Minneapolis Saint Paul Official Visitors Guide to the Twin Cities 2013 : Page 10

Top 1 0 MusT-see spoTs WHAT TO DO A visit to Minneapolis Saint Paul wouldn’t be complete without experiencing these top sights. 1. Minnesota Zoo Encompassing 500 acres with close to 3,000 animals and 504 species, the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley has enough to offer a full day of entertainment. Don’t miss the Black Bear , Penguins of the African Coast or Russia’s Grizzly Coast exhibits, or a chance to catch a movie at the adjacent Great Clips IMAX Theatre. 2. Mall of America At Mall of America, shopping, dining and entertainment options await around every corner. Experience life under the sea at SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium, where you can travel through a tunnel 14-feet below the water’s surface and spot more than 10,000 exciting sea creatures. For kid-themed thrills, check out Nickelodeon Universe, the nation’s largest indoor family park with more than 30 rides, arcade games and attractions. 3. Chain of Lakes Minnesota Zoo We weren’t named the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” for nothing. In Minneapolis you’ll find 13.3 miles of pathways that encircle the Chain of Lakes, including Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. Surrounded by parkland, this area is the park sys-tem’s most popular destination. ZOO PhOtO COurteSy Of the MinneSOta ZOO; StOne arCh PhOtO COurte Sy Of exPlOre MinneSOta 4. Mill City Museum Located on the Mississippi Riverfront, Mill City Museum is a place for learners of all ages to discover the history of the flour industry, and how it influenced the city of Minneapolis. Head to the ninth floor observation deck for a view of St. Anthony Falls, take an eight-story elevator ride through an exhibit, or see how Minneapolis became a city in 19 minutes flat. 5. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory The whole family will enjoy seeing the polar bears, zebras, lemurs and 1,000 other animals that call the Como Zoo home. After spending time with the animals, check out Como Town, the adjacently located kid-centered amusement park, or the beautiful displays of exotic plants at the conservatory gardens. 6. Waterparks There’s always poolside fun at one of our area’s indoor water parks. Weave in and out of the building on a number of slides at Water Park of America in Bloomington, the country’s largest indoor waterpark, or splash at the Waterpark at The Depot in Minneapolis. Find more water-themed fun at the Venetian Indoor Water Park in Maple Grove or at Shoreview Community Center. 10 | Minneapolis Saint Paul Official Visitors Guide 2013

What To Do

Top 10 MusT-see spoTs Visit to Minneapolis Saint Paul wouldn’t be complete without experiencing these top sights. 1. Minnesota Zoo Encompassing 500 acres with close to 3,000 animals and 504 species, the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley has enough to offer a full day of entertainment. Don’t miss the Black Bear, Penguins of the African Coast or Russia’s Grizzly Coast exhibits, or a chance to catch a movie at the adjacent Great Clips IMAX Theatre. 2. Mall of America At Mall of America, shopping, dining and entertainment options await around every corner. Experience life under the sea at SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium, where you can travel through a tunnel 14-feet below the water’s surface and spot more than 10,000 exciting sea creatures. For kid-themed thrills, check out Nickelodeon Universe, the nation’s largest indoor family park with more than 30 rides, arcade games and attractions. 3. Chain of Lakes We weren’t named the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” for nothing. In Minneapolis you’ll find 13.3 miles of pathways that encircle the Chain of Lakes, including Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. Surrounded by parkland, this area is the park system’s most popular destination. 4. Mill City Museum Located on the Mississippi Riverfront, Mill City Museum is a place for learners of all ages to discover the history of the flour industry, and how it influenced the city of Minneapolis. Head to the ninth floor observation deck for a view of St. Anthony Falls, take an eight-story elevator ride through an exhibit, or see how Minneapolis became a city in 19 minutes flat. 5. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory The whole family will enjoy seeing the polar bears, zebras, lemurs and 1,000 other animals that call the Como Zoo home.After spending time with the animals, check out Como Town, the adjacently located kid-centered amusement park, or the beautiful displays of exotic plants at the conservatory gardens. 6. Waterparks There’s always poolside fun at one of our area’s indoor water parks. Weave in and out of the building on a number of slides at Water Park of America in Bloomington, the country’s largest indoor waterpark, or splash at the Waterpark at The Depot in Minneapolis. Find more water-themed fun at the Venetian Indoor Water Park in Maple Grove or at Shoreview Community Center. 7. Valleyfair Valleyfair, the Midwest’s largest amusement park, offers fun for all ages and courage levels with an assortment of thrill, family and kid rides. After you’ve been launched into 360-degree spirals on Steel Venom or hung out with the Peanut’s gang at Planet Snoopy, check out life-sized animated dinosaurs at the park’s newest addition, Dinosaurs Alive! 8. Canterbury Park Put on your betting shoes and head to Canterbury Park, an entertainment destination filled with fun and games. Watch live horse races (seasonal) or get in on the action of America’s top racetracks with year-round simulcasting. After the races, hit the 24-hour casino games room for poker, blackjack and other table games. 9. Minnesota State Capitol Immerse yourself in state history at the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul. Designed by local architect Cass Gilbert, it has been considered one of the most beautiful public buildings in the country and has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. 10. Stone Arch Bridge Made of native granite and limestone, the Stone Arch Bridge spans 2,100 feet across the Mississippi River. The bridge’s 23 arches have made it a standout landmark, not to mention the only one of its kind on the river. Spend Time. Not Money. Forget Your Wallet—On Purpose SpeND TIMe. NoT MoNeY. DINING Free Food (for the kids) Play your cards right and kids eat free at a number of Minneapolis Saint Paul’s best restaurants. Uptown Minneapolis’ Bar Abilene offers a great early-evening spot for families to nosh and D’Amico & Sons has nearly a dozen locations throughout the metro. Most require the purchase of an adult entrée, have age restrictions, and only apply to a specific day of the week, so be sure to call ahead. On Tuesdays at Mall of America, kids eat free at a number of different restaurants, including Crave and Twin City Grill. It’s not quite free, but Mickey’s Dining Car offers cheap eats for all ages. Plus, parts of The Mighty Ducks were filmed here! FAMILY Fun-for-all Families flock to Como Park Zoo & Conservatory ($1-$2 suggested donation) for its fantastic variety of plants and animals. There’s also a kiddie amusement park called Como Town filled with rides that will entertain the kids for hours. “Wee Wednesdays” at the Midtown Global Market offers fun, educational programming for tykes 5 and under. Afterwards kids can enjoy a free meal at participating vendors. There’s an attraction at Bloomington’s Mall of America that doesn’t cost a dime—the “living room” at the Lego store where kids construct fanciful creations at the store’s open play tables. Enjoy flowers and fresh air at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Always free for kids 15 and under, the 1,000-acre natural paradise is free for everyone Thursdays November through March and the third Thursday evening (4:30-8 p.m.) the rest of the year. LANDMARKS Touring Town Get insider access to Minneapolis Saint Paul landmarks on the cheap. Several Saint Paul landmarks offer tours including the Beaux Arts-styled Cathedral of Saint Paul (donations encouraged), State Capitol ($5 suggested donation) and Landmark Center. Nestled in the heart of downtown between Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis Central Library offers tours highlighting architectural elements of its César Pelli-designed building. Summit Brewing Company offers free tours showing off its copper brew kettles, fermentation cellar and bottle-house (reservations required; nonperishable food donations for Second Harvest Heartland requested). Kids are welcome and there’s a free beer sampler for adults at the conclusion of the tour. SIGHTS Enjoying the View For a bird’s eye view of downtown Minneapolis step out onto the Foshay Tower’s observation deck (free for kids 12 and under). One of the highest points in Minneapolis, Prospect Park provides a stunning view of the downtown skyline at sunset. While you’re there, admire the Witch’s Hat water tower; built in 1913, it’s now a neighborhood icon. Stroll down Saint Paul’s historic Summit Avenue and enjoy the longest stretch of preserved Victorian architecture in the country, including the Governor’s Mansion and James J. Hill House. MUSEUMS Exhibits to Explore Experience many of Minneapolis Saint Paul’s cultural institutions without spending a dime. Admire the vast collection of paintings, sculptures and more at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (special exhibits require admission) or the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum, both free any day of the week. Also on the University of Minnesota campus, the Bell Museum of Natural History offers free admission on Sundays. Thanks to locally-headquartered Target, carefully scheduled visits to the Minnesota Children’s Museum (third Sunday of the month) and Walker Art Center (Thursday evenings) can save you cash. The Walker is also free the first Saturday of every month and to all under age 18. Adjacent to the Walker, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, featuring Minneapolis’ iconic Spoonbridge & Cherry fountain-sculpture, is always free. EVENTS Taking it to the Streets Each June, Grand Old Day marks the unofficial start of summer while celebrating Saint Paul’s historic shopping street.Minneapolis’ Aquatennial celebrates “the best days of summer” the following month with 10 days of fireworks, parades and concerts, many of which are free. Summer in Minneapolis Saint Paul means free outdoor concerts; check out Peavey Plaza outside Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis for free concerts of all genres put on by the Minnesota Orchestra (the recently renovated plaza and hall will reopen for the 2013-2014 season) and Saint Paul’s Mears Park for Thursday evening concerts all summer long. When the snow starts falling, Minneapolis gets in the holiday spirit with its festive Holidazzle parades down Nicollet Mall, while Saint Paul joins the action in January with the “Coolest Celebration on Earth”—the annual Winter Carnival. OUTDOORS Nature’s Playground Use pedal power and a Nice Ride bike (free for the first half hour) to explore Minneapolis Saint Paul’s bike paths at a leisurely pace. For a day under the sun head to one of the 929 metro area lakes. There’s only one waterfall on the Mississippi River—St.Anthony Falls—and it’s just upstream of the historic Stone Arch Bridge. Take a walk out to the middle of this pedestrian-friendly landmark and wonder at the industrial history of Minneapolis’ birthplace. Head to Minnehaha Falls to see the city’s other natural water works; take a hike along the 53-foot waterfall to discover why it was the inspiration behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Song of Hiawatha.

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