculture and some food trucks that get rave reviews. (Twin City people are weirded out by street food, it's a rare thing to have any food trucks).

If you feel adventurous.. go to Lake Street Global Market, lots of yummy places to eat and unique shopping.

From downtown, take the LRT to Mall of America. Good chance to see a few neighborhoods along the way. Passes by Minnehaha Falls area, very pretty and very old... Runs under the airport, runs next to Fort Snelling and the cemetery too.


other ideas...
Minneapolis Institute of Arts is free
Sculpture Garden is free and a chance to see the famous Cherry Spoon.
Northeast is a fun spot for bar hopping, food and shopping.

Science Museum is worth the money and the trip into St Paul.
MN History center is a pleasant visit too.. no longer free.. BOO!
There are tours of the capitol building if you like architecture.

There are tours on Segways in Minneapolis for the old mill traces and the stone arch bridge. Never done that.. but I see them a lot and looks like fun.

 

[funnygarcia]

Resources
http://www.exploreminnesota.com/

http://www.minneapolis.org/
http://www.bloomingtonmn.org/

http://garden.walkerart.org/index.wac
http://www.mallofamerica.com/#/visit/home/visit
http://www.mnhs.org/index.htm
http://www.artsmia.org/
http://www.smm.org/
http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=252

Segway tour..
http://www.humanonastick.com/

Calendars of events.. local papers..
http://www.citypages.com/
http://www.startribune.com

Bus, LRT, Northstar commuter train
http://www.metrotransit.org/

 

[Emeralda]

I am a huge fan of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Whenever I go I can easily spend the whole day there. They have specially exhibits from time to time. Check out there website to see if they have anything going on when you are going. www.artsmia.org/

The Minnesota Zoo is a nice. It is in Apple Valley. www.mnzoo.com/

There is also Como Zoo it is in Saint Paul. There is a conservatory there as well. www.comozooconservatory.org

Fort Snelling has tours I believe. They do historical reenactment there. www.mnhs.org/places/sites/hfs/

Mall of America is worth a trip. www.moa.com/

There is American Swedish Institute www.americanswedishinst.org

Check out to see if any area preforming groups have performances.

There is a lot to do in the Minneapolis Area.

 

[golfgal]

With your interests, Fort Snelling on weekends after Memorial Day would be perfect. A trip out to Stillwater might be fun as well. Both zoo's are worth the trip but if you only have time for one, go to the Minnesota Zoo. The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit is at the science museum right now so depending on when you come, that is a good thing to see. When will you be here?

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Mall of america is our first stop since we will be comming in from lacrosse. Were planning on Labor day weekendish. Moms birthday is sept 1st so its our birthday trip. Anyone been to the firefighters hall and meseum?

 

[golfgal]

Mall of america is our first stop since we will be comming in from lacrosse. Were planning on Labor day weekendish. Moms birthday is sept 1st so its our birthday trip. Anyone been to the firefighters hall and meseum?[/QUOTE]

Nope, didn't even know we had one .

Labor Day weekend will be packed at MOA BUT the state fair is also going on so you should head over to that. They will have extra things going on at Fort Snelling as well (which is just a quick light rail hop from MOA). I would suggest staying at the Country Inn and Suites by the MOA. It is right across the street from MOA and you can walk over to the light rail to take you to Fort Snelling and into Downtown Minneapolis if you are going to go to the museums, etc. there. It is also easy access to Cedar Ave (Hwy 77) to get to the zoo.

 

[ginna74]

Of course the MALL OF AMERICA!! I really can't get enough of this mall lol. The minnesota zoo is really cool. I personally like the embassy suites airport (which is less then a minute from the mall). Their rooms are always clean and neat, they are huge!, and have the biggest free breakfast I have ever been too (cooked to order eggs, sausage, bacon, french toast, all cold breakfast stuff, fruit, yogurt, cereal,donuts, milk, juices, pop, and many more that I can't think of lol). They have a nightly thing too between 5-7 with booze, beer, pop, snack mix, popcorn, chips and salsa. and it is about 130 dollars . Valley fair (amusement park) is in Shakopee and is really fun , but a little pricey. The state fair is REALLY fun. I know people have said all these things , but I am just agreeing.

 

[jme829]

At the Mall of America, Underwater Adventures is nice too. It's a big aquarium..a little pricey but very nice. Like others said, Minnesota Zoo (it'll be about 20 min from MOA), a Twins game (good luck getting tickets though! we've been trying!) Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minnesota History Museum, Fort Snelling.

If you'll be here late summer (August) the Renassaince Festival is great. Go to Stillwater or Hudson (WI where I'm at) and take a Mark Twain riverboat type lunch or breakfast brunch cruise down the St. Croix River, its relatively inexpensive and very relaxing and the food is good (all you can eat). Interstate State Park is nice.

Seriously, there is so much to do , you will not be bored!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Mom hates Ren faires. She wouldnt go with me last year. Were not planning on being at the MOA on labor day, just in the area. Were planning on doing lacrosse, westby, minnieolops and st paul all in the same trip. Moms so excited! Now I gatta design the shirts LOL