Best Four Things to See in Minnesota’s Twin Cities

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Minnesota’s “Twin Cities”, Minneapolis and St. Paul, sit across the Mississippi River from each other. Many people visit the cities for the Mall of America or museums, but there are better places to see and things to do when you visit! Below are the best four things to see when you travel to Minnesota’s Twin Cities! Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you click the link or make a purchase through the link. This is at no extra cost to you, and your support keeps this website running! Please contact me if you have any questions.

Breweries & Restaurants

In downtown Minneapolis, there are plenty of bars and restaurants to hop between on foot. All of them serve great food, including the signature Juicy Lucy, a burger packed with gooey cheese. A great restaurant in the Twin Cities is The Red Cow. They have four locations in the area, including one in downtown Minneapolis and one in St. Paul. It has a classy tavern vibe, so you will feel fancy while eating classic American food. The Red Cow has a huge drink menu that includes a variety of beers. The beers are from small breweries in the Midwest, mainly Minnesota and Wisconsin. In addition to the beers, the food is insanely good. The most popular dishes are the juicy, gourmet burgers, but they have plenty of other food to choose from.

Website: http://redcowmn.com/

If you want to try some local craft beers, St. Paul is the perfect place. These are the three breweries that I recommend!

• Birch’s on the Lake has a full-service restaurant in addition to their brewhouse, so it is the perfect place to spend an afternoon or evening. There is an outdoor deck that overlooks the beautiful lake too.
• Barrel Theory‘s taproom is located in St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood. It is small, but they have great beers and unique merchandise.
• Stacked Deck is a brewery in the center of St. Paul. They have a wide selection of beers, including seasonal, sweet beers that taste like candy or pie!

Birch’s on the Lake: https://birchsonthelake.com/ Barrel Theory: https://barreltheory.com/ Stacked Deck: https://stackeddeckbrewing.com/

Minnehaha Park

Just north of the airport between the two cities is Minnehaha Park, a large city park with beautiful nature. There are paths along a creek for visitors to walk or run. The terrain is mostly flat, so it is easy for most people to enjoy. Entry to the park is free, and it is easy to access by car, bike, or public transit. The main attraction of the park is Minnehaha Falls, a waterfall that is over fifty feet tall. The waterfall has an overlook at the top, as well as stairs leading to the bottom of the waterfall. On the east side of the park, there are picnic areas and volleyball courts adjacent to the Mississippi River. There are also picnic areas and walking paths at the top of the waterfall.

Admission Fee: Free! There is free parking and paid parking Address: 4801 S Minnehaha Drive. Minneapolis, MN 55417 Website: Minnehaha Regional Park

State Capital

Like many states, Minnesota’s state capital is not the biggest city, but a smaller one like St. Paul. The State Capital Building is absolutely gorgeous. It was modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Italy. Entry to the State Capital is free and so are guided tours, but donations are accepted. Once you enter the building, grab a map so you can find the legislative halls. There is also a gift shop with books on history and politics, Minnesota souvenirs, and capitol-themed items.

Admission Fee: Free! Donations are accepted for guided tours ($5 USD suggested per person) Address: 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. St. Paul, MN Website: https://www.mnhs.org/capitol

Sports

Between Minneapolis and St. Paul, there are six major sports teams that play five different sports. While Minnesota is not necessarily known for its sports teams, the stadiums are underrated, and it is worth catching a game or two when you visit the Twin Cities. American Football: In the center of downtown Minneapolis is US Bank Stadium where the Minnesota Vikings play. The NFL football team plays their home games here from September to December. The Minnesota Vikings are the most successful team in the league to have never won a Superbowl, the league’s yearly championship. Baseball: On the north side of downtown is Target Field where the Minnesota Twins play. This wide-open stadium is the perfect place to enjoy a sunny summer afternoon. In left field, there is a plaza where events happen before and during each game. The Twins have been Division Champions for the last few years. Basketball: Next to the baseball field is the Target Center where the men’s and women’s professional basketball teams play. The women’s team, The Minnesota Lynx, has won four championships in the last ten years, and they hold a league record for most consecutive playoff appearances at ten. The men’s team, The Minnesota Timberwolves, does not hold any championships, but when the public can return to games, tickets will likely be pretty cheap! Soccer: In St. Paul, you can catch a soccer game. The soccer team is The Minnesota United FC. The stadium was opened two years ago in March 2019, so it is very modern. Hockey: Also in St. Paul is the Xcel Energy Center where the Minnesota Wild plays from October to April. The energy at the games is electric, and the fans are all extremely nice. Coming from Chicago where trash-talking is an essential part of sporting events, I was shocked when Wild fans were congratulating visiting fans when the Wild lost. They would high five us coming out of the stadium and congratulate us on the win.

Enjoy the Best Things to See in Minnesota’s Twin Cities!

You will want to see these four things when you visit Minnesota’s Twin Cities. From exploring nature to the state capital to the year-round sports, there is something for everyone to do in Minnesota! The food and local beers are so delicious, traveling to the cities just to eat and drink would be worth it. If you are traveling in the Midwest, visit Chicago and read about everything you should do when you visit! Don’t forget to find and book the cheapest flights using Skyscanner!