Things To Do in MNPLS

Visit the Minnesota State Fair

What began in 1854 as a territorial fair to highlight agriculture and encourage farming in the region became the Minnesota State Fair in 1859, a year after Minnesota was granted statehood. Learn more about the State Fair’s rich history. Today, often referred to as the “Great Minnesota Get-Together,” the annual Minnesota State Fair is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region.

Tour the Mill City Museum

Mill City Museum was built within the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, the flagship mill of the Washburn-Crosby Co. (later General Mills). It was the largest and most technologically advanced flour mill in the world when it was completed in 1880. Millers at the Washburn mills in the 1870s perfected a new process for milling, a revolution that made fine wheat flour available to the masses for the first time. Soon thereafter Minneapolis became the flour milling capital of the world, a title it held from 1880 to 1930. The Washburn A Mill Complex is a National Historic Landmark. The Minnesota Historical Society opened Mill City Museum in 2003.

Visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is home to more than 40 iconic sculptures, including Spoonbridge & Cherry and Hahn/Cock. The garden is free, requires no tickets for admission, and is open from 6 am to 12 midnight every day.

Hear Live Music at First Avenue

First Avenue is celebrated as one of the longest-running, independently owned and operated venues in the United States. Our commitment to independence is led by the belief that unique, locally-owned live music rooms are imperative to the health of the community and economy. First Avenue is dedicated to promoting artistic expression in diverse voices old and new, to provide a community by offering artists a stage and a mic, and fans a place to gather.

Visit Minnehaha Regional Park

One of Minneapolis' oldest and most popular parks features a majestic 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs, and river overlooks, attracting more than 850,000 visitors annually.

Catch a Twins Game at Target Field

See a Play at the Guthrie Theater

The Guthrie Theater engages exceptional theater artists in the exploration of both classic and contemporary plays, connecting the community we serve to one another and to the world. Through its extraordinary artists, staff and facility, the Guthrie is committed to the people of Minnesota and, from its place rooted deeply in the Twin Cities, influences the field as a leading 21st-century arts organization.

Shop (or Ride a Rollercoaster) at the Mall of America

Since opening its doors in 1992, Mall of America® has revolutionized the shopping experience of tens of millions of visitors a year. A leader in retail, entertainment and attractions, Mall of America is one of the top tourist destinations in the country and is known around the world for its offerings including an indoor amusement park. Mall of America hosts more than 400 events a year, ranging from concerts, to celebrity appearances and fashion shows. Each year, 40 million people from around the world visit.