Minnesota Vacation: Twin City Attractions in Minneapolis and St. Paul - 2

The Arts

Well known for its cultural attractions, the Twin Cities offers an abundance of world-class museums, art galleries and performing arts venues that shouldn’t be missed. The Walker Arts Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Orchestra Hall, the Ordway and dozens of others top the cultural scene list in the state.

Valleyfair

Summertime in Minnesota isn’t complete without a trip to Valleyfair in nearby Shakopee. The upper Midwest’s largest amusement park, Valleyfair features more than 75 rides plus Soak City Waterpark and the Challenge Park featuring the RipCord, Adventure Golf, go-carts and bumper boats (additional fees apply for Challenge Park).

Once school is out, teens flock to Valleyfair for the thrill rides, including Steel Venom, a 185-foot roller coaster that travels up to 68 miles per hour, and Power Tower, a gravity-defying ride that shoots riders up or down a 250-foot tower at more than 50 miles per hour. For the non-thrill-seekers in your family, there are also plenty of children’s and family rides available. www.valleyfair.com

 

• Operated by the Walker Art Center, the Minnesota Sculpture Garden features more than 40 installations and traveling pieces.

Mulad

Stillwater, Minnesota

Often called the birthplace of Minnesota, Stillwater is a quaint town north of the Twin Cities that was voted ninth in the 100 Best Small-Town Getaways by Midwest Living magazine. As the weather warms in Minnesota, visitors from all over the state and beyond take the scenic drive to Stillwater to enjoy antique shopping, browsing through bookstores, wine tasting, dining along the St. Croix River and even cruising along the river in a gondola built in Venice, Italy.  

But don’t just stop at Stillwater; take in another close by and quaint town: Lake Elmo, and experience quite possibly the best dining Minnesota has to offer at the Lake Elmo Inn restaurant. Owner John Schiltz has been crafting delicacies using some of Minnesota’s specialty ingredients, such as walleye and wild rice, for more than 25 years. www.ilovestillwater.com

 

• Located on the shores of Lake Superior, Duluth is a great place for fishing, boating and more.

Randen Pederson

Duluth

OK, so Duluth isn’t a Minneapolis or St. Paul attractions, the but the town, roughly three hours north of the Twin Cities, is best known as the place to watch more than 1,000 Great Lakes freighters pass by annually. It’s also a great vacation destination, filled with hundreds of upscale shopping boutiques and more than 50 restaurants, all located at the westernmost tip of Lake Superior.

While in Duluth, you’ll have a tough time narrowing down the activities to fill your day, from the Great Lakes Aquarium to the Duluth OMNIMAX Theatre. Or climb aboard the S.S. William A. Irvin Ore Boat Museum and learn about the flagship of the USS Great Lakes Fleet. Outdoor enthusiasts will love to take a ride on the Vista Fleet for a lunch or dinner cruise around the lake, take a 90-minute train ride on the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad or just watch the freighters as they pass through. www.visitduluth.com