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  1. Midwest Living
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  4. 20 Things to Do in the Twin Cities

20 Things to Do in the Twin Cities

By By the editors of MidwestLiving.com
June 01, 2012
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The Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area strikes a great balance between city-cool and eco-friendly, and between history and hip. Discover the Twin Cities through attractions like the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Minnesota History Center, Guthrie Theater, Mill City Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
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Twin Cities' fun

More than 18 million visitors find their way to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul every year, drawn by a place that touts outdoor fun as much as culture and cuisine. The area (population: 3.2 million), once known for its flour mills and Mississippi River ports, has a knack for welcoming the novel, while also preserving the best.Click or tap to learn about some of our favorite things to do in the Twin Cities, from shopping on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul to exploring Minnehaha Falls Park halfway between the two downtowns. Pictured: The Cathedral of Saint Paul, as seen from the golden horse statues at the top of the Minnesota state capitol building.

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Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Credit: Photo courtesy of Walker Art Center.

The Walker Art Center was the first public art gallery in the upper Midwest when it was established in 1927. Today, housed in a larger center that opened in 2005, it's a world-class destination for viewing contemporary art and media. Next to the center is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, one of the largest urban sculpture parks in the country, which reopened in summer 2017 after a complete renovation. (612) 375-7600; walkerart.org

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Guthrie Theatre

Credit: Photo courtesy of Meet Minneapolis

The Twin Cities theater scene owes much to the internationally acclaimed Guthrie Theater, founded in 1963. World-famous English director Sir Tyrone Guthrie, searching for a Midwest city in which to establish a professional theater, chose Minneapolis.More than 50 years later, the Guthrie is more successful than ever. Now in a new home on the banks of the Mississippi River, the Guthrie offers classic works and a dash of contemporary plays. Four restaurants offer a variety of dining choices, and a variety of tours- including backstage, architectural and self-guided-- round out the Guthrie experience. guthrietheater.org

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Minnehaha Falls Park

With 193 acres, limestone bluffs and river overlooks, this park-halfway between the two downtowns-ranks as one of the most popular (minneapolisparks.org). See a summer concert in the Minnehaha Falls Park bandstand, pack a picnic to enjoy while watching the falls, or take a relaxing walk or bike ride on the bike/pedestrian trail. The seasonal Sea Salt Eatery is good, too; try the fish tacos (seasalteatery.wordpress.com). 

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Mill City Museum

The world's largest mill -- the Washburn A. Mill -- ground enough flour in a day to make 12 million loaves of bread. The Minneapolis building now houses the Mill City Museum, which re-creates old-school flour production days with period equipment, railroad cars and a floor-by-floor tour in a giant freight elevator. The glass elevator rises from the rubble of Mill Ruins Park, with the iconic Gold Medal flour sign overhead. millcitymuseum.org

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Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

Take a trip through the tropics and seasonal flower shows at the conservatory, then see the giraffes, a sea lion show, gorillas and a polar bear at the zoo. This century-old attraction has drawn generations of visitors. It's technically free, but a $2 to $3 donation is requested. comozooconservatory.org

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Fitzgerald Theater

Built in 1910, this 1,058-seat Saint Paul icon is Minnesota Public Radio's largest studio and site of A Prairie Home Companion. The theater also hosts a variety of other programs, including Minnesota Ballet performances, movie parties and musical performances. fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org

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Grand Avenue

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Grand Avenue Business Association

You can spend an afternoon along this Saint Paul street, grabbing lunch at one of the locally owned restaurants, shopping at the boutiques or getting spa treatments. Grand Avenue (grandave.com) runs for 30 blocks, with beautiful old homes and the campuses of Macalester College and University of St. Thomas adding to its charm. Favorite destinations for visitors include Cafe Latte, a cafeteria-style deli known for its three-layer chocolate turtle cake (cafelatte.com).

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State Capitol

The architect of the U.S. Supreme Court, Cass Gilbert, designed this 1905 stunner in Saint Paul. Among the State Capitol's impressive features: the quadriga, or golden horses, on the exterior of the building. Designed by Daniel Chester French (sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial) and Edward Potter, the figures are made of copper and covered with gold leaf. The interior recently reopened for tours after a three-year, $310 million renovation. Forty-five minute guided visits leave at the top of the hour (mnhs.org).

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Target Field and the U.S. Bank Stadium

Families pack the downtown Minneapolis Target Field (pictured) to cheer on the Minnesota Twins while savoring local fare like polish sausages from Kramarczuk's. Kids 14 and under get a thrill from running the bases after Sunday games. minnesota.twins.mlb.comMeanwhile, the Vikings' new $1.1 billion U.S. Bank Stadim hums even on nongame days; catch a concert or take a behind-the-scenes tour. usbankstadium.com

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Minneapolis Institute of Arts

A stunning recent expansion showcases highlights of an enormous collection, with nearly 80,000 works that span over 5,000 years of human history. The renowned Asian art collection is a must-see, as well as the European exhibit and the Modern and Contemporary galleries. Pick up a brochure for a self-guided tour of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, or join a public tour. Admission is free (artsmia.org).

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Mall of America

Credit: Photo courtesy of Mall of America

More than 40 million people visit the Mall of America, 10 miles south of Minneapolis, each year (mallofamerica.com). The nation's biggest mall has more than 500 stores, dozens of restaurants, an indoor amusement park, an aquarium and a butterfly garden.A little planning before your outing will ensure you're not overwhelmed. Go to the mall's website for information on store locations, hours, parking, events and promotions -- and a handy coupon book. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, and leave your coat in the car (the mall is 70 degrees year-round).

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Science Museum of Minnesota

 On the Saint Paul riverfront, engaging permanent exhibits mix with top traveling shows and breathtaking Omnitheater movies. (800) 221-9444; smm.org

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Nicollet Mall

Credit: Photo courtesy of Meet Minneapolis

An 11-block pedestrian thoroughfare in downtown Minneapolis balances big-city feel with hole-in-the-wall discoveries. Highlights of Nicollet Mall include The News Room restaurant, Dakota Jazz Club and a seasonal farmer's market. Orchestra Hall, home of the Minnesota Orchestra, hosts a variety of musical performances (minneapolis.org).

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Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway

Minneapolis has more parkland acres per capita than any other major city in the United States. Take a green tour on the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. This 50-mile route loops through tree-lined neighborhoods and past rivers, lakes, woods and waterfalls. Explore destinations such as the Chain of Lakes Park along the way (minneapolisparks.org).

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Weisman Art Museum

Frank Gehry's gleaming silver building houses the University of Minnesota's collection of more than 20,000 objects, including numerous pieces of American modernism. Free admission. weisman.umn.edu

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Minnesota State Fair

Credit: Photo courtesy of Minnesota Tourism

Billed as "The Great Minnesota Get-Together," the Midwest's most popular fair draws more than 1.7 million people over 12 days in late August and early September. Fair foods like mac and cheese cupcakes, maple bacon funnel cakes and stuffed Italian meat loaf on a stick mean that it'll take a lot of walking among the livestock barns and carnival rides to burn off the calories! mnstatefair.org

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Minnesota History Center

Credit: Photo courtesy of Visit Saint Paul

At this playful, kid-friendly museum, visitors can grab a hard hat and walk through a re-created Iron Range mine with loud hands-on drill simulators - or crank up a Model T, pretend to ride a streetcar, pull or push a pioneer's hand plow and sit in a tipi to hear a Native American artist talk about his culture. And those experiences are just in the Then Now Wow exhibit. Other permanent and temporary exhibits offer guests more hands-on fun and history. minnesotahistorycenter.org

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Minnesota Children's Museum

Credit: Photo courtesy of Minnesota Children's Museum

A $30 million expansion and renovation added 10 new exhibits-including The Scramble, a four-story climbing adventure-to the Minnesota Children's Museum. Water play and toddler-size ramps and stairs draw the littlest ones to the Sprouts area, while older kids build air-powered ping-pong ball launchers in Forces at Play. mcm.org

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Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Opera perform at this newly expanded space, which also presents touring Broadway productions. ordway.org

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By By the editors of MidwestLiving.com

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1 of 20 Twin Cities' fun
2 of 20 Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
3 of 20 Guthrie Theatre
4 of 20 Minnehaha Falls Park
5 of 20 Mill City Museum
6 of 20 Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
7 of 20 Fitzgerald Theater
8 of 20 Grand Avenue
9 of 20 State Capitol
10 of 20 Target Field and the U.S. Bank Stadium
11 of 20 Minneapolis Institute of Arts
12 of 20 Mall of America
13 of 20 Science Museum of Minnesota
14 of 20 Nicollet Mall
15 of 20 Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway
16 of 20 Weisman Art Museum
17 of 20 Minnesota State Fair
18 of 20 Minnesota History Center
19 of 20 Minnesota Children's Museum
20 of 20 Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

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20 Things to Do in the Twin Cities
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