Exploring Minneapolis & St. Paul
We took a wonderful weekend trip up to the capital area of Minnesota with the kids’ grandparents to explore our 46th state. It ended up being one of those trips that felt really special — not just because of the destination, but because we got to share it with them.
This trip took place August 2024.
We’re getting close to visiting all 50 states, so we’re often on the lookout for fun ideas that fit into a quick weekend. When we saw that Ben Rector was playing in Minneapolis, paired with a cheap nonstop Delta flight and a free weekend on the calendar, it all came together pretty quickly. We invited the grandparents along, and it turned into a really memorable trip for everyone.
We flew out late Friday evening, and with a quick, direct flight, arrived around 8:30pm. Got a rental car and took off to the Residence Inn right in the center of downtown (and free with points!)
Day 1
We started the morning with a walk along the riverfront, passing old mill buildings and the stone bridge. The area had a really nice mix of history and open space, and there was also a busy farmers market happening nearby. On top of that, there was a huge art fair set up, which made the whole area feel extra lively.
Later, we visited the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which was a fun and easy stop to walk around and stretch our legs.
By afternoon, we made our way to the Mall of America — which is… honestly kind of wild. It was extremely crowded, and very different from anything our kids were used to. Most malls near us are quiet or half-empty, so this felt like another world entirely.
Inside, we stumbled into a national yo-yo competition (unexpected but very entertaining), and then spent most of our time in the indoor amusement park. We bought wristbands for the kids, which worked well overall, though some of the rides had surprisingly long waits and no way to tell the wait times before getting in line. Still, it was one of those “you just have to see it once” experiences.
That evening was the highlight of the day — seeing Ben Rector perform live with the Minnesota Orchestra. The setting was beautiful, and hearing his music with a full orchestra was honestly one of the best concerts we’ve ever been to.
Day 2
We started the morning at Minnehaha Regional Park to see the waterfall. You can walk down closer to the base, but even from the upper viewpoints it’s a really pretty stop and easy to explore.
From there, we headed to Lake Nokomis, which ended up being exactly what we were hoping for — a nice beach area, places to sit, and food nearby. It was a great low-key lunch stop and a good break in the day.
In the afternoon, we visited the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in nearby St. Paul. It’s a smaller, free zoo, but really well done and easy to get around. We caught a sea lion show and saw a wide variety of animals without the overwhelm of a huge zoo.
Before heading out, we also made a quick stop at the Minnesota State Capitol area and the cathedral in St. Paul, both of which are beautiful buildings and worth seeing even just from the outside.
Final Thoughts + More Things To Do
We really enjoyed our time in Minneapolis and the surrounding area. It felt clean, walkable, and very family-friendly, with a nice mix of outdoor spaces, city activities, and unique attractions.
We definitely didn’t get to everything on our list. Next time, we’d love to check out:
- Mill City Museum
- Matt’s Bar (home of the Juicy Lucy)
- Hmong Village
- Stillwater for the historic river town and lift bridge
- Fort Snelling State Park
Minnesota ended up being one of those trips where we left feeling like we barely scratched the surface — which is always a good reason to come back.
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