Minneapolis

Eco-friendly travel guide to Minneapolis advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America.

Aerial view of Minneapolis

Air quality: 4.85 / 5

Exploring by foot: 5 / 5

Exploring by bicycle: 5 / 5

Public transportation: 4.5 / 5

Parks: 5 / 5

Outdoor activities: 5 / 5

Locals' English level: 5 / 5

Safety: 4 / 5

Accommodation: US$30- $650

Budget per day: US$90 - $800

Responsible Travel

One of the things you'll appreciate Minneapolis for is its nice residents who are known for their welcoming attitude to newcomers. A large number of the residents who live in this beautiful Midwest city are reputed to have the “Minnesota Nice” as a characteristic that’s ingrained in them.

Understand that Minneapolis and in Cities make up the Twin Cities. A lot of people who are not locals tend to find the “Twin Cities” to be pretty confusing and simply put, these two cities border each other. While Minneapolis is younger, hipper, and busier, St. Paul is more green, quiet, and calm, and what these two cities have in common is the unforgettable experience they offer to visitors.

If you're a tourist in Minneapolis who's keen on traveling responsibly, here are a few tips you could use.

Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes: If you're a lake lover, you'll love it here in this city as it has about 15 lakes within its limits. The largest lake in Minneapolis, which is also a popular tourist attraction is Lake Calhoun and, you can come here to bike, run, swim, or just take a walk. Make sure that you are extra careful about throwing trash in the designated trash bins.

Brush up your knowledge of public transportation in Minneapolis: With most fares being about $2.00 to $3.25, depending on the time of day, the Metro Transit offers frequent service to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the Mall of America, downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis, and a host of other tourist attractions. Taking public transport helps with reducing your carbon footprint and also reducing the amount of traffic on the streets.

Make sure you wear warm layers: It's better to be prepared for any type of weather that comes your way and this is why you need to wear layers.

Make plans to bring the outdoors in during the winter: If you're planning your visiting from October to April, be prepared to spend a lot of your time indoors because winters are quite harsh in Minnesota. And, you can actually have a lot of fun staying indoors.

Practical shoes are necessary: Walking miles through downtown Minneapolis can put your feet through some inconveniences and putting on practical shoes will save your feet from undue misery because amenities around Minneapolis are spread out.

Prepare to stay safe: Knowing what to expect and having prior knowledge of the most dangerous parts of the city is quite important and before you visit, kindly review the Public Safety page of the City of Minneapolis.

Dial 911 if you have an emergency.

Apart from the aforementioned, you should take measures such as using recyclable material, leaving as little carbon footprint as possible etc to make sure that your visit is not harmful for the environment as well as the city itself.

Air Quality and Pollution

Minneapolis has made some smart green decisions with its carbon footprint, energy waste, and ambitious initiatives designed to combat pollution. However, its air quality varies from neighborhood to neighborhood but the air quality is green and good across the state of Minnesota. You should not be too worried about your trip when it comes to air quality. AQI figures range from 10-40 which is pretty good according to the WHO standards.

Respect the Culture

The main culture in Minneapolis that many have come to know and love is the “Minnesota Nice” and you should definitely try it if you want to fit in. Minneapolis is famous for its friendly community members and a lot of people fiercely support the whole idea of the “Minnesota Nice” and this is no doubt one way you can express your respect for the culture, that is, by being practical. And, you can start by going out of your way to say “Have a good day” before hanging up when making a call to a local business, returning the favor of asking the waitress how her evening is after she did, saying “excuse me” or “I’m sorry” if you bump into someone, and asking the barista how they’re doing when you're ordering a coffee. Putting others first no matter where you are indicates you respect the culture here and it will as well go a long way in making you look like a local. And, these practices, if you're not used to it, may seem like a waste of time to you.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Providing an abundance of cultural attractions to explore along with its beautiful natural spaces, Minneapolis blend seamlessly into the urban environment with its green spaces and extensive parks, and it's undoubtedly the quintessence of the glistening modern American city.

Minnehaha Regional Park: Boasting over 800,000 annually, it's one of the most popular and the oldest parks in Minneapolis, and it's famous to be home to the statues of Hiawatha and Minnehaha, and the 53-foot-high Minnehaha Falls. Here, you can enjoy a live show at the Minnehaha Bandstand, dine at the Sea Salt Eatery, and stroll through a pergola garden.

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA): You have no reason not to visit here because admission is always free, and so are the public tours. There are prints, textiles, drawings, paintings, photographs, and sculptures displayed here. There are as well pieces from a wide variety of cultures dating back 5,000 years featured here.

The Guthrie Theater: Remaining true to its commitment to offer productions of Shakespeare's plays, this theatre, on its three different stages, presents both contemporary and classic plays, and it was opened on May 7, 1963.

The Weisman Art Museum: Ancient Mimbres pottery from the American Southwest, traditional Korean furniture, and American Modernism are what the collection of this museum primarily focuses on. This museum was designed by Frank Gehry and it's an architectural highlight of Minneapolis and as well the campus of the University of Minnesota.

The Children's Theatre Company: The CTC offers Theater Arts Training programs for youth and plays are presented from January through June, though most of its productions are based on classic children's literature.

Nicollet: There's public art displayed alongside a well-manicured walkway, galleries, restaurants, and a large concentration of shops at the main pedestrian zone here. Nicollet is the main shopping center in downtown Minneapolis.

City Hall: It's a National Historic Landmark and it was built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. City Hall is also known as the Municipal Building and it's to the east of Crystal Court and Nicollet Mall.

Chain of Lakes Regional Park: There are lots of attractions here and this place offers a lot of fun things to do for it's composed of five distinct shorelines that are fastened by green space and pedestrian trails.

The Walker Art Center: Hosting over 700,000 people each year, expanded in 2005, and built in 1971, this award-winning facility was founded by lumber baron Thomas Barlow Walker and it's an important venue in the city that's devoted to contemporary art. There are as well eating establishments, terraces, lounges, a cinema, a theater, and numerous exhibition galleries here.

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden: Home to Flower Garden with seasonal displays, the Alene Grossman Memorial Arbor, the Cowles Pavilion & Regis Promenade, this popular tourist attraction has more to offer than the sculptures it displays.

A view from the Minnehaha Regional Park, Minneapolis

Explore

Exploring Minneapolis should be convenient for you because the city has awesome accessibility as most of its top attractions are accessible by vehicle or via public transportation. There is truly a lot of things to see and a number of activities to take part in the city and you can rest assured that you will have a great trip with lots of fun.

City Parks

Minneapolis is home to some of the most beautiful parks in the United States of America. A few of the parks that you can visit are as follows:

Loring Park: Leisure seekers who come for the views will love this 34-acre park that's famous for entertaining a steady following of tennis players, basketballers, walkers, and cyclists. Named after the “father of Minneapolis’ parks”; Charles Loring, this park has amenities to accommodate every and all passers-by.

Lake Harriet: During the summer, it becomes a popular site for music shows and movies, and you can enjoy fishing, sailing, and live music at this great outdoor venue.

Powderhorn Park: Hosting a variety of celebrations every year, it is the pride and joy of the residential district that surrounds it, and it's just south of downtown Minneapolis.

Minnehaha Park: The Minnehaha Falls is the main attraction in this park and this 170-acre park captures Minneapolis' natural beauty.

Lake of the Isles: Frequently kayaked to and explored, Lake of the Isles is unique in its two inland islands, and it connects Cedar Lake with the larger Lake Calhoun. It's the perfect place to grab a coffee and catch up with a friend.

At the Loring Park, Minneapolis

National Parks

The state of Minnesota is home to six national parks with two being in the Twin Cities.

Coldwater Spring
Minnehaha Regional Park
Mill Ruins Park
Mississippi Gorge Regional Park
Gluek Park

Coldwater Spring, Minneapolis

Beaches

Minneapolis has a lot to offer you if you'd love to get in some beach time besides. Minnesota is not referred to as the Land of 10,000 Lakes for nothing. It's always fun chilling at some of the beaches in Minneapolis because most of them have pavilions for live music, volleyball courts and other fun amenities.

Lake Harriet: It’s a highly trafficked area and one that is often busy. In case you'll be driving in, be sure to get there early for good spots because the parking lot is often full. The Bread and Pickle is a favorite eatery and there are concession stands, a playground, and a floating swimming dock here.

Lake Nokomis Main Beach: There's a bathhouse, lifeguards are posted at this location, and there are great foods served at the Sandcastle. There are ample spots for parking and there's a dock that floats for swimming.

Bde Maka Ska: It has a maximum depth of 87 feet and an area of 401 acres. Popular for many outdoor activities, it's circled by bike and walking trails and engulfed by city parkland. It's a part of the city's Chain of Lakes, it's the largest lake in Minneapolis, and it's previously known as Lake Calhoun.

Cedar Lake: The water here is always gorgeous and this place is not super crowded. It's often called a hidden gem because it's a bit off the beaten path and you can feel safe coming here because lifeguards are on duty from 12-7 from June till August.

Lake Hiawatha: You can enjoy taking exceptional photography shoots at the incredible falls and bike and walking paths here. Sitting right alongside a golf course, it has plenty of tennis courts and a fishing dock.

Lake Nokomis Main Beach, Minneapolis

Landmarks

Minneapolis is home to several historic landmarks and monuments and some of the modern landmarks you'll find in the city include the statue of Mary Tyler Moore at Nicollet Mall, the lofty IDS Center, and the Fredrick R. Weisman Art Museum amidst others.

Stone Arch Bridge: Opening daily with free admission, this landmark is an important marker on the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail and it's one of the most eye-catching landmarks in the city. It has played a vital role in the development of Minneapolis and it was constructed from locally quarried granite and limestone in 1883.

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome: It's famous for hosting a wide selection of sporting and other events and it's as well one of the major entertainment venues in the city. It's famous for its impressive air-supported rooftop and it's situated a short distance southeast of Nicollet Mall.

Fort Snelling State Park: You can take the Snelling Lake loop for a relatively easy hike here. This park is most notable for historic Fort Snelling, and it's situated at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers.

Foshay Tower: There's free entry for children that are 3 and under and in the whole of Cities, it's renowned to be one of the most popular buildings.

Minneapolis City Hall: This building is accessible by wheelchair and visitors from the mezzanine will enjoy bird's-eye views. It has a beauty and grandeur in modern construction and for a particular function, lecture, conference, award ceremony, company dinner, reception, and NCAA game, the courthouse makes a convenient venue.

Stone Arch Bridge, Minneapolis

Museums

Minneapolis is a great place to go museum hopping as it's famed to have a thriving scene for culture, restaurants, music, and arts. Here are some of the best museums in Minneapolis:

Walker Art Museum: From performances to the public to sculpture and visual paintings, this center brings a variety of different types of art beyond the fascinating architectural design of its building. It's inarguably one of the defining attributes in Minneapolis and it's one of the country's five most visited contemporary art museums.

Bell Museum of Natural History: Offering a broad expanse of knowledge for its visitors with its constant rotation of exhibits, this museum is home to a wide array of scientific exhibits and it's situated on the campus of the University of Minnesota Minneapolis. The research for this museum and its collection of information are made by well-traveled scientists.

Minneapolis Institute of the Arts: This museum will leave any visitor in awe with its extensive network of hallways and new surprises with every turn. Visitors can marvel at the creative skill of the ancient Romans or experience the vibrant colors of original works by well-known artists. This museum houses a large collection of art from way back in history and it's a great place to be for a more traditional experience of art.

American Swedish Institute: Here, you can taste the flavors of new Nordic cuisine, shop for Nordic gifts, or enjoy performing arts and contemporary art. Chronicling the cultures of diverse backgrounds and nationalities with its music and other things, this museum is a cultural experience in itself and it offers exhibitions that explore Swedish culture. Taking a trip to this museum is like tapping into Minnesota's Scandinavian background.

The Bakken Museum: This scientifically focused museum with interactive exhibits for both the young and old takes its name after an electrical engineer from the early 20th century and some part of it is primarily devoted to the force of electricity.

Walker Art Museum, Minneapolis

Eat

With delicious local eats and drinks to discover, Minneapolis sets a welcoming, diverse table for its visitors and you should definitely pack your appetite if you'll be coming here. The popular Juicy Lucy would be the signature dish to represent the whole city if one has to choose because you'll find this quintessential local sandwich on menus all over town. It's a crime if as a visitor, you prevent yourself from exploring an opportunity to taste some of Minneapolis's international cuisines. From exotic camel burgers and sushi to street tacos and Vietnamese rice bowls with all of these under one roof, you can enjoy these homeland dishes served by the on-site eateries and food vendors at the Midtown Global Market. Lutefisk and hotdish are other traditional foods associated with Minnesota.

Traditional Local Restaurants

Traditional local restaurants are known for their originality and here are some of the best ones you can check out:

Punch Bowl Social Minneapolis: Serving scratch-to-craft food and cocktails all day, it's situated near downtown and Target Field. You can come here to rule the night with Karaoke, stop in for the happiest of hours, get your brunch on, and just take a break from shopping.

Kado no Mise: Kado no Mise translates to “Corner Restaurant.” It's a traditional Japanese restaurant for those who are willing to try something new. It offers delivery and outdoor dining and takes pride in its ingredients being fresh and purely undiluted. Come here to enjoy simple and delicate Japanese food.

Chimborazo: For traditional and well-executed Andean cuisine, this lovely and welcoming spot truly delivers. Its patrons acknowledge it to be more than just a traditional local restaurant because of its stunning quality.

Café and Bar Lurcat: Offering convenient valet parking, it's situated downtown Minneapolis next to Loring Park, and it's a fine mix of classic old-world style with a Nouveau twist. This restaurant boasts a voguish design and serious food in a hip, urban venue.

Vegetarian and Vegan

Minneapolis is vegan-friendly and if you're looking for the best vegan food in this city, here are some places you can check out:

J. Selby’s: J. Selby’s is a hot spot for veggies if you’re in the Twin Cities area. It serves up awesome dishes like dessert, wings, tacos, wraps, burgers, and what makes it more special is the vegan brunch it offers on Sundays. It's a 100% plant-based establishment and it's a top favorite amongst Minneapolis vegans.

Trio Plant-Based: The cornbread here will blow your mind! However, we'll recommend you try out any of its housemade BBQ ribs, mac and cheese, collard greens, or the maple cornbread. You can as well get to select 3-6 of its other offerings if you go for its Soul Food Platter.

Herbivorous Butcher: Respected for its perfect sausages, steak, deli meat slices, ribs, pepperoni, and all different types of fake meats, this restaurant is one of the premier first vegan deli in the United States. Undoubtedly, it's a vegan’s heaven.

Vegan East: From brownies and vegan poptarts to cinnamon rolls and cupcakes, it offers an array of yummy goodies and it's an all-vegan bakery in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis. Head to Vegan East if you seek sweet vegan treat while in Minneapolis.

Street Food

Street food is pretty common in Minneapolis and in a city like this, nothing compares to the feeling of walking the streets in search of the perfect lunch on a beautiful day. Marquette and 2nd Avenues in Minneapolis are dotted by colorful vehicles and it's gathered that there are over 200 trucks operating around Minneapolis's metro area with over 125 members in the Minnesota Food Truck Association. If you crave a meal from wheels, here are some recommendations for you!

Dough Dough: This truck moves around the metro and it's famous to be citywide. Ordering five mini-scoops or a Flight of Dough is a nice way to sample. It's almost impossible to make a bad decision with flavors like puppy chow, salted caramel, and chocolate chip. This truck focuses on serving safe and edible cookie dough by the spoonful.

Anchor Fish & Chips: If you're not a fish fan, you can as well enjoy the veggie pasties and the great meat this truck serves. Known for serving wild Alaskan cod lightly deep-fried, this super-authentic British truck is changing the narrative.

Animales Barbeque: Your go-to order should be the Meat Tornado (cheese, bacon, sausage, and ribs) if it's Sunday. Sausage, pork shoulder, and beef ribs paired with a great Texas chili are the smokin’ magic of the owner who graduated from the French Culinary Institute; chef Jon Wipfli. The truck is parked outside Able in northeast Minneapolis and it's arguably the best barbeque in the city.

Bibuta: This truck serves up a mean pork belly spring roll and seaweed salad and it's known for its fine burrito which is a mix of spicy mayo, eel sauce, salmon, and tuna.

Butcher Salt: Make sure you try out its Brocky’s Quesadilla (chipotle cheese, pepper, onion, bacon, and chicken). Everyday foods such as loaded hash browns, sliders, sandwiches, hot dogs, and quesadillas are some of its classic street fares.

Drink

Minneapolis is home to a buzzy collection of microbreweries and without doubts, beer drinkers will be pleased to know this. If it interests you to sample some of the local suds, some of the solid choices you can trust are Bauhaus Brew Labs, Barrel Theory Beer Co., Dangerous Man Brewing Co., and Surly Brewing. Northeast is great for dive bar aficionados in Minneapolis but take note that the legal drinking age is 21 in the United States of America and bars in this city tend to close at 2 a.m.

Tap-water

Minneapolis tap water is among the best in the United States of America as it's known to be economical, offers great tasting, safe, and healthy.

Organic Cafés

Some of the organic cafés in Minneapolis you can trust include;

Common Roots Cafe: Creating an innovative menu of casual, seasonal offerings is what the kitchen and bakery of this place aim for. With its very best local and organic ingredients, its hand-crafted foods are one-of-a-kind.

Tao Organic Cafe + Herbery: People who have visited here usually commend it for three things; great food, excellent selection of herbs, and helpful Staff. There's beer, wine, and organic dishes like wraps & grain bowls, and salads to enjoy here.

French Meadow Cafe & Bluestem Bar: Dedicated to truly great restaurant and food experiences in the world, it has a curated wine list and serves a selection of craft cocktails and local artisan tap beers. It offers something for everyone on its eclectic menu whether you're omnivore, vegetarian, gluten-free, or vegan.

Simpls: Come here to enjoy great happy hour deals on beer and wine, espresso, and amazing food.

Vibe Organic Juice Bar: Offering made to order sandwiches, salads, acai bowls, smoothies, and fresh cold-pressed juice made daily on-site, this venue boasts of being transparent and authentic in everything it does and it focuses on providing its patrons with delicious tasting plant-based food options.

Breweries

Minneapolis has a long-standing history of beer and Minnesota is home to some of the finest microbreweries in the United States of America.

Dangerous Man Brewing Co.: It’s a great spot to cozy up anytime any day. The taproom is filled with fresh floral greens and there's always a lively atmosphere here. This place gets very busy on weekends and it's an absolute gem.

Utepils Brewing: If you're here, try out the Ewald the Golden, Ewald the Dark, Copacetic Kolsch, or Alt-1848. To get away from the constant approach of IPAs and draw a differentiated approach on brewing, come here. Utepils is situated on the west side of Minneapolis near Golden Valley.

Surly Brewing: Over the years, this brewery has faced some stark competition which turned out to make it stronger. It boasts of being the original craft brewer of Minneapolis and it has some of the rarest beers on tap that you can’t find in stores.

Indeed Brewing Company: It’s a great place to spend a cold winter or fall afternoon. You really can’t go wrong with any of its beer options and it features some of the best beers in the state of Minnesota. It's a cozy, quaint taproom with a likable spirit.

Venn Brewing Company: It has a pretty unique concept, it's situated along the blue line light rail on the 46th street station, and it has different beers made in variety each time. It's a great place to enjoy fresh, cold craft beer.

Old Grain Belt Brewery: This is one of the biggest breweries in the city.

The Old Grain Belt Brewery, Minneapolis

Activities

Minneapolis offers plenty to see and do for visitors of all ages with its popular theaters, top museums, outdoor activities, and picturesque lakes. Visitors who seek a relaxed, fun time in Minneapolis can enjoy a scenic bike ride along lakeside trails or visit popular attractions in the city such as Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, Minnesota Zoo, and a host of others. And, speaking of outdoor activities, it does offer everything from trail running and snowshoeing to snowboarding, skiing, road running, mountain biking, hiking, flatwater paddling, cycling, climbing, to camping.

A skiier enters a ski path on Lake of the Isles during a winter sunset in Minneapolis

Yoga and Retreats

Yoga and retreats are common in Minneapolis and if it's in your interest to ease your mind with yoga, here are some nice recommendations for you!

The Yoga Center Retreat: It craves to be the forever home for all things yoga and wellness for its patrons. It has expert and highly trained staff and its sanctuary is a place where you can find tranquility, share the teachings of yoga, or start your practice. It offers varied workshops, programs, and classes. And, it also offers online classes.

Yoga Sanctuary: This place doesn't disappoint for your high-quality yoga place. It has a welcoming space and atmosphere, it's pretty safe and very professional.

Yoga Garden: If you thought of a weeklong yoga retreat for your dream vacation, Yoga Garden is your best bet. It's dedicated to combining a commitment to positive, transformative experiences, adventure mindsets, and lifetime yoga practices with its passion for travel. It's founded by Laurel Van Matre and Melissa Joy Schoeller.

Hiawatha Yoga: This is another quality option you can as well trust for your yoga and retreats in Minneapolis.

Accommodation

The Downtown West and Downtown East areas are famous to be where visitors book their accommodations and this is due to their accessibility and nearness to several restaurants, shopping areas, and attractions. If you're a sports fan who thirsts to catch a Twins game at Target Field, you might want to consider staying at the Warehouse District. Minneapolis has fine apartments and hotels but take note that it is one of the country's most expensive cities to live in and rent prices can be pretty high.

A view of the Downtown West, Minneapolis

Green Hotels

Minneapolis attracts many green businesses and organizations and it does make some smart green decisions with its carbon footprint, energy waste, and ambitious initiatives designed to combat pollution. Minneapolis is an amazingly green city and it's home to plentiful green hotels.

The Hotel Minneapolis: It’s within easy walking distance of top downtown attractions, it conserves energy with its eco-friendly thermostat setting within each room, it recycles across the hotel, and it's a favorite eco-friendly hotel among green travelers.

Kimpton Grand Hotel Minneapolis: It serves organic food and beverages and works on reduction of water and energy consumption. It uses eco-friendly cleaning supplies, it recycles throughout the hotel, and it's majorly dedicated to green practices.

The Westin Minneapolis: It aims to be “the hotel of the future” and boasts responsible bottled water, an investment in sustainable seafood, and energy-efficient appliances and bulbs.

Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis: It has a Green Meeting program, encourages reuse of towels and linens, recycles across the property, and serves sustainable, local cuisine. Guests will feel good staying here because of its eco-friendly practices.

A view of The Westin Minneapolis

Hostels and Guest Houses

There are lots of nice hostels and guest houses in Minneapolis, some of them are listed below:

Minneapolis International Hostel: It's accessible via good public transportation, it's convenient to local shopping and restaurants, and it's in a safe neighborhood near downtown Minneapolis. It renders service to travelers and visitors from outside the Minneapolis area and it caters to the budget traveler without rubbishing its charm and quaint elegance.

Como Lake B&B: Offering lake views, a garden, and four traditionally decorated rooms, it is loved by many for its amazing food and cozy rooms. Its rooms are kid-friendly, pet-friendly, and air-conditioned.

LeBlanc House Bed & Breakfast: Known for its free hot candlelit breakfast & all-day beverages, this classic B&B in a historic Victorian home has an atmosphere that is inviting, welcoming, laid-back, and relaxing. It has laundry service and it's smoke-free, kid-friendly, and air-conditioned.

Nicollet Island Inn: It offers a piano bar, a chic restaurant, and elegant rooms. This upscale 19th-century hotel is accessible, air-conditioned, and it has free parking and free Wi-Fi.

Nicollet Island Inn, Minneapolis

Apartments

Airbnb is popular here should you seek to rent an apartment in Minneapolis. However, one thing you should know is that rent prices are quite high in Minneapolis and the average rent in this city is about $1,130.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a different kind of experience and it's a unique way to meet new people. Couchsurfing is pretty popular in Minneapolis and the norm is to go online to find various locations where you can get connected.

Camping

Minneapolis is more than just a big city with lots of attractions, shopping, and restaurants for it's home to an array of recreational spots. Tent campers and RV owners have the options on where to set up their base camp as there are several campgrounds on the outskirts of the city.

Afton State Park: You can bike on four miles of paved paths, hike on 20 miles of trails, or head to the swimming beach for fun. There are camper cabins that include heat and electricity and this park also offers group camping and it is fifteen miles east of Minneapolis.

Carver Park Reserve: Canoeing and kayaking are popular on the lake and this reserve is a good location for spotting wildlife such as osprey, barred owls, white-tailed deer, trumpeter swans, and you can enjoy hiking here as well. Fire rings, picnic tables, hand pumps for water, and pit toilets are some of the amenities offered here.

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway: Offering primitive toilets, picnic tables, and featuring a fire ring at each campsite, it has more sites along the lower section of the St. Croix River and the first campsite is 20 miles west of the city. It offers primitive campsites that require a boat or canoe for access.

Minnehaha Park: Designed in the year 1883 by landscape architect Horace W.S. Cleveland, it's a unit of the National Park Service, it lies within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, and it's part of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board system. Minnehaha Park is a popular site for cultural festivities and weddings and it's a great spot for camping.

How to Get There

Depending on your proximity to Minneapolis, you can get there by air, bus, car, or train.

Air

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the main airport serving Minneapolis and travelers are to be cognizant of the terminal they're departing from/arriving at.

Bus

Greyhound and Jefferson Lines buses operate in and around the state, and if reserved far enough in advance, fares can be as little as $1.

Train

Amtrak and Northstar Line operate in and around the state.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is illegal in Minneapolis.

Others

Minneapolis is a traveler-oriented town and rideshare options are plentiful in this city.

Moving Around

The downtown area and other points throughout the city are served by the METRO Blue Line Light Rail, the public bus routes, and the plenty of rideshare options that are available. Renting a car to get around is usually the best for those who are visiting and there's parking available at metered street spots.

Walk

Minneapolis is one of few cities to use multi-colored street signs. It's divided into quadrants; North, South, Northeast, and Southeast, and the city streets have a grid system that's helpful if you learn it. Minneapolis is a top-rated city for safety and you should feel safe taking a walk around plus it’s easy to explore the compact downtown area on foot. Nevertheless, you should avoid some of the dangerous neighborhoods in the city.

Bicycle

Minneapolis has several off-road bike trails and a large number of the locals in this city use the man-powered two-wheeler to get around. There's been a heavy investment in bicycle boulevards, lanes, and bike trails in Minneapolis over the years, and bicycling in Minneapolis is a big deal.

Electronic Vehicles

Electric vehicles cost less to run than gas-powered vehicles and there are car-sharing services in Minneapolis that offer visitors an opportunity to get around via an electronic vehicle.

Public Bus

The Metro Transit has different routes serving the area to help people get around the city.

Tram, Train and Subway

The Metro Transit operates the public transit system in the Twin Cities. Light rail offers two lines; the Green Line and the Blue Line.

Sustainable Shopping

You should have no problem shopping sustainably as there are lots of eco-friendly local shops in the city, here are a few of them;

Hazel & Rose: With its goal of creating an exclusive garment; an airy, lilac wrap dress, it has partnered up with Hackwith Design House. This boutique sells globally and locally brands and it's a nice spot to shop sustainably.
Éthique Nouveau: Feel free to bring your pets along while you shop here and this shop has its portion of proceeds going to a Minnesota animal advocacy nonprofit; the Animal Rights Coalition. You can enjoy shopping for your furry friends, fashion goods, and vegan products at this pet-friendly boutique.
Repair Lair: This shop allows its patrons to give others a chance to discover something new or earn cash on items they no longer use. Aside from its functions as a consignment shop, it focuses on giving your outdoor gear and clothing a second life.

Food Markets

You never can tell the treasures you’ll discover when you visit one of the food markets in Minneapolis for they deliver the taste of the local flavor for those who seek a unique difference. Minneapolis is as well a hub of cultural landmarks and entertainment because beyond its lakes and parks, it exerts its quality as Minnesota's largest city.

When you speak of the food market in Minneapolis, what first comes to people's mind is the buzzy globally themed public market; Midtown Global Market, as it's the city's premier destination for unique gifts, cultural experiences, and food.
Minneapolis Farmers Market is another valuable food market in Minneapolis and you can get everything from freshly cut flowers and garden art to accessories, handmade artisan jewelry, and clothes from the vendors here. This food market boasts several markets and it has the Lyndale location to be the most famous one.
Kingfield Farmers Market is another farmers market that comes a bit closer to Minneapolis Farmers Market in terms of quality. And, you'll love it here because it's an easy place to fall into conversation with the folks who grow the food; whether you're just hoping to learn a little something new, looking for fresh produce, feel like sampling artisan pieces of bread and craft-made pickles, or tasting some of some fresh fruits from one of the several orchards at the market. It also features children’s activities, music, some handmade crafts, and it has thousands of customers in attendance every Sunday. It's a bustling market with several vendors and it was launched in 2001.

Flea Markets

There's no shortage of flea markets in Minneapolis and if you're looking for one, try out any of these;

Alamo Flea Market: You name it, Alamo probably has it, and pretty much anything you can imagine from vintage framed art and videos to CD’s, tools and furniture, gemstones, vintage clothes, plants, antiques, postcards, vintage bikes, and different kinds of jewelry to a host of other multitudes of unique items. It's famous to be a unique neighborhood gathering to find almost anything and it's the treasure hunter’s dream.
Mercado Central Flea Market: Thriving with crafts, music, languages, spices, and colorful foods, this flea market is a place to quench your thirst for something a little different from the market norm. It's a Mexican-style market that's often patronized by happy and kind people. It offers an experience like none other to be found in Minneapolis and walking here is taking a step into Latino Culture whether you seek handcrafted Mexican gifts or an authentic taco lunch.
Hamel’s Lion Flea Market: Hamel’s Lion Flea Market is a sight to be seen whether you want to sell or buy. It caters to a wide range of people; hundreds of dealers coming from all over to sell their treasures, and it offers a selection of plants, crafts produce, bargains, collectibles, and antiques.

Second Hand Stores

Tossed & Found is one of the fine second-hand stores in Minneapolis. It focuses on reducing waste with its sales of purposeful, recycled items.

Other nice second-hand stores in Minneapolis include;

Buffalo Exchange
Goodwill
Hunt and Gather
Salvation Army SATRUCK Thrift Store

Eco-Fashion

Minneapolis is home to an array of eco-friendly and sustainable stores such as Tare Market and EILEEN FISHER where you can procure local clothing made by locals with local sustainable materials.

Recycling

Recycling is an encouraged activity in Minneapolis and you can recycle stuff like laundry and bathroom containers, beverage, food, and plastics. The collection day for items to be recycled in Minneapolis is assigned by the Solid Waste & Recycling Division and on your collection day, you're expected to be at the alley or curb line at your collection point with your recycling cart.

Waste

In Minneapolis, similarly to the recycling process, garbage is collected weekly.

Work and Study Abroad

Minneapolis is home to several higher institutions of learning and it does attract a number of international foreign students.

Exchange Student

Minneapolis is home to reputable institutions of learning like Macalester College, Bethel University (MN), and the University of St. Thomas (MN) amidst several others and most of them do offer student exchange programs.

Au Pair

Minneapolis is an ultimate destination for Au Pairs and you can go online to find more possibilities.

Volunteering

Minneapolis is valued to be home to a high number of volunteers in the United States and it's regarded to be one of the most philanthropic cities in the nation for statistics reveal that at least 40% of its adult residents spend more time volunteering. And, history showcases Minneapolis as a city that's community-minded through its act of volunteering.