The Chain of Lakes connects four major lakes in Minneapolis. We live about a mile south of Lake Harriet, the southern most lake in the chain. If you rent a car, you can drive around any or all of the lakes and see some great views of downtown. Each of the lakes have biking and pedestrian paths, too. Lake Harriet is ~3 miles around, and if you’re looking for a longer run or walk, Harriet, Bde Maka Ska, and Lake of the Isles are about 10 miles total, all connected via pedestrian paths. Harriet and Maka Ska both have restaurants, great for a casual bite or happy hour drink. We love the lakes, and spend time here throughout the year.
One of the more famous parks of the Twin Cities, Minnehaha Falls provides ample walking trails to view the falls and explore the surrounding woodland and the Mississippi River. There are plenty of picnic tables around if you want to pack a quick lunch after your walk. There’s plenty of parking nearby, too.
Named one of New York Times restaurants of the year, Gai Noi offers family style Laotian fare at a reasonable price. They’ve got plenty of vegan and gluten free options to make eating with a crowd easy. They don’t take reservations, so if you go, prepare for a potentially long wait for a table. Luckily they’ve got delicious cocktails and mocktails, too.
We grabbed some beers here after our engagement photo shoot! You can find Pryes beers at many bars in Minneapolis. They’ve got a huge menu, sure to please any beer drinker. The space is huge, great for large groups or couples. They’ve also got a decent menu with vegan and gluten free options, too.
Modist always has some unique beers on draft, along with some classic styles that beer drinkers would expect. This brewery is close to our hotel blocks, and a great spot to gather for some pre-wedding beverages, or a place to close out the evening.
We love Fulton for its convenient location near Target Field for Twins games and all of the concert venues downtown. This is a great spot to do a flight, and they’ve got some premixed cocktails and nonalcoholic options too.
Collins absolutely loves this vegan deli, and Brad, a non-vegan, really enjoys it too. You can purchase cold cuts of house made “meat” and “cheese”, and they also sell hot plates too. We regularly get their platters, which include an assortment of some of their most popular items along with olive, nuts, and crackers. Great for a picnic or brewery outing, we recommend ordering ahead of time online and scheduling pick up, as this is a pretty small shop.
Wrecktangle is our favorite decadent pizza in the Twin Cities with their super thick Detroit style crusts. The North Loop location is close to our hotel blocks, but we typically eat at their Lyn-Lake restaurant. They have plenty of vegan and gluten free options, along with a well curated bar menu. We think their vegan cheesy bread with arugula is the best item on the menu (and neither of us particularly care for vegan cheese!). Wait times can vary; delivery and takeout are both available.
The most picturesque market in the city, you’ll peruse booths along the Mississippi River. Open 9-1 daily in October, you’ll find your standard market fare along with varied prepared foods.
Utepils typically sponsors races put on by the Loppet, all of which start at The Trailhead (our venue!). We’ve enjoyed plenty of great German-style beers here, and their outdoor patio in the back is so beautiful and serene. Make sure to check their website for their food truck schedule if you’re looking for a casual meal along with your beers.
Just a few blocks from either hotel, this cocktail bar truly delivers. Although it’s tough to find (no sign outside, look for the eye painting outside) they’ll make anything you could possibly want, while also offering a creative cocktail menu with nonalcoholic options to boot. Wait times can vary, especially if you go in a group. There are plenty of other spots to visit aroud, but they’ll also serve you as you wait for a table.
This is our neighborhood brewery that we frequent regularly, so while it’s not exactly walking distance from your hotel, we wanted to share it anyways. They’ve got great coffee in the mornings and a really interesting beer menu from afternoon into evening. Their aged beers are our favorites, and their bottle shop in the back offers some fun treats to take back to your hotel. They have a robust food truck schedule, but you can bring your own food too.
You can find Linden Hills just west of Lake Harriet. We’ve provided the address of Wooden Ship Brewery, another regular haunt of ours with a Sunday happy hour. Brad went to Linden Hills Jeweler for Collins’s engagement ring, so that holds a special place, too. We also love Comma book shop and Cafe Ceres in the area. If you’re looking to walk around what feels like a quintessential Main Street, Linden Hills is just what you want.
Trying to eat with a group but can’t decide what you want? Head to Graze, just a few blocks from either hotel. This food court style venue offers a wide variety of food options along with a full bar and solid tap list. Restaurant hours and menus vary, so check the website if you’re looking for anything specific. Their rooftop also offers great views with heaters and comfortable loungers.
Northeast is the brewery-lover’s dream. Similar to the RiNo neighborhood in Denver, this neighborhood offers a handful of industrial breweries within walking distance of one another. We love Bauhaus and Indeed, along with BUCH, an alcoholic kombucha taproom. If you’re looking for food nearby, we highly recommend Francis (burgers and fries), Centro (tacos), or Brasa (creole), all of which offer gluten free and vegan options, along with pick up or delivery. Northeast is a quick ride from either hotel, and a great spot to check out if you’re looking to pass a few hours in the cities.
St. Anthony Main is a beautiful, historic section of Minneapolis, just east of the Mississippi from downtown. Head over here for some nice views across the river, to walk along the famous Stone Arch Bridge, or to grab a bite to eat the Aster Cafe. You might even recognize some of the views from our Save the Dates and website gallery!
If you find yourself wondering how such a fun and vibrant city ended up here in the (sometimes) frozen North, the Mill City Museum will help you understand how a city built on flour mills turned into the economic and cultural capital of the Upper Midwest. You can find great views here as well.
Theodore Wirth is a true gem that captures what we love much about Minneapolis -- so much nature so close to the city. Head here for miles and miles of biking, hiking, and running trails, golf courses, lakes, the unique Quaking Bog, a wildflower garden, and of course, our wedding venue!
It's completely free to walk around the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, where you will find the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry, a giant rooster, and great views of downtown. Collins's first race in Minneapolis ended here (while she was running, Brad walked around the sculpture garden and ate bratwurst). You can also head into the Walker Center itself for more vibrant exhibits.
Hola Arepa has delicious arepas, small plates, and tropical cocktails. We went here for Collins's birthday in 2023, not too long before Brad started planning his proposal. Several blocks north of here is Eat Street, which has a host of great restaurants representing cuisines from around the world.
It is not hard to find great coffee roasters and shops throughout the Twin Cities. Some of our favorites include Backstory, Northern Coffeeworks, Fiddlehead, and Folly. We try a new Minnesota roaster every month through Winnow MN - their website (linked here) provides a long list of local (and delicious) roasters.
If you run out of reading material while in town, head over to Paperback Exchange and lose yourself browsing through (the admittedly chaotic) stacks of used books. It's next to some great restaurants, including Broders and Nicos, and not too far from Linden Hills and Lake Harriet.
The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway is one of the most unique parts of Minneapolis. The Grand Rounds connects (almost) the entire city through a series of beautiful boulevards and biking/walking trails. We frequently run along the Grand Rounds when exploring the Chain of Lakes or heading east from our place to Nokomis and the Mississippi. Drive, walk, bike, run, rollerskate, etc parts of the Grand Rounds while you're in town!