20 Things to Do in the Twin Cities

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.

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

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

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). 

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

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

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

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).

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).

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

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).

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).

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

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).

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).

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

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

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

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

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