Minneapolis, Minnesota

• More about your oliver guide: Katie Runman
• Trip type: Adult, City
• Activity level: easy
• Ideal length of trip: Long weekend, especially in the summer and fall.

to & from

• Fly into MPS. Delta’s hub is here, though, Sun Country often has cheaper flights!
• You can either rent a car or Uber the entire time. The airport is about a 15-25 minute drive from downtown (depending on where you are staying and traffic/time of day)

Where to Stay

• Stay in the North Loop/Warehouse Neighborhood:
• Hewing Hotel (bonus: rooftop pool & bar)
• Hotel Ivy (bonus: spa on site)
• The Hyatt Centric (formerly The Grand Hotel)
• VRBO and AirBNB are always options too. check out these neighborhoods:
• Warehouse/North Loop: Closer to downtown, has an urban feel. Very close to amazing restaurants and clothing boutique stores. Walkable to the Mississippi River which has great walking and running paths. Inquire about overnight parking options with host.
• Loring Park: Closer to downtown as well with an urban feel. Lots of great eating spots are near here too. Inquire about overnight parking options with host.
• Linden Hills: More of a neighborhood feel with young families. Super easy and lovely to walk to Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. Downtown Linden Hills has restaurants, (a favorite, Tilia) coffee shops and one of my favorite children’s book stores, Wild Rumpus, complete with live animals to entertain young shoppers.
• Uptown: This is where many in their 20s lives. Tons of bars and restaurants. Very close access to Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun. Free, overnight street parking is do-able.

Where to Eat and Drink

There are so many amazing restaurants in Minneapolis! Be sure to make reservations for dinner in advance. Here are some of my favorites:

• Spoon & Stable (North Loop, dinner) Chef/owner Gavin Kaysen (James Beard award-winning chef) offers a seasonal menu from local farms; cuisine is Midwestern-inspired mixed with French influences. Rustic-chic inside, fun to sit at the bar if you can't get a reservation!
• Bar La Grassa (North Loop, dinner) Italian food and a lively bar area to wait before eating. It’s fun to go with a group so you can share plates as it’s impossible to not want to order the entire menu. As a starter, get the soft eggs and lobster bruschetta. Trust me, they are known for this.
• Butcher & the Boar (Downtown, dinner) Known for their American craft food, bourbon and beer. There’s also a beer garden open year that offers a separate menu—the beer garden is a fun spot to go for happy hour/day drinks.
• Restaurant Alma (University/Dinkytown, dinner) If you’re a foodie, you don't want to miss it. Three-course prix fixe menu for dinner along with wine pairings.
• Red Cow (There are several locations: Uptown, North Loop or on 50th. Brunch, lunch or casual dinner). If you’re craving a burger, this is the place to go! They have many options on their menu, I personally love their turkey burger with cilantro-lime aioli, sliced radish, arugula and crushed pistachios. Voted Best by Minneapolis/St Paul magazine!
• Smack Shack: (North Loop, casual lunch or dinner). It’s mainly seafood and known for their lobster. Personally, I love their fried green tomatoes. If it’s nice out, sit outside. They also have a late night dining menu.
• Café & Bar Lurcat (Loring Park, dinner) You can either eat in the café or in the restaurant. This is a cozy spot in the winter.
• Hell’s Kitchen (Downtown, brunch) – Their Bloody Mary bar is unbelievable, you’ve never seen anything like it—it has it's own room in the restaurant! They also have live music for brunch. Reservations suggested.

What to Do

• Grab a coffee and walk around different neighborhoods:
• In the North loop, wander around and off of Washington Ave N. There are lots of shops and restaurants you can pop into. Some favorites include: D.NOLO (stands for Destination North Loop) a woman’s clothing co-op, Askov Finlayson - (mens) clothing and accessories, outdoorsy, woodsy aesthetic; also houses a Warby Parker boutique, beautiful books and other gift ideas, Martin Patrick3 - nothing better or more chic for menswear — from denim to tuxedos and everything in-between. Also has beautiful housewares and an in-store Filligree Jewlers (high-end vintage Jewelery) and an in-store barbershop, The Foundry - simple, beautiful housewares, bath and body.
• Walk/Bike the chain of four city lakes, Lake of the Isles has some of the most beautiful homes you’ll see in Minneapolis. Reward yourself after by walking into Uptown and checking out one of the rooftop restaurants & bars. In the wintertime, the lakes are frozen and you can go ice skating on Lake of the Isles or even cross country skiing. Pop into Isle Buns & Coffee to warm up, it’s just off lake of the Isles on W 28th. Don't miss their "Puppy Dog Tails" for breakfast.
• Sunday Morning: Hit the farmer's markets. Mill City and Linden Hills (starts the weekend before Memorial Day thru end of October). Milly City is along the Mississippi River, next to the Mill City Museum, which highlights the history of the flour making in Minneapolis by Pillsbury and General Mills. Mill City Farmers' Market + Mill City Museum makes for a great 1/2 day activity!
• Run, walk or bike around the Chain of Lakes (Cedar Lake, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles and Lake Harriet). On Lake Calhoun & Lake Harriet, you can rent stand up paddle boards, canoes, etc. Click here for Lake Calhoun and here for Lake Harriet.
• Guthrie Theatre: Minneapolis has incredible theatre. If you love the theatre, don't miss the opportunity to see a first rate performance in a very special setting. Intermission drink/cafe on the cantilevered deck overlooking the Mississippi River and the Stone Arch Bridge is a nice way to complete the experience!
• Minneapolis Institute of Art- An encyclopedia museum with more than 80,000 works in its collection spanning 3,000 years of history! Also, admission is FREE and the building is beautiful.
• Walker Art Center (contemporary art) and it's right by the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which is a great way to take in the Minneapolis Skyline.
• Hit up a Twins Game at Target Field. While you’re there, look for the Red Cow food vendor!

skip it

Skip the Mall of America–it’s too touristy.