twins via light rail

We are staying at the Sheraton Bloomington on Normandale Blvd on our way back (to northern NJ)from South Dakota. Besides MOA, we are going to a Sunday afternoon (1pm)Twins game on 8/3. My question concerns the light rail system. Is it generally a safe, easy and convenient way to get to the game ?. The hotel has a shuttle to the MOA and I figured we could take the rail from there. Besides my wife and I we have 4 children aged 3 to 18. Here in the NYC area the answer would vary widely ! Also, anything else we should check out or know about the area ? Thanks

twins via light rail

I%26#39;m a little torn here.

On one hand, I think the light rail is a fantastic system -- safe, efficient, relatively cheap. Plus, kids love trains. And the thing drops you off right at the Metrodome.

On the other hand, you%26#39;re already taking a shuttle ride to the mall and it%26#39;s a sizable ride from west Bloomington to east Bloomington, getting off the shuttle, waiting for the next train departure then riding it for the 40 minutes or so it takes. Keep in mind that if you take the train for an arrival near the first pitch, it will be jam-packed. And even worse on return, unless you stay downtown for dinner and wait until the crowd dies down.

The crowd waiting for the train heading southbound (toward the mall) is HUGE. However, they do increase the frequency of trains, including event trains that stop only at the Dome in downtown so people can%26#39;t run down the line and get on before the crowd.

I%26#39;d keep these factors in mind when deciding. If you drive, it%26#39;s an easy shot up Highway 100 north to 394 east into downtown. And I could give you easy directions and sugegst cheap parking with a short walk.

Really depends on how you feel and what your timing is like before and after the game.

twins via light rail

Thanks mntoathens. Basically you are saying that if we go early and leave early (or late) its a good way to go. I was hesitant to drive because of parking hassles/expense but if you have a suggestion I would greatly appreciate hearing it. Please note that we planned on getting to the game early to walk around and explore a bit anyway. Also, any other tips for the area would be welcome.

The bigger issue will be the ride home anyway. That%26#39;s when the line is massive to get on the train (though it can be deceiving because there are twice as many trains running and the line moves very fast). But it will be a crowded ride until the riders start to drop off as you hit more stops. I%26#39;ve done it hundreds of times and it%26#39;s fine if you%26#39;re in no hurry, but I just wanted to warn you.

A tip. for the ride to the stadium, buy the 6-hour pass. It%26#39;s just minimally cheaper than buying two single passes but it%26#39;s nice to have the ticket in hand when you leave the Dome and try to get on the train. There is one line to buy tickets and one to board. So you don%26#39;t want to wait in both.

And as I said, you can also have dinner downtown and let the whole crowded ride issue go away. Better options downtown than in Bloomington or at the Mall anyway.

For parking, should you decide on that, you will need to park in a ramp or pay lot, but there are plenty of pay lots you can find for $10 or less (which actually will be cheaper than 5-6 train tickets -- I%26#39;d look into whether the 3 yo needs a ticket for the train). If you would like some to the point directions I can provide them.

I guess I should answer the main question:

Yes, if you go early and return after the line dies down for the train to go back to the mall, it%26#39;s a good, safe way to go. And reduces any anxiety of driving in unfamiliar territory.

Sounds like driving might be the way to go. Around here, similar parking would be way more expensive.A few specific parking ';ramps'; suggestions (around here they ae called garages or decks !) would be great. Also if you have any ideas for a restaurant after the game within a close walk would be appreciated. Somewhere family oriented (no fast food or chain restaurants !) Also is it true restaurants in Mn are smoke free ? We have gotten spoiled here in nj/ny. We no longer have to worry about eating out (kids have asthma). Sorry for all the questions but I really do appreciate the help

Just two quick comments:

as usual, mntoathens is right on.

With a 3 year old, is going early and coming back late really an option?

Its a 1pm day game so the game should be over by 4pm. Our 3 year old is really great - interested in a lot of different things, has a good attention span, and could probably outlast my wife and I staying up at night ! The key, though is keeping him fed.:)

Being that it is a Sunday game regular downtown traffic will not be an issue if you decide to drive. We always park at the meters a block from the Metrodome on the block of Hennipen County Medical Center. Which I think is the South side of the dome. Please correct me if I am wrong. Never had a problem finding a spot, and on Sunday I believe the meters are free. If you have your car you could start your day or end at the Uptown Art Fair going on in Uptown that weekend. It is always a popular event and worth a visit.

For a Sunday afternoon game (especially if the Twins fall out of contention), getting into out of downtown via 100 and 394 (the way we travel to the games) isn%26#39;t a headache. And, if you%26#39;re with family, you can use the diamond (HOV/commuter) dedicated lane. Unless you want the light rail experience, your time to get to the game would be shorter if you drove, avoiding the doubling back route and stops of the light-rail.

When we went this past Sunday (7/5), many close-in surface lots and some ramps wanted $7-10 for parking, but there are also some city ramps-- pay-as-you-exit-with-credit-card-- that charge $5. Look for the any reasonably close $5 ramp. I think cost-wise you%26#39;re better off driving.

And keep in mind there are discount ticket promotions, including: Kemps Kids Day: $20/$7

Two kids receive FREE admission in the Samsung Home Run Porch or Cheap Seats with the purchase of one adult ticket in same section %26amp; coupon for free Kemps IttiBitz or Kemps single (not valid in stadium-- my edit: MAKING IT A LESSER PERK).

Two more hints: the comparatively better soda deal is in the concession stands offering the jumbo soda (not all offer this size* and have only the souvenir cup as the largest available size).

*Only 1 of 3 stands nearest our Sec. 217 seats

One of the best ticket values is the cheap seats in Secs. 209-212. They%26#39;re in the OF but close in the shortened RF, and the curtain limits the sections to under 15 rows. In the 200s sections, anything above the first 10 rows are poor (and particularly not worth $21 face in the upper IF sections), IMO.

If I remember correctly, kids can run the bases after Sunday day games.

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