hotel suggestions very close to Mayo Clinic?

I%26#39;m going to the Mayo Clinic for work in mid April for 1 week. I%26#39;m hoping to find a nice hotel that is easy walking distance (or ideally connected) to the Mayo Clinic. Also, I know weather can vary, but what is it usually like in mid April? Thanks in advanced!

hotel suggestions very close to Mayo Clinic?

Hey-I%26#39;m doing a similar search; I%26#39;m at Mayo for tests 1/22-1/24 and have been researching hotels/motels. So far, Kahler Inn and Suites seems really nice. Approx. 85/night and joined by subway or skyway I believe. It%26#39;s worth looking into.

Good luck.

WI2Rochester

hotel suggestions very close to Mayo Clinic?

Hey-I%26#39;m doing a similar search; I%26#39;m at Mayo for tests 1/22-1/24 and have been researching hotels/motels. So far, Kahler Inn and Suites seems really nice. Approx. 85/night and joined by subway or skyway I believe. It%26#39;s worth looking into.

Good luck.

WI2Rochester

dali67: Thank you!!! I%26#39;ll look into it. Any other thoughts????

Hey-

I have booked my room at Kahler Inn %26amp; Suites; I arrive there tonight. I will give you the complete ';low-down'; when I get back home Thurs. I have looked at SO many hotels/motels, compared, etc.

What are you looking for in a hotel? The most important amenities, location, etc? Also, price range? I%26#39;ll be happy to give you ideas on the others I looked at online.

Amy

I%26#39;m looking for something clean, room service, fitness center, pool, hot tub and/or sauna would be nice (at least fitness center). Location is important to me; ideally walking distance (connected) to the Mayo Clinic. I%26#39;m going to try and find out where my training takes place before I book a hotel. Shuttle service to the Mayo Clinic would be great. Any information since your trip would be great! I thought about the Staybridge Suites? Price range ideally less than $200.00 per night ($150.00). Thanks!

I made a great choice with Kahler Inn %26amp; Suites due to the reason I was there; I didn%26#39;t need most of the amenities (even though Caribou Coffee right inside the hotel was awesome!). I think for you, based on what you%26#39;re telling me- Kahler Grand Hotel sounds like the ticket. Go to www.kahler.com, click on Kahler Grand Hotel.

The rates range from about 100-150/night. Looks like for 140 or so, you can get an awesome room. The amenites listed include a fitness center, sauna; 24 hr room service; and a pedestrian walkway directly linked to Mayo (it%26#39;s super close) so, I don%26#39;t think a shuttle is even needed.

Let me know if you need any help; I did SO much research.

Amy :)

Question for dali67

I am going to Mayo in May for 3-7 days...I have booked the Kaher Inn and Suites because of the location, suite and kitchenette. We really get tired of restaurant food and a nice omlet or salad at night is comforting.

My question...were the beds comfortable?

I looked at the Residence Inn but would have to book two rooms to get two beds unless we used the sofa bed. I am familar with the Marriott Residence Inn chain but not Kahler.

Thanks for any information.

Hi-From what I recall of my stay, the beds were comfortable. A very decent room for the price. I was by myself, but ended up in a room with 2 double beds. They must have been ok, I had to spend a lot of time laying down while I was there. Nice atmosphere, too. A big plus was Caribou Coffee being right there when you walk in the door of the hotel (and also a nice sandwich shop); Also, if there is no parking available in their lot, they will reimburse you if you have to park in a paylot (I parked in the graham parking garage). If you do end up choosing Kahler; the cheapest rate is the ';internet special'; for 80/night.

-

Let me know if you think of any other questions at all.

:)amy

In the generic sense of the OP topic (but far to late to matter for that post) but for future topic readers looking for options....

My wife and I stay in Rochester every couple months or so for her checkups and surgeries to fix up a paralyzed arm. On a tip from my father who takes my Mom there for checkups on a condition she has we have been staying at the Travelodge. It is not as convenient as the places connected to the subway (underground walkways) but given the size of Rochester and the availability of free shuttles the difference in price can be considerable for a little convenience.

The Travelodge has a clinic rate of about $52/nt. The most surprising thing is that it has been largely remoodeled and somewhat rebuilt in the past several years. Rooms have expanded in size where they moved the outside wall on one side out to incorporate what used to be a balcony. The rooms are clean with fairly new furniture etc... Some rooms have mini-kitchens but all have small refrig and microwave. The third floor rooms (yes, on elevator ';?';) facing the highway are huge. There is an indoor pool w/hottub too. Breakfast is very basic...muffins, cereals, fruit, etc... not too good if doing an Atkins lifestyle but OK for anyone else.

Attached is a Famous Dave%26#39;s BBQ restaurant and across the street are a Perkins and a shopping Plaza with grocery.

It is in very easy distance (a few blocks) from St. Marys Hospital and maybe a 4 minute drive to the Clinic. Actually for anyone from amny places (like NYC) where walking is normal it would not be that bad of a walk either (a mile?). But, again, shuttles run all day and are free. Even after hours a shuttle to St. Marys would leave a 4-5 block walk.

Considering that the one time I stayed downtown, for wife%26#39;s shoulder replacement at Methodist Hosp. , at the Kahler Executive for $80/nt the extra $30 a night is a lot for the convenience of being on the subway. When we go down again in a few weeks we%26#39;ll be at the Travelodge again.

May be a little late, but I%26#39;ve had good luck at the Holiday Inn Express. It is also attached to the skywalk system. And those cinnamon rolls . . .

bright makeup

New Year eve recommendations?

Hello,

My husband and I are looking around for some new year eve parties - and are thoroughly confused...we havent spend NYE in Minneapolis as yet- any recommendations would be welcome. We%26#39;re not to bothered about food, etc - but would like a nice atmosphere, decent dancefloor and good music. We%26#39;re both ~28. We zeroed in on 2 options so far, but dont know whcih one to choose -

one is: Crystal Ball at the the International Market Square in Minneapolis

http://www.nyempls.com/home.html

the 2nd is:

Casino Royale at Solera:

http://www.soleranye.com

Has anyone been to any of these venues before?

Thanks so much!

New Year eve recommendations?

I%26#39;ve been to Solera before. It%26#39;s a pretty well run place, somewhat spendy, but the food is good. Haven%26#39;t been there for any kind of event, but from what I%26#39;ve heard, they%26#39;ll have themed floors and lots of space. Which means it should be easier to geta drink than many places downtown that night -- but then again they could ruin it if they let too many people in. But having different things going on on each floor seems cool to me -- as you will have an option of choosing your scene should one become tiresome.

At the International Market Square event, keep in mind that it%26#39;s not technically downtown but a little ways off. I don%26#39;t know where you plan to stay, but it appears that Millenium hotel is tied into the event and offering free shuttles.

All I know about this place is where it is and what one friend told me -- TONS of bar space and well staffed at that. The problem with these pay upfront deals on New Years is always that you can%26#39;t get a drink when you want one because of the crowd. I%26#39;d guess of all the events, this would be the most reasonable in terms of getting drinks and having space to think.

I can%26#39;t really speak to the music part of it, but take a look at citypages.com and vitamn.com -- they should have something.

New Year eve recommendations?

I think if I were choosing between the two I%26#39;d lean toward Solera just because I%26#39;ve been there before and I like the idea of a rooftop deck in the winter -- which means they would likely have a heated area up there. Nice view of downtown and nice to have an option to get fresh air without standing out by the smokers.

Either way, I%26#39;d seriously consider the VIP/OPEN BAR options -- maybe call to see what those entail. Could be a ripoff but also could mean $25-$30 to save you a huge headache and give priority

I%26#39;d second Solera. You can always walk across the street to Chambers for a nightcap -- better yet get a room, sleep in and do breakfast in bed the next morning.

the past two years we did nye at bootleggers

all you can drink

top shelf included

and they do have an app spread out most of the night

good music %26amp; band

if you go, get there before the doors open

there%26#39;s only so many tables - nab one and hang on to it for the night

it%26#39;s like $85

and you%26#39;ll need to get tix in advance

FYI, The Rake online magazine just published this most comprehensive list of events:

secretsofthecity.com/magazine/secrets-of-the…

We%26#39;re torn between supper and the late showing of Slumdog Millionaire, the gypsy themed party at Black Forest Inn or the bluegrass music at 331 Club... probably not what you%26#39;re looking for, but you%26#39;re sure to find something to please.

New Year's Eve In Minneapolis?

I%26#39;m going to be spending New Year%26#39;s Eve in Minneapolis this year and was looking for some advice on what to do/see....

Generally speaking, just looking for something casual/romantic in terms of a restaurant and then a place with a similar vibe for drinks towards midnight and perhaps dessert - so far have been looking at dining near the waterfront and checking out the fireworks... not too sure for a destination after dinner though for drinks/dessert and the countdown to midnight...

New Year's Eve In Minneapolis?

the Nicollet Island Inn is very romantic - and you can%26#39;t get more waterfront than an island in the river

http://www.nicolletislandinn.com/news.html

here%26#39;s a roundup of New Year%26#39;s Eve events around town -

twincities.citysearch.com/roundup/39168/

New Year's Eve In Minneapolis?

NIcollet Island Inn is along the Mississipi river and there is a New year celebration just outside the Inn typically. You can also view fireworks from there - at 8 PM on 31st and 12AM when the new year strikes.

Agree on Nicollet Island Inn. You mentioned casual, which I expect to mean not loud and rowdy. My guess is that would be it. Fun, wiht a great view of fireworks, but lower on the decibel meter.

There are no fireworks in Minneapolis on New Years. They were cancelled last year.

what made you dig this old thread up?

Bed and Breakfast for ';babymoon';

Would like to take my wife on a 3-4 day long weekend babymoon in March or April of 2009. She has always wanted to stay at a Bed and Breakfast. We live in Hanover (near Albertville, Monticello area) and would be willing to drive 2-3 hours. Looking for suggestions for a romantic Bed and Breakfast in MN. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Bed and Breakfast for ';babymoon';

Unfortunately, your travel time narrows the field quite a bit from what I’d normally suggest. Check out the top-rated TA B%26amp;Bs in the Twin Cities, Northfield and Stillwater. Fargo I hear is up and coming, but it’s heading north while the weather is iffy. I’ve really enjoyed Grandview Lodge in Nisswa and have sent many friends there. They do have a spa which might appeal to your wife, but it’s not a B%26amp;B atmosphere. If you’re willing to drive up to 5 hours, I would also include Lanesboro and Duluth in your search.

Bed and Breakfast for ';babymoon';

I%26#39;ve always wanted to try the ';Lighthouse'; B%26amp;B in Two Harbors on the North Shore -

here%26#39;s a few in the area -

Lighthouse Bed And Breakfast -

www.lighthousebb.org

3rd Street, Two Harbors - (888) 832-5606

B %26amp; B Whistle Stop Bed %26amp; Breakfast - www.bnbwhistlestop.com

505 8th Ave, Two Harbors - (218) 834-5571

If you%26#39;re going in March, you should do the Chocolate March that the B%26amp;Bs along the St. Croix River put on every weekend that month: check www.innsofthevalley.com. It%26#39;s a tour in which each inn offers various chocolate treats, and people who stay overnight get extra perks. My favorite of those inns is the Summit Inn in Center City; the proprietor is very warm and friendly (get the Aerie Suite).

If you want a classic Victorian for your first time, try the Phipps Inn in Hudson or Rosewood Inn in Hastings, which also are a short walk from shopping and restaurants (though both are better in Hudson). Details are in my story ';Chocolate on the St. Croix.%26#39;%26#39;

Oh, and congratulations!

Beth at MidwestWeekends.com

HI!

I am the owner of the AG Thomson House Bed %26amp; Breakfast in Duluth, MN. Our website is www.thomsonhouse.biz. We are located in the heart of Duluth within minutes of the Canal Park district where there is wonderful shopping and dining. Our Inn is situated in the East End Mansion District and on approximately 2 acres of grounds, so it is a peaceful location.

We would love to visit with you about a stay with us. We offer many packages; one of which is a Babymoon. Or a wonderful maternity massage is an option too!!

Again, our website is www.thomsonhouse.biz and our toll free number is 877-807-8077. We would love to offer you and your wife a restful retreat!

Angie Allen

AG Thomson House Historic Bed %26amp; Breakfast Inn

877-807-8077

There is one in Excelsior - The Bird House Inn and Gardens (hasn%26#39;t been reviewed on TA yet, but nice inside (more relaxed than other B%26amp;Bs) and the exterior was just repainted in the two years)

There is also one in Jordan - The Nicolin Mansion

Otherwise, I would recommend Stillwater.

Amtrack and parking

Has anyone ever taken the train out east from Minneapolis? We are looking into it for an upcoming trip and we are what kind of parking if offered at or near the Amtrack station. Is ther long term parking? Any other information about using the train would also be helpful. Thanks!

Amtrack and parking

Doesn%26#39;t the train going east to Chicago go through Tomah too? That might be easier than back tracking to the Twin Cities. Or even going down to La Crosse.

We%26#39;ve taken the train west to Seattle and our daughter was a regular train cummuter to UND in Grand Forks. Between trains there is plenty of parking at the Twin Cities station (in the Midway area between Mpls and St. Paul) but it can get very full right at train time. Never really noted anything posted about long term parking or time limits. The Amtrak web site does not mention parking term limits. Main thing is that there are only two trains a day (one east and one west) so not much activity to deter crime although the station itself is open 6am to midnight. Personally I would not feel safe parking there long term but it is probably not much worse than the airport. At least it is free.

The train eastward departs at 7:30AM or so. From Tomah it departs at 11:30am which beats driving very early in the morning (or staying overnight) to get to the MSP station. The Empire Builder terminates in Chicago so any farther east from there would require a transfer.

Amtrack and parking

Thanks for the info, we thought about tomah but Minneapolis is closer to us. Good to know that the parking for at least long term may not be so safe. Maybe we can find someone to drop us off or we could do a park and ';fly'; at a hotel but just go to the train station instead. Something to think about.....

I just confirmed with Amtrak, and a few co-workers too: Long term parking at the St. Paul Midway Amtrak station is free to ticketed passengers. Parking requires a permit, which you get from the ticket agent when you check in. Parking is free for the duration of your ticketed trip.

I think this may have made my father-in-law (cab-in-law) very happy.

Are you still planning this trip? Yes, long-term parking is free at the Twin Cities station with a pass you get from the ticket agent. It%26#39;s very easy. I don%26#39;t know if Menomonie is closer to Red Wing, but I think the Amtrak has a stop there or nearby, too. No idea what the parking situation is like there.

Woo Woo! Amtrak....just be prepared, this winter has been pretty rough on their schedules. BE SURE to always call ahead.

The parking at Midway Station in MSP is pretty good. However, it is a quiet, out of the way area, so please do not leave any valuables in your car to tempt anyone.

Just an FYI, there are also stops in Redwing, MN, (not attended so you can%26#39;t check bags), Winona, MN, and Lacrosse, WI.

If you do leave from MSP and happen to get delayed and/or stranded. There%26#39;s a Days Inn very near...it%26#39;s not the fanciest hotel, but they are very reasonable and last time I stayed there (when my train was 24 hours late--don%26#39;t mean to scare you) they let me check out at 5 pm without paying any extra. They are VERY helpful.

Hope all goes well!

Thanks for all the help from everyone. I%26#39;m getting a little concerned over all the talk about delayed trains. We are planning on going in thesummr are trains often delayed then or is it just mainly in the winter?

I haven%26#39;t often had a delayed train in the summertime....so you should have better luck during that time of year. It can be full during the summer season, however, so make sure to get your tickets well ahead of time.

When I travel in the summer, I%26#39;ve never had a train delayed more than an hour, though I know it can happen. Since Amtrak uses freight rail lines, sometimes those freight trains take priority. Since St. Paul is a very long stop, the train can often make up time here. So even if it arrives late, it can leave closer to on-time.

Last summer, flooding closed the line for several days and Amtrak had to bus people into Wisconsin, but that was a very odd case.

Things to Do

We are trying to decide on somewhere to go for our 5th anniversary in April. I want to go to Minneapolis, my husbands not convinced, he doesn%26#39;t think there will be anything to do. Our plans would be to come up Friday go home on Tuesday, I figured one day for mall of america, a evening twins game, what else are some options? We like bars, not really the clubbing type though. My husband is also interested in breweries too and craft beers. We aren%26#39;t much of the wander the park types though. We also like good food at moderate prices, that are local, he hates chains. Please help me convince him.

Things to Do

Hmmm...we%26#39;ll see what advice I can offer...

Always check out www.minneapolis.org. It%26#39;s the official Minneapolis Visitors association website for ideas too (includes the greater Minneapolis area, so will include St. Paul and suburbs).

Are you into arts? Lots of options for theaters and museums. Most notable theater (in my opinion) is the Guthrie. Not sure of what they%26#39;ll be playing but live theater and in their relatively new location right on the Mississippi River (and not far from the I-35W bridge that collapsed and was rebuilt, also near the Metrodome for that Twins game to see them beat whoever they%26#39;re playing, even if it is the Royals, right? ;-) ) There%26#39;s about 100 local theaters for live performances and other ';picture'; museums, let me know if interested in that. You can also check out the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and/or the Walker Art Center (for contemporary art). Additionally, there%26#39;s always fine arts music such as the Minnesota Orchestra or local live bands for other music such as Fine Line Music Cafe or Minnesota Music Cafe in St. Paul.

Bars...near the Dome and in an interesting neighborhood is Town Hall Brewery. Though more bar than brewery, they do make their own beers. The neighborhood has a definite U of M influence, but not so much that if you%26#39;re there for other reasons you%26#39;ll feel entirely out of place (many people frequent before heading about a 10-15 minute walk to the Dome for Twins and Vikings). Also, you%26#39;ll have local spots for live music and other local bars. Otherwise, perhaps The Happy Gnome (though technically on the ';other side of the river'; in St. Paul, www.thehappygnome.com). They have a nice bar/restaurant and feature some local beers, such as Surly. You can go to www.surlybrewing.com for more info (and can get info on a tour if interested). You%26#39;ll also be on Grand Avenue which has a variety of locals stores and restaurants to check out.

Northeast Minneapolis has a variety of very local places that harken back to Northeast Minneapolis ';blue-collar'; and more European immigrant history.

Another restaurant/bar to check out is Nye%26#39;s Polonaise Room. Very popular, just over the river in downtown Minneapolis (so 10 minute walk or a minimum fare cab ride), very ';kitschy'; in it%26#39;s retro and polka room decor (and close enough to other bars/pubs if it%26#39;s not your scene), even got mention in I think Esquire Magazine for ';Best Bar in America';. A reviewer online from San Francisco said, ';This place is everything you could want in a bar. Piano karaoke, polka band, great Polish food and beer. I definitely couldn%26#39;t find a place like this in San Francisco.

Definitely check it out if you%26#39;re in Minneapolis. Take what you will from that.

In the city itself, you%26#39;ll find plenty of food options that are not chained. Of course, in suburbs expect to see mostly chain restaurants, which aren%26#39;t necessarily bad food but are chains that you can probably find in KC. In downtown, you might check out ';The Local';. Known for an Irish pub-like atmosphere, it%26#39;s a nice place for food and drink. I%26#39;d also advise checking out www.twincitiesfoodfinds.com for more food options.

Since you say you%26#39;re not park wanderers, I%26#39;ll pass on that talk, though we have good options either in the city or near.

April probably isn%26#39;t the most ideal time to visit weather-wise, but you can find things to do and see. Let the forum know if there%26#39;s other specifics you%26#39;re looking for,

Things to Do

Friday night: Try a fish fry. In St Paul Groveland Tap and Obbs Bar probably have the best.

Pick up a copy of City Pages, the alternative newpaper, when you get to town. It covers the club scene pretty well.

There was a recent post about some (non-chain) breakfast places in the Twin Cities.

Summit craft brewery in St Paul had tours at one time, but I am not certain they are still available.

tptr

http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=HG0fD-PX69A

I%26#39;ll post more later when I have more time, but keep in mind that when you visit MInneapolis, you technically have two large cities to explore, with lots to do in each. Minneapolis and St. Paul are separated only by the mississippi river.

Minneapolis itself has world-class hotels, far better than you would expect for a city of its size. Very good nightlife and arguably the best city park system in the United States.

Oh, and for breweries. OK, I%26#39;m biased, but Summit is a state treasure and the best beer I%26#39;ve tasted that was brewed in the US. Brewery is located in St. Paul and they offer toursd on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday but you MUST make reservations in advance. I%26#39;m talking months in advance if possible. It%26#39;s a free tour and worth the time.

I would take a bed and breakfast night or two in Stillwater. And then stay the rest of the time in Minneapolis.

Speaking of restaurants, Minneapolis is known for its aversion to chains. People here demand locally produced food and locally run establishments. TGI Friday%26#39;s tried and failed downtown, for example. Had a great location, but the opportunities for great food were overwhelming and they did the right thing and fled.

I know you said you aren%26#39;t much into parks but I really think a few hours checking out the lake circuit -- particularly beautiful Lake Harriet -- perhaps by bike would be nice. Couple it with a visit to Uptown for some real down-to-earth bars and restos.

by the way:

http://www.summitbrewing.com/

Pizza Delivery?

Hello All,

Our family will be stay at the Radisson Hotel Bloomington By Mall of America next week. I%26#39;m wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a pizza place that will deliver to the hotel? We like just about all pizzas and cheese bread but its nice to try something other than pizza hut, dominos, ect! Thanks!

Pizza Delivery?

Oh man I wish I could help you. I know your hotel with have a list of all pizza delivery places. I wonder if you can get Green Mill? I just love their chicago style deep dish pizza. I am not sure if this is a nation-wide chain but there are like 6 of them here in Mn. They have awesome cheese bread as well. Oh and their wings are too die for!

Pizza Delivery?

try calling the hotel and find out which places deliver

I can%26#39;t think of any places, non-chain, down there.

if Pizza Luce delivered there, I%26#39;d suggest them.

Pizza Luce or Galactic Pizza are great. But the Sprall is in the suburbs and you may be stuck with chain restaurants.

bright makeup

Amtrak Travel

I guess I didn%26#39;t really know where to post this question so I thought I%26#39;d look for some advice from local folks....

My husband and I are thinking about traveling out east, to Washington DC by Amtrak probably this summer. Neither of us nor anyone we know has traveled via Amtrak before so I guess I%26#39;m looking for feedback. You wouldn%26#39;t need have traveled out east to answer but that would be helpful. We are thinking of getting a roomette or a family bedroom (just the two of us) Can anyone give any stories about traveling? Are there locks on the doors to the roomettes or bedrooms (concerned about going to the lounge and leaving stuff in the room unattended)? Are the rooms really small? Are there often delays??

Thanks for any help anyone can give!

Amtrak Travel

My Mum traveled Amtrak at least once a year though typically west not east for the past few years. She said the regular seats were so comfy she never considered paying that extra cost for a room. This is not an airline seat at all plus you can get up and move. She has been delayed often but nothing more usually than airline delays. She also usually went at Christmastime so delays were typically weather related which no one can guess. Not sure if that helped but just wanted you to know the alternative too.

Amtrak Travel

I often use the flyertalk travel forum; they%26#39;ve got a subforum on Amtrak that might help you.

flyertalk.com/forum/amtrak-guest-rewards-399/

The really really small rooms are the bathrooms. They make airline toilets seem spacious. And they are not cleaned as often so on a long trip can get pretty disgusting.

Amtrak is actually not bad but can get boring. When possible check the schedules closely to determine where you might have scenic areas during daylight. The train rolls day and night so not a lot to see. The seats are very good compared to airlines....large, recline more and best of all are fairly far apart (pitch) so even when reclined are b not a problem for the person behind.

The downside to not having a sleeper is two fold at night....first...noise in general and comotion at stops. The trains do make stops at night...sometimes fairly often...with people getting on/off, talking, finding seats, dragging luggage around....etc. Think of the loading %26amp; unloading process on an airplane done 4-5 times throughout a night. Even when moving there will be noises....kids crying, the guy in front of you snoring, etc...

So if opting for the less expensive coach seats be sure to bring eye shades and foam earplugs.

My daughter used to take the train from MSP to GFK (Grand Forks) when she went to UND and the trains were about 50/50 as far as on time (within 30 minutes). Most of the time delays were eastbound due to the train having major delays in the Rockies due to avalanche conditions.

Funny incident on a trip we took from Seattle to Twin Cities and back to Seattle (when we lived there)...one night my wife, in aisle seat, woke up to find a small child leaning on her leg, head bent on her knee, fast asleep. Drooling on her leg. It was the wetness that woke her up. His Mom was a couple rows ahead of us also asleep. My wife gently woke him up and aimed him at his Mom.

If you can swing it, do get a bedroom sleeper for

the long haul. As stated above there are alot

of disruptions in the passenger cars. I do sleep

really well on the train but there are always

people going back and forth, doors opening and

closing, kids running by and worst of all, loud

cell phone passengers. Our last trip someone

babbled behind us for 2.5 hours non-stops.

Even the small sleepers are a relief from that by

my husband is a big guy and it was tight for us.

They changed the cars so that you no longer

have a window on the top sleep and it can be

claustrophobic for some persons. The bottom bunk

in the small sleeper, of course has a great view.

We DO love taking Amtrak...we find it so relaxing

and great for seeing the country. Some trains

are better than others. Another option is to

take the train one way and fly back if you can

find a good one way airfare. That would

be ideal.

Sorry for my typos....not enough coffee yet.

a buddy of mine went out to Seattle - with a small cabinet for the two of us

meals were included, and we were able to bring a cooler %26amp; booze to be consumed in our cabin

I have travelled in the coach section too, but get the room if you want to get decent sleep.

there are locks

When my wife and I travel from Twin Cities to Chicago, we always get a roomette if they%26#39;re available. For two people, the price is pretty similar to two people in coach PLUS you get free meals in the dining car, and that%26#39;s worth a LOT. The Roomettes sure aren%26#39;t spacious, but there%26#39;s plenty of room to stretch your legs and you can keep your bags next to you. Plus, you sit across from your spouse and that makes talking or playing games easier.

Plus, if you want to lay flat for a nap along the way, you can fold the seats together for a bed.

I also like talking to the porters when they come by.

The roomettes don%26#39;t have bathrooms, but those are always right down the hall. If you really want a private bath, then pay more for the bigger bedroom. No bathroom will be big on the train. :)

For an overnight in the roomette, your porter will turn the seats into a bottom bunk and pull down the top bunk while you%26#39;re at dinner (or when you request). There%26#39;s not a LOT of space, but you get much more restful sleep than in coach because people aren%26#39;t moving through the aisles all night long.

There aren%26#39;t locks on the doors from the outside that I know of, but you can stash bags away in the roomette and the porters are around keeping an eye on things. I%26#39;d ask the porter for good anti-theft tips.

Personally, I%26#39;d get the room for the whole trip (for the meals mostly). BUT, if you%26#39;re going out east, you could think about going coach from St. Paul (that%26#39;s a day-time trip) and getting the Roomette from Chicago if that leg of your trip is overnight.

For our 30th anniversary my husband and I did a loop trip with amtrak. We started in MN, spent one night in Chicago, then on to Colorado Springs, CO for 3 nights, then on to San Francisco for one night, then on to Glacier National Park for two nights and then home. I planned it with Amtrak Vacations the hotels were fantastic. My husband really relaxed on the whole trip. We had a sleeper that way all your meals are included. The only problem we had was on the way to San Francisco. The train was really late and the bathrooms quit working. The personnel are only allowed so many hours working so we had to sit in the train and wait for another crew to show up and take us the rest of the way to San Francisco. With that in mind I would still go again and am actually looking at Amtrak Vacations for our 35th anniversary this year. Good Luck.

snowmobling

Anyone out there? How long does the season last and where and how much can you rent machines for? Also I heard you need a special license? Any info. would be great

snowmobling

I am not an expert but have heard friends talk about a permit or ';trail sticker'; for your sled. I do not know if you can rent, maybe some resorts? The only thing I do know is they have good snow. My son just got back from snowmobiling just north of Brainerd and said they had 12-18 inches of powder. I will also submit, the season lasts as long as the snow. We can get some heavy snows in late March, so it all depends on the weather.

snowmobling

We%26#39;re going over spring break which is the last week. I will keep my fingers crossed.

I%26#39;m assuming you%26#39;re heading north? I%26#39;d ask the area lodging or visitor%26#39;s bureau you%26#39;re considering for more information. Then get all the info you need from the rental provider.

FYI, I think you also need to up your insurance or purchase special for that rental. In the past, the insurance was too expensive so we nixed the idea.

I would also think snow would be good thru March, but past then is a tossup. Spring is very unpredictable, so a reliable trail resource would be to your advantage. Check the local snowmobile clubs or DNR for where you%26#39;re going.

Thank You, I have the information on the trails and the area. I guess we will hope the snow stays up there so we can enjoy them or at least go tubing. Justing getting away will be nice.

http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=HG0fD-PX69A

Summer 2009 - general Advice

I am hoping to be in Minneapolis at the end of June 2009 - main purpose is to meet up for aweekend with friends but as I shall be travelling from Europe I want to stay for more than a weekend.

I%26#39;m at the very beginning of planning my trip - one issue is how long to stay in Minneapolis itself and where else to go (i.e. another US city or a more %26#39;local%26#39;trip)

I shall be travelling solo, I enjoy live music, theatre, art galleries, museums, gentle walks - I don%26#39;t much enjoy shopping or amusement parks.

I shall probably have 2 weeks to spend in the USA.

So, my first question is whether than is likely to be too long to be in Minneapolis? (And if so, any suggestions as to where else I should go?)

I have only visited the states once before, about 10 years ago, when I went to NY, Washington and spent some time in North Carolina.

i am starting to read up on the area (location is dictated by the party I%26#39;m going to)

Also - how practical is it to get around without hiring a car? I shall be on a Fairly tight budget.

I know this is a very open question - I am reading therest of the forum and no doubt will have more detaield queries as time goes more and I learn more...

Summer 2009 - general Advice

Some very genereal suggestions....

1) Define for yourself ';Minneapolis';....that is, just the city itself or the entire Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.

2) Explore potential places of interest in St. Paul and perhaps some outlaying areas such as Stillwater or the Lake Minnetonka area.

3) The public transport system (largely by bus with one light rail link) and is mostly ';hub %26amp; spoke'; routes...with the two ';twin'; cities as the hubs. Many times to get from one place to another it will require several transfers.

4) Weather wise the end of June is still in the ';stormy'; period that transitions Winter cold to Summer heat. Waiting to transfer from one bus to another mean doing so in downpours...not always with the use of a shelter either. Which does not mean not using the bus system...just being flexible.

5) The very end of June also means the beginning of July and a few days later Independence Day on July 4, which in 2009 is a Saturday so sure to draw extra large crowds for downtown (either one) activities...as well as hotels more full than average. Lots to see and do though with things like ';Red, White %26amp; Boom'; in Minneapolis or ';A Taste of Minnesota'; food festival in St. Paul.

Four to five days would be plenty for just Minneapolis and even for St. Paul too but might be little short for getting out and about to scenic areas. For music, theater, art, etc... Minneapolis probably has the edge. For diversity of music and things to do sticking around until July 5th would provide lots of options.

Summer 2009 - general Advice

If you only have 2 weeks and go outside the cities, I would definitely rent a car. Here%26#39;s my dream itinerary for that amount of time:

3 days in the cities

3-5 days on the exploring the North Shore of Lake Superior (Duluth/Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail/Isle Royale)

The rest of your time meandering down to Chicago OR to the Dakotas (Black Hills, Custer State Park, Badlands)

It really depends on weather you%26#39;d like to see nature or great cities. The nice thing about heading down to Chicago is that you could easily take train/plane/bus down and do without a car. However, for scenic beauty, the Dakotas is a popular desination. Regardless, do plan to see the North Shore all the way up to Grand Marais.

I think you%26#39;ll need to decide what kind of traveler/visitor you are. Some people like to see a lot of things; others like to see one area and really get to know it and explore it.

That means for some people 3 days is plenty for Minneapolis (and the surrounding metro area); for others, they wouldn%26#39;t even be able to scratch the surface.

It also depends how tight your budget is. Traveling to other large cities in the upper Midwest of the US would add to the final tally substantially, compared with staying and exploring Minneapolis and perhaps northern Minnesota.

I would spend no less than 4 nights in Minneapolis. That would allow you time to hit the highlights of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Though sadly you would miss much of the more day-to-day cultural parts of this area. And I should point out that if you like theater and museums, Minneapolis is loaded. In fact, only one city has more theaters per resident, and that%26#39;s New York City.

I think the north shore of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota is a great option to visit that time of year. Spectacular scenery and the famous northern Minnesota small-town charm. State parks abound and there is no shortage of trails for hiking and biking. It really depends on how much of an adventurist you are and how far in advance you like to reserve lodging. It%26#39;s a popular destination in the summer here.

While in Minneapolis, you should set a plan to allow you to use public transportation (light rail and bus) or foot-power for the things downtown and in the immediate vicinity that you want to see and that Metro Transit (metrotransit.org) serves. For the things outside the city or in St. Paul, I would rent (hire) a car. And of course for any travel outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul, you%26#39;d need a car. In fact. the drive up Highway 61 (longer route but more scenic) might be one of your highlights if you chose this itinerary.

I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll get quite a few varying opinions -- all created from different styles of travel. (Mine is to walk the fine line between seeing a lot and becoming guilty of drive-by tourism; I really like meeting the people and getting their opinions. And I really like seeing more than the stuff you find in tourism guides)

You may wish to spend a week in MPLS and then take Amtrak to Chicago and fly back to UK from Chicago.

MPLS and St Paul are fine midwest farming cities so a week there would be more then adequate. America is just too big for passenger rail service like you europeans enjoy, air travel covers our distances faster.

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;MPLS and St Paul are fine midwest farming cities%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;

Katzgar, Seattle

Ya sure, and be sure to catch the morning farm report on %26#39;CCO (intoned in heavy ';Fargo'; accent.

tptr

Just so you know, Minneapolis and St. Paul are NOT farming cities. But people on the coasts do like to be snobs about the so-called flyoverland.

Here%26#39;s a plan for a great low-budget trip: Spend three or four days in Minneapolis. First, rent or borrow a bike and ride the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, which follows parkways, lakes and the Mississippi River in a big loop that%26#39;ll show you all the best beaches, parks and historic areas. Rent a kayak or canoe at Lake Calhoun, see Minnehaha Falls, swim in Lake Harriet, go to one of the many free outdoor concerts and festivals.

You can go on super-cheap day or weekend trips with a local club, such as the River Ramblers, www.river-ramblers.org, who charge $2 per trip, or the Minnesota Rovers, www.mnrovers.org (no charge day trips, but $25 annual membership for overnights, and then you can borrow gear free). Otherwise, you do need a car. You can find out about tons of great places within a few hours at my web site, www.MidwestWeekends.com.

Then I%26#39;d take the Megabus (as cheap as $2 if you reserve early enough)or Amtrak to Chicago, which is such a fun town and also very friendly. If you take Amtrak (also cheapest the earlier you reserve), you should be able to stop along the way for no extra charge in such towns as Red Wing, La Crosse, Wisconsin Dells or Milwaukee, where Summerfest, which they call the world%26#39;s largest music festival, is June 25-July 5 on the shore of Lake Michigan. You can walk from the station to a cheap dorm room at Marquette University.

Rooms in Chicago are very expensive in summer, so reserve as soon as possible at the hostel in the Loop, which is really nice, www.hichicago.org. It%26#39;s two blocks from Grant Park, where Taste of Chicago is going on June 26-July 5. I%26#39;d rent a bike and ride the 18-mile Lakefront Trail and do all the free stuff.

Nearly every town has a fun Fourth of July celebration. That weekend also a good time to catch a powwow, which most Europeans love. You%26#39;d need wheels, but the Oneida are holding one near Green Bay, Wis.

Hope you have a good time here!

Beth at MidwestWeekends.com

seaburytraveler - great response and I love your Web site, many great ideas for tbagpuss (interesting screen name, btw). I%26#39;ll have to look into it for my girls weekends!

Minneapolis and Seattle are both great cities for very different reasons. But I%26#39;ll take our good Midwestern values and cultured standard of living any day over the expense, congestion and outstanding array of street people in Seattle. Honestly, I love both places (half my family lives there) but don%26#39;t even go there trying to compare the two, esp if your idea of us is fine farming cities.

The best things about visiting Minnesota are the Mpls/St Paul area, the vast natural beauty throughout the state and it%26#39;s proximity to many other Midwestern treasures. If you got to the states more often, I%26#39;d suggest spending the whole trip in MN. But since it sounds like you don%26#39;t, that%26#39;s why I%26#39;d recommend visiting more than one area. If you really don%26#39;t want to spend the money on a car/multiple locations, I%26#39;d suggest staying in downtown Mpls (convenient to bike trails/mass transit) and busing/training it down to Chicago.

Hi there, thanks for such prompt and detailed responses - It sounds as though I%26#39;ll be able to find lots to do, without extra flights elsewhere.

I think maybe I%26#39;ll look in to hiring a car for part of the time, to explore further out.

mpls is fun with all the lakes in the city. You can bike for miles if that is something you like to do. My suggestion is to hit Chicago. It%26#39;s the best city in the midwest for shopping, museums, restaurants and evening shows. Check out greatgirltrips.com for other ideas. They have itineraries for many cities in the US.

If you%26#39;re going to rent a car, you could drive up to Duluth on Lake Superior (2 1/4 hours), then continue east to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Bayfield, Wis. (another 1 3/4 hours). You can%26#39;t beat Lake Superior. You could kayak into the sea caves, and the Red Cliff Band of Chippewa (Ojibwe) near Bayfield has a powwow over the Fourth, and both cities have great fireworks shows. In Duluth, you could watch it from Skyline Parkway.

And I was wrong about membership in the Minnesota Rovers Outdoors Club. It%26#39;s only $10 for people who live outside the Twin Cities, and you still can borrow gear.

Beth at MidwestWeekends.com

Winter get away

Want to give son a short vacation somewhere warm for his 38th birthday. Can%26#39;t spend too much as I am retired and half my retirement funds have disappeared! He%26#39;s never been married so a singles type thing is o.k. Is there anyplace in particular that people from the Minneapolis area tend to go to get warm and have fun in winter. Thanks in advance.

Karen

Winter get away

direct flights from Minneapolis to Cancun / Playa del Carmen

good package deals available for all-inclusives

Winter get away

Hmmm...I%26#39;m 37 and thinking I want to be somewhere warm right now too! That said, a warm place I might find interesting and fun may not be your sons scene (or vice versa). That said, you might check out www.suncountry.com. Sun Country Airlines is primarily a charter type airline. They made some of their name here in Minneapolis on flying to warm locations, and tried to be a lower cost airline in comparison to big boy Northwest Airlines (which, ironically enough, is well on its way to being gobbled up by Delta). Perhaps their locations can give you some inspiration.

Ocean? Desert? Resort? Golf? Tennis? Bar scene? If you could provide a glimpse into his interests it would help.

Sully does make a good point, though I think you were trying to ask if there%26#39;s a place that people from the Twin Cities have generally found to go in the wintertime to escape the cold - which is a big question with so many people and so many varied interests. Another idea generally, though, would be if your son is a baseball fan. You could send him down to Florida for Twins Spring Training (or to the spring training of any baseball team, I suppose... That would also open up the possibility of AZ)

I would look at the charters out of the cities - worryfreetravel.com, hobbittravel.com and applevacations.com. Those are the most popular destinations since they have seasonal packages.

Mexico would probably be the most popular and cheapest along with Florida.

I always book a trip to Mexico from the Red Hot Deals at www.worryfreevacations.com. If you sign up for their e-mail, it%26#39;ll come every Monday around 5 p.m., and you can book from midnight on. Unless you%26#39;re going during spring break, you ought to be able to get air and hotel for $650 per person, including $100 in taxes. That%26#39;s what I paid for a week in Mazatlan (Hotel Playa Mazatlan) and Cozumel (Casa Mexicana), though now I go to Puerto Vallarta and stay at B%26amp;Bs (also have stayed at a B%26amp;B in Cozumel, $45 at the time). Isla Mujeres near Cancun would be nice, too, and has inexpensive little beach hotels.

We get great charter deals out of the Twin Cities in winter -- my sister lives in Florida and has to pay much more to fly to Mexico and the Caribbean!

You are all so kind to take the time to post suggestions. The reason I would like to send my son somewhere is that he doesn%26#39;t go out much, never has. In my opinion he spends too much time playing computer games. You are right about needing more info about him. He%26#39;s not into sports, ( but plays Frisbee golf), not particularly a beach person. Likes to read. He enjoyed a family trip to Tanzania last October, was a very good traveling companion, real easy going, never complains, very polite and accommodating. The thing is that left to his own devices he%26#39;s content to just stay home but once out somewhere he likes it. My last visit in May we went to the North Shore of Lake Superior with stops at a few parks and he really had a good time.(Thank you Downtown Minneapolis for your suggestions back then!!) He just doesn%26#39;t take the initiative to do something, thus my birthday gift. As far as all inclusive package deals, any particular sites I should check out? Thank you again for your help, I appreciate it.

Karen

After the weather this week, definitely somewhere warm. Others have mentioned, this is the time of year to find a ticket out of here. It would also appear the flights to Florida are also pretty reasonable at this time.

tptr

Posted before I checked if there were more responses. Will check out the sites mentioned. I hate the winter, don%26#39;t do winter sports tho my husband bought me second hand ski equiptment as our mountain community has skiing as part of our amenities. Maybe I want to send my son somewhere warm so my husband and I can join him!!! Thank you all so very much.

Karen

Karen,

You mention your son likes to read. Perhaps an interesting idea would be to get the book ';1000 Places To See Before You Die';, and then send him to one of the 1000 places. Check out the other websites and see if one matches? You%26#39;ll then just have to make sure he goes and actually SEES the live place and not just read about it. Just a thought...

New to Minneapolis

I am very new to the Minneapolis area and have some time off work. I want to try to enjoy some of the local life while I am not working. Give me some ideas of your favorite things to do...keep in mind I am $$ conscious right now.

Thanks!

New to Minneapolis

If you give us some idea of your interests, I think we can help better. Are you into sights and parks, then maybe the Sculpture Garden, Ft. Snelling, Stillwater. If you like museums, what type? How about skiing or other outdoor activities? Either downtown area is packed with neat things to see.

New to Minneapolis

Wander around the Capitol in St. Paul, either by yourself or by guided tour. Treat yourself for a reasonably priced bahn mi sandwich from one of the Vietnamese restaurants on University... my two faves are Saigon (N side of University, just E of Dale St.) and New French Bakery.

Go skating or play pickup hockey at one of the local outdoor rinks, or find a hilly park for sledding for you or your kids.

A great sports value is watching a high school hockey game (boys or girls), and an even better value is watching youth hockey practices or games at any ice arena.

Walk the river parkways in Minneapolis, particularly the Stone Arch bridge and St. Anthony Main areas. Read the interpretive plaques for information on how Minneapolis came to be. If you want more information, pony up for the Mill City Museum. Its freight-elevator-view trip of the mill is great.

For true local color and probably the best buzz-for-your-buck, get a mixed drink at Stand Up Frank%26#39;s. (2027 2nd St North, just north of Minneapolis%26#39; warehouse district-- most agree it is part of North Minneapolis. You%26#39;ve been warned.) A wine bar or sports bar it ain%26#39;t.

To get a good view of things, take the Hiawatha Line light rail along the length of its route. It%26#39;s $3 or less for 2.5 hr of riding, and you can get to the Mall of America, downtown Minneapolis, or many stops in between (including Minnehaha Falls park).

Forget this to your St. Paul Capitol trip... add on a drive past the mansions of Summit Avenue in St. Paul. You can detour north to Selby to take in the Cathedral as well, and-- as the mood strikes-- veer south to the bars and shops of Grand Avenue. My vote would be dessert at Cafe Latte at Grand Avenue %26amp; Victoria.

As far as my interests, quite honestly i%26#39;m up for about anything. I%26#39;m active so love the outdoors...but has to be decent weather b/c I really am not a big fan of the cold and still adjusting (moved from GA, but orgininally from IA). Keep the ideas coming and THANKS!!

It%26#39;s a difficult time of year to embrace the local lifestyle if you won%26#39;t brave the cold. But if you can find a mild day, that%26#39;s your chance. The winter carnival in St. Paul isn%26#39;t too far away. I go every year -- almost feels like my duty as a Minnesotan. (Kind of like the State Fair). So keep an eye out for that. Ice sculptures, beer sales, ice palace, etc. Little slice of MN embracing its chilly identity.

If you are active, try one of the local lakes for skating (Nokomis I know has it but the parks dept. web site will give you the full list). You can probably still find a broomball team that needs a body. My league starts Thursday night. Different level leagues, including novice. Tons fo fun, good exercise and beer at the nearest tavern to the rink. It might ne a nice way to meet people, too.

People I know around here are skiing, playing broomball, sledding with kids or nieces/nephews, checking out museums. Or they%26#39;re hitting up bars or parties or just spending quiet evenings indoors.

Spring will bring more opportunities to explore. But don%26#39;t be afraid to get outside on those mild days. Being Minnesotan (albeit a transplant) means embracing the cold. If we didn%26#39;t find ways to enetertain ourselves by embracing the cold (ice fishing, broomball, hockey, sledding, etc) we%26#39;d go nuts.

A cheap (and warm) diversion downtown might be to explore the skyway system. A great indoor walk with views. PDF Map: minneapolis.org/media/鈥mskyways.pdf

Sort of fun to also walk around it muttering... ';Where%26#39;s the cheese? I can%26#39;t find the cheese. I know there%26#39;s cheese here somewhere!';

Although it means going outside the stunning new Central Library ( www.hclib.org/AgenciesAction.cfm?agency=Ce )is half a block or so from a couple skyway entrances. One of the largest collections per capita of any city in America. When I was a kid I%26#39;d go downtown and see my Dad at the old (green) Lutheran Brotherhood building then cross the street to the skyway system, pass through the new IDS tower, Daytons dept store, Powers depts store and go to the old library... only going outside once to cross the street to the library. The system is much larger now.

Wow, if I had time to play in the cities during winter, I would indulge in the museums and not feel guilty about being inside. Here%26#39;s a great deal if you join your local library -

http://www.melsa.org/museumadventurepass/. My favorites are the Art Institute and the Walker. I%26#39;d love to check out the Raptor Center and Swedish Institute, haven%26#39;t made it there yet. While the Science Museum isn%26#39;t on the list, it%26#39;s pretty awesome with a good cafe overlooking the river.

Look into matinees at the Guthrie. Enjoy Cue and check out the balcony overlooking St Anthony Falls. Any other local theater you could catch would be the essence of the cities.

Don%26#39;t forget the live music scene - 1st Ave, Varsity Theater, Cedar Cultural Center, The Nomad, Keirans, 331 Club (hardly ever a cover) and Nye%26#39;s. CityPages.com is a good resource for that.

Spend some time getting to know the skyway system. You can enjoy shopping and restaurants, but it%26#39;s also very handy to navigate during the throws of winter. It took me a year to figure out completely, but really comes in handy when you%26#39;re downtown.

Drive thru the cities beautiful parkways %26amp; lakes - Calhoun, Cedar, Minnehaha, Theodore Wirth - they%26#39;re gorgeous in the winter and have less traffic during the day.

Enjoy the cities best restaurants at a discount during lunch. They%26#39;re slower at that time and you%26#39;ll usually get the same dinner fare for less. TwinCities.CitySearch.com is a good resource.

If you%26#39;re into blading or running, the Metrodome has winter sessions cheap in the evening - www.msfc.com/events.cfm. You might also want to check out the social groups at MeetUp.com, it%26#39;s a great way to get to know folks. Unfortunately, MN nice does not mean that your social circle will easily grow. I had a heck of a time meeting folks up here.

And you should check out the Mall (if you haven%26#39;t already) and IKEA. While I don%26#39;t frequent them, you should at least experience them since many of your out of town guests will want to see them.

Let us know if you%26#39;d like more suggestions, or if I can expound on any of these listed. Welcome to the cities!

Thanks for the great ideas...I did hear it%26#39;s hard to meet people as people are nice but don%26#39;t let you into their circle. What%26#39;s up with that? I don%26#39;t have kids so looking for other ways to meet people. Thanks!

You may want to check out a singles groups or event theme forums, like meetup.com. When I lived there (I%26#39;m a native), I belonged to Adventureseekers.

They are now part of Events %26amp; Adventures.

eventsandadventures.com/calendarMinneapolis.鈥?/a>

Also, check out some community ed classes. Read some of the local event papers, like Rake and City Pages for ideas. There is always something to do in the Twin Cities and while I agree the natives can be a little clique-y, Minnesotans are very nice.

Don%26#39;t give up hope re: fitting in. I%26#39;m a non-native, and it%26#39;s only half-joking when I kid my wife about her seeing people she knows compared to people I know. For instance, on my suburban neighborhood block (appx. 12 houses), 4 are occupied by people who went to this city%26#39;s high school, and 3 are still owned by 25+ residents. We%26#39;re a mile away from her parents%26#39; house, and all but one of her 5 siblings eventually have moved back to MSP after college.

I%26#39;d try talks/lectures, particularly ones put on by bookstores (which are free). It%26#39;s old advice, but I%26#39;d also volunteer at something you like to do or would like to try. I%26#39;m a regular runner, so volunteering at races has got me in touch with a group of similar-minded acquaintances.

Driving from Minneapolis to Rapid City

Hello everybody,

We are a family of 8 who are going to Minneapolis in July/August.

Our plan is after some days in Minneapolis to rent two cars and drive to Rapid City since we would like to see Mount Rushmore. We have never been in Minnesota or South Dakota before. Can anyone suggest a good scenic route and what to see on the way. Maybe some nice places/cities to stay overnight ? We are 3 generations, the youngest 9 years old, the oldest 68 years old. Maybe there are something fun for the kids to see on the way as well ?

Marissa from Copenhagen, Denmark

Driving from Minneapolis to Rapid City

I did that drive straight thru a few years back from Minneapolis. I did stop at Wahl Drug to see the place.

I took Interstate 35W south out of Minneapolis, and connectect up with I-90 west in southern Minnesota.

Consider stopping at the Mitchell Corn Palace on the way.

There%26#39;s so much for the family to see in that part of South Dakota. Do some leg-work and put together a loop. We visited Mt. Rushmore, Crazyhorse, the park you can drive thru with the buffalo roaming, a few days in Deadwood SD and did some gambling, and then a side trip into Wyoming to see the Devil%26#39;s Tower - very impressive.

Have fun !!

Driving from Minneapolis to Rapid City

I agree with I-90. Mitchell Corn Palace, Badlands and WALL drug all in South Dakota.

The Black Hills/MT Rushmore area is amazing. Pan for gold and buy gold jewelry, visit town of Deadwood(boot hill cemetery) , explore caves, steam train ride, ride horse back and see buffalo. South Dakota is flat and farming except for the Black Hills. Expect SODAK to be hot that time of year.

www.southdakotabeautiful.com

www.minnesotabeautiful.com

www.exploreminnesota.com

Thank you both very much for your reply.

The Corn Palace and Wall Drug both looks very interesting, so we will stop there.

Deadwood sounds great and we would love to pan for gold and see buffalo.

We will have around 16-17 days all together. We will start with 2 days in Minneapolis and also end up with 3-4 days there before flying back home. So we have 10-11 days on the road.

Around how many days should we spend in the Black Hills/Mount Rushmore area to see the most important things ? We were also thinking about taking a different route back to Minneapolis, so we can use some days on that. Is North Dakota worth visting or maybe spending some days in Duluth at the Lake Superior instead.

Thanks again.

A great halfway-point stop for you on the way to the Black Hills would be Pipestone in southwest Minnesota, half an hour north of Luverne on I-90. It%26#39;s the site of the famous Plains Indians quarries (still operating) and Pipestone National Monument, www.nps.gov/pipe. The Keepers of the Sacred Tradition of Pipemakers have scheduled a traditional powwow in town for July 25-26. It%26#39;s small (we were there last year) but easygoing, and the dancers will encourage you to join them in the circle.

The best place to stay is the Calumet Hotel downtown. The kids can swim at Pipestone%26#39;s Family Aquatic Center, which has slides and geysers.

Blue Mounds State Park just north of Luverne has a large buffalo herd and great hiking trails. If the kids want to cool off before they get to Luverne, the towns of Fairmont and Worthington, right on I-90, have lakes.

Have your kids read the ';Little House on the Prairie%26#39;%26#39; books? You could go out or come back through De Smet, S.D., site of four of Laura Ingalls Wilder books, and Walnut Grove, Minn., site of ';On the Banks of Plum Creek%26#39;%26#39; and the TV series. Both towns are holding outdoor pageants the last three weekends of July. I%26#39;ve been to both, and kids (and even adults) love them. Check them out at www.desmetpageant.org and www.walnutgrove.org. There%26#39;s a nice municipal pool with slides in the town of Springfield, near Walnut Grove. Also nearby is a real sod house that you can visit or even stay in, www.sodhouse.org.

Hope you enjoy our state --

Beth at MidwestWeekends.com

This is a long, flat trip, but the Black Hills are worth it and there are a FEW things to do along the way. The best attractions along the way are natural, in my opinion. The man-made stuff is kitschy, at best, but probably enjoyable for kids.

If you take I-90, which is fastest, I agree with the poster who recommended Pipestone in Minnesota. A neat national monument.

Mitchell and the corn palace weren%26#39;t really what I expected, but interesting enough.

The vista over the Missouri River in Chamberlain can be beautiful at the right time of day.

I LOVE Badlands National Park. The landscape here is like the moon. Consider spending a day or two here. It%26#39;s very near the Interstate and there is a lodge in the park and at least one good B%26amp;B very nearby (Circle View Guest Ranch, I believe). This park is best early in the morning and at sunset, and there%26#39;s a surprising amount of wildlife for what seems like such a desolate landscape. Wall Drug is nearby if you%26#39;re interested in that. If you have people interested in military history, the Minute Man Missile National historic site is right by the Badlands, but a lot of their tours of the old missile silos are by appointment only.

If you%26#39;re willing to get off the Interstate, there are nice state parks in Minnesota and in South Dakota along the Missouri, but I%26#39;ve only ever taken I-90.

Finally, Jewel Cave and Wind Cave are two more great national parks once you get to the Black Hills. Consider touring the caves. Have a great trip!

Perhaps check out Viborg, SD? They have a local Danish celebration in Mid-July (3rd weekend) if you want to time trip for then. An alternate route to Mitchell (south on I-29, West on 14 miles US 18 to Viborg then afterward more west on 18 to Tripp and north to Mitchell on 37.

http://www.danishdays.com/schedule.htm (2008 schedule)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viborg%2C_SD

Or, a week later, Aebleskiver Days in Tyler, MN (near Pipestone).

http://www.aebleskiverdays.com/

Either one might be interesting to see where some Danish ';cousins'; ended up and you would be the stars of the show. At the very least, even not during the festivals, either might be a good glimpse and small town America. Minnesota (and South Dakota) were the great melting pot in the 1800%26#39;s for immigrants from all over...Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Germans, Poles, Irish....and many more. Still today too with Hmong and Somali immigrants, mostly in the Twin Cities.

Thanks all of You... for Your great help.

You have given us so many good ideas on what to see, so we are starting to have a very full schedule.

Seaburytraveler : We love The Little House on the Prairie, not only the kids but also us adults, so I am so glad that you mentioned it. The powwow sounds like a great experience as well.

RadioJeff : I looked up Badlands National Park, it looks amazing, like a landscape on the moon as you wrote. The cave touring sounds like a good idea as well.

Sequim88 : We had no idea about the Danish celebration days and the city of Viborg in SD, thanks for writing about that.Viborg is infact also the name of a Danish city over here. So that would be so fun to experience. The same with the aebleskive days.

Thanks again so much, We are really looking forward to our visit in Minnesota and South Dakota.

Another very fun and interesting unique thing to do is www.mammothsite.com a real escavation with palentologists finding mammoth fossils. You are actually right there and it is cool. After visiting there just down the road is www.evansplunge.com a hot springs ';waterpark'; that feels really great on a hot day. Both are located in the Hot Springs, SD area of the Black Hills. I enjoyed much more then I expected to. Definitely worth a look.

Bobkitten,

When you get to Rapid City and the Black Hills area, make sure you drive the Needles Highway. There are also several roads that lead to and from several of the small towns that nestle in the Black Hills.

I suggest that you check out several of the lodges in Custer State Park. These lodges range from rustic to high end, but altogether fit the area they are in, the West. My particular favorite is Sylvan Lake Lodge. Just around the corner from there is Sylvan Lake. This is the beautiful lake you see if you watched National Treasure when they were around Mount Rushmore. Sylvan Lake is at one of the trailheads that can take you to Harney Peak. While it is an 3+ mile hike one way, the view is very spectacular. Bring plenty of water, leave early in the morning to avoid the heat on the way back and enjoy the beauty of the Black Hills. If you are not that adventurous, drive up the winding roads to the top of Mount Coolidge. Still a great view without the long hike, but would recommend the hike. By the way, best part of the Black Hills, no bears.

www.custerresorts.com

Lastly, I would recommend that you take the 2 hour drive to Devils Tower. Hopefully, you will see the folks climbing. It is amazing how fast some of them can climb. Take the inside loop for a good close up view or the outer loop to get more of a perspective. If you want, rent a camper cabin at the KOA at the entrance of the park. Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind was film at this site. I hope you can tell this is one of my favorite locations.

Enjoy

bright makeup

Bemidji Restaurants?

I am looking for nice restaurant advice/reviews/ideas. A friend who lives in the Bemidji area is getting married soon. We would like to have a %26#39;girls night out%26#39; for her before the wedding. We want it to be a low-key and quality evening; a really nice dinner (decent seafood a plus) with some wine.

I haven%26#39;t had much luck with finding reviews and menus online so I%26#39;m hoping you all will be able to offer some help.

The places that sounded good to me so far are:

Tutto Bene

Gagelhoff%26#39;s

Union Station

Peppercorn

Any feedback on these or sugguestions of other places?

Thanks in advance! :)

Bemidji Restaurants?

I can%26#39;t help you much except to let you know that the Union Station has closed. I like Peppercorn. They have semi-private rooms that you might want to reserve.

Good seafood is harder to find. There aren%26#39;t too many places farther from the ocean in North America.

Bemidji Restaurants?

My wife came home and reminded me that Gangelhoff%26#39;s Grill is also closed. A new name on a older restaurant is Cattails. I haven%26#39;t been since the name changed but it was pretty good before.

If your party might like an Irish Pub setting, Brigid%26#39;s Cross is reported to be fun but I haven%26#39;t been yet.

Chain restaurants include:

Applebee%26#39;s

Ground Round

Green Mill

Perkins

Country Kitchen

Just 15 miles away east of Cass Lake is the Canal House. Only open summertime though, maybe May 1 to October 1.

West about 20 miles on the west side of Bagley is Fireside. Trying hard to be a bit more upscale.

We ate at Tutto Bene years ago and it was good, but not my favorite (we eat out a lot). We tried it again a few weeks ago and it is by far our new favorite! EXCELLENT FOOD! Great service! Not much more spendy than Cattails (good, but not as great) or Peppercorn (also good, but unless you go for Monday night AYCE crab legs.....:)).

Thanks for the feedback! I Tutto Bene is at the top of my list right now! I want to try and avoid chains. Brigid%26#39;s Cross sounds interesting too so I will look into that (but it might be more my style than my friend%26#39;s and going out is about her, not me).

Do I need reservations for Tutto Bene? Talk among the girls is %26#39;play the day by ear%26#39; but if we want a nice dinner, reservations seem like they might be needed.

If there are only 2 or 3 going and it isn%26#39;t a major holiday or a Friday night, I%26#39;d say you wouldn%26#39;t need a reservation. If it is more you should so you can all be seated at the same table. Restaurants are pretty good at accommodating walk it parties but it gets more difficult as the party numbers increase and it may be impossible on a real busy night without a long wait. Reserve if there is any question, cancel if you must as plans change. A reservation puts a tiny strain on the restaurant as they have to keep the space available and may have to make other patrons wait. A timely cancellation removes that strain.

You dont go to Minnesota for the seafood. Common sense tells us this.

You might consider ice fishing for eelpout, you could deep fry them yourselves.

I assume your event is past, but I thought I would suggest for others that a new, classy restaurant has opened in Bemidji called Sparkling Waters. It is near the Hampton Inn and overlooks Lake Bemidji. I would suggest this restaurant for a nice dinner. They have a website.

We drove!

Hey all

just letting you know that we did indeed drive. Stopped in sioux falls saturday night and drove the rest of the way on sunday. However we had to drive on black ice from sioux falls to blue earth minnesota which was really no fun! (Ironically ac dc%26#39;s new album is called Black Ice) Cars in the ditches and we had to slow to 45 mph. But we arrived and checked out the MOA. Checked into the st. paul hotel and saw ac dc on monday night. That was fun. Had a good drive home. Thanks for your help.

We drove!

Glad you made it. And made it home in one piece.

We drove!

I%26#39;ll second that I%26#39;m happy to hear you drove and made it safely!

Summer 2009

Four of us are travelling to Minneapolis in August - flying there from Salt Lake City after a week travelling in Colorado. We will be spending 5 days there before flying back to the UK from Chicago - can anyone recommend the best area to stay in... or a decent hotel. Is it best to stay in the city or outside? The men will be visiting the PGA golf tournament so won%26#39;t want to have to drive too far each day.... the ladies will be left to relax (?) or sightsee or just wander.... it would be great to have some thoughts - and any advice from someone who has stayed there already

thanks in advance

Summer 2009

';ello Neep...

For the boy%26#39;s, the PGA will be held at Hazeltine- nice course out in the sticks west of the Mall/ aiport are near the suburb of Chaska. I would recommend the Mall of America area- from there the girls could also take the light rail downtown or picic at Minnehaha Falls etc...As a group, I would recommend the Lake Minnetonka / Excelsior area for a day. Check out: http://www.lakeminnetonka.com/

Have a great visit!

Summer 2009

If you stay by the mall, or Bloomington I-94 strip, or even off I-94 in Eden Prairie, you%26#39;ll be closer to the golf course.

A few extra miles and you can stay in downtown Minneapolis.

I think you%26#39;ll have more options for nightlife %26amp; thinks to do and places to eat.

Here%26#39;s a map -

minneapolis.org/media/…amdowntown.pdf

Here%26#39;s a destination guide:

travelandleisure.com/cityguides/minneapolis-…

What are your ages, interests, are you interested in finding a bar to relax, or do you want to hit the club scene, are the ladies interested in shopping or just sightseeing? Do you want to be near public transportation or taxis, or will you rent a car?

If you are into nightlife, then downtown makes most sense - in the Twin Cities you can usually get from point A to point B easier than many cities. If you are interested in being close to the Mall of America or airport, or Hazeltine, then Bloomington or Eden Prairie are where you want to look (ie. maybe the Normandale Blvd. area).

Hello Neep...my two cents about the city I still call home...

As Dano mentioned, Hazeltine is in the southwest suburbs of Minneapolis. Given that, I would probably second the suggestion of staying by the Mall of America area to stay for a hotel. The men will have to drive from the MOA area to get to Hazeltine, but were you to find a hotel near Hazeltine, the ladies would then have to drive to whatever sightseeing you want to do, which may be somewhat inconvenient being in the SW %26#39;burbs (and probably about a 20 minute drive from the MOA area, assuming no traffic). There also isn%26#39;t a great deal of sightseeing in the suburb of Chaska where Hazeltine is located. If you stay by the MOA, besides the convenience of shopping, you can catch the Light Rail Transit at the Mall itself to take you to downtown Minneapolis, about a 30 minute ride and $2/person one way. From downtown, you%26#39;ll have other sightseeing options, shopping options, dining options, and park/recreation options. Also, by the MOA area you are still near several freeways if you wish to drive to various sightseeing spots in and near the city (including to get to downtown St. Paul, with its own attractions)

If you opt to stay downtown, there will definitely be lots to see, do, eat at, and stay. Just know the men will have that much further to drive to get to Hazeltine (probably about 35 minutes with no traffic). Downtown hotels have many of the chains, with some new trendy ones opened fairly recently, which I hear are all mostly nice, though not necessarily inexpensive, which is part of having the convenience of downtown.

As far as a specific hotel near MOA, again most chains are represented and there isn%26#39;t one I can recall that stands out over the others. That%26#39;s not saying they are bad, just your standard fare.

Please let me know of more questions, especially if there are specific things you wish to see.

Just an FYI, when the 2002 (or was it 2001?? Doesn%26#39;t matter...) PGA Championship was held at Hazeltine they had fans park their cars at Canterbury Downs, which is a horseracing track in Shakopee, and catch a shuttle to the course. I would assume a similar plan will be in place for the 2009 PGA.

sorry it has taken me so long to reply - I think the men can put up with driving - the ladies will probably prefer to be downtown and especially for the evening with regards to dining etc. Can you recommend a decent hotel downtown?

Plans are going ahead for our visit - we will rent a car but the ladies will relax/wander, not to see anything specific - shopping is always a pleasure but we would want to stay somewhere where there is a choice of restaurants for dinner

again - any advice appreciated. Thanks

I am a member of Hazeltine and just to clarify the parking for the tournament, general ticketholders will have to park at Canterbury Downs and take the shuttle busses. If one upgrades to a Wanamaker ticket, there will be parking adjacent to the golf course. The Wanamaker tent is like a giant air conditioned sports bar, food%26#39; drink tv%26#39;s etc.

Staying downtown IMO is an excellent idea for you ladies. I would consider staying at the Nicollet Inn. It%26#39;s located on an island in the Mississippi River but is close to a number of restaurants and a short taxi to the Nicollet Mall. But, staying close to the Mall may be a better idea for shopping. I can%26#39;t think of a prettier place to spend an August day then downtown Minneapolis. There are so many nice hotels close to Nicollet Mall, and really neat restaurants all over the downtown area. Actually, you may enjoy Brit%26#39;s Pub, a little lawn bowling, and you may be nostalgic for home cooking. Since I%26#39;m Irish, I prefer the Local, just a couple of blocks down Nicollet Mall from Brit%26#39;s, lovely food and a cozy atmosphere.

I think you are in for an unexpected treat. Your boys will have to watch Paddy Harrington win the tournament, tear their hair out, and you will have the time of your life.

what dates in Aug 2009 would you be downtown ?

if there%26#39;s no big conventions in town at the time, you can get good rates on hotels downtown

Should you ladies feel adventurous you could drive to Stillwater, MN. Stillwater I am going to suppose is 30 miles fron downtown MPLS. The town is on the St Croix river and has lots of 1800%26#39;s charm and shopping. It is a favored local day trip. Dont forget to watch the movie FARGO so you learn the local dialect.

Traveling from Minneapolis to Fargo toDuluth

We are trying to plan a trip probably flying into MSP. Are there any interesting sites (outdoors, museums, wildlife) between MSP and Fargo and Fargo and Duluth? We%26#39;ve never been to Mn or ND. We are a retired 60%26#39;s couple. We will probably go in May or June. Thanks for any help.

Traveling from Minneapolis to Fargo toDuluth

The Clemmens Gardens in St. Cloud area wonderful.

http://www.munsingerclemens.com/

I would also suggest swinging into St. John%26#39;s University - just north of St. Cloud - for a quick walk. The Abbey church is amazing.

Traveling from Minneapolis to Fargo toDuluth

The Detroit Lakes, Park Rapids and Brainerd areas are lovely on the drive from Fargo to Duluth. I usually take I-94 from the Cities to Fargo so you don%26#39;t give a really scenic drive that way. Sauk Centre has Lewis Sinclair stuff on the way to Fargo. Grand Rapids has the Judy Garland museum on the way to Duluth.

Itasca State Park, the headwaters of the Mississippi River, lies between Fargo and Duluth. Known for the headwaters, Itasca was actually formed to protect the virgin red pine forest. Take time for driving the wilderness loop to get a look at them. Watch for wildlife on the roads, and not just in the parks. With luck and good eyes, you may see deer, black bear, bobcat, woodchuck, and plenty of bald eagles.

It appears there are a couple ways you can go to Duluth. If you take the southern route thru Brainerd, it%26#39;s a popular cabin/fishing/lodge destination. A little south of there is Mille Lacs - less developed but also popular for the same reasons. Kathio Mille Lacs State Park looks great, although I haven%26#39;t been there. A little north of there is Nisswa, I just love spending time at Grandview Lodge, if that%26#39;s an option for you.

If you go the norther route to Duluth, you%26#39;ll go thru Walker and the Leech Lake area, more great cabin/fishing activity and there%26#39;s a fairly new casino there. I would second a day or two in Itasca, it%26#39;s gorgeous and shouldn%26#39;t be too busy or buggy at that time.

And Savannah Portage State Park and Big Sandy Lake are close to Duluth right in between the 2 routes. They%26#39;re both popular destinations.

Have you checked out ExploreMinnesota.com? They should have a lot of destination information you%26#39;re seeking. And of course the Twin Cities is a mecca of museums %26amp; urban outdoors.

Thanks to everyone for the info about Minnesota.

ya sure you betcha

Day trips from Minneapolis

My husband and I have to go to Minneapolis for a business conference in April. It will be our anniversary also and I thought we could take advantage and see some of that part of the country, but I don%26#39;t know what is in that area. Can anyone make a suggestion. Things like Mount Rushmore, National Parks, famous landmarks. Thanks

Day trips from Minneapolis

Of course, some depends on your interests and also what you define as a day trip. That said, here are some ideas generally...

April can still be pretty scattershot weatherwise on cold versus tolerable to be outside for extended periods, but you may consider the Stillwater area. Probably about 35-45 minute drive from downtown Minneapolis and will offer some historic if somewhat touristy small town life with shopping and restaurants.

Duluth is probably about a 2 hour drive from Minneapolis, so doable in one day or maybe a stay overnight in Duluth. Right on Lake Superior and has some tourist areas to visit on the lake with all of its boating and ships coming into harbor. As it%26#39;s north from Minneapolis, be prepared for some colder weather. If you like nature, also consider Gooseberry Falls State Park while in the area

Minneapolis itself (plus St. Paul), of course, offers various sites to see including theater, shopping (as in Mall of America among others), lakes and parks including the Mississippi River area, and more.

You may also want to look at www.exploreminnesota.com, the official tourism website for the State or www.minneapolis.org, the Minneapolis tourism agency%26#39;s website. You can explore ideas there that may be tailored to your interests.

If you like casinos, the Native American tribes have some within a hours drive of downtown, including Mystic Lake and Treasure Island. Las Vegas it%26#39;s not, but a gambling option. Mystic Lake has shows but no alcohol (my understanding from the negative aspects it brought Native American peoples) though Treasure Island does opt to serve, however. If you chose TI, you could also consider visiting Red Wing, with a somewhat similar feel to Stillwater for small town shopping/tourism life and also along the Mississippi River for beauty%26#39;s sake.

If you%26#39;re up to a 5 hour drive, there are also the Amana Colonies in Iowa, where you can visit the historical life of either Amish or similar. If not ready for a 5 hour trip and probable overnight stay, there are also Amish communities in MN not as far away. Site to check out Amana is www.amanacolonies.com.

There%26#39;s just a few ideas, feel free to make further requests.

Day trips from Minneapolis

Both Stillwater and Duluth are good suggestions. Duluth will take up a whole day.

If you want to watch eagles, drive down highway 61 along the Mississippi as far as Winona, then cross over to the Wisconsin side and drive back to town. You can do some shopping at Pottery Place in Red Wing on the way down. You can also stop at one of the lock/dams along the route, and there are some nice stops on the Wisconsin side. Wisconsin Friday night fish fry%26#39;s are pretty much legend and easy to find. You could also go as far as LaCrosse Wisconsin. Many of the towns along the river are old river towns.

If you are into Spam, their museum is in Austin, a couple of hours south. You could do that and return via Rochester, home of the Mayo clinic, or even New Prague, a great old Czech town.

As mentioned earlier, the weather could still be iffy in April

At any rate, please have a good time in our area.

tptr

Duluth is very cool but perhaps a bit far for one day. The drive south along the Mississippi and back north on the other side of the Mississippi is probably your best choice or a day in Stillwater which is perhaps 30 miles east of MPLS. Mount Rushmore is a 3 day trip at minimum.

It all depends on how much you want to drive, how much you like the outdoors and how flexible you are. Heading a bit south improves your chances of warm weather. I%26#39;ve had a great time in mid-April seeing the fields of pasqueflowers at River Terrace Prairie near Cannon Falls an hour south of the Twin Cities (you also could ride the Cannon Valley Trail and visit Red Wing on the Mississippi River, staying at a B%26amp;B there and eating at The Nortons) and in late April riding the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway trail right in Minneapolis; it takes a whole day, and you%26#39;ll go past the lakes, the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, the historic milling district and Minnehaha Falls.

Kansas City is seven hours from Minneapolis and is lovely in April; listen to blues, eat barbecue, shop for antiques. There%26#39;s a Civil War re-enactment April 18-19 in nearby St. Joseph, where the Pony Express started.

But if you feel like exploring and the weather is decent, I%26#39;d head down the Mississippi from the Twin Cities, stopping in all the little river towns and returning on the other side. For special overnight stops, I suggest Hawks View Cottages in Fountain City, Wis., or the Wilson Schoolhouse Inn just outside La Crosse, Wis., and, in Dubuque, Iowa, either the Arts %26amp; Crafts Four Mounds Inn (get the Mississippi Suite) or the Victorian Hancock House, Richards House or Mandolin Inn. There%26#39;s a great river museum there and funicular railway. The historic little village of Galena, Ill., a very popular destination around here, is just across the river.

Hope you have a great anniversary visit --

Beth at MidwestWeekends.com

How long will you be here?

If you can, try to turn the outing part of your stay into an overnight trip. Then I%26#39;d suggest staying overnight on a North Shore lodge with a view of Lake Superior. They offer accomodations fitting a range of budgets and amenities. Hot tub with a view of the lake. It%26#39;s a beautiful drive up there. And there is no shortage of beautiful places to visit: Tettegouche, Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock, Duluth, etc.

For a day, you can easily visit the aforementioned spots along Hwy 61 south of the Twin Cities. That will show you a little of our state outside of the Metro area.

Of course, there is plenty to explore in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Great restaurants. World-class park system with infinite bike trail opportunities. Museums and theaters all over the place. Be sure to not just visit the downtown and assume you%26#39;ve seen Minneapolis. It%26#39;s a nice downtown (esp. with the riverfront area and the mill circuit walk). But the real beauty I find to be in the parks. The lakes chain and the Minnehaha Creek park trail to Minnehaha Park and the paths down to the Mississippi. Beautiful area. How many big cities have a waterfall in their city limits?

Red Wing for pottery/shopping, restaurants, pretty area.

Wabasha: where they filmed Grumpy Old Men, also to the Eagle Center there:

http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/

Stillwater and Duluth are fine choices too.

see where the Mississippi begins:

dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/index.html

startribune.com/lifestyle/鈥?1283566.html