Tricia Cornell - Moon Minneapolis & St. Paul

Tricia Cornell

I like Hollywood. I just like Minneapolis a little bit better. Those are the immortal words of Minnesotas favorite son, Prince Rogers Nelson, who famously made his home and recorded his music in the suburb of Chanhassen. Youd be hard-pressed to find a native Minnesotan who disagreed. Nothing against the rest of the world: We just like it a lot here. That kind of hometown pride is visible on T-shirts and caps youll see all around town. And its also evident in the way we live our lives. Were out, enjoying what every corner of the cities has to offer. That means hitting the trails, seeking out the water (you wont have to look far), finding a festival, going to a play or a concert every night, becoming a regular at a taproom, and developing strong opinions on the best bnh m in town.

St. Paul is compact, pretty, and offers plenty in the way of sights and classic neighborhood bars. Minneapolis is the glitzy twin and the hub of the arts and music scene. Both cities are buzzing year-round. Far from hibernating, we embrace the winter. Joggers put on an extra layer, windsurfers transform into ice surfers, cyclists install winter tires, and skiers exult. And when temperatures climb back above freezing, the whole process begins again: the lakefronts, river paths, and outdoor restaurants fill with people who enjoy spring more than anyone else on earth. Yes, it can get a little cold here. And we love it.

You know how they say that the best part of having out-of-town guests is getting to play tourist in your own home city? Well, in Minneapolis and St. Paul, people turn that aphorism on its head: The best part of being a tourist in the Twin Cities is pretending youre a local. The truth is, there arent any touristy areas here, because the best things to do are what the locals do.

Minneapolis waterfront along the Mississippi River

farmers market in Minneapolis

Minnehaha Falls

the St. Anthony neighborhood

Scandinavian-style sandwich

Lake Harriet

Get Out on the Water: Whether youre interested in paddling and cruising or strolling and bicycling alongside the water, youve got options aplenty here, from the .

Experience Life in the : Its a whole world up there in the elevated walkways connecting buildings in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, where you can shop, dine, and watch the locals in their native habitat.

See Live : On any given night you can choose from a dozen or more shows ranging from the pioneering to the world-renowned.

Enjoy Festivals: From events celebrating arts and music to the Minnesota State Fair, youll find a festival nearly every weekend in the season.

Sample Diverse Cuisine: From multiethnic , the Twin Cities benefit from their immigrant communities.

Go : With hundreds of miles of bike trails, Minneapolis and St. Paul offer great options for exploration on two wheels.

Crawl the Brewpubs and : With dozens of breweries in the Twin Cities, its not hard to find a taproom to fit your style.

Browse Farmers : Farmers markets are beloved here, and on weekends especially it seems the whole city converges on neighborhood outposts to shop, snack, and schmooze.

Discover the : One of the premier contemporary art museums in the country is an indoor and outdoor delight right on the edge of downtown Minneapolis.

Embrace the Cold: Whether enjoying the , the Twin Cities sinks into the wintry weather.

THE BEST OF THE TWIN CITIES

Divide and conquer is the best way to squeeze the best the Twin Cities have to offer into just two days. If you go by foot, plan on three or four miles of walking a day.

DAY 1

Start your tour where Minneapolis began, on the Mississippi River. On a summer Saturday, grab a pastry, coffee, and even an early-morning bratwurst at the Mill City Farmers Market.

Theres plenty right on the riverfront to fill a morning: the