Home to remarkable landmarks and institutions such as the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and others, this enchanting major city in Minnesota is rich in culture and vibrant heritage. Minneapolis is noted for its lakes and parks, and it even celebrates an Aquatennial every year to highlight the city’s popular lakes, streams, and rivers. Games and fun activities are conducted as well as a fireworks display, and tourists visit the city to take part in this celebration held every July of each year. On a side note, peak travel season or not, Minneapolis has an active and laid back kind of lifestyle that is perfect to explore and experience any time of the year. So here is a list of things to do in Minneapolis, Minnesota from seeing popular sights to grooving to the local music to tasting locally made gelatos. Feel free to check them out below.
1. Have a recreational day at Lake Nokomis Park
One of the three sailing lakes in Minneapolis Park, Lake Nokomis offers an array of recreational activities. Resting on a sprawling area of 405.6 acres (164.14 hectares) which includes 210.26 acres (85.09 hectares) of water, this park offers picturesque pedestrian and biking trails.
You can spend a fun day of canoeing, kayaking, boating, and paddleboarding here. The park also offers a separate space for skating, hockey, broomball, and pond hockey. You can enjoy these activities on the ice rink. If you fancy catching fish, you can sit by the fishing pier and enjoy a tranquil afternoon of fishing. You can also enjoy a game of tennis on the tennis court or read a book in the library while enjoying the sights of a decorative fountain. Visitors can park their vehicles for free.
Lake Nokomis Park
Address: 4955 W Lake Nokomis Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55417, United States
Website: Lake Nokomis Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
2. Go hiking along the picturesque trails near Cedar Lake East Beach
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Cedar Lake Park on Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Part of Cedar Lake Park, the shores of this tree-lined lake gives way to three sandy beaches, one of them being Cedar Lake East Beach. There are nearby trails that you can enjoy hiking on. Guests can park cars in the parking lot with a parking fee.
Canoes are launched on the west side of the lake. You can enjoy a great experience of fishing from a pier by dropping the line and waiting for the fish to bite while you savor roasted steak. Families can have a good time in the picnic area. Visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing through picturesque woods and the beautiful countryside on the laid-out skiing trail.
Cedar Lake East Beach
Address: 2000 Upton Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Website: Cedar Lake East Beach
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
3. Take a stroll in the Lyndale Park Gardens
This park is north of Lake Harriet and charms its visitors with some of the city’s most beautiful gardens and fountains. The park sits beside Lakewood Cemetary and has four beautiful gardens: the Peace Garden, the Rose Garden, the Perennial Garden, and the Perennial Trial Garden. The famous Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary is adjacent to the Peace Garden.
You will find the Heffelfinger Fountain in the Rose Garden. Frank Heffelfinger brought this from Villa Montalto near Florence, Italy, and donated it to the Park Board in 1944. Nature lovers will be fascinated by the impressive range of more than 4000 plants and 250 species here. The crabapple trees and the roses are particularly noteworthy.
Lyndale Park Gardens
Address: 1300 W 42nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55409, United States
Website: Lyndale Park Gardens
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
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4. Visit the Minneapolis City Hall (from USD 44.0)
Being a tourist in a foreign city, it is only essential that you pay their City Hall a visit. This will provide you with all the knowledge you need about the city and help you plan a more detailed itinerary. The Minneapolis City Hall has been standing since 1912 adjacent to the Hennepin County Courthouse. This present time city hall is only a replacement to an older one which was built in the late 1800s and now the site of the Gateway Park. It exudes a Richardsonian romanesque style of architecture and features marvellous sculptures, a copper roof, city council chambers, and more. While in there, you might want to take a closer look at the Father of Waters sculpture and rub its big toe for according to legend, it gives good luck. Well, there’s really no harm in doing so right?
Minneapolis: 3-Hour Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure
Duration: 3.0 hour
5. Wander in the Mill City Farmers Market
Mill City Farmers Market is a popular one-stop shop for your fresh ingredients and cooking essentials in Minneapolis. It operates every Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. They feature a variety of fresh and healthy produce from local suppliers that are just enjoyable to prepare for your family. As you step foot into the market, you will be left in awe by the sight of these organic food varieties from pasture-raised eggs to artisan cheese to luscious fruits, fresh green veggies and grade A meat products. Aside from that, you can also take part in cooking lessons in the area while enjoying the live music in the background. While in town, make it a habit to visit Mill City Farmers Market and buy your goods there and socialize and share cooking tips and recipes with other customers.
Mill City Farmers Market
Address: 704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA
Website: Mill City Farmers Market
Opening hours: Sat: 10am - 1pm
6. Shop until you drop at Nicollet Mall
Located in downtown Minneapolis, Nicollet Mall is a popular dining and shopping destination in the city. It occupies a 12-block portion of land and features popular shops such as Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Crystal Court, GNC, Hallmark, and Brooks and Brothers, along with others. It is also popular for being the location of The Mary Tyler Moore show as seen in its opening credits. In addition, located in the same area are transit buses and other modes of transportation. This provides shoppers from everywhere easy access to the mall. Another fascinating thing about the Nicollet Mall is its Holidazzle Parades which commences every year a day after Thanksgiving and a few days before Christmas.
Nicollet Mall
Address: 505 Nicollet Mall #100, Minneapolis, MN 55402, USA
Website: Nicollet Mall
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm; Sat: 10am - 5pm
7. Catch an amazing live performance in the Guthrie Theater
The Guthrie Theater is the location of the theatre arts scene of Minneapolis. They also feature educational and professional training for interested individuals or parties. The idea was rooted in the admiration of Sir Tyrone Guthrie for Broadway musical and performances. He then worked hard to build a theatre with Oliver Rea and Peter Zeisler, and assemble local talents that would perform iconic plays in rotation. Catch a breathtaking live performance of As You Like It, Metamorphoses, and Cyrano de Bergerac in Guthrie Theater and have an amazing time.
Guthrie Theater
Address: 818 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA
Website: Guthrie Theater
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 8pm (performance days); 11am - 5pm (non performance days)
8. Admire beautiful art at the Walker Art Center
Situated in the Lowry Hill neighbourhood of Minneapolis, the Walker Art Center is home to the city’s contemporary art scene. It is also considered one of the most popular museums in the US in terms of foot traffic. The Walker Art Center features a vast collection of contemporary art pieces from books to drawings to costumes to paintings and photography to sculptures and others. It also includes exhibits that showcase programs such as the visual arts, performing arts, moving image, design, digital media, and more. The whole interior is neatly painted in whites, and the place provides enough space for guests to roam around freely and admire the exhibits.
Walker Art Center
Address: 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA
Website: Walker Art Center
Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 11am - 6pm; Sun, Tues - Wed: 11am - 5pm; Thu: 11am - 9pm
Price: 7.50 USD
9. Take your kids to the Children's Theatre Company
Formerly called the Moppet Players, Children’s Theatre Company is another fascinating theatre and tourist destination in Minneapolis. It caters to a multigenerational audience but specifically features family-oriented performances that are ideal for the kids and the kids at heart. In 2013, it was acknowledged by the Tony Awards for being an outstanding regional theatre. Some of the productions it has featured are The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, Cinderella, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Pippi Longstocking, Alice in Wonderland, and more. Awesome time and fabulous performances are something that the kids will love and enjoy. So while in Minneapolis, don’t forget to bring the kids to the Children’s Theatre Company.
Children's Theatre Company
Address: 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404, USA
Website: Children’s Theatre Company
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 11pm - 5pm
Price: 4 USD
10. Explore the Sculpture Garden
A marriage of Minnesota’s culture and parks, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is an amazing tourist destination in the city that has partnered with The Walker Art Center to feature up to 40 fantastic art pieces within this urban park setting. Few of the most notable pieces found in this garden are the Spoonbridge and Cherry, Arkidea, the Black Vessel for a Saint, Flatpak in the garden, and more. Most tourists don’t leave this place without taking a selfie with these sculptures. It is open on a daily basis from 6 am to 12 midnight, welcoming guests of all generations. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is definitely a must-visit destination in the city and is ideal for families.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Address: 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA
Website: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 6am - 12am
11. Izzy's Ice Cream
Who doesn’t love gelatos? When the weather is too hot, gelato is the cure. There are so many reasons to love gelato and excuses to have them. In case you are having one of those gelato craving moments, head over to Izzy’s Ice Cream. They have two outlets as of present time, the Minneapolis and the St. Paul outlet. Izzy’s Ice Cream is popular to kids, featuring more than a hundred flavours, including the classic favourites such as chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, mango, and more.
Pro tip: You might want to try their best sellers and see for yourself what the buzz is all about. Few of them are the Chubby Bunny, Pomegranate Pizzazz, Lemon Sponge Cake, Mexican Chocolate Fiesta, Hound dog, and Cabernet De L'orange.
Izzy's Ice Cream
Address: 1100 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA
Website: Izzy’s Ice Cream
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 1pm - 9pm; Fri: 1pm - 10pm; Sat: 12pm - 10pm: Sun: 12pm - 9pm
Price: 9 USD
12. Relish organic cuisine at the Spoonriver Restaurant
In case you want to immerse yourself in the city’s culinary scene, Spoonriver Restaurant is a good destination for you. Their restaurant interior is sophisticated, exudes class and a relaxing atmosphere. They boast of organic, thoughtfully sourced, and deliciously healthy American cuisine. Some of their popular dishes are the Cafe Breda Burger, Mahi Mahi Sandwich, Chicken Udon Salad, Charcuterie, Grilled Steak Skewers, Nicoise Salad, and others. Be sure to try some of them, if not all, and taste for yourself the glorious food they boast of and have your heart cry happy tears.
Spoonriver Restaurant
Address: 750 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401, USA
Website: Spoonriver Restaurant
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 11:30am - 9pm; Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 10am - 8pm
Price: 3.50 USD
13. Enjoy a ride to the local breweries and taste craft beer (from USD 85.0)
You can’t miss this all-inclusive brewery tour if you want to let your hair down with some drinks when you are visiting Minneapolis. You will be picked up from the front of The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown either during the afternoon or evening. On this tour, in which a moderate amount of walking is possible, you will have a knowledgeable and friendly guide who will walk you through the breweries and enrich your beer-tasting experience by recommending great beers.
You can enjoy a ride in a minibus to the brewery joints and savor all-you-can-drink craft beer at each of the stops. Some of the best local breweries where the bus halts are Fair State Brewing Cooperative, Lakes & Legends Brewing Company, and Modist Brewing Co. Snacks are provided on the bus for refreshments.
Minneapolis Brewery All-Inclusive Guided Tour with Tastings
Duration: 3 hours
14. Experience adrenaline rush in an indoor skydiving session (from USD 96.0)
If you are contemplating a skydiving tour but aren’t totally up for it, you can go for this specialized training session and experience a similar rush.
In the safe hands of an expert flight instructor at iFLY Minneapolis, you will learn to safely float in a vertical wind tunnel that generates a wall-to-wall pocket of air without the need to jump off a plane. There is no prior experience required for this indoor skydiving adventure. You are recommended to wear well-fitting sneakers and comfortable clothes for a better experience.
Minneapolis Indoor Skydiving Admission with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
15. Learn at the Mill City Museum
Opened in 2003 and situated adjacent to the Mill Ruins Park, the Mill City Museum is another fascinating museum and tourist destination in the city. Explore the Mill Museum and learn more about the heritage and culture of Minneapolis regarding the industries that formed its foundation in society. The museum showcases galleries and exhibits of Minneapolis history from the flour industry to the baking lab to other significant details. One interesting thing about the museum is the multi-story Flour Tower. Guests gather inside a freight elevator and they are taken from one floor to another until they have seen the whole of the Flour Tower.
Minneapolis Riverwalk Food Tour
Duration: 3 hours
Beautiful Minneapolis
Minneapolis is definitely a beautiful city in Minnesota that is packed with so many fascinating destinations and interesting history. Most times, when you are a tourist to a city, ideas can overwhelm you, and figuring out your next steps can sometimes eat most of your time. All this planning and trial and error method can be skipped if you have the right ideas. So this article about the best things to do on your Minneapolis trip can be your guide. Memorize this by heart and everything else follows.
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