Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine / Your Adventure in Minneapolis

Home

Features

May Features

Your Adventure In Detroit

Runway Project

Trade of the Tools

The Wonders, the Weirdness, the Life Lessons of TED

Your Adventure In

Calendar
Spirit's guide to fun events!

Spirit's Travel Wizard
Spirit's guide to the best Travel!

The Southwest Way
The LUV airline gives back!

Star of the Month
Spotlight on one deserving SWA Employee.

Win Prizes
Send Letters, or Pictures. The best ones win prizes!

It may be the City of Lakes, but that’s not all there is to see in this versatile Midwestern metropolis. Our guide promises maximum fun for every adventurer, from foodies and fitness freaks to history buffs and art addicts. Ready to explore the Twin Cities’ bigger half (and some St. Paul stops too)?

by Austin W. G. Morton

Stay...

W Minneapolis-The Foshay At this hip hotel, über modern black-and-fuchsia interiors harmonize with the splendor of the soaring art deco tower that houses them.

The Depot The indoor water park at this former railroad station, also home to two family-friendly hotels, helps kids keep their cool.

Hotel Ivy The walls of this simple yet elegant architectural gem are adorned with the work of local artists, but that’s just part of its appeal. (Check out the spa, one of the city’s best.)

Spoonbridge and Cherry

Indulge your inner aesthete with an…

Art Odyssey

Where can you find a talking dolphin, an indoor palm grove, and a 5,800-pound spoon, all in one urban locale? The Walker Art Center, of course—an international modern art authority long hailed for its engaging approach to the subject. Take, for example, Pedro Reyes’ animated Baby Marx (August 11 through November 27), in which Karl Marx and Adam Smith are reincarnated as puppets to deliberate their ideals. And then there’s the John Waters–curated Absentee Landlord, 80 widely varied works chosen by the idiosyncratic film director to be displayed collectively, underscoring the museum’s opposing styles. When you’re ready to ponder it over a plate of, say, ricotta gnocchi, head to Gather, the Walker’s new eatery. Just like the museum, the menu is ever-changing, with a different chef at the helm each month.

Make your way to…..

Target Field The Minnesota Twins’ new home, recently named the No. 1 ballpark for fan experience in ESPN The Magazine, boasts an eco-friendly design, regional eats, and room for 40,000 fans.

Guthrie Theater This esteemed performing arts venue also boasts a stellar view—thanks to a glassy walkway cantilevered over the Mississippi.

Rent some wheels and travel the…

Open Road

Believe it or not, Minnesota has more shoreline than California—thanks to the state’s 11,000-plus lakes, 22 of which lie within Minneapolis’ borders. And what better way to see these bodies of water than on two wheels? Luckily, the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, a seven-district trail system totaling 50.1 miles, is easily accessible via Nice Ride Minnesota, a bicycle-sharing program that allows you to rent and return bikes anytime at one of 88 stations scattered about town. We recommend starting at Lake Street and Humboldt Avenue, then heading to the Chain of Lakes district to get a glimpse of life on the water—whether it’s stopping for a canoe ride at Lake Calhoun, gazing at the dream homes ringing Lake of the Isles, or taking a dip in remote Cedar Lake.

Sit down for a meal at…

Bar La Grassa Choose from nine varieties of bruschetta and a roster of enticing pasta dishes at this Italian eatery helmed by 2011 James Beard Award winner Isaac Becker.

Nye’s Polonaise Room Feast upon house-made pierogi and sausage at Nye’s, a Polish karaoke-style piano bar (just go with it).

La Belle Vie Arguably the most lauded restaurant in the Twin Cities—and for good reason—this fine-dining landmark combines French and Mediterranean to phenomenal effect.

You don’t need a classroom to take in a…

History Lesson

Minneapolis may no longer be our nation’s breadbasket (from 1880 to 1930, it produced more flour than any other U.S. city), but it’s not hard to imagine Mill City in all of its turn-of-the-century glory when you’re floating the Mississippi, particularly on a narrated voyage. All aboard the Minneapolis Queen, captained by lifelong local Jim Hedlund. During the almost-daily sightseeing tours, the Queen paddles upriver from Boom Island Park while Cap’n Jim recalls tales from the Midwestern metropolis’ flour-milling prime. But you won’t fully understand Mother Nature’s role until you enter the upper lock of St. Anthony Falls and observe the 50-foot drop in water levels that, when harnessed, powered the city’s golden age. Intrigued? Opt for the Friday night dinner cruise—double the sights and some good grub, too.

Shop 'til you drop at...

J.W. Hulme Co. Quality craftsmanship since 1905 propelled this St. Paul staple to the shelves of Barneys, but the brand’s leather and canvas goods are still made right here in the Twin Cities.

Parc Boutique Stay hip without emptying your wallet at this haven for designer denim and local jewelry.

StyledLife Snag your own stunning slice of history in the vintage section of this accessories shop, owned by former Nordstrom fashion director Kevin Quinn.

Locavores will revel in a…

Market Survey

Eating local is a sport in this city, and on this jaunt you’ll meet its top contenders. First stop: St. Paul Farmers’ Market, an intimate gathering established in 1854 and held in the quaint Lowertown neighborhood, where master gardeners offer up advice while face-painting and horse-drawn wagon rides keep kids smiling. From here, head to the Minneapolis Farmers’ Market, a 230-vendor setup teeming with produce, art, and eats. (Try a bratwurst from Tollefson Family Pork.) Round out the trip with a stop at Mill City Farmers’ Market, appropriately housed in an old grain silo on the banks of the Mississippi. While both the river view and the live band are hard to beat, the Chef Shack food truck is the real can’t-miss. Indian-spiced mini donuts, anyone?

Getting Out
Catch Reba McEntire and Garrison Keillor at this year’s Minnesota State Fair (August 25 through September 5). For more events, visit minneapolis.org.

Getting Around

MetroTransit’s light rail and buses ($1.75 one-way) get you where you need to go. Or, hit the skyway, a system of windowed walkways connecting the city.

Getting There

Fly into Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP), about 12 miles southeast of downtown.