Minneapolis Travel Guides

My Trip:

My most recent trip to Minneapolis was a wild success. I went in late September when the air was crisp and the sunshine was plentiful. Although the leaves hadn’t turned yet, I know from experience that fall is a perfect time to visit this Midwestern city.

I had read an article about a smaller airline called Sun Country Airlines and I decided to give them a try for the first time. The bottom line is, it was great. We fly non-stop from JFK’s Terminal 4 to Minneapolis (their hub) and I was pleasantly surprised at every turn. On this flight they offered both business and first (or business class). WE flew on a Boeing 737 with all leather seats (3 and 3 configuration) and the cabin crew hustled unlike any I have ever seen. Here’s something else I found fascinating. I was in coach and I was served a hot sandwich and a cookie for lunch! On my return, I decided to splurge and fly first class and the best part is…I bought an upgrade for $89.00! I hope they continue to offer that option because it was the best 89 bucks I’ve spent all year! Keep an eye on Sun Country, and try them on an upcoming trip, I was wildly impressed.

On this trip I opted to stay at a downtown Minneapolis institution…the Radisson Plaza. Sure, I could have stayed at a property that was chick, trendy and really hip to read about. But the reality is, there are just certain amenities I need in a city-center hotel and usually I am not disappointed with larger hotel brands. Well, the Radisson did not disappoint. What a great place. The interior was clean, the lobby was sparkling and the front desk staff was very attentive. It was clear that my room had been recently renovated. The mattress was perfect and the décor was very modern yet classic and perfectly suited for a comfortable stay. I also enjoyed its central location downtown.

For some crazy reason, I decided to visit Valleyfair on this trip. They have all the usual activities you would expect to find at a mid-sized amusement park. It was fun to watch the happy faces of children taking in the sights and sounds. They have a new wooden rollercoaster called Renegade and it was my favorite. Of course, those of us from the Midwest know that amusement parks close during part of the fall and winter, so be sure to check for their hours before stopping by.

Aside from the natural beauty of Minneapolis, they have plenty to do after the sun goes down, so take a gander at my other travelogue for a few dinner suggestions. And the next morning, be sure to have breakfast at Ikes. And if you really want the royal treatment, have the Sunday brunch. They will serve you the biggest cinnamon roll you have ever seen. SERIOUSLY it was the size of a hat box! The food is great and the Bloody Mary is a once in a lifetime experience.

I gathered (from talking to lots of Minneapolis native and locals) that this town is great place to live. It’s hip and trendy (yet not pretentious) and I think that’s a part of what makes visiting so much fun. Great people, natural beauty and plenty to keep you busy. Needless to say, my Minneapolis trip was awesome.

My last trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota was short but event-filled. I was there for a speaking engagement at a travel conference but I did have time to squeeze in a few activities to get a feel for the city. Unfortunately, I was not able to venture over to St Paul on this trip, but I'm certain we'll get that in soon! Yes, it's true, Minneapolis has some of the best urban fishing in the country. If you only have a few hours to bait your line, I recommend Lake Calhoun. It's easy to get there from downtown and you'll also find three miles of scenic trails!

My trip began with my arrival at the Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport , and this place was big, clean and easy to navigate. I'm always tempted to do some souvenir shopping but I refrained. First tip: take the light rail from the airport! It cost me a dollar fifty to get to downtown and the ride took about twenty five minutes.

The conference was being held at the downtown Marriot and it was pretty standard for chain hotels. But what I forgot about was the skyways. 7 miles of enclosed walkways located one story above the sidewalk connecting most of downtown. Although my trip was in August, I'm certain these walkways come in handy in the winter.

Although I didn't have time for all the usual recreational activities, I did venture out of the hotel to take in some of Minneapolis 's GREAT downtown dining and nightlife. I also was surprised at how much live jazz the local hotspots had to offer. One of my favorites was Rossi's Steakhouse. Fantastic wine list, red meat (I ordered the filet with crumbled blue cheese on top) and the live music was phenomenal. Also, be sure to order the au gratin potatoes. For more jazz, I dropped by The Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant. This Minneapolis club offers live music every night of the week (and food from the bar menu is a "must eat"). Right around the corner from my hotel was the swanky Graves 601 Hotel , where inside you'll find Infinity Room ; a very cool place to relax. To fulfill the tourist in me, I did have a cocktail at 1 st Ave & 7 th Street Entry. This place was featured in Prince's Purple Rain video, but I was there to hear the music and the band didn't disappoint. Finally, rooftop gardens are becoming increasingly popular in Minneapolis , you'll find one at Brits Pub. On the rooftop you'll find such activities as lawn bowling and movies!

One of the places I wanted to take in but just couldn't get it in to the schedule was the Guthrie Theatre. This world-famous theatre has shows running year round and I highly recommend it. For shopping, I did spend some time at the Nicolett Mall (downtown) and wasn't able to make the Mall of America in near by Bloomington. However, I've been before and because it is the largest mall in America and their's no sales tax on clothes, my guess is, it's still a great place to fill up your shopping bags!

Erik Hastings

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