Minneapolis and St. Paul are filed with iconic locations, here are some of our favorites:

Minneapolis

• Stone Arch Bridge
• Basilica of St. Mary
• Walker Art Center
• Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (home of the Spoonbridge and Cherry)
• Minnehaha Falls
• Minneapolis City Hall
• Mill City Museum
• Guthrie Theater
• Foshay Tower
• U.S. Bank Stadium
• Target Field
• Weisman Art Museum
• American Swedish Institute
• Gold Medal Flour Sign
• Capella Tower
• Skyline view from I-35W bridge
• Grain Belt Beer Sign
• Skyways
• First Avenue
• Minneapolis Institute of Art
• Music Mural
• Witch’s Hat Water Tower

St. Paul

• Minnesota State Capitol
• Landmark Center
• Cathedral of St. Paul
• Fort Snelling
• Marjorie McNeely Conservatory 
• Minnesota Historical Society
• Science Museum of Minnesota
• Xcel Energy Center
• James J. Hill House
• Union Depot
• Wabasha Street Caves

While there are none in the immediate area. The closest ones include:

• LTD Brewing
• Steel Toe Brewing
• Utepils Brewing
• LynLake Brewery

As you get closer and closer to Minneapolis and St. Paul, the number increases exponentially. Some of our favorites are:

• Surly Brewing Co.
• Lakes and Legends Brewing Company
• Lake Monster Brewing
• Indeed Brewing Company

Downtown East Commons, or, the Commons, in downtown Minneapolis adds 4.2 more acres of sprawling Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass to Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s already impressive 6,804 acres of green space blanketing the city and its suburbs.

A view of U.S. Bank Stadium from the Great Lawn.

Neighboring U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings, Downtown East Commons trades in the steel girders, asphalt sidewalks, towering skyscrapers and other manmade works of art for the creations of the greatest artist on the planet, Mother Earth. Divided into two separate pieces, the eastern portion—also known as the Great Lawn— features plenty of open, green space to serve as ground zero for game day festivities and massive amounts of people during the football season, as well as a jungle gym and water jets for the little ones—or anyone—to run through, while the western piece serves as the quieter sibling featuring a spread of trees and shrubbery for a more natural aesthetic, along with the Edition apartments complex. All throughout both sections, visitors will find nearly 200 trees, including honeylocusts, oaks, pines and more, as well as native flowers such as hydrangeas, grey owl juniper and redtwigged dogwood, making it the perfect lunchtime hangout and office getaway.

 

 

 

 

If you’re thinking about move to the Twin Cities, we’d be happy to have you. A great place to start beginning your plan to move here would be the relocation guide. Inside, you’ll find resources on healthcare, education options, the business community and more.

But if you want something more focused, some of our favorite neighborhoods include:

•Lowertown in St. Paul
•Cathedral Hill in St. Paul
•North Loop in Minneapolis
•Uptown in Minneapolis
•Edina
•Excelsior
•Grand Avenue in St. Paul
•Linden Hills in Minneapolis
•St. Louis Park
•Richfield

Each of these areas boast a myriad of things to do and see, from award-winning restaurants to parks and green spaces that make it easy to get out and explore.

For restaurant recommendations, it’s tough to go wrong here. “Eat Street” in Minneapolis has been affectionately named for all the delicious eateries lining it—Pimento Jamaican Kitchen, My Huong Kitchen and Icehouse, just to name a few. For a complete guide, head over to our restaurant page for more options.

For schools, the Minnesota Department of Education has a fantastic website that allows you to look at statistics from every school district in the state. Some of these stats include student/teacher ratio, graduation rate and proficiency scores in reading, math and science to get you started.

If you’d like even more information, you can always purchase one of our many guides for an in-depth look.

The Commons Hotel is smack-dab in the heart of the University of Minnesota campus, so there’s always a buzz in the air.

Gopher Football: If you’re a college football fan, you’re in luck. The Gophers take on Middle Tennessee State Saturday, Sept. 16, and Maryland Saturday, Sept. 30.

Metro Transit Light Rail: Just outside the hotel, you’ll have access to Metro Transit’s Green Line, which will transport you to downtown Minneapolis or downtown St. Paul depending on which direction you’re headed. Each city is full of activities and sights to see. Downtown St. Paul is home to the Capitol, historic Landmark Center, Wabasha Street Caves, Xcel Energy Center, Science Museum and more. Taking it to downtown Minneapolis will put you on the doorsteps of Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, Target Center, home to the Timberwolves and other events, an extremely active nightlife and a variety of award-winning restaurants.

You could also take the Green Line to downtown Minneapolis, and then hop on the Blue Line which will give you a one-way ticket to the Mall of America. The best part of all this? A ticket will only cost you a couple bucks. Plus, you can get off at any of the stops along the route to get out and explore if you choose to do so.

Another option is the Weisman Art Museum which is truly in walking distance from the Commons Hotel. Designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry, the museum’s permanent collection includes more than 25,000 works of art, and is truly one of the most uniquely designed buildings in the Twin Cities.

Minnehaha Regional Park features a towering 53-foot waterfall amongst 167 sprawling green acres just outside the city limits, and admission to the park is completely free, and the Chain of Lakes (Brownie, Calhoun, Cedar, Isles and Harriet) are a favorite for locals, are within walking distance of each other, and are a great spot for taking pictures. 

The brand new home for the Minnesota Vikings, U.S. Bank Stadium, offers 90-minute tours exploring the state-of-the-art facility.

For dining, Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge is a restaurant you can’t pass up. Their kitschy and tropical decor, location right on the banks of the Mississippi River and island vibe make it an oasis in the heart of the city.

The METRO Transit system has not only made it easy to travel between Bloomington, downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul, but it has also encouraged neighborhood growth along its stops. It has created a lifestyle—and an enviable one at that—with light rail cars routinely packed with sports fans, downtown cube dwellers and travelers with suitcases. Thanks to its influence, formerly sleepy neighborhoods in South Minneapolis like Longfellow, Powderhorn Park, Midtown and Kingfield are all hot properties again. South Minneapolis encompasses several bustling neighborhoods, such as the lakefront shopping and nightlife district Uptown and the foodie paradises found at Midtown Global Market in Midtown/Phillips and along Eat Street. However, the smaller hoods have a lot to offer to visitors and locals alike, too. Check out some of our favorite activities and cozy neighborhood joints in South Minneapolis:

Catch a Show

East of Hiawatha are quiet neighborhoods filled with craftsman bungalows and hidden treasures such as the Riverview Theater, known for its class movie house space, cheap seats and popcorn made with real butter. Pull up a seat at Uptown Theatre for an independent or foreign film with a beer or glass of wine in hand. South Minneapolis is also home to the performing and comedic arts with the Children’s Theatre Co., In the Heart of the Beast puppet theater, Frank Theatre, Jungle Theater and HUGE Improv Theater.

Diners and Coffee Shops Galore

Visitors are in for a treat with a smattering of mom-and-pop restaurants in town. For good ‘ol diner fare, head to Matt’s Bar and Grill (inventor of the Juicy Lucy burger), The Tiny Diner, The Malt Shop, Hi-Lo Diner, or Nighthawks Diner & Bar, and find farm-to-table dishes at Corner Table, Wise Acre Eatery, Colossal Cafe, Blackbird and Birchwood Cafe. Other standout eateries in the area include sushi at Kyatchi, Latin plates at Hola Arepa, brunch at Tilia and vegan eats at Modern Times.

Twin Cities locals love getting their cup o’ joe from local coffee houses, and South Minneapolis is no exception. With too many cozy neighborhood cafes to name, here are a handful of our favorites: Five Watt Coffee, Vicinity Coffee, Peace Coffee, Dogwood Coffee Bar and Spyhouse Coffee.

Get Outside

When entertaining out of town guests, make sure to bring them to Minnehaha Regional Park, whose winding winding trails lead to a 53-foot urban waterfall. Also in Minnehaha, one may visit the classic Longfellow House for some Minneapolis history and information on the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, a 50-mile scenic tour through the city via car, bicycle or foot. Other popular scenic locales include the Chain of Lakes (don’t miss live music and outdoor movies every summer at the Lake Harriet Bandshell) and Lake Nokomis, which is famous for hosting the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships every winter but is just as active in the warmer months.

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Formally the long vacant Sears and Roebuck building, Midtown Exchange has transformed into an award-winning, mixed-use hub. The art deco space, which holds a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, houses lofts, condos and apartments, the Sheraton Midtown Minneapolis Hotel, Midtown Global Market, which is the city’s largest public market, as well as a Hennepin County Service Center and the headquarters of Allina Hospitals and Clinics. This diversely populated building fits well in this artsy neighborhood that also supports the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, an ArtCar Parade and signature May Day festival.

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