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Guide to Twin Cities of Minnesota
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items A great guide to those who are visiting the Saint Paul and Minneapolis area of Minnesota so they can make the most of their stay! I lived in Saint Paul most of my life and learned a lot about the area and all the best spots!
Map
Sections
4
Things To Do
Restaurants
Shopping
Places to Stay
Things To Do
My favorite things to do in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota
A beautiful art museum in Minneapolis. There are tons of amazing exhibits and always something new to explore!
Walker Art Center
Walking around this garden is beautiful and one of the only really tourist spots in the twin cities. It's a really cool garden to see!
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Located almost an hour outside of the cities but definitely worth the day trip. There are always changing sculptures and some of them you can even climb on and really explore the park!
Franconia Sculpture Park
A great lake to walk around on a beautiful summer day! They have rentals so you can paddle boat around the lake even a small beach to bring the kids for a great day of swimming!
Bde Maka Ska
A great place to watch the sun set over the downtown skyline!
Harriet Island Regional Park
Even if you're not Catholic this cathedral is an architectural marvel. It's beautiful and regularly has visitors from all over the world!
Cathedral of Saint Paul - Saint Paul, MN
A really cool and amazing place to visit! It's a ton of fun to explore and learn! They have a few rotating exhibits that are always fascinating!
Science Museum of Minnesota
There are a lot of really cool museums in the twin cities, and as far as art goes this one is amazing! A ton of amazing exhibits and a really unique layout!
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Restaurants
Some of the best restaurants in the Twin Cities area!
The #38 is my favorite soup on the planet. They also make amazing spring rolls! There's a small parking lot on the side of the building that's easy to miss.
Cheng Heng Restaurant
Cecil's has been open for over 70 years and there's a good reason for that. All their breads are made in house and their sandwiches are absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this spot for anyone going to visit the Twin Cities. I've been to quite a f...
Cecil's
Only open in the summer, this spot is one of the best places to go for seafood in the twin cities. The line is usually long depending on when you go, but it's worth the wait!
Sea Salt
I found these at a little food van near the sculpture garden and they are sooo good!
Nikkolette's Macarons | Made in Minneapolis!
One of the most classic stops on Grand Ave is the Grand Ole Creamery, it's been there for forever and has the most amazing ice cream and homemade waffle cones!
Grand Ole Creamery
The Basil Turkey BLT is one of my favorite sandwiches of all time! Agra Culture currently has three locations in the twin cities (its says midwest but on their site there's only the twin cities)
Agra Culture | Healthy Fast Casual Restaurants in Midwest, USA
This is hands down my husbands favorite Thai restaurant. I've been there a few times and have always been happy with my meal!
On's Kitchen
Located across the street from the historic Blair Arcade this restaurant has some amazing burgers. Their truffle fries are awesome! I actually grew up going to Costello's which is what this spot was before it was a Red Cow so the location is very sen...
Red Cow St. Paul
I have had All You Can Eat Sushi all over the country and trust me when I say this is be the best one. It has the best value and quality I've ever had! They have a number of locations in the twin cities area so go to whichever one is closest to you a...
KYOTO SUSHI
They have amazing drinks and food, plus fun fact are also a wedding venue! Located right next to Surly off of University Ave, this spot is moody and the perfect place for a romantic night with your partner or a fun night out with friends!
O'Shaughnessy Distilling Co.: Home
Owned by the same company that owns Agra Culture, SotaRol is home to my favorite sushi burritos! I've tried them other places and just haven't been as impressed as I am with the ones here!
Sotarol | Asian Cuisine in MN
Located in the Walker Art Center this spot has some amazing Mediterranean food!! I recommend trying the latkes!
Cardamom
Shopping
My favorite stores and places to shop in the MSP area
The Mall of America is one of the only real tourist attractions in Minnesota. The Mall of America is home to its own zip code, an amusement park, an aquarium and hundreds of stores! It's easy to get around since it's a square and has some flagship lo...
Mall of America®
A homey shopping area for those who want a more intimate shopping experience, the Galleria is home to some of the more high end stores.
Galleria
I love going here with my husband as a date day. We've never bought anything as it's out of our price range, but it's really fun to walk around and get mesmerized by all the lights!
Creative Lighting by Bellacor
I love this store, it's so gorgeous and also just fun to walk around in!
Cooks | Bellecour
This entire street is just full of cozy shops that are mostly in houses or something similar. It's a great spot to walk up and down while visiting the Twin Cities!
Grand Avenue
There are a bunch of restaurants and shopping along this street and a beautiful view of Lake Minnetonka. If you live on the lake or know of someone who does you can actually boat here!
The Promenade of Wayzata – Upscale Dining, Shopping and ...
A local shop that specializes in handmade candles. The candles smell amazing AND they have a ton of local wares! Their hours are a little finicky. But definitely worth a stop! They offer candle workshops and some incredible comfy sweatshirts!
Palms, Psalms, & Prosecco
Places to Stay
Accomodations are sometimes one of the most important parts of your trip! Having a crappy hotel or Airbnb can really put a damper on the festivities when visiting a new place!
I used to go to this hotel when I was a kid for birthday parties. It still holds a sentimental value for me. I love the courtyard in the middle that makes you feel like you're outside at a beautiful spot even in the cold brisk winters.
Embassy Suites Bloomington Minneapolis Hotel