Jack And Meg’s guidebook
City/town information
Minneapolis is the City of Lakes, but her twin, St. Paul, is just as lovely. Both are teeming with lakes, trails, parks, world class museums and theater, comedy clubs, amazing playgrounds and water parks, and fabulous restaurants.
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Minneapolis
Minneapolis is the City of Lakes, but her twin, St. Paul, is just as lovely. Both are teeming with lakes, trails, parks, world class museums and theater, comedy clubs, amazing playgrounds and water parks, and fabulous restaurants.
Sightseeing
Walker Art Center
725 Vineland PlAn outdoor sculpture garden in the heart of Minneapolis.
World class art museum. Set aside a day or a few peaceful hours.
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Minneapolis Institute of Art
2400 3rd Ave SWorld class art museum. Set aside a day or a few peaceful hours.
Fascinating structure on the U of M campus. American and Contemporary art and ceramics. wam.umn.edu
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Weisman Art Museum
333 E River PkwyFascinating structure on the U of M campus. American and Contemporary art and ceramics. wam.umn.edu
Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W Kellogg BlvdScience is cool. Especially here.
Bell Museum — Natural history museum and planetarium. Beautiful new location opened 2018. The Touch and See Lab is perfect for kids and their grownups. bellmuseum.umn.edu
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Bell Museum
2088 Larpenteur Ave WBell Museum — Natural history museum and planetarium. Beautiful new location opened 2018. The Touch and See Lab is perfect for kids and their grownups. bellmuseum.umn.edu
Minnesota Children's Museum
10 7th Street WestFantastic fun. mcm.org
World renowned. Its architectural wonders, the Amber Box and the Endless Bridge are a must-see, even if you don’t attend a play. Enter freely and ask directions or follow signs. Several good restaurants very nearby. I love the tuna poke at Sea Change. guthrietheater.org
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Guthrie Theater
818 S 2nd StWorld renowned. Its architectural wonders, the Amber Box and the Endless Bridge are a must-see, even if you don’t attend a play. Enter freely and ask directions or follow signs. Several good restaurants very nearby. I love the tuna poke at Sea Change. guthrietheater.org
Walk the historic and stunning Stone Arch Bridge — To St. Anthony Main for a movie at St. Anthony Main Theater or dinner/drinks/music at Aster Cafe.
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Stone Arch Bridge
100 Portland AveWalk the historic and stunning Stone Arch Bridge — To St. Anthony Main for a movie at St. Anthony Main Theater or dinner/drinks/music at Aster Cafe.
Walk or bike the St. Anthony Heritage Trail, a 1.8 mile asphalt loop that includes the Stone Are Bridge.
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St Anthony Falls Visitor Center
1 Portland AveWalk or bike the St. Anthony Heritage Trail, a 1.8 mile asphalt loop that includes the Stone Are Bridge.
A linked series of parks that roughly circles through the Cities, part of the National Scenic Byways System. A great way to hit them all.
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Grand Rounds Scenic Byway
Grand Rounds Scenic BywayA linked series of parks that roughly circles through the Cities, part of the National Scenic Byways System. A great way to hit them all.
Because this is Minnesota, don’t you know. Their solstice and Christmas events are great. For some real Scandinavian food, eat at the FIKA cafe.
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American Swedish Institute
2600 Park AveBecause this is Minnesota, don’t you know. Their solstice and Christmas events are great. For some real Scandinavian food, eat at the FIKA cafe.
Minnesota History Center
345 W Kellogg BlvdPermanent and changing exhibits. Excellent.
Paisley Park Records
7801 Audubon RdPrince. Enough said.
Union Depot
Beautiful old depot. Watch for events. https://www.uniondepot.org/event-calendar/
Large, sprawling indoor outdoor zoo. Spend e a couple hours or spend a day.
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Minnesota Zoo
13000 Zoo BlvdLarge, sprawling indoor outdoor zoo. Spend e a couple hours or spend a day.
Smaller than Minnesota Zoo, but avreally nice indoor/outdoor zoo and lush, indoor botanical gardens, a great fix in the winter.
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Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
1225 Estabrook DrSmaller than Minnesota Zoo, but avreally nice indoor/outdoor zoo and lush, indoor botanical gardens, a great fix in the winter.
Food scene
Hmongtown Marketplace
217 Como Ave125 stores, including 11 restaurants.
One of the best ways to get to know the culture of our Somali neighbors. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95kjq8EgM4M
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Karmel Mall
2910 Pleasant AveOne of the best ways to get to know the culture of our Somali neighbors. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95kjq8EgM4M
A nice variety of global restaurants, shops, a brewery and a calendar full of activities, events and music for all ages, in the lower floors of an old Sears tower. midtownglobalmarket.org
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Midtown Global Market
920 E Lake StA nice variety of global restaurants, shops, a brewery and a calendar full of activities, events and music for all ages, in the lower floors of an old Sears tower. midtownglobalmarket.org
Nicollet Mall
Nicollet MallRenovated Downtown Mall
Parks
Home of the Luminary Loppet Winter Festival, including an urban cross country ski race with ice candles, and more. Golfing, swimming, hiking.
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Theodore Wirth Regional Park
1301 Theodore Wirth PkwyHome of the Luminary Loppet Winter Festival, including an urban cross country ski race with ice candles, and more. Golfing, swimming, hiking.
Bde Maka Ska — Walking path around the very scenic lake. A trolley runs in both directions between Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet. Nice view of downtown from here.
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Bde Maka Ska
West Bde Maka Ska ParkwayBde Maka Ska — Walking path around the very scenic lake. A trolley runs in both directions between Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet. Nice view of downtown from here.
Fishing pier. Shallow beach for a little ways out. Tot Lot. Sandcastle cafe near the beach.
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Lake Nokomis Park
4955 W Lake Nokomis PkwyFishing pier. Shallow beach for a little ways out. Tot Lot. Sandcastle cafe near the beach.
A favorite picnic spot for our family has always been next to the Rose Garden on Lake Harriet. Simply head north on Lyndale and turn left on 42nd Street. You can park on the street and walk to the Rose Garden or the fountain from there. Visit the Robert’s Bird Sanctuary and don’t miss the Bandshell where you might catch a concert or an evening outdoor movie. Snack bar by the beach with truffle popcorn and lots more.
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Lake Harriet Bandshell Park
4135 Lake Harriet PkwyA favorite picnic spot for our family has always been next to the Rose Garden on Lake Harriet. Simply head north on Lyndale and turn left on 42nd Street. You can park on the street and walk to the Rose Garden or the fountain from there. Visit the Robert’s Bird Sanctuary and don’t miss the Bandshell where you might catch a concert or an evening outdoor movie. Snack bar by the beach with truffle popcorn and lots more.
Two tiny islands that are wildlife refuges with virgin woods sit in the middle. A nice walk around, grassy areas to relax in. Birchbark Books and The Kenwood restaurant nearby. I recommend both.
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Lake of the Isles Park
2500 Lake of the Isles Pkwy ETwo tiny islands that are wildlife refuges with virgin woods sit in the middle. A nice walk around, grassy areas to relax in. Birchbark Books and The Kenwood restaurant nearby. I recommend both.
In St. Paul. A large, wonderful park. Beach with a splashpad close by. Good fishing: stocked with lots of MN standards. Walleye, muskies, northerns, large mouth bass, sunnies and crappies (pronounced crop-eez) ; )) If you like fish and you haven’t tried walleye, do, whether caught in the lake or at a local restaurant. (But not at the local Culvers. Doubtful it’s the real thing. If you find you like walleye and you want a good recipe for it, ask Meg.) Saint Paul Sailing Club rents boats. Golf. A Chinese Garden that is the sister garden of one in Changsha, China.
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Lake Phalen
In St. Paul. A large, wonderful park. Beach with a splashpad close by. Good fishing: stocked with lots of MN standards. Walleye, muskies, northerns, large mouth bass, sunnies and crappies (pronounced crop-eez) ; )) If you like fish and you haven’t tried walleye, do, whether caught in the lake or at a local restaurant. (But not at the local Culvers. Doubtful it’s the real thing. If you find you like walleye and you want a good recipe for it, ask Meg.) Saint Paul Sailing Club rents boats. Golf. A Chinese Garden that is the sister garden of one in Changsha, China.
Jack teaches sailing here, at the Shorewood Yacht Club. A bit of a drive, but it’s a big lake, and the drive around it takes you through several small and pretty communities where you’ll find restaurants where you can sit with a drink or have a meal and look out at the boats on the water, or the surprisingly pretty, frozen lake in winter. There are several companies that offer dinner cruises. Jack teaches sailing at a small private yacht club here, so he knows the lake can get really crowded in summer. There’s a tourist steamboat that was recently raised from the bottom of the lake and put back into commission: steamboatminnehaha.org
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Lake Minnetonka
Jack teaches sailing here, at the Shorewood Yacht Club. A bit of a drive, but it’s a big lake, and the drive around it takes you through several small and pretty communities where you’ll find restaurants where you can sit with a drink or have a meal and look out at the boats on the water, or the surprisingly pretty, frozen lake in winter. There are several companies that offer dinner cruises. Jack teaches sailing at a small private yacht club here, so he knows the lake can get really crowded in summer. There’s a tourist steamboat that was recently raised from the bottom of the lake and put back into commission: steamboatminnehaha.org
Longfellow House Hospitality Center is here, with info on the Grand Rounds and more. There’s a stone staircase to below the falls for a view looking up, and a stone wall on street level for a view from the side. Follow the trail further to a small sandy beach. The picnic grounds above are great, but Sea Salt, a restaurant nestled in the trees is even better, especially if you can nab a table outside. The line will be long, but it moves fast. There’s a wading pool and playground nearby the restaurant. Parking can be hairy, the large lot might be full, but if you don’t mind walking a bit, there are street side meters, or you can park on the residential streets not far away.
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Minnehaha Falls
4801 S Minnehaha DrLongfellow House Hospitality Center is here, with info on the Grand Rounds and more. There’s a stone staircase to below the falls for a view looking up, and a stone wall on street level for a view from the side. Follow the trail further to a small sandy beach. The picnic grounds above are great, but Sea Salt, a restaurant nestled in the trees is even better, especially if you can nab a table outside. The line will be long, but it moves fast. There’s a wading pool and playground nearby the restaurant. Parking can be hairy, the large lot might be full, but if you don’t mind walking a bit, there are street side meters, or you can park on the residential streets not far away.
An urban oasis. The Visitor Center offers field guides, maps, and free use of binoculars. Tours are available, if you like, for $10.00 per person, April 15 — Oct. 15.
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Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
1 Theodore Wirth PkwyAn urban oasis. The Visitor Center offers field guides, maps, and free use of binoculars. Tours are available, if you like, for $10.00 per person, April 15 — Oct. 15.
Swim at Snelling Lake. Visit the fort, hike or bike the scenic asphalt trail.
Fort Snelling Golf Course
5701 Leavenworth AveSwim at Snelling Lake. Visit the fort, hike or bike the scenic asphalt trail.
GREAT for kids on cold or rainy days. A large, enclosed climbing structure, a separate area for toddlers, a huge gym with balls, hoola hoops and riding toys, a jumpy house, snack bar. Bring sox, as they are required, or a new pair costs around $3.00. Swimming pool cost is separate. Movies on Friday nights. Instead of going through the City of Edina site (only link I can find) just google Edinborough Park or Adventure Peak.
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Edinborough Park
7700 York Ave SGREAT for kids on cold or rainy days. A large, enclosed climbing structure, a separate area for toddlers, a huge gym with balls, hoola hoops and riding toys, a jumpy house, snack bar. Bring sox, as they are required, or a new pair costs around $3.00. Swimming pool cost is separate. Movies on Friday nights. Instead of going through the City of Edina site (only link I can find) just google Edinborough Park or Adventure Peak.
Not far from here, nestled between retirement condos and office buildings and a restaurant or two is a sprawling, charming park with a lake, a putting course, paddle boats, and ice skating to music (with skate rentals and push sleds, too!) Lots of greenery in the summer and large porch-type swings for two or more sprinkled about.
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Centennial Lakes Park
Not far from here, nestled between retirement condos and office buildings and a restaurant or two is a sprawling, charming park with a lake, a putting course, paddle boats, and ice skating to music (with skate rentals and push sleds, too!) Lots of greenery in the summer and large porch-type swings for two or more sprinkled about.
Neighborhoods
A neighborhood jewel. Linden Hills Library has that old library feel and great play area for kids. Several unique shops and restaurants, a patisserie, a bread-and-more bakery that gives samples, an old fashioned hardware store, and best of all, Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream. Linden Hills Park, nearby, has a playground and wading pool.
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Linden Hills
A neighborhood jewel. Linden Hills Library has that old library feel and great play area for kids. Several unique shops and restaurants, a patisserie, a bread-and-more bakery that gives samples, an old fashioned hardware store, and best of all, Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream. Linden Hills Park, nearby, has a playground and wading pool.
Shopping
An indoor amusement park, Legoland, many bars and restaurants and lots of shopping.
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Mall of America station
Ikea WayAn indoor amusement park, Legoland, many bars and restaurants and lots of shopping.