Minneapolis for the day...

[DJS]

I figured a pilot bbs would be a good place to ask...so...

My wife and I are going to be in Minneapolis for a day (Saturday) before attending a wedding that evening. (leaving kids at Grandma's in Tacoma for the weekend! Woohoo!)

What recommendations do you guys have for doing that day?

Thanks,

...Dave

 

[Northern Lights]

MSP

Well, if the weather is good, I would try to get outside and enjoy it! Head to the Minneapolis chain of lakes (Lake Caloun, Harriet, Lake of the Isles) There are great walking paths and good scenery. You can also rent a Canoe at the Lake Calhoun Bandshell for $8/hour I think. There are no motorized vehicles allowed on the city lakes, so it is quite peaceful.

And of course I'm sure your wife (if she's like most women I know) would want to go to the Mall of America. I'd much rather spend the day enjoying the outdoors!

 

[Flechas]

go for dinner to Chinolatino, its uptown, ask around, its really good!!

 

[njcapt]

I would suggest a pleasant trip to the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices. Comes well recommended.

http://www.mtn.org/quack/welcome.htm

 

[WrightAvia]

go to the Mall of America and protest the fact that they don't have "Fat Tuesdays" there any more.

Mmmmmm, 151 rum slushies.

 

[schafjet]

If you have a lot of time skip the Minneapolis area and rent a car and go up to Duluth. Its a nice ride up I35 (3 hrs.) this time of year with the leaves changing and then Duluth is nice with Lake Superior. I think the Thunderbirds are in town for an airshow too. Have fun, it is supposed to be sunny and around 70.

 

[cessna_driver2]

I think the T-birds have cancelled all the shows through the end of Sept. and October (I think).

As for Minne. I've never been there. Sorry can't help.

 

[mainah]

You're wife might like Stillwater. It's a town just outside St. Paul. Old brick bildings, antiques, and a big Christmas store. You know, chick stuff.

 

[jarhead]

Go downtown to the Metrodome. Twins are in first place by 3-1/2 games, and they will be playing the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.

Not a baseball fan..............Mall of America can last you all day, and you'll still not see it all. It's very close to MSP airport.

 

[chawbein]

go for dinner to Chinolatino, its uptown, ask around, its really good!!

Is that the Chinese version of Mexican food or the Mexican version of Chinese food?

Seriouly, what kind of food do they have?

 

[skyking1976]

3 words....

FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ!

SK

 

[wingnutt]

You're wife might like Stillwater

...oh yea, what wife dosent like sightseeing along the walls of a prison, should be fun

 

[furloughed]

If you are into drinking and eating go to the First Avenue and Second Avenue part of downtown Minneapolis (near the Target Center) lots of cool non-chain type pubs, bars and restaurants. There are also chain type places, ie Hard Rock Cafe, Fridays, and if your wife is really cool there are some nice "gentlemen clubs".

As mentioned above "the uptown" area is nice. This is south-southwest of downtown a bit and the center part of it is the intersection of Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue. This is also within walking distance of Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun as mentioned above. This area is the more "trendy" area with the younger crowd (lots of piercings and tatoos) but there are alot of good restaurants. Famous Daves as mentioned above is right at the intersection of the above mentioned streets in Calhoun Square. And Chinolatinos ia also very good, took my wife on our first date there. If you Take I35 north and get off at the Lake St exit that area is not the best but as you drive west twords Hennipin Avenue it improves until you are in uptown. Enjoy

 

[cl-65link]

Avoid the Mall. You won't see any stores there that you can't find in other malls. Plus it's full of people from Iowa.

 

[jarhead]

cl-65link

Ahh, contrair! Many, many stores at the M O A that are not at other venues, plus bars, restaurants, amusement park, movie theaters and much more. Too be sure, there are people there from Iowa, but there are also people there from Canada, Japan, and quite frankly, from all over the globe. The "people watching" alone, can be a great spectator sport for an afternoon. There are a lot of beautiful women to gaze upon (and some ugly ones too). If all one has is an afternoon to kill, being so close to the airport gets you a lot in one concentrated area, that you'd burn up all your time traveling to and from, to find other venues.

 

[Northern Lights]

MOA

Just don't let her find the stamping store, or you'll never get out of there!

I've never understood that hobby -- $10 for a one square inch stamp!

 

[cl-65link]

Re: Mall of America. Very few people who actually live in the Twin Cities shop there. It's for tourists. The amusment park is not a "store".

 

[jarhead]

Lived here my whole life. Brothers and sisters also. We ALL shop at MOA, as well as anyone at all I personally know in MSP. Where did you ge your data?

 

[tinman]

Last time I was there, some guy held up everyone on one of the rides because they couldn't get the bar down over his shoulders. He had to walk down the ramp in front of everyone, then sit and watch his friends and family finish the ride. I felt like an idiot....ahhh...I mean I'm sure he felt like an idiot.

 

[merikeyegro]

...

I second Jarhead. I'm from MN as well and I shop at MOA for all my Xmas stuff. Lived within 10 minutes of it for 5 years while I was still a resident and have visited at least twice every year since. I run into lots of people I know when I'm there. So, I'm not sure what "tourists" you all speak of. Of course, there are a bunch of tourists there, but that's not all it's for. MN just doesn't have the tourists to support it. Lots of stores are there that aren't in other parts of MN (Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomie's, Rainforest Care, used to be Fat Tuesday, Oshman's). That place brought Minneapolis into contempo USA.

For bars, visit Billy's on Grand in St. Paul, Gluek's on 1st Av in Minneapolis (they play the Rouser there around midnight for all you Gopher fans - you can tell where everyone is from down there from the whole bar singing the song and clapping) for HUGE beers. For the really not-so-faint of heart, visit Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit in NE Minnie on University Av. That's a big-group place, though. Bavarian-style German restaurant and polka bar that gets absolutely drunken and crazy by midnight. Been there three times and remember leaving once. The girls wear leiderhosen, serve beer in boots and steins, serve snuse after dinner (they actually do all this stuff in Munich, too - seen it), sing disgusting songs with the accordian guy, and lead "ziggy zoggy" chants and others with all the patrons. Fun stuff. I suggest it anytime. That's true MN fare, right there.

Fun state, if you just get to know it. Many dismiss it as a cold tundra in the middle of nowhere. Not true. I moved out just as I was learning it. Moved to Florida. A lot LESS going on, actually, despite all the festivities. I'd move back in a heartbeat. The warm weather has nothing on the character of an Upper Midwest metropolis.

Have fun.