Minneapolis - Overview
Minneapolis is located in the north-central state of Minnesota in the heartland of the USA. Nicknamed the “City of Lakes” and “Mill City” it is one of the Twin Cities of Minnesota, the other being St. Paul. Minneapolis is commonly regarded as the more cosmopolitan of the two cities and has a more cutting edge atmosphere than its sister, which often feels like a small town in comparison. Minneapolis has often been voted one of the best places to live in the United States, and its 390,000 residents given the title of some of the cleverest when the city was named one of America’s smartest cities.
Minneapolis certainly deserves the first of its nicknames; 949 of Minnesota’s 1200 lakes are within the city borders. As well as an abundance of lakes the city boasts spectacular waterfalls, creeks and sits on the upper shores of the great Mississippi River. With all this water there are many outdoor activities to partake in and visitors will find Minneapolis a very active city. The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway is an 84 km series of linked parks circling the city and there are walkways and cycle paths as well as a road on which to explore the beautiful natural scenery. Many of the lakes are also linked by creeks and it is possible to travel some of the distance around the Grand Scenic Byway by boat or canoe, with several companies offering boat tours and hire to visitors.
With more theatre per head of capita than any American city outside of New York, Minneapolis is a wonderful place to get absorbed in some culture. Head Downtown, to the West Bank or Uptown for the highest concentration of the many theatre production companies and their lush venues. For a quieter cultural experience the city has no lack of museums and galleries, some world renowned. Get a taste of life in Minneapolis centuries ago or wander round the galleries home to many fine classic and contemporary works of art.
If you feel the need to spend some money Minneapolis boasts the country’s biggest shopping mall, the Mall of America. Easily reached by car or public transit the mall has over 500 stores as well as a cinema, children’s play areas and many restaurants and eateries to fuel up at. The popular Nicollet Mall downtown is a pedestrian thoroughfare covering a 12 block area and there is no shortage of shopping opportunities with many other shops and boutiques sprinkled throughout the city.
The size of the city and the ethnic backgrounds of its residents have made Minneapolis a melting pot of sumptuous cuisines. There isn’t a type of food you won’t find here and there are a huge number of restaurants and eateries that accommodate all budgets. Live music is everywhere in Minneapolis from big touring bands to smaller venues supporting local musicians, nightlife is vibrant and there are pubs, bars and clubs to suit every taste. Clubbers head to the Warehouse district whilst those wanting a quieter drink or two can usually be found uptown.