Two middle aged folks and a teenager (13) visit Minneapolis/St Paul

[Algernon Moncrieff]

Other than M of A, what should they do?

Currently on the agenda: Paisley Park and Mill City Museum. What else?

[dchill]

1. Eat!

http://www.tvfoodmaps.com/s4/Diners-Drive-Ins-Dives/MN/Minneapolis

[Algernon Moncrieff]

6. We're on that

In particular we are looking at Als Breakfast and Colossal Cafe for breakfast one day. Also looking at two of the pizza places on this list as well as a third someone else mentioned for Friday night, as cheese pizza is our go to Friday meal in lent.

[BainsBane]

13. Both Al's and the Mpls Colossal are tiny spaces

Just be aware of that. Minneapolis has okay pizza but not great. Vietnamese food is great here.

You should see some of the parks, perhaps Minnehaha Park along the Mississippi River. You could check out some of the lakes.

The Sculpture Garden at the Walker. If you like art museums, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is free admission. You could then go to Eat Street (Nicollet around 26th) for lunch or dinner: Maybe Copper Hen, Quang, or Jasmine Deli for Bahn Mi. Glamdoll donuts for coffee and a snack. They are open late too, til like 1 am. on Friday and Saturday.

The Mall of America is the biggest tourist destination, but it's just a mall, an enormous one.

You might see a play at the Guthrie.

If you're into Prince, you might want to check out First Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis. He got his start there.

There are some real foody restaurants too.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. Visit the state capitol. That's always a cool thing to do.

And the tomb of the Unknown Norwegian.

That's a Prairie Home Companion reference, just it case it's not already familiar to you.

Oh, and I will add that the Cities seem to be the unsung chicken salad capitol of North America. Or it least it was when I lived there, all too briefly all too long ago. Every restaurant had it on the menu, and every single one did it differently.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

7. I always forget that its the Capitol

It seems too logical.

Why can't Minnesota be like Missouri or Kansas, where the choice of capitol is less obvious?

[BainsBane]

14. The Minnesota History Center too

which is right near the Capitol.

[TlalocW]

3. Prairie Home Companion?

Mall of America?

TlalocW

[Algernon Moncrieff]

10. Forgive me - I thought PHC was done??

Im assuming Im mistaken.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. It's still happening.

Garrison Keillor has retired and one Chris Thiles is the current host.

[BainsBane]

15. No, you can get tickets for tapings at the Fitzgerald Theater

https://www.prairiehome.org/events

[47of74]

4. Well....

I know the teenager can't partake but there are a number of excellent breweries up in the Twin Cities - Surly, Summit, Indeed, Insight, and Schell's down in New Ulm, Minnesota. I think there's a few others that I haven't had a chance to visit yet up there too. There's also the Uptown neighborhood in Minneapolis, and if you're in to Teslas there's a Tesla Store in Eden Prairie. There's the Como Park Zoo and Botanical Gardens in St. Paul.

Hope that helps.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

8. Ooh. I could see a Tesla after Paisley Park

Good idea.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. If you are visiting Paisley Park, which already is a pretty fair distance

west of Minneapolis, you might as well go a few miles farther and visit the Landscape Arboretum. If you like art, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is first-rate, and currently has a really cool exhibit of the projects of Guillermo del Toro. https://new.artsmia.org/del-toro/ The Minnesota Zoo has Siberian tigers and red pandas. The Mall of America is just another shopping mall except bigger than usual - so if you have to cut something, I'd suggest that (I go there only under duress).

[Algernon Moncrieff]

9. We also thought about the Art Museum

I was thinking "next time" originally so as to avoid museum fatigue, but the weather is supposed to not be great, so it may be a good option.

[dragonlady]

12. Science Museum of Minnesota, in St. Paul

Very cool.

[LuckyLib]

25. Yes! Guaranteed to have stuff a 13 year (and the folks) would like!

[BainsBane]

16. Take a drive down Summit Avenue in St. Paul

You can see the house where F Scott Fizgerald lived and other 19th century mansions, like the James J Hill House. Hill was a railroad tycoon. You could then stop at Victoria Crossing for lunch or coffee. The western part of St. Paul is nice and has a very different vibe from Minneapolis.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

17. Thanks for this and the other posts (above)

My better half loves 19th century mansions, so I will try to work this into the plan.

[BainsBane]

18. If you eat in that area

Brasa is good.

[bluecollar2]

19. Murray's Steak House

I was invited to dinner there many years ago on my one and only trip to MSP.

I've eaten a lot of steak in my life but I've never been able to replicate the experience I had that night.

[bif]

20. Be sure to visit both art museums. Fantastic collections.

[bif]

21. Be sure to have a meal at Mickey's Diner

It was featured in the Prairie Home Companion movie. Great food and the cook is a hoot!

[uppityperson]

22. Como Park zoo is free. Eat at the Midtown Global Market. Buy huge bags of candy & nuts at Fleet Farm

http://www.midtownglobalmarket.org

[Algernon Moncrieff]

23. So I'm back

The weather was meh.

We cut the Paisley Park tour (we still took exterior photos). In the end, we decided there were ways we'd rather spend $140-$150.

The Mill City Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Art were high points. We did a lot of eating: The Nook, The St. Clair Grill, Colossal Cafe (St. Paul), Black Sheep Pizza, Mickey's Diner, and Izzy's Ice Cream -- we had a lot of fun stuffing ourselves.

Thanks to all for your suggestions!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

24. I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves!

We used to hang out at the St. Clair all the time (I went to Macalester College, right across the street, about a million years ago), still have a burger there now and then. Mickey's is another diner that's been around forever. What did you think of the Del Toro exhibit at MIA? I haven't been there yet but I really want to go. Thanks for visiting!

[pangaia]

26. Minnesota Orchestra and St Paul Chamber Orchestra.

[Lifelong Protester]

27. Walk the lower (closer to St. Paul) end of Summit Avenue

Go into the Cathedral. It is pretty cool. Stop into W.A. Frost (near the Cathedral) a nice place to eat, and the atmosphere is great.