Drawing comparisons between Minneapolis and St. Paul is a difficult task. St. Paul has a slightly reserved, antique feel about it; Minneapolis is hipper, noisier, and busier. Both cities have tall, gleaming glass skylines; St. Paul's is designed to blend with the city's Art Deco and Victorian architecture, while Minneapolis's is more eclectic. St. Paul has preserved much of its architectural heritage, while most of downtown Minneapolis is new. Both cities straddle the Mississippi River, and riverboat traffic calls at the Twin Cities from as far away as New Orleans.
When to Go
Minnesota's weather tends toward extremes. It has a well-deserved reputation for bone-chilling temperatures in winter. Perhaps not as well known is the fact that sauna-like conditions with high temperatures and high humidity are common during July and August. Still, those are the extremes. Many visitors find that Minnesota's climate is quite easy to take, provided they're dressed correctly.
What to See
Landmark Center (St. Paul’s): Facing Rice Park on the north, this cultural center was formerly the Federal Courthouse, constructed in 1902 and now restored. The towering Romanesque Revival structure has a six-story indoor courtyard, stained-glass skylights, and a marble-tile foyer.
Alexander Ramsey House (St. Paul’s): Guides dressed as the Ramsey's servants take you on a tour of the home that once belonged to Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial governor of Minnesota, and his wife, Anna. Built in 1872, their Victorian home is one of the best preserved in the country, remarkable for its carved walnut woodwork, marble fireplaces, crystal chandeliers, and many original furnishings.
Minneapolis Institute of Art (Minneapolis): On display here are more than 80,000 works of art from every age and culture, including French Impressionist paintings, rare Chinese jade, and a photography collection from 1863 to the present.
Science Museum of Minnesota (St. Paul’s): One of the most-visited museums in the Upper Midwest, this downtown St. Paul riverfront institution is known for its world-class archaeology, technology, and biology exhibits, including many hands-on exhibits for kids.
Walker Art Center (Minneapolis): This institution is nationally renowned for its vigorous multidisciplinary involvement in contemporary art, which you can experience in galleries, in performance spaces, and via educational programs of cutting-edge theater, dance, video, music, and film. Traveling exhibitions of 20th-century visual arts are often presented. Adjacent to the museum is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the nation's largest outdoor urban sculpture garden.
Summit Avenue (St. Paul’s): Running 4½ miles from the Cathedral of St. Paul to the Mississippi River, Summit Avenue has the nation's longest stretch of intact residential Victorian architecture. F. Scott Fitzgerald was living at 599 Summit in 1918 when he wrote “This Side of Paradise.”
Warehouse District (Minneapolis): This area several blocks northwest of Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis is the center of the city's dining and entertainment scene. Here you'll find renovated warehouses that have been turned into apartments, condominiums, coffeehouses, art galleries, bars, and restaurants. It's the place where the musician once known as Prince got his start.
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minneapolis): A downtown landmark, this inflated -- or "air-supported" -- Teflon-covered fiberglass dome is the home of the Minnesota Twins baseball team and the Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football teams. Behind-the-scenes tours of the locker rooms, playing field, and press box are available.
