Destinations

Minneapolis has an enviable independent music scene with venues such as the The Fine Line Music Cafe and First Avenue showcasing local bands and musicians as well as international acts. Many of the cultural institutes offer free access, and some of the best are the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Weisman Art Museum. Also worth a visit, especially for families, is the large Minnesota Zoo as well as the relaxing Como Park which has lakes and an amusement park. Downtown Minneapolis is where the Central Business District is located, but it is also here where major sporting events take place and most of the nightlife is to be found. Minneapolis is easy to navigate as it is based on a grid system and a modern light rail service serves the entire city. During the warmer months, hiring a bicycle to explore the city is a good idea as the government has invested in paved bike trails across the city. A great time to plan a trip is between Thanksgiving and Christmas when the free Holidazzle Parade occurs. This parade combines themed costumes with impressive lights and takes place at night in the downtown area. Minneapolis offers a similar shopping experience like many other large North American cities. However, being home to many independent publishers, the city has some excellent bookshops, an example being the Amazon Bookstore. Cafes, often with live music, food and internet access abound in Minneapolis; major chains Caribou and Dunn Bros are ubiquitous, but there are also many small, independent and often very atmospheric cafes. Hotels in Minneapolis are varied and cater for all tastes. Hotels range from the Marriott and the Radisson for visitors who prefer an international atmosphere to hostels such as the Minneapolis EcoHostel which, as the name suggests, is environmentally friendly as well as vegan. Flights to Minneapolis arrive at the Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport, and the city is linked with major cities across the globe with direct cheap flights to Minneapolis from cities such as Reykjavik, Amsterdam and Tokyo.