| Things to do |
| Mill City Museum |
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 www.mnhs.org
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612.341.7555
| An attraction for all ages, Mill City Museum chronicles the flour milling industry that dominated world flour production for roughly a half-century and fueled the growth of Minneapolis, recognized across the nation and around the world as "Mill City."
Built within the ruins of a National Historic Landmark - the Washburn A Mill - the museum provides a multi-sensory, interactive journey. The story of flour milling - and its impact on Minneapolis, the nation and the world - comes to life through the eight-story Flour Tower and other hands-on exhitits.
Admission: $8 Adults (ages 18-64), $6 Seniors (age 65+) and college students with ID, $4 Students (ages 6-17), Children ages 5 and under and Minnesota Historical Society Members are free.
Open Hours: 10am-5pm Tue-Wed, Fri-Sat, 10am-9pm Thur, Noon - 5pm Sun. Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Closed at 3pm on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. |
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| Minneapolis Sculpture Garden |
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www.walkerart.org/
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612.375.7622 or 612.375.7577
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Across from the Walker Art Center sits what many consider one of the boldest and most unique displays of art in the country, if not the entire world. Inaugurated in 1988, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is a showcase for more than 40 works of art including major sculptures by George Segal, Ellsworth Kelly, Jenny Holzer, Henry Moore and Franz Lipschitz.
The entrance to the 11-acre garden is bordered by Ampersand, a pair of colossal granite columns by Martin Puryear. During the warmer months, the 300-foot stainless steel arbor planted with a variety of blooming plants and colorful flowers is spectacular. The garden's centerpiece is the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture and fountain by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. The 55-foot spoon topped by a 15-foot red bing cherry is the garden's most famous display.
The Garden is open year round. Even in the dead of winter, visitors make the trek to the Cowles Conservatory on the west side of garden to view the changing display of blooming plants. The small conservatory is also home to a Frank Gehry-designed giant fish with scales of glass that rests on its tail in a pond surrounded by orange trees.
Admission to the sculpture garden is free.
Garden Hours: 6am-midnight, daily.
Admission to the conservatory is free.
Conservatory Hours: 10am-8pm Tue-Wed and Sat, 10am-9pm Thu-Fri, and evenings until half an hour following Walker and Guthrie events, 11am-5pm Sunday. Closed Monday. |
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| Walker Art Museum |
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www.walkerart.org
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612.375.7622
| Founded in 1879, this is one of the country's finest contemporary art museums. At the center of the Twin Cities cultural life, the Walker is willing to take risks and is quick to book highly regarded traveling exhibitions.
The museum's large collection of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and multimedia works are displayed in all-white galleries. The bland but spacious galleries allow the artwork to take center stage. The permanent collection includes important works by notable artists such as Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, Franz Marc, Stuart Davis, Andy Warhol, Joan Mitchell, Roy Lichtenstein and Dan Flavin.
The museum hosts innovative theater, music, dance, film, video and performance programs. It also sponsors numerous classes, workshops and lectures. The Walker Book Shop sells a variety of gifts and museum related items. Gallery 8, the museum's cafeteria, offers inexpensive, delicious fare.
Admission is $8 Adults, $6 Seniors (65+), $5 student/teen (with ID), Free to Walker members and children under 12.
Target Free Thursday Nights 5pm-9pm Admission free to all.
Free First Saturday: first Saturday of each month admission is free to all.
Gallery Hours: 11am-5pm Tue-Wed, Sat-Sun, 11am-9pm Thu-Fri. Closed Monday. |
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| Minneapolis Institute of Arts |
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www.artsmia.org
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612.870.3131 or 800.642.2787
| Affectionately known as the MIA, this museum is home to an exceptional gallery of Impressionist paintings and an exquisite Asian collection. The museum holds significant works by Amreican and European artists including Picasso, Kandinsky, Matisse, Rodin, Raualt, Millet, Stella, and Klee. Housed in a grand 1915 white marble building guarded by stone lions, the MIA is a pleasure to explore. Major touring shows hang each year in the MIA's large Dayton Hudson Gallery. Don't miss the period rooms, especially when they are decked out for Christmas.
Admission is free.
Open Hours: 10am-5pm Tue-Wed, Fri-Sat, 10am-9pm Thur, 11am-5pm Sun. Closed on Monday. |
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| Basilica of Mary |
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www.mary.org
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612.333.1381
| This grand beaux-arts church was the nation's first basilica, taking 20 years to complete. Built during the tenure of Archbishop John Ireland, the enormous white marble building is a marvel to behold. It is 120 feet wide by 278 feet long supporting 133-foot twin towers in the front. One of the towers houses a 3000-pound bell that can be heard for miles around. Over the altar, an ornate dome rises 250 feet and the 56 rank pipe organ echoes throughout.
Guided tours are offered every Sunday morning.
Church Hours: 6:30am-5:00pm Mon-Fri, 8am-6:30pm Sat, 6:30am-7:30pm Sunday. |
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| Milwaukee Road Depot |
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www.thedepotminneapolis.c -
om
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612.375.1700
| When the last train left the Milwaukee Road Depot in 1970, a monstrous structure occupying multiple city blocks was left behind. Seemingly doomed to meet the wrecking ball, the National Register of Historic Places stepped in and declared it a Minneapolis landmark. As the building was being used primarily for overflow parting, ARC Ice Sports & Entertainment Inc. of McLean, Virginia brought forward a plan for an indoor ice rink and restaurant in 1995. Now there are shops, restaurants, a hotel, a fully enclosed water park and an indoor ice skating rink.
Please visit website for Water Park and Open Skating hours. |
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| Weisman Museum of Art |
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www.weisman.umn.edu
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612.625.9494
| This museum's mostly 20th-century collection contains the world's largest assemblage of works by Marsden, Hartley, and Alfred Maurer as well as paintings and prints by Georgia O'Keffe, Arthur Dove and Robert Motherwell. However, many critics consider the building itself to be a stunning piece of art. Designed by Frank Gehry, the flamboyant 1993 building is possibly the most talked-about structure in the Twin Cities. The museum's collections are displayed in galleries the New York Times has referred to as possibly the five best rooms for art viewing in the world.
Admission is free
Open Hours: 10am-5pm Tue-Wed; 10am-8pm Thu; 10am-5pm Fri; 11am-5pm Sat-Sun. Closed Monday and major holidays. |
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| American Swedish Institute |
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www.americanswedishinst.o -
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612.871.4907
| Swan Turnblad, a Swedish immigrant and self-made millionaire publisher, built this mansion but he and his family lived in it only a short time. Swan and his wife, Christina, found it to be too ostentatious for their tastes, so they moved to an apartment across the street. The house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, has 33 rooms furnished with antiques. After Swan's death, his family founded the American Swedish Institute and donated the house to serve as its headquarters. The museum features rotating exhibits on 150-plus years of the Swedish immigration experience.
Admission: $5 Adults, $4 Seniors, $3 Children ages 6-12 (age 5 and under are free.)
Open Hours: Noon-4pm Tues, Thu-Sat; Noon-8pm Wed; 1pm-5pm Sun |
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| Lakewood Cemetery |
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www.lakewoodcemetery.com/ -
f_welcome.htm
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612.822.2171
| A walk around a cemetery may not be your idea of how to spend a lazy afternoon, but the sprawling grounds of this one offer some of the most beautiful landscape open to the public.
The city's largest cemetery is full of treasures of architecture and marvelous gestures of rememberance. The Memorial Chapel, designed by Harry Wild Jones and built in 1908, is an exquisite Byzantine wonder, filled with eye-catching mosaics and a series of stained glass windows that double as a sundial. The grounds provide a soothing excape and a chance for a calm, reflective time for oneself. Opened in 1871, history abounds within the cemetery and is a final resting spot to well-known Twin Cities families such as the Walkers, Lorings, and Blaisdells. Vice President Hubert Humphrey is buried here, as are Minneapolis Park system designer Horace Cleveland and the first musical director of the Minneapolis Symphony, Emil Obeerhoffer.
Cemetery Hours: Summer: 8am-8pm 7 days a week.
Labor Day to Fall Daylight Savings: 8am-7pm.
Fall Daylight Savings to Spring Daylight Savings: 8am-5pm.
Mausoleum Hours: 10am-4:30pm 7 days a week except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
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| Foshay Tower |
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612.359.3030
| The Foshay Tower is without a doubt the most recognizable landmark in the Twin Cities and has one of the most interesting histories behind it. Plumbing magnate Wilbur Foshay built this endearing homage to the Washington Monument in 1929. However, he was not around very long to enjoy it. After he had commissioned John Philip Sousa to write a rousing march for the tower's pretentious three-day opening, his check to the composer bounced and Foshay found himself being whisked off to prison shortly after the building's completion.
At 447 feet housing 32 stories, the Foshay Tower was the tallest building in the Midwest for more than 40 years. It was dwarfed by the IDS Tower in 1973 and by other skyscrapers built since then, but it still offers the only bird's-eye view of the city open to the public. The open-air observation deck on the 31st floor is the only one of its kind in town, indoors or out, and on a clear day you can see for 30 miles. Also on the 31st floor, there is a museum, which includes photos, videos, and sheet music for John Philip Sousa's Foshay Tower-Washington Memorial March. The 32-story obelisk has such a novel design that the architects had it patented, and Foshay's limitless ego led him to carve his name in 10-foot letters at the top.
Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for children and seniors.
Open April-October. |
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| Bell Museum |
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www1.umn.edu/bellmuse/
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612.624.7083
| Kids and adults alike love the touch-and-see room at this cozy museum located on the University of Minnesota campus. Snakeskins, animal pelts and bones, rocks and fossils can be felt, picked up and examined. In addition, there are facinating 3-dimentional displays of Minnesota's major habitats as they were more than 150 years ago complete with lifelike animals and plants. More than 100 species of Minnesota birds and animals are shown in their native surroundings. The museum's store has an excellent selection of wildlife and ecology books.
Admission: $5 Adults, $3 Seniors (62+), Children ages 3-16 and Non-U of M students. Under age 3 are free. Members and U of M students are free.
Open Hours: 9am-5pm Tue-Fri; 10am-5pm Sat; Noon-5pm Sun. Closed Monday and some holidays.
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| Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church |
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612.379.2259
| Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is the oldest continuously used church in Minneapolis. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the landmark church stands in the heart of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District. The original building was constructed for $15,000 in 1857 as a meeting hall for the First Universalist Society. In 1877 the French Canadian Catholic community purchased the native limestone structure and the parish became the first in the United States to be named Our Lady of Lourdes.
The original 3,000 square foot structure was enlarged and redesigned. A bell tower, scaristy, vestibule and rectory were added. The structural changes altered the churche's architectural style. The original rectangular building became a linear French provincial-type edifice with a V-frame beam truss. The circular portion of the nave was modeled after the Chapel Royale at Versailles and a Gothic steeple was added. But by 1917 the paris was losing its population. French no longer was the primary language spoken in the parish school and by 1945 the sermons were given only in English. Scheduled to be boarded up in 1968, the parish somehow survived and rode the crest of the development of the Riverplace area in the early 1980s.
As redevelopment continues to thrive in the city's birthplace, the little church with the long history is being rediscovered. Visitors take guided tours, which are available to groups by appointment, and parishioners come from all over the Twin Cities to worship.
Call for a schedule of services or to arrange for a tour.
Open Hours: 6am-8pm daily. |
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| Minnesota Center for Book Arts |
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www.mnbookarts.org
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612.215.2520
| Whether you are strolling through the exhibit space or browsing through the hand-made paper items in the gift shop, you will find something to make you stop and say "ooh." Anyone who has a love affair with anything paper with want to at least purchase a handmade note card or grab a schedule to see what classes are being offered. Wear your old jeans and shoes that can get wet when you take a class. You will come away with a new appreciation for the history of book-making and the beautiful things that are possible using these art forms. Located in the Open Book literary center, the MCBA's mission is to make sure that no ome forgets the joy of touching books. Classes are offered in paper making, binding techniques, printing, and may other varied art forms. The schedule always includes something for kids.
Open Hours: 10am-9pm Tue, 10am-5pm Wed-Sat, Closed Sunday and Monday. |
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| Stone Arch Bridge |
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www.stonearchbridge.com/h -
istory.php
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800.749.5584
| When it was completed in 1883, the 2,100 foot-long Stone Arch Bridge was hailed as a magnificent structure, referred to as The Great Bridge, and compared favorably to the elaborate architecture of a Roman viaduct. Interestingly enough, as it was being built, critics blasted the project and its owner, railroad tycoon James J. Hill, calling it "Jim Hill's Folly." The bridge still stands astride the river as a monument to the man and empire he created. More importantly, James Hill wanted the bridge to provide a grand entrance to the city of Minneapolis and in the heydey of train travel it did just that. Comprised of 23 arched of limestone mined in the southern Minnesota town of Mankato, Hill personally supervised its building. It remains the second oldest bridge still spanning the mighty Mississippi River.
As train traffic slowly declined, the Minneapolis depot closed in 1981 and trains were routed around the downtown area. The bridge was resurfaced to accomodate pedestrians, bikers, skaters, and trolleys. The bridge provides impressive views of downtown Minneapolis, the river, and several old and historic flour mills. The Stone Arch Bridge also provides a spectacular view of the St. Anthony Falls.
Visitors can enjoy the trail on their own year-round. Seasonal guided walking tours of St. Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge are also offered. Please call for more informtion. |
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| The Bakken Museum |
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www.thebakken.org/
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612.926.3878
| Located in a beautiful Tudor-style mansion, this facinating museum is home to an extensive collection of rare books, manuscripts, gadgets, and scientific instruments related to electricity. The museum's benefactor, Earl Bakken and his company, Medtronic, have been instrumental in the creation of numerous medical devices that are based on the use of electricity. It was his intense interest in the subject of electricity that led to the creation of this exceptional, if not curious, showplace.
The exhibits range from the basic workings of a lightbulb to the intricacies of an electronic pacemaker. The exhibit devoted to the insane genuis of Dr. Frankenstein is well worth the admission price in itself. The library's lush gardens feature more than 200 varieties of medicinal plants.
Admission: $7 Adults, $5 Students and Seniors, Children under 3 free.
Museum Hours: 10am-5pm Tues-Wed, Fri-Sat, 10am-8pm Thu. Closed Monday and major holidays.
Library Hours: 9am-4:30pm Mon-Fri. |
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| Lock and Dam #1 |
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612.724.2971
| Lock and Dam #1, also know as the "Ford Dam" is located near Minnehaha Park in southeast Minneapolis. Construction of the dam, deemed necessary to improve river navigation between Minneapolis and St. Paul, began in 1899 and was completed in 1917. In 1923 the Ford Motor Company was given a permit to build a power plant. It generates enough power to operate the lock along with supplying the needs of the Ford Plant and local residents.
Like the observation deck of the upper St. Anthony Lock and Dam, the Visitor Center provides a bird's eye view of the spectacular 675-foot long dam and locking procedure. Magnificent panoramic views of the river and surrounding area can also be seen from the promenade three stories about the dam. From the deck, visitors can witness barges, towboats, and a multitude of pleasure craft making their way up and down the lock. The small picnic area nearby allows sightseers to make it a leisurely day of surveying river traffic.
Admission is free.
Visitor Center Open April through October: 8am-dusk, daily. |
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| Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary |
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612.370.4903
| Marsh marigolds, showy lady slippers, and shy violers are just a few of the many wildflowers that bloom in this peaceful, 14-acre sanctuary. Inaugurated in 1907, it is the oldest public wildflower garden in the United States. Visitors are free to wander the picturesque trails in both the shady woodland garden and the sunny prairie garden.
A small interpretive building has exhibits and books about nature including a biography of the garden founder, botanist and conservationist Eloise Butler. Guided tours and special programs, such as full moon hikes and talks on medicinal plants are offered on weekends.
Admission is free.
Open Hours: 7:30am-dusk, daily. April through October. |
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| Stevens House |
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www.johnhstevenshouse.org
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612.722.2220
| Located in the Minnehaha Park, the Stevens House is the first permanent settler's dwelling within the original city of Minneapolis. Considered the birthplace of Minneapolis, history shows that meetings at this house led to the naming of Minneapolis and the organization of Hennepin County.
The Junior League of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board have restored it to its original 1849 appearance. Today the house functions as an interpretive museum with exhibits, a parlor with furnishings from the era and video presentations. Guides dressed in period clothing describe the significance of the dwelling and the Stevens family. Children and adults can experience a number of educational activities centered on the founding of the city of Minneapolis.
Admission: $2 adults, $1 children.
Open Hours: Weekend tours 1pm- 5pm Saturdays and Sundays |
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| Alexander Ramsey House |
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www.mnhs.org
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651.296.8719
| | Make a call on Anna Ramsey, wife of the first territorial governor, at St. Paul's Ramsey House. Guides dressed as her servants may even surprise you with a tour of the Victorian home and some fresh cookies. Enjoy a glimpse into family and servant life in the 0870s. One of the nation's best preserved, Victorian-era homes, the Ramsey House features carved walnut woodwork, marble fireplaces, crystal chandeliers and may original furnishings. Pick up Victorian-era souvenirs at the Carriage House gift shop. |
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| Historic Fort Snelling |
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www.mnhs.org
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612.726.1171
| | Discover an 1820s military outpost once at the edge of a small settlement but now at the center of Minnesota's Twin Cities metropolitan area. This restored stone fortress open its gates to welcome you to the frontier life. Imagine that the year is 1827, and as costumed guides greet you, that you've just arrived via steamboat up the Mississippi River. |
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| Historic Murphy's Landing |
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www.murphyslanding.com
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763.694.7784
| Experience life in the 1800s by visiting with costumed interpreters in their villiage or farm homes at this recreated living history museum nestled along the beautiful Minnesota River Valley near Shakopee. Enjoy magical 19th century holiday traditions during the award-winning "Folkways of the Holidays" program weekends Nov 26th - Jan 1.
Guided Tour Admission: $6 Adults, $5 Seniors and Children ages 3-11
Guided Tours: June, September, and October
11am, 1pm, and 3pm Saturdays. 1pm and 3pm Sundays.
Self Guided Tour Admission: $5
Self-guided tour hours: Weekdays 10am-4pm May 28th - Oct. 9th.
Open Hours: 10am-5pm Saturdays and Holidays. Noon-5pm Sundays. 10am-4pm Weekdays. |
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| James J. Hill House |
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www.mnhs.org
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651.297.2555
| Rugged stone, massive scale, fine detail and ingenious mechanical systems recall the powerful presence of James J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway. Guides lead tours that help you imagine family and servant life in the Gilded Age mansion. Completed in 1891, the red sandstone residence was the setting of the public and private lives of the Hill family. The James J. Hill House is not a multiple-use historic house museum offering guided tours, educational programs, neighborhood tours, lectures, concerts, dramatic programs and art exhibitions for the general public.
Admission: $8 Adults, $6 Seniors, $4 Children ages 6-17. Children under age 6 and Minnesota Historical Society Members are free. Different fees may apply for special events.
Open Hours: 10:30am - 3:30pm Wed-Sat, 1pm - 3:30pm Sun.
Guided tours are every 30 minutes. Reservations recommended. |
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| Minnesota History Center |
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www.mnhs.org
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651.296.6126
| Come to the Minnesota History Center and experience the state's facinating past. Renowned for innovative hands-on and highly engaging activities, the Minnesota History Center gives visitors a first-hand look at how and why it earned its reputation.
The Minnesota History Center has been collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of Minnesota since 1849. Today it is the world's largest repository of Minnesota materials.
Admission: $8 Adults, $6 Seniors and College Students, $4 Children ages 6-17. Children under age 6 and Minnesota Historical Society Members are free.
Open Hours: 10am-8pm Tue, 10am to 5pm Wed-Sat, Noon-5pm Sun. Exhibits open Mondays from Memorial Day to Labor Day 10am-5pm. |
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| Oliver H. Kelley Farm |
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www.mnhs.org
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763.441.6896
| Step into a working 1860s farm. Pick heirloom vegetables from the garden, visit the farmhands and animals at the barn, or churn butter and see what's cooking in the farmhouse. Costumed guides work in the fields with oxen and horses. You'll see plwoing with oxen, horse-powered threshing, haymaking and other harvest activities. The gardens and fields are filled with many of the same plants the Kelley farm grew over 130 ago. In the house, try your hand at domestic crafts like making straw hats and soap.
Admission: $7 Adults, $6 Seniors, $4 Children ages 6-17. Children under age 6 adn Minnesota Historical Society Members free. Different fees may apply for special events.
Open Hours: May 28 - Labor Day 10am-5pm Mon, Thur-Sat, Noon-5pm Sunday. Septmber 10am-5pm Sat, Noon-5pm Sun. |
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| Sibley House Historic Site |
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www.mnhs.org
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651.452.1596
| The tiny community of Mendota is nestles in a picturesque setting where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers meet. Here in one of the state's oldest settlements stand four simple limestone buildings from the era when the American Fur Company operated a regional trade with the Dakota, between 1825 and 1853. The home of Henry Hastings Sibley, the company's young regional manager, was begun in 1838. A noted momument since its period of construction, the house evolved during Sibley's 20-some years there, as the isolated Mendota trading post became part of a bustling territory. Sibley's office as first state governor is located in one ell of the home.
Tour three of the restored structures, including a fur company cold store from 1843 and the 1840 residence of longtime trader-turned-hotelier Jean-Baptiste Faribault. Experienced guides unravel stories of the tur-trade era, uncover memories of changes to the area and the structures, and lead visitors through the fully furnished interiors and exhibits.
Admission: $5 Adults, $4 Seniors, college students with ID, and military, $3 Children ages 6-17. Children under age 6 and Minnesota Historical Society members are free. Different fees may apply for special events.
Open Hours:
May 1 - Memorial Day: 10am-4pm Sat, 12:30pm-4pm Sun
Memorial Day - Labor Day: 10am-4pm Fri-Sat, Mon, 12:30-4pm Sun
Labor Day through Oct 31:10am-4pm Sat, 1pm-4pm Sun
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| Mall of America |
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www.mallofamerica.com
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800.879.3555
| The number one desination for shopping and fun! The largest fully enclosed retail and family entertainment complex in the United States has over 520 of the hottest stores, Knott's Camp Snoopy, more than 60 dining experiences plus Underwater Adventures, Nascar Cilicon Motor Speedway, Lego Imagination Center and much more!
Retail Hours: 10am-9:30pm Mon-Fri, 9:30am-9:30pm Sat, 11am-7pm Sun. |
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| IKEA |
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www.ikea.com
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952.858.8088
| Bloomington, MN is one of the two cities in the upper midwest to boast an IKEA store. With three complete model homes, 47 detailed rooms, and 10,000 furnishings, you just have to experience it for yourself. It's a day of fun for the whole family. Parents...kids love Smaland, the magic forest expecially for young visitors. While you shop, the kids will be jumping, climbing, watching movies, creating artwork, and having plenty of fun in the IKEA-supervised play area. You'll receive a pager to reach you if necessary. Don't forget to stop in the Restaurant & Cafe for breakfast, lunch or dinner, or treat yourself to a delicious cinnamon roll, hot dog or frozen yogurt cone (for $1 or less!) in the Bistro.
The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. They make this possible by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them.
Open Hours: 10am - 9pm every day
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| Minnesota Zoo |
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www.mnzoo.org
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952.431.9200 or 800.366.7811
| Located just minutes south of the Mall of America, the Minnesota Zoo is home to over 2,000 exotic animals from all over the world! The Minnesota Zoo's mission is to strengthen the bond between people and the living earth, which, loosely translated, means they are dedicated to inspiring people to act on behalf of the environment. To accomplish this, they provide award-winning recreational, educational and conservation programs, locally, nationally, and internationally.
Zoo only Admission: $7 ages 3-12, $12 ages 13-64, $8.50 ages 65+.
Zoo/IMAX combo: $13 ages 3-12, $19 ages 13-64, $14.25 ages 65+.
Parking: $5 cars, $15 Motor coaches.
Open Hours: May 30-Sept 5: 9am-6pm Mon-Sun
Sept 6 - Sept 30: 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat-Sun
Oct 1 - April 30: 9am-4pm Mon-Sun
May 1 - May 29: 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat-Sun
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
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| Underwater Adventures Aquarium |
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www.sharky.tv/index.html
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952.883.0202
| Travel 14 feet underwater where sharks, singrays and giant sea turtles swim so close, you'll feel like you can reach out and touch them. And you can! Discover what it feels like to touch real sharks and stingrays at Starfish Beach. Named "World's Best Shark Encounter" by the Discovery Channel.
Admission: $8.95 ages 3-12, $12.95 ages 13-17, Seniors (62+), and college students with ID, $14.95 ages 18-61. Family Pack: (2 adults and up to 4 kids ages 3-17) $54.95.
Boatload Deal: (5 guests, any age in a single party) $59.95
The Plunge ride tickets: $4 ages 4+ (ages 4-8 must ride with an adult.)
Open Hours: 10am-8pm Mon-Thu, 9:30am-8:30pm Fri-Sat, 10am-7pm sun. |
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| Valleyfair |
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www.valleyfair.com
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800.FUN RIDE
| Valleyfair is the largest amusement park in the Upper Midwest, with more than 75 rides and attractions, including six thrilling roller coasters, the 275-foot Power Tower, a variety of family rides, live toe-tapping entertainment and Whitewater Country Water Park. Don't forget the Rip Tide...720 degrees of attitude!
Admission: $17.95 for kids 3 years and older and less than 48" tall, $33.95 for kids and adults 48" or taller.
Parking: $8, $10 for oversized vehicles (any vehicle using more than one parking space.
Open Hours: see website for details. |
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| Como Zoo and Conservatory |
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www.comozooconservatory.o -
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651.487.8200
| Como Zoo give you an up close view of over 360 finned, feathered, and furry creatures. Kids love Como Town, where kids can drive cars, fly planes, fight fires, run, climb and play! It's safe and wholesome family fun! And don't forget the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, the largest glass-domed garden in the region. The garden occupies approximately one-half acre under glass and includes the seasonal Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden and the Enchanted Garden and Frog Pond to the east.
Admission is free. A $2 adult or $1 child donation is suggested, but not required.
Como Zoo Hours: April -Sept: 10am-6pm, Oct-March: 10am-4pm.
Conservatory Hours: April-September: 10am-6pm, October - March: 10am-4pm.
Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden: May1 - Sept 30. |
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| Cathedral of St. Paul |
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www.cathedralsp.org/
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651.228.1766
| One of the three largest cathedrals in the country, the Cathedral of St. Paul was modeled after St. Peter's in Rome. Dedicated in 1915 by Archbishop John Ireland as a monument to the people of St. Paul. Each year the Cathedral of St. paul welcomes over 200,000 guests and visitors.
Admission is free.
Guided Tours: Mon, Wed, and Fri starting at 1pm. Gather in the front isle of the Cathedral.
Mass times: 7pm Sat, 8am, 10am, noon, 5pm Sunday. |
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| Minnesota Children's Museum |
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www.mcm.org
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651.225.6000
| Play to learn! Learn to play! Minnesota Children's Museum is sparking children's learning through play. The Museum is at the heart of where fun meets learning. It's where kids can touch, climb, splash, crawl, push, pull and press it all! Infants through children 10 years old and their adult guests can explore seven galleries packed with extraordinary hands-on adventures. Burrow through a giant anthill, take the stage in a music studio, get nose-tobeak with a turtle, operate a big crane, climb a tree fort and more! Two galleries host new and delightful special exhibits throughout the year.
Admission: $7.95 ages 1-101, members free.
Open Hours: 9am-5pm Mon (Memorial Day through Labor Day), 9am-5pm Tue-Thur, Sat-Sun. 9am-8pm Fri.
Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. |
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| Minnesota Landscape Arboretum |
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www.arboretum.umn.edu/
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652.443.1400
| The Arboretum features more than 1,000 acres of unique public gardens: spectacular annual and perennial display gardens, collections of plants developed for the northern climates, natural and native areas, and demonstration gardens. Enjoy miles of hiking trails in summer and cross-country ski trails in winter through northern woodlands, native prairie, and natural marshes. In spring, summer, and fall, take a guided tram tour around a beautiful three-mile drive, or join a free, volunteer guided, walking tour through the many display gardens.
Admission: $7 Adults, Children 15 and under free. Arboretum members are free. Admission free for all ages after 4:30pm on Thursdays.
Open Hours: 8am - 8pm or sunset, whichever occurs first, all year. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmast Day.
Oswald Visitor Center & Snyder Building Hours:
April - October: 8am-6pm Mon-Sat. 8am-8pm Thurs (gift store and restaurant close at 6pm), 10am-6pm Sunday. November - March: 8am-4:30pm Mon-Sat, 10am-4:30pm Sun. |
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| Science Museum of Minnesota and 3M Omnitheater |
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www.smm.org/
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651.221.9444
| Visitors can get their hands on science through fun, exciting exhibits. Attractions include exhibits found in Dinosaurs and Fossils Hall, Experiment Gallery, Our Minnesota Hall, Anthropology Hall, Omnitheater and much, much more!
Admission:
Museum Love (Exhibits, Omnitheater, and 3D Cinema) $12.50 Children (ages 4-12) and Seniors (60+), $16.00 Adults, $2.50 Members.
Omni Combo: (Exhibits and Omnitheater) $9.50 Children (ages 4-12) and Seniors (60+), $13. Adults, Members free.
3D Combo: (Exhibits and 3D Cinema) $9 Children (ages 4-12) and Seniors (60+), $11.50 Adults, $2.50 Members.
Omnitheater only: $5.50 Children (ages 4-12) and Seniors (60+), $7.50 Adults, Members free.
Exhibits only: $6.50 Children (ages 4-12) and Seniors (60+), $8.50 Adults, Members free.
Open Hours: please check website for current hours. |
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| Summit Brewery Company |
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www.summitbrewing.com
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651.265.7800
| The year was 1986. Halley's Comet had people predicting the apocalypse, nuclear power plants were melting down, and spiked hair, for some reason, was more popular than ever. But somehow, a bronze bubbly ray of hope called Summit Brewing Company manged to open for business.
Admission is free.
Tours are every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 1pm, except holiday weekends. Reservations are required for Saturday tours. |
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| The Russian Museum of Art |
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www.tmora.org
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612.821.9045
| Between the end of the Russian Civil War in 1922 and the formal dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, it was the policy of the Soviet government to discourage all but officially sanctioned contact between Russian citizend ans all foreign governments or their citizens. The Communist Party proclaimed that Socialist Realism would be the only officially approved style of painting promoted within the Soviet Union. These two forces combined to create and environment of cultural isolation in which Russian painting evolved over three generations without significant international involvement.
The Museum of Russian Art is dedicated to creating and preserving extraordinary examples of Russian 20th century Realist painting in order to preserve a visual record of the artistic achievements of the Soviet era artists.
Admission: $5 adults. Voluntary donations are suggested for students and seniors over age 60.
Open Hours: 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat. Closed Sundays and major holidays. |
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| Canterbury Park |
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www.canterburypark.com
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952.445.7223 or 800.340.6361
| Canterbury Park opened in 1985 and in 1986 $135 million dollars were wagered at the track. Due to unfortunate events the track closed in 1992, but re-opened under new ownership in May 1994 for simucast betting and one year later, live racing returned to Minnesota.
Hear the roar of the thundering hoofs as the horses race by. Enjoy tele-racing or try your hand at Texas Hold 'em or Seven-Card Stud at the Card Club.
For information on racing times, Tele Racing, or the Card Clud, please see the Canterbury Park website. |
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| Pavek Museum of Broadcasting |
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www.pavekmuseum.org
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952.926.8198
| The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting is one of the best-kept secrets in the Twin Cities. We've got over 12,000 square feet of antique radios, televisions, and broadcasting equipment.
One of the unique features on this Museum is the John T. "Jack" Mullin Collection, documenting the history of recording technology. It was Jack Mullin who, while serving the Signal Corps in Europe at the end of World War II, brought back two AEG Magnetophon tape recorders from a German radio station. Tape recording was an unknown technology in the U.S., and Mullin was immediately hired by Bing Crosby to record his popular radio program, the first use of tape recording in American Broadcasting. The improved sound quality made the show a huge hit.
Of course hardware is only part of the story of broadcasting. It's the personalities who make the equipment come alive. Preserving their history is an important part of our mission. Featured in our growing archives are the Pioneer Broadcaster Series, the videotape interviews in which people like Dave Moore, Joyce Lamont, Stanley Hubbard, and many other key figures from the local Broadcast Industry tell their stories and talk about the changes they've seen in radio and television.
We started our most popular program, the Broadcast Workshops, in the fall of 1991, bringing elementary age school children from all over Minnesota to learn about the history of electronic communication while creating their own sixties style radio broadcast. The learning is then reinforced with an exciting and competitive quiz show. The students and the schools love it. It's a dynamic experience supported by a unique environment. It's one of the few places in the world where students can work and play while surrounded by seminal examples of the history of electronic communication. We're booked to capacity every year!
Admission: $6 Adults, $5 Students and Seniors.
Open Hours: 10am-6pm Tue-Fri, 9am-5pm Sat. |
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| River City Trolley |
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www.minneapolis.org/trave -
linfo/trolley.asp/
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612.348.7000
| Climb aboard as entertaining Trolley drivers engage you in the story of Minneapolis' history. From the city's early days as the milling capital of the world to today's hot spots, riders will learn all about Minneapolis. Hop on and off at any stop along the route to explore unique restaurants, cultural destinations and the spectacular natural beauty of the city.
Trolleys begin service at 10am from the Convention Center on schduled days. Tours last approximately 60 minutes and leave every 30 minutes from the Convention Center.
Please check website for fares and schedules. |
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