Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Bureau 4000 Multifoods Tower 33 S 6th St Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612) 661-4700 Population 368383 Time Zone Central Latitude/Longitude 44.98° /-93.26° Today's Forecast HIGH: 53 LOW: 30

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Attractions

The historic Riverfront District, the oldest and most scenic part of Minneapolis, is a great place to begin a tour of the city. Stroll along the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail to see the city's birthplace where the Mississippi torrents over the falls, then take in the shopping, dining and entertainment options along the cobblestone streets of St. Anthony Main. The highly respected Guthrie Theatre moved to the riverfront mill district in 2006, one of many developments in Minneapolis' booming arts and culture scene.

The Walker Art Center, renowned for its collection of works by major 20th-century artists, doubled in size with the opening of its new facility in 2005. The adjacent Minneapolis Sculpture Garden -- site of the whimsical Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosge van Bruggen -- has taken advantage of the Guthrie's move to expand to cover 15 acres. The venerable Minneapolis Institute of Arts, host to a huge and comprehensive collection of European, Asian, African, Oceanic and American decorative and fine arts, expanded its gallery space by almost half with the opening of a new wing in 2006.

Orchestra Hall, home to the famous Minnesota Orchestra, is renowned for its superior acoustics. Cultural offerings found at the University of Minnesota include the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum and the Bell Museum of Natural History. Also visit the American Swedish Institute's collection of Swedish art, crafts and immigrant memorabilia housed in a 33-room turn-of-the-century mansion.

Shopping, dining and entertainment can be found downtown at the pedestrian-only Nicollet Mall, where consumers will encounter major department stores, the five-levels of Gaviidae Common, the renovated City Center mall, and Crystal Court, the indoor atrium at the 57-story IDS Tower, the Twin Cities' tallest building.

Stay downtown for big-time sports action. The Timberwolves of the NBA play at Target Center and the massive Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome houses the Twins baseball and Vikings football teams.

Minneapolis' twin town, St. Paul, lies to the east, just over the Mississippi. Here you'll find the Science Museum of Minnesota offering interactive exhibits in science and natural history and the 3M Omnitheatre with its floor to ceiling screen. Also check out the State Capitol, the castle-like Landmark Center, and the Art Deco City Hall and Courthouse. History buffs can get their fill by visiting the Minnesota History Center or the Alexander Ramsey and James J. Hill houses. Como Park, the largest in St. Paul, complements its 70-acre lake with a golf course, a zoo, and a conservatory.

On the Twin Cities' southern flank, you will see the falls that Longfellow's "Song of Hiawatha" made famous at Minnehaha Park. At the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers stands Historic Fort Snelling, Minnesota's first permanent structure. The Mall of America, the largest shopping complex in the U.S., is located in Bloomington, 15 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. Anchored by Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Sears, the mall includes an indoor amusement park, aquarium, multiplex movie theatre, dozens of restaurants, and the LEGO showcase.

The Minnesota Zoo, one of the world's major zoological gardens, is also south of the city in Apple Valley. Take the monorail for an overhead view of the animals in their natural environments. In nearby Prior Lake is Mystic Lake Casino, one of the Midwest's largest.

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