Drawing comparisons between vacations in Minneapolis and St. Paul is a difficult task. St. Paul has a slightly reserved, antique feel about it; Minneapolis travel 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.
Minneapolis Must-Sees
Contemporary-art lovers shouldn’t miss the Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The museum nearly doubled in a 2005 expansion. The sculpture garden features many works, including the iconic “Spoonbridge and Cherry.”
Soak up the jewels of Minneapolis with a visit to the Chain of Lakes. Bike, walk, jog, skate or ski around five beautiful city lakes – Cedar, Brownie, Calhoun, Harriet and Lake of the Isles.
Step back to the American frontier at St. Paul’s Historic Fort Snelling, an important historical site at the crossroads of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Get immersed in science at the Science Museum of Minnesota, where you’ll find permanent exhibits that include Dinosaurs and Fossils, the Human Body, Big Back Yard and the hands-on Experiment Gallery.
Tour St. Paul’s architectural gem, the Minnesota State Capitol, a classical beauty crowned with four gold-leaf horses. Inside, gaze at the massive marble dome and the large murals.