Delta Airlines has a hub in Minneapolis. We found cheap last minute tickets to Minneapolis from both major airports in Chicago. Another sweet deal was that we got upgraded to business class on the way there. We were refreshed with beverages (served in real glass glasses) and name brand snacks (twix, pb cups, etc.) for the whole duration of our short flight up there. First time I wished the flight was longer.
The hotel we stayed at was Aloft and it was located right by the Mississippi river. The area of the hotel was similar to Chicago's South Loop: lots of new condo buildings and new restaurants. Hotel is also a block way from the Guthrie Theater and Mill City Museum. I loved the hotel's efficient and eco friendly design (it had an IKEA feel to it). It was only $76/night, a bargain considering the new and trendy condition of the hotel. Highly recommend it, and will look for this chain again when traveling to other cities. Another plus, the hotel was close to the Downtown East/Metrodome LRT Station. This train line has a station inside the airport, and runs every 10minutes. We took the train both from and back to the airport to save money on cabs. The trip was fast and fun, most of the line runs above ground so you can see a bit of the Minneapolis neighborhoods on your way to the hotel.
Nice ride bike system, had just installed the bike stations throughout the city a month before we visited. So we were one of the first people to try them out. Many locals stopped us to ask how the bike rental works. You rent the bikes for just $5/24hrs and that's the only fee you pay if you use the bikes only 1/2 hr at a time. The bike stations are located throughout the downtown area at about 5minutes apart. So it was very easy to take a bike and get to out destination, lock it in, walk around and then when it was time to go get a bike from a station close to where our walk ended. We biked around the Mississippi river, through residential neighborhoods (Nicollet Island Park), and the University of Minnesota campus. The bikes were sturdy, have flashing lights that only turn on when you're pedaling, and they conveniently lock by just pushing them into a station (you don't have to fumble with a chain and lock). The bike rental uses credit cards, so you can check out a bike instantly on the spot at any bike station.
Every Saturday morning (in the summer) there is a Farmer's Market at the Mill City Museum, one block from the Aloft hotel. We arrived Friday night and had dinner at a Japanese fusion restaurant accross the street form the hotel, Wasabi. The next day we had breakfast at the Farmer's Market at the Mill City Museum. There was lots of outdoor cooking, music, children and pets at the farmer's market. We saw the cutest giant labradoodle there. From the Farmer's market we followed the banks of he Mississippi River to the Stone Arch Bridge, all within walking distance. After crossing the bridge, we stumbled on a trail through Father Hennepin Park. It had a lot of greenery and stone formations, it felt like we were in the middle of the wild instead of downtown Minneapolis.
In the evening we biked to Nicollet Mall, a street in the center of town full of bars. All the bars had outdoor seating areas and their doors and windows were open so music and any live performances could be heard outside. Nicollet Mall is a great laid back hang out. You had people dressed up in clubbing attire and people dressed in jeans and a T-shirt just enjoying a beer. I really liked the laid back atmosphere and the people watching.
For half a day on Sunday we went to downtown St. Paul, we cabbed it there to save time since the towns are a good 20minutes apart by car. We visited the Science Museum of Minnesota and saw their Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, and ate breakfast at the famous Mikey's Diner. We also walked around following one of the walking tours for St. Paul featured in the book Walking Twin Cities, we borrowed from our local library.
One place that we did go for about 2hrs that we really could have skipped and wouldn't have felt the difference, was the Mall of America. We took a cab from downtown St. Paul and then returned to our hotel via the LRT train which had a station at the mall. I had read an article about this mall as a kid and was fascinated with the facts. However, when seeing it in person it was no different that a regular mall, just a lot bigger. So big that in the center it has an amusement park. So big that several stores repeat themselves throughout the mall. They had ~ 4 Carribou Coffee places and more than one Starbucks. We ended up having lunch at the food court, since we felt the restaurant selection was not that great. Even the relatively big food court had hardly any healthy food selections. I was a bit disappointed overall with this mall. I guess I had too many great expectations.
Sunday evening we went to the ACME Comedy club in Mineappolis. The stand up comedy was great, and what made it even more special that evening was a particular member of the audience who had a most unusual and contagious laugh. I laughed with tears, and the comedian had to stop and knowledge that his show was so much better because of the audience that night. That evening we walked to the comedy club from our hotel a good 1.5 to 2 miles. It was all through beautiful and trendy residential neighborhood. Lots of new and trendy condos and townhomes have been built recently in Minneapolis. Many of the old riverfront abandoned mills/factories have been rehabilitated into condos while still keeping the old architecture details in place.
After the show we had dinner at the Guthrie's Theater seafood restaurant Sea Change. The restaurant had a beautiful decor and the food was amazing. I had the bouillabaisse, which is a tomato base stew with seafood. I dipped my bread in the tomato/seafood sauce and found heaven. At the end I wanted to lick the bowl, it was so delicious. I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for this at other seafood restaurants.
The last day of our long weekend journey to Minneapolis we visited the inside of the Mill City Museum. We had admired the museum from the outside all weekend, since it was right by our hotel. Inside it was just as fascinating. I loved the way they built the museum using the ruins of the old mill. The old fused with the new architecture was gorgeous. The museum gives a great overview of the area's history and how the Mississippi river helped put it on the map. A must visit for anyone going to Minneapolis.
All in all, Minneapolis/St. Paul made a great weekend getaway from Chicago. I will recommend that you stay in Minneapolis as there is much more to do than St. Paul, but still do a quick trip there for the museums or just to walk around.
