A lovely park at the heart of some of St. Paul’s classic locales: The Landmark Center (our reception venue where Sarah’s parents also got married in 1989), the Saint Paul Hotel (where we’ll be staying), the Ordway (where Sarah and Joe saw the Sound of Music a few years back), and the St. Paul Public Library (if you’re looking for Joe, this is probably where he’ll be). Check out the Peanuts cartoon statues in honor of Minnesotan Charles Schulz and visit Candyland, one of Sarah's favorite candy shops on nearby Wabasha Street.
In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, visit a few of our favorites! We love biking, walking, or renting kayaks through Wheel Fun Rentals at Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, or Lake of the Isles. Afterwards, grab a drink in Uptown or ice cream at Sebastian Joe's, Milkjam, or La La Homemade Ice Cream.
The classiest hockey-themed bar and restaurant named for St. Paul native Herb Brooks and a great place to gather before catching a Wild game at the Xcel Energy Center. FYI: If you want to pay homage to a few more famous Minnesotans, check out the F. Scott Fitzgerald House on beautiful Summit Avenue or visit Prince’s Paisley Park in Chanhassen (a ~35 minute drive from downtown St. Paul).
Take a stroll (or speed walk, in Sarah's honor) along the Mississippi River to Harriet Island. If a mile feels like too much on Sunday morning, check out the Kellogg Mall Park or the overlook by the Science Museum for closer destinations and equally beautiful views of the river where–fun fact!–waterskiing was invented.
Make Joe proud and learn about some history. Other great museums and tours in the Twin Cities include the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Wabasha Street Caves, and the Science Museum of Minnesota.
Stone Arch Bridge is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge with panoramic views of the Mississippi River. While you’re there, you can also see Nicollet Island, St. Anthony Falls, Mill City Museum, US Bank Stadium, or the Guthrie Theater (where you can view almost all of the aforementioned sites from the Endless Bridge viewpoint).
Wicked is playing in the days before and after our wedding. After just seeing it in Boston, we highly recommend it! If you're looking for food & drink, nearby Nicollet has lots of sidewalk patios with favorites like Brit's Pub, The News Room, and Hell's Kitchen. Be sure to check out the Minneapolis Skyway System: the largest, contiguous system of enclosed, second level bridges in the world, composed of roughly 8 miles of pathways connecting 80 city blocks.
One of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks, Minnehaha Park overlooks the Mississippi River and is the site of Minnehaha Falls, a gorgeous 53-foot waterfall. Visit Sea Salt Eatery after walking through the gardens, seeing the historical statues & sculptures, or biking the trails.
If you're sticking around for a few days, head to Lake Minnetonka and the picturesque downtown areas of Wayzata and Excelsior. A ~35 drive from St. Paul, Lake Minnetonka is a popular spot for boating, sailing, fishing, and enjoying Minnesota's lake life culture. Pictured here: Sarah and her dad Joe on a Lake Minnetonka skating expedition. Come back and visit us in the winter!