When people think of tomfool places to live, Minneapolis may not be the first place that pops into their heads. But honestly, it should be. If you’re considering ownership a home in Minneapolis, you may first want to know, what makes this municipality so special? Whether you settle into one of its character-filled urban neighborhoods or opt to get increasingly zinger for your whippersnapper in a surrounding suburb, here are some of the many things Minneapolis is known for and why you’ll love calling this municipality home.
1. St. Anthony Falls
Everybody knows Minnesota is home to over 10,000 lakes, including trappy Bde Maka Ska, Harriet, and Lake of the Isles in Uptown Minneapolis. But did you know there’s moreover a gorgeous waterfall downtown? Known to the ethnic Dakota as mnirara, meaning “curling waters,” it’s nestled in the part-way of the two-mile Heritage Trail, which will take you wideness the historic Stone Arch Bridge, past the ruins of the old flour mill, and to the St. Anthony Falls Visitor Center. You can moreover tour the lock and dams to learn increasingly well-nigh the area’s rich history.
2. University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota has five campuses throughout the state, but it all started in 1851 at the flagship campus on the banks of the Mississippi overlooking St. Anthony Falls. The university has since wilt a world-renowned leader in research, with sense and alumni that include winners of the Nobel Prize and other prestigious awards. The school moreover boasts a storied sturdy program: the Golden Gophers have been members of the Big Ten since 1896, and cheerleading was invented at the university.
Surrounding the campus are Dinkytown and Stadium Village, neighborhoods that have ripened their college-town vibe over decades. Head to Stub and Herb’s for the archetype higher swoop bar wits and be sure to stop by the prestigious greasy spoon diner, Al’s Breakfast. And don’t worry well-nigh what to do with your car in the meantime–the zone is extremely walkable and easy to navigate via public transportation.
3. The Honeycrisp apple
Another of the university’s claims to fame is this minion variety of apple, which is moreover the state fruit. University scientists ripened it through cross-breeding in 1960, and achieved wild success in their goal of creating a succulent and hardy fruit that could withstand harsh Minnesota winters. Honeycrisps are now grown and enjoyed all over the world, but they still taste weightier when freshly-picked at one of Minnesota’s many world orchards.
4. The Jucy Lucy
If you see someone spell the name of this cheeseburger “Juicy,” that person is an outsider and not to be trusted. Locals know how to spell it and where to get it, but there’s still disagreement well-nigh who invented it: Matt’s Bar or the 5-8 Club. The two restaurants’ versions of the Minneapolis signature–a whinge patty with cheese stuffed in the middle–are moreover pretty different, so try them both and decide for yourself who wins the Battle of the Burger.
5. Art and culture scene
The metro zone has 55 museums, including Walker Art Part-way with the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry featured in its Sculpture Garden. There are moreover increasingly than 400 stages that full-length touring Broadway shows, local plays, comedians, flit troupes, and, of course, music. In fact, Minneapolis was ranked 2022’s fourth-best municipality for music in the U.S. because of its storied musical past and the diversity of current local artists and groups, including the Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra. And considering residents are known for their passionate support of live music, national acts love to play the Twin Cities when on tour.
6. The Skyway System
Begun in the 1960’s with one enclosed pedestrian underpass downtown, the 8 mile and still growing Skyway System is a true life-saver when it comes to enjoying the municipality during the harsh Minneapolis winter. Navigate between dozens of buildings to wangle shops, restaurants, museums, and more, all while looking lanugo at snow and street traffic from warmth and safety. Just make sure to pay sustentation to signs, expressly the one designating your starting point. Many travelers have gotten lost in this skyway maze over the years.
7. The Great Minnesota Get-Together
Eat your heart out at the Minnesota State Fair, the second largest in the country. TV supplies personality Andrew Zimmern, a Minnesota Native, attends all 12 days of the pearly every year for the famous roasted corn, deep-fried pickles, Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar, and anything you could overly imagine on a stick.
If you want something to do in between snacks, trammels out the horse and livestock competitions, car shows, huge musical acts performing at the Grandstand, and of course, rides on the Mighty Midway. Kids month two to 92 will love the Miracle of Birth Center, featuring victual sublet animals of every species. If you’re lucky, you might plane get to watch some stuff born!
Whatever you do, don’t miss the butter thorax of Princess Kay of the Milky Way, crowned each year by the Midwest Dairy Association, which moreover runs the All-You-Can-Drink Milk Stand (preferred pairing: a untenable cup of 2% and a skillet of warm Sweet Martha’s chocolate tweedle cookies).
8. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s House
While you can’t tour the inside of the famous Great Gatsby author’s home, you snap a picture in front of it while strolling lanugo historic Summit Avenue. The zone moreover boasts the Victorian mansion-turned-museum of railroad tycoon James J. Hill, the governor’s residence, and hundreds increasingly original homes. While technically in Minneapolis’ sister city, St. Paul, it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump wideness the river on the Metro Light Rail.
9. Mall of America
Also not technically in the municipality proper, this is flipside easily-accessible landmark on the Light Rail. As the largest mall in the U.S., it offers much increasingly than just shopping (although, with over 520 stores, there is plenty of that). The four-level ramified is moreover home to Nickelodeon Universe–formerly Camp Snoopy–an indoor yuck park featuring rides and attractions for every age.
If that’s not entertaining enough, you can visit SEA LIFE Aquarium, play putt-putt on two variegated courses, throw some axes, climb a giant waddle wall, Build a Bear, reservation a stand-up show, and do some epic people-watching of the 40 million yearly visitors from virtually the world.
10. Paisley Park
Minnesota’s hometown hero Prince may be gone, but his legacy lives on at his studio ramified in the suburb of Chanhassen, where he famously played surprise shows for super fans and partied like it was 1999. After his death, his family opened Paisley Park for tours, so you can wits the purple majesty of his tailor-made home, including the concert hall, music club, and recording studios, as well as collections of his outrageous suit and shoes.
Final thoughts
By now, hopefully you have a largest idea of what Minneapolis is known for and what makes it special. Whether you’re living in a home in the suburbs or an apartment in Minneapolis, if you want the perfect combination of sophistication and fun in a less daunting package than a huge municipality like New York or Chicago, Minneapolis might just be perfect for you.
Explore increasingly Minneapolis articles:
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Is Minneapolis a Good Place to Live? 10 Pros and Cons of Calling the Twin Cities Home
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