Minnehaha Falls provide some quiet, serene scenery in the city. You can overlook the falls from several vantage points and walk along the creek all the way to the Mississippi River. Sea Salt Eatery is located on site and has amazing fish tacos and local brews to enjoy your afternoon in the sunshine. (There may be a line, but it is worth the wait)!
Mia is a free (totally free) art museum located just outside downtown Minneapolis in the wonderful Whittier neighborhood. (We used to live 4 blocks away from Mia and really miss it). The museum has three floors of art, including period rooms, Native American art and more!
Looking for amazing food? Does everyone in your family like different kinds of food? The Midtown Global Market is the place for you. Local food vendors have stalls inside the market with everything from tamales to southern style comfort food to Indian cuisine, the Global Market will have something for everyone. In addition to the food vendors, there are small stalls offering wares from all over the world, and a performance space for music events. Kate recommends tamales from La Loma or a quesadilla from Los Ocampo while Kristina recommends anything from Holy Land.
Do you want to see a giant mall with roller coasters, two different mini golf courses, an escape room AND a mirror maze? Look no further! The Mall of America has it all! In addition to the above mentioned attractions, the mall boasts over 500 retail stores, over 100 food vendors, and some great people watching. Our personal favorites: Visit one of the many "Love from Minnesota" stores for some Minnesota inspired keepsakes (and 75% off the Wisconsin ones) and maybe take a trip through Moose Mountain Mini Golf or the Mirror Maze.
Bde Maka Ska (the lake formerly known as Calhoun) is a beautiful lake near Minneapolis' hip Uptown neighborhood. The lake is a popular gathering place for Minnesotans of all generations to enjoy some time in the sun. While the beaches aren't impressive to those of us from near the ocean, there is excellent dog watching if you go for a walk or a bike ride along the bike path.
Matt's invented the Jucy Lucy, at least, that's the origin story we believe in our household, though it is a somewhat disputed title. Matt's is a quintessential dive bar (cash only) that makes the famous cheese on the inside burgers, and has all your favorite beers on draught. Lines can be long, but the burger is worth the wait. Order it with the onions.
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden sits next to the Walker Art Center, and is a free public art installation with the iconic Spoon Bridge and Cherry. Minneapolis tourists of all ages will love to check out the beautiful art installations that got a facelift in 2017.
The Stone Arch Bridge stretches across the Mississippi River and connects Downtown Minneapolis to Northeast Minneapolis. It is a beautiful bridge to walk or bike across (vehicles are not allowed) and you can get sweeping views of downtown, St Anthony Falls, the Mississippi and St Paul. The Stone Arch Bridge is also adjacent to Ruins Park, where old ruins from the former Washburn Mill are left in their original spots from the explosion in 1878. If you're interested in learning more about the Mill and the ruins, be sure to check out the Mill City Musuem, right behind the Stone Arch Bridge!
If you're feeling the wedding stress, travel stress or just want a great place to get a massage, we recommend Gray Duck Massage Therapy! Give them a call or schedule online, affordable prices, a convenient location, and the best care you can get from a massage team!
Early riser? looking for a great breakfast at a great price in a diner setting that hasn't changed since the 1960's? Curran's offers an early bird special every day from 6am-8:30am of: 2 eggs, hashbrowns or fried potatoes and pancakes or toast for $2.50. Their other breakfast options are wonderful, and even if you miss or forgo the early bird special you can't go wrong.
Dulceria is an immigrant, woman-owned business bringing the flavors of Dulce's childhood in Mexico to Minneapolis. Dulceria offers many vegan and gluten free options, and has some of the best sweet and savory pastries around. From traditional empanadas and conchas to brownies made with ancho chiles, there is something on Dulceria's menu for everyone! Our dessert at the wedding will come from Dulceria!