Minnesota

Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, is well-known as a cultural center with its emphasis on education, museums, art, and urban design (those of you using enclosed walkways during the freezing weather will appreciate that!) Major festivals in the Twin Cities include the Winter Carnival (spectacular ice palaces, competitions, entertainment, and performances), the Festival of Nations (a large folk-culture celebration featuring more than 75 ethnic groups), the Aquatennial (water sports and entertainment), the Renaissance Festival, and the Minnesota State Fair.   

Part of Minnesota's appeal is it's four distinct seasons, each with its own particular pleasures.  Spring (April - May) features warming days, with high temperatures in the Twin Cities progressing from 50 degrees in early April to the low 70's by the end of May.  Summer (June - August) is marked by long days, abundant sunshine and daytime temperatures in the 70's and 80's.  Fall (September - November) brings cooling temperatures, and with them, the bright colors of trees and shrubs as they change from their lush summer green to warm reds and golds.  December - March is the winter season and has earned a reputation of occasional weather extremes, but the average winter day is quite comfortable for outdoor activities like skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing.  For instance, the average high daytime temperature in the Twin Cities in January, the coldest month, is in the low 20's.

The Twin Cities are made up of Minneapolis and St. Paul.  Minneapolis is the larger, more cosmopolitan of the two cities, while St. Paul offers city life at a more relaxed pace.  In the entire metro area there are more than 90 theaters.  The Guthrie Theater  located in Minneapolis is one of the nation’s best regional theaters.  Other theaters in the area include the Penumbra Theatre and the Ordway Music Theatre. This world-renowned company produces Broadway quality theater all year round.  The Walker Art Center, located adjacent to the Guthrie, is known for its inventive exhibits of contemporary art.  The garden outside the center features Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s witty "Spoonbridge and Cherry" pop-art fountain.  At the Minneapolis Institute of Arts you will find classical collections from every continent.  Some of the more popular museums include the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Minnesota Children’s Museum.  An addition to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area is the Cafesjian Carousel that was saved from the auction block by local citizens.  This is a 75-year old, hand carved carousel featuring 68 horses and operates Thursdays through Sundays in Town Square Park.    

Nightlife is abundant in the Warehouse District, which features nightclubs (check out the Glam Slam owned by "The Artist" a.k.a. Prince), restaurants, shops and galleries.  If you enjoy gambling pay a visit to one of the 14 casinos located throughout the state.  Two of the state’s newest –Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley are located about seventy miles north of the Twin Cities.  The two casinos, owned by the Mille Lacs Band of the Ojibwe Indian Tribe, offer high-stakes gaming, slot machines, food, and entertainment.   Transportation is available from the Twin Cities to the casinos.

The Mall of America, located in Bloomington, is the largest mall in the United States.  Among the many shops and restaurants, a spiraling roller coaster and the bright lights of a ferris wheel welcome visitors to Mall of America's famous centerpiece, Camp Snoopy, the largest indoor family theme park in the nation, based on the cartoons of Minnesota-native Charles Schultz. Twenty-eight remarkable rides and adventures shape the seven-acre park. An enormous four-story LEGO showplace entertains guests of all ages with full-size LEGO models including dinosaurs, astronauts and a clock tower. Prepare for an adventure through the most realistic indoor rain forest ever created when you dine at the Rainforest Cafe!  You will be surrounded by the sights and sounds of the rain forest including roaring lions, tropical birds, mist, gentle thunderstorms, giant aquariums and much more. The menu includes fresh, original recipes influenced by the cuisines of Mexico, Asia and the Caribbean as well as traditional favorites.  Take the ultimate aquarium adventure on the Mall of America's east side at Underwater World! You'll see over 3,000 animals, including the Midwest's largest collection of sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, slithering moray eels and more!  It's always 70 degrees and sunny at Golf Mountain, an 18 hole miniature golf course overlooking Camp Snoopy.

To the northwest of Mille Lacs Lake, in the heart of Minnesota, is the Brainerd Lakes area.  With over 500 lakes, these waters have made the area famous for its fishing;  Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, Sunfish, Bass, and Trout are all caught here.  Boating and sailing are also popular on the lakes.  This area was home to Minnesota's first lakeside resorts, including some of the largest in the state.  Some of the finest championship golf courses in the Midwest are found here, as well as more easygoing courses.  Golfers at all levels will enjoy the challenges of The Pines, The Classic, The Lakes, and The Preserve courses.  The Paul Bunyan Trail is paved for biking between Brainerd and Hackensack.  Kids will enjoy the amusement parks, miniature golf, and water slides.  Recreation and leisure is what the Brainerd Lakes area is all about!

Take a ride on the classic Minnesota Zephyr, a dinner train that leaves the Stillwater Depot for a three-hour tour of the St. Croix River Valley.

For a summer fishing get-a-way, try one of the many resorts situated on Mille Lacs Lake.

 

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