Twin Cities, MN: Travel Guide
By Rita Nakashima Brock
1. Recommend a hotel/motel in your town/city:
There is a JW Marriott in the Mall of America, which is also near the airport. You can visit the Mall at your leisure.
2. Recommend a restaurant in your town/city:
The indigenous foods gourmet restaurant Owamni near St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi in Minneapolis got a great writeup in the The New York Times and the food is excellent. Urban Growler in St. Paul is a fun, woman-owned brew pub.
3. What's a must-see in your town/city?
Minnehaha Falls and the Mississippi River are beautiful, and walks around the many lakes in both cities are beautiful.
4. What makes your town/city fun for tourists?
Historic Summit Avenue in St. Paul has gorgeous old mansions, the F. Scott Fitzgerald house and is a block off Grand Avenue with local businesses and eateries. The Twin Cities have more theater per capita than London or NYC, and lots of great theater companies. The Walker Art Center is also great. The Minneapolis Art Institute has great collections and special shows (the spring flowers are especially wonderful).
5. What should you avoid when visiting your town/city?
See local performances and not the big touring shows.
View of the skyline of Minneapolis as seen from the Stone Arch bridge over the Mississippi River (Getty Images)
