This beautiful lake is near downtown Minneapolis. It holds a special place in our hearts as walked around it and got to know each other here on our first official date way back in May 2018. Trail around the lake is ~3.1 miles. If you park on the northwest side of the lake, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream (3070 Excelsior Blvd) is within walking distance by only a few minutes!
Minnehaha Regional Park has some nice trails that lead you to the Minnehaha Falls, a 53-foot waterfall. There are plenty of walking and biking trails around here. The falls are particularly beautiful in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.
Brian and I came here on our first date for a brewery tour. On the tour, we learned that one of the founding brewer's wives was a physician. They told our tour group, "If I can give you one piece of advice, it would be to marry a doctor." This made Brian and I side-eye each other awkwardly and laugh, as he would be starting medical school that August. Surly makes great beers, food, and has a really fun atmosphere.
Brian's brother, Paul, and his girlfriend, Gayle, introduced us to this restaurant and we LOVE it. Their food is great and the restaurant's vibe is nice but laid back. However, the build-your-own gin & jam (homemade, multiple flavors; sounds like a weird combo, 100% amazing) cocktails are absolutely delicious. Highly recommend. Fun fact: This is just 2 blocks south from our venue!
A little further away from the hotel and venue area. This local ice cream shop is in Plymouth, which is Brian's hometown. They consistently have delicious ice cream with unique and rotating flavors. Highly recommend checking out.
One of the most well-known landmarks of the Twin Cities is the MOA. The hotel has a complimentary shuttle that takes you to MOA, so feel free to visit in your spare time! Fair warning, though: it is insanely busy 100% of the time.