Hi All,
My Wife and I are doing a trip to South Dakota and onto Yellowstone NP/Grand Tetons in August 2008. A couple of people we meet on a RTW trip back in 2006 who lived near Minneapolis said the Twin Cities were well worth a visit and so we intend to bolt on some days at the end of our trip to see the cities.
We will fly into Minneapolis initially as we can fly from our local airport in the UK via Amsterdam over to Minn on Northwest (how are Northwest btw?). From here we will pick a car up and then head onwards towards Rapid City (8hrs according to Mapquest) with a stop overnight half way.
After our jaunts through SD and WY we will then head back to Minneapolis from Denver as it is dirt cheap for a one way (拢50pp).
Questions I have are:-
Will we need a car to see Minneapolis and St Paul?
Plan is to go and see the Star Wars exhibit at the Science Museum and the museum itself, catch a Twins game (there is an evening and afternoon game during our stay 8/19 onwards), head out to the Mall of America (has to be done really), maybe go to the theatre, hit some parks, maybe go to Valleyfair, see and possibly tour the state capitol, eat loads of food, chill out with a few cafe stops etc etc. We are open to other suggestions also, please recommend anything you think we would like.
We are used to using trains and buses in the USA, after 10 days+ of long drives in SD %26amp; WY it might suit me to have a rest from driving, but I guess for visits out of the main city area (i.e. Valleyfair if we do it) a car is pretty much essential? We would certainly utilise the light rail for MofA.
Is there really a standout, must stay, hotel in Downtown Minneapolis?
I%26#39;ve done a search on Expedia and most are coming out at around the $175+ range which fits in with our budget. I don%26#39;t mind paying more for a great experience. Any recommendations? The Hilton is the cheapest out of the big chains but I always find them a bit dull, the Marriott looks nice but is more expensive. Would you recommend basing ourselves in Minn the whole time, or would we be better to split say 5 nights between the two cities?
As I said it will be our first visit to the Twin Cities. We have done an awful lot of USA on other trips and also spent 7 weeks back in 2006, so the chance to experience some other cities whilst over in the USA seems an ideal opportunity.
Any advice you can give me for 5 days and nights in mid August onwards would be much appreciated.
Look forward to your replies.
Cheers
Ju123
Hi from the UK, coming over to the Twin Cities.....
You may need a car for ValleyFair, or to get from Minneapolis to St. Paul.
Otherwise it is possible to do your travels by bus.
www.MetroTransit.com
If you can get good rates at Graves 601, or Chambers Hotels, those are very unique.
Otherwise the Minneapolis Grand is very nice and not a chain.
I live in Minneapolis, so I%26#39;d say camp out in Minneapolis for the stay, and just plan a day in St. Paul.
Hi from the UK, coming over to the Twin Cities.....
I think DowntownMinneapolis (as usual) has advised you well, particularly on the hotels.
With the exchange rate you%26#39;ll be enjoying, I would definitely advise you to take a look at the Graves and the Chambers. Both have good locations, and both (never stayed but have been in) will constitute a special experience.
August is a fantastic time to be in Minneapolis -- not as hot (usually) and lots going on -- depending what part of the month you%26#39;ll be here. If late in the month, you have no choice but to go to the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul. Starts Aug. 21. I won%26#39;t even try to do it justice, but it%26#39;s simply a spectacle that you can%26#39;t miss if you%26#39;re hear. Especially the food.
I would rent a car for part of the time if you really want to get around easily. For the part of your stay you will be exploring Minneapolis however, you do not need a car. Buses and the light rail will do. To properly explore Minneapolis, you must take the bus down to Uptown and wander over to the Chain of Lakes. I%26#39;m hugely particular of Lake Harriet on the south end of the chain. It%26#39;s about a 3-mile walk around -- and it%26#39;s gorgeous. Lined by beautiful (massive) homes that really fit our beautiful home architecture. Nice walking areas and the sailboats will be on the lake in August. Best month for them.
From there, you could walk back to Hennepin Avenue and see a little of the Uptown area. Lots of places to stop for beer, wine or whatever you like to drink -- and many places for lunch. If you would like, I could recommend a few.
I think it would make a nice day to do this and perhaps follow Hennepin Avenue up (by foot or bus when you start getting tired) to the Sculpture Garden (free) and (if you like modern art) the magnificent Walker Art Center next door (there is admission for this). After that, cab back to your hotel (7-8 USD) and get cleaned up for dinner! Sounds like a scenic day to me.
Also, it should be noted that to see the Mall of America, you can take the light rail from downtown Minneapolis right to the mall. You will see the stops for the airport along the way, which I presume you%26#39;ll be needing later.
Also worth seeing (and along the light rail path) is Minnehaha Park. Giant historic park filled with limestone and sandstone bluffs featuring a creek that falls over a 60-foot ridge into a beautiful pool below and then flows a few miles down into the Mississippi (where I go fishing sometimes). That%26#39;s a nice walk along the creek. Or you yould follow the path (biking is the best option if you could find rental) down to along the Mississippi River flood plain to Fort Snelling and the park nearby. That park or the main area of Minnehaha Park are excellent for picnics.
I%26#39;m sure as we learn more about what you guys like in terms of food and nightlife we can assist more.
Thanks both for your replies.
I have just been on the Minnesota State Fair website as I had been made aware of that already. It does coincide with our dates, so I am thinking we should pencil ourselves in for a day there. I%26#39;m guessing it will reachable via bus to St Paul from Downtown Minneapolis if we opt away from the car? Also, the discount day sounds a good idea on the 21st, but am keen to know just how busy it will be?
To be honest I would rather avoid the need for a car. As I have stated I will have driven for 10 days solid around SD %26amp; WY and down to Denver, so it will be a nice break to use our legs and public transportation, plus of course we will not have to stump up any parking charges at the downtown hotels, many of which I see do charge.
As for what we like re: food and drink. We are certainly not fancy eaters and pretty much like anything American. We are partial to the Cheesecake Factory which I know makes a few Americans laugh, but believe me we have nothing of that quality and portion size in the UK. I appreciate the CF in Minneapolis is in the suburbs. We also like sports bars, and will show an interest in whatever American sport is being shown on the televisions whilst sipping a cool beer and fighting over a bowl of hot wings. Although we are huge pub fans in the UK and head out most weekends we are not big on a huge bar scene in the US, and would just be happy with a couple of decent bars serving good quality and value food. We%26#39;ll have 5 nights, so any recommendations would be appreciated.
As I said we hope to catch one of the Twins games during our time as they are playing Oakland. The 19th will be arrival day but I have no problem with going to the game that night, alternatively there is a lunchtime game the following day. Any recommendations as to what would be best? I%26#39;m thinking evening but am open to suggestions. Is it easy to get to the ballpark from downtown?
Hope this has helped give you an idea of what we are looking for. The fact it is a new city is exciting enough, but obviously we will want to fill those days as best we can.
Thanks again
Ju123
The Metrodome is downtown too - you could walk, or there%26#39;s a stop on the light rail for it.
The ball park is downtown. Really depends on which hotel you choose, but many are within walking distance to a light-rail station, and the train will take you to the ballpark. You will need the Downtown/Metrodome East station. If you get on the light rail downtown on game day, you don%26#39;t need a ticket to go to the Downtown East/Metrodome station. It%26#39;s a free zone on game days.
I wish we had a better ballpark to offer you. It%26#39;s a domed stadium, but if you enjoy baseball, and you enjoy beer and hot dogs, you will have a good time. But I always dream of 2010 when the city will open an roofless stadium for baseball. Those will be good times.
For a sports bar sure to tick your boxes of cold been and wings (and TVs everywhere) you can hit Champps on 1st Avenue. It%26#39;s a chain, which I generally don%26#39;t like, but it%26#39;s food is good (pub food) and anything you want to watch (at least American sports) will be on. For a change, head down the street to Rosen%26#39;s, also on First Avenue. Grab a pitcher of Summit and take in some sports action. Food is good there, too.
Now when I say good, it%26#39;s pub food good. Minneapolis features far better options for dinner if you%26#39;re not watching sports.
As for the fair, the first day will no doubt be busy. But the fair in general is busy. I wouldn%26#39;t worry about reduced rates -- it%26#39;s about $9 to get in the gates.
You can find bus info on the Web site. They run about a billion buses to and from the fairgrounds.
Glad you will get to see the fair. It%26#39;s a food lover%26#39;s paradise. Beer available too (again, Summit is the local brew and far better than your standard American offerings). The fair is a classic slice of Americana -- people watching, food, rides, strange sights. Fun day. Although as I said, always pretty crowded. But a necesary evil to get into some great fun. I really like going early evening -- maybe 5-6 p.m. and being there as the sun goes down and the crowds thin a bit. The Midway is all lit up too. You can win your wife a giant teddy bear.
Oh, I forgot. If you can get a seat at Hubert%26#39;s before the Twins game, do it. The place can be a madhouse full of Twins fans but it%26#39;s the best place to go before a game. Best sports bar downtown on game day, although outside of game day the TVs aren%26#39;t that great.
It%26#39;s right across from the Metrodome, on the corner of 6th Street And Chicago Avenue. Look for the blinking wihte lights on the sign.
Hi,
I%26#39;ll toss in some ideas, too. The Walker and Sculpture garden are a must - but also consider dinner there. It%26#39;s pricey at the Walker%26#39;s Wolfgang Puck resaurant but appetizers are fabulous works of art and gastronomic pleasures. Sit in the glass corner and view the city. Or - cross the street to La Belle Vie for a step back in time. On the weekend there is a farmer%26#39;s market north of the Walker that is fun to stroll, lots of imports from our different ethnic groups, foods to eat on the spot. I would also suggest staying in one city and visiting the other. They are so close and the energy and time packing, checking in and out are not worth it. St. Paul has the Science Museum, as you mentioned but also the Minnesota History Center (not far) that will give lots of easy history of the area, including our Native story. You could do both in a day and hit a nice pub or delightful Mexican lunch on the patio in-between. Our capitol building is very beautiful and we have a cathedral that is outstanding by US standards. Both are domed and I believe built on the principles of St. Peters at The Vatican. As far as Uptown, it is a great area. I might be inclined to hit Lunds groceries in the area, make a picnic to take to the lakes. Only problem - not all grocery stores have wine or beer. If you care to drink outside a restaurant, you will want to keep your eyes open for a liquor store. Stella%26#39;s restaurant in Uptown has rooftop seating - rather fun. Lucia%26#39;s has curbside seating. They do it well and the food is great. They also have a bakery with treats to die for. Back to the lakes, you can rent a canoe or rollerblades. There is a rose garden where people often get married and a beach, too. Wonderful people watching/dog watching. In Uptown there are 2 quality theaters that show many independent films, if you find the need to relax on a rainy or beastly hot day.
If you want some good and cheap Italian while you%26#39;re down by the Science Museum stop at Cossetta%26#39;s. Sit outside and eat and you can see some really interesting characters coming and going. Make sure you try their tiramisu for dessert - fantastic. Also around that area is the James J. Hill house - its a guided house tour. HUGE mansion, very interesting and fun to go through.
I also recommend the state fair afternoon to early evening - after that point it can get kinda hectic by the beer garden/Midway area (all the teenagers seem to like to hang around there).
As far as hotels downtown, in addition to the Chambers http://www.chambersminneapolis.com/ and the Graves 601 http://graves601hotel.com/ there is also a fairly new Westin starwoodhotels.com/westin/鈥?/a> and the new Ivy Hotel starwoodhotels.com/luxury/鈥?/a>
Also, in late July, the new W Hotel will open starwoodhotels.com/whotels/鈥?/a>
You mentioned theater. If you enjoy the Little House on the Prairie TV series, or the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, the Guthrie Theater will be presenting the World Premiere of a new musical based on the books (scroll down the page to information): guthrietheater.org/media_room/releases/dowli鈥?/a>
Hope this helps.
Wow, thanks again all for your replies.
What is the deal with Starwood opening all these new hotels in Minneapolis?
I think we have a great idea on how to fill our expected 5 days and nights, the state fair sounds great and it would be a shame to miss something that is uniquely Minnesota. I think also the Art Museum and Sculpture Gardens sounds like a good idea also, as well as the Uptown ideas. Pretty much everything really.
The general census of opinion (between the two of us) is to not get a car for this part of the trip. We are happy to get the bus or light rail to various areas and think we will probably be able to do most attractions that way. In St Paul, is the Cathedral, Museum of Science and State Capitol all within walking distance of each other or even a short bus ride?
By the way on the topic of restaurants, I am up for some suggestions other than sports bars. Like I said nothing too fancy but it would be nice to keep out of the national chains and try a local restaurant. In Atlanta last week, the Flying Biscuit Cafe was a major hit and we were very glad we went.
Thanks again for your help. It has certainly given me some food for though in planning these 5 days in Minn/St Paul.
Ju123
No comments:
Post a Comment