Minneapolis Travel Guide, Minnesota

Minneapolis is located in the northernmost state of Minnesota and it is bisected by the Mississippi River. It sits upon a hilly terrain and next to Saint Paul, the state's capital and together the two form the large Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Minneapolis has much natural beauty to recommend it; twenty four lakes are located in and around the city to comprise a well known and often used public park system that allows walking and running, gatherings, cycling and water sports to the residents of Minneapolis, making it a quite rural urban environment.

 The organizers of Earth Day rated Minneapolis the ninth best overall and second among mid-sized cities. Minneapolis economically thrives from small business to Fortune 500 companies, and amateur and professional sports. Professional sports are big business and include the Minnesota Vikings football team, the Timberwolves basketball team and the Twins baseball team. Minneapolis has more golfers per capita than any US city, and many cyclists, sport fishermen and snow skiers.

 Historically, the economic foundation was laid upon agriculture and the timber milling and the grain milling industries. Today the biggest employers are the state government and the University of Minnesota and the medical and financial industries.

Minneapolis has a diverse population that is committed to the arts and theater, perhaps as a respite to the inclement winters, which are heightened by punishing arctic winds.

The city is second only to New York City in support for the arts and live theater, there are Guthrie Theater, a three-stage complex and the Hennepin Theatre District, which includes the State, Orpheum and Pantages theaters. There are several theater companies, the Children's Theatre Company and Theatre de la Jeune Lune, the Jungle Theatre and the Mixed Blood Theatre. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is located near the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and the outdoor Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is across the street from the center. The Warehouse District is a nexus of studio and gallery activity as is the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District.

The city is host to a vibrant nightlife and one of the music capitals of the US with live music performances of all kinds at various cafes. The Metropolitan Opera appeared at the Northrop Auditorium and classical music is performed at Orchestra Hall as well as small venues like the Bakken Library and Museum. Twin/Tone Records ensures that rap and hip hop are represented and the Loft Literary Center and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts support many of the local writers and poets. Minneapolis hosts many festivals and fireworks displays. The In the Heart of the Beast May Day Parade attracts 35,000 people each year and the Minnesota Fringe Festival, a non-juried performing arts festival, is even larger.

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• What to do in Minneapolis
  review by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  Minneapolis is one of the places with the highest standard of living. Major companies like 3M or Northwest Airlines are headquartered in Minneapolis. Minneapolis offers some sports teams as well as some great outdoor activities not too far away. If you are into shopping, they have the Mall of...

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Read our members' travel tips about Minneapolis

• Spoonbridge and Cherry
  travel tip by tiffiniflynnmn posted more then 30 days ago
  Definitely one of the city's most visited sights, the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture is located in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. It's one of the most interesting and weird sculptures I have ever seen; it really is a huge...
• Double Danger Comics & Collectibles
  travel tip by itachan posted more then 30 days ago
  Embrace your inner comic book fan at this wonderful place. There are literally tons of comic books and related merchandise that will make your head spin. There are lots of indie and rare comics, and contrary to the stereotype of comic...
• The Loon Cafe
  travel tip by papillon posted more then 30 days ago
  The Loon Cafe started out as a ports bar in the 1980's, but what's more interesting than the drink menu is actually the bar's food. No sleazy fast-food style burgers here, but calamari fritters and spinach con queso, and the chili and...

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