After months of putting in countless hours at your job and dealing with the stresses of everyday life, it’s time to kick back and schedule some time for you and your loved ones. Trouble is, with the wide array of vacation destinations out there to choose from, how can you narrow it down?
Well, that’s where we come in with this humble suggestion: go to Minneapolis. We’ve even compiled a list of the top Minneapolis entertainment activities for you to indulge in while you’re there!
So grab your suitcase and start up Google Maps, because we’re leaping right into things!
Walk on the Wild Side
If you’re coming down to Minneapolis with the family (or enjoy the sight of some exotic animals), you have to check out the Minneapolis Zoo. Boasting a wide range of animals from tigers to gibbons, the zoo has plenty of sights and activities to keep you entertained for hours.
If you go in the fall, they even offer their famous Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular. This is a scenic walk filled with thousands of professionally carved Jack-o-Lanterns for you to enjoy.
If zoos aren’t your speed, try taking a look at the natural wonders Minneapolis has to offer. Mill Ruins Park in downtown Minneapolis offers a chance to view the remnants of old flour mills, giving you a portrait of the area’s history.
Boom Island Park, sitting alongside the Mississippi River, is a perfect outing in warmer weather. You can rent a boat and explore the waters or take a walk along the scenic shoreline. There’s even a miniature lighthouse (the crown jewel of Boom Island Park) you can see!
If you’re on board for water activities, you’ll also want to visit Chain of Lakes Regional Park, which has an ice rink as well. Finally, make sure you visit Minnehaha Falls, a mini-waterfall surrounded by nature trails. The falls are even gorgeous in wintertime, where they freeze over and you can see the cascading ice.
Come See the Greats of Minneapolis Entertainment
Another great Minneapolis entertainment spot is the Guthrie Theater, hosting a wide variety of plays and musical performances throughout the year. With past guests ranging from playwright Lynn Nottage to singer /actress Olivia Newton-John, you’re sure to find a high-talent show that can dazzle you in ways only live theater can! For more Broadway-style shows, head on down to the Orpheum Theatre.
If you’re looking to see a play that’s more kid-friendly, you’ll have better luck looking into the Children’s Theatre Company. Also boasting different shows across the year, the Company provides a great first dose of theater for children and delivers an entertaining show with a youthful spark for adults.
The Children Theatre Company is also located at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Here, you can find a wide range of drawings and pieces of art from across human history. Exhibits range from visual representations of pain and hatred felt about the Holocaust to collections of gorgeous landscape watercolor paintings from Britain.
For the Sports Fan
If your idea of fun looks more like watching a baseball game than watching a play, you can’t miss out on Target Field. The home stadium of the Minnesota Twins, the field boasts a charming old-school design mixed with modern innovations to deliver a quality baseball experience.
For the NFL fan, you’ll want to make a trip down to U.S Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings. Built as recently as 2016, the stadium packs an unmissable view and delicious concessions to make any football game exciting!
Of course, if you’d rather discover your inner Viking warrior, there’s always Bad Axe Throwing. For less than $30 an hour, you can train with a certified instructor to learn how to hurl axes without taking anybody’s head off. You can even compete with friends on target boards to see who gets the highest score!
The Mall to End All Malls
One of Minneapolis’s landmarks includes the Mall of America, the largest mall in the entire country. The mall is so huge it features multiple roller coasters, an aquarium, the Crayola Experience, and enough stores to make your credit card bill green with worry. Kids of all ages will love Nickelodeon Universe, an indoor theme park based around Nick’s hit cartoons like Spongebob Squarepants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
With dozens of restaurants ranging from staples like Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. to local sit-down favorites like Twin City Grill, you’ll also have more than enough options for satiating your appetite.
Grab a Bite to Eat
Speaking of places to eat, there’s a lot more cuisine to consume in Minneapolis than you can find at the Mall of America. Meat lovers have to check out the grill-happy Butcher and the Boar and Manny’s Steakhouse.
Those on the vegan side of things will prefer the Herbivorous Butcher, an eatery that takes meat dishes and puts fun vegan or vegetarian spins on them. For dessert, make sure to pop by local ice-cream joint Izzy’s Ice Cream, which wields an impressive selection of flavors. The flavors even rotate out every day, meaning no two visits are identical!
Late-Night Adventures
For some people though, the real thrill of Minneapolis lies in its nightlife scene. The Great Escape Room Minneapolis is one such venue. They provide interactive puzzles for you to solve themed after seances and presidential poker games!
Anyone looking to dance the night away need to look no further than the elaborate Exchange and Alibi Lounge. Music lovers will dig First Avenue (the club got used in the filming of the Purple Rain music video for Prince). Alcohol enthusiasts should beeline to the Green Line Brewery District to taste tons of deluxe beers.
Start Planning Your Adventure Today
And there you have it! Now that you know all the top Minneapolis entertainment activities and places to visit in Minneapolis, you’re ready to pack your bags and make a trip down there today!
Looking for more fun trip ideas to escape the grind of everyday life? If that’s the case, feel free to check out the other articles on our blog!