11 Awesome Things To Do in Minneapolis
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As the most populous city in Minnesota, Minneapolis has no shortage of fun things to do. Whether you consider yourself a foodie or are into museums, enjoy a good spa day or simply want to enjoy the outdoors, Minneapolis has you covered. As a local, I equally love exploring familiar spots like the Stone Arch Bridge and checking out the latest restaurant or boutique to open. Read on for 11 awesome things to do in Minneapolis. What else would you add?!
Note: this article was written in partnership with Meet Minneapolis. All activities listed are places I’ve visited and loved and all opinions are my own.
1. Check out the excellent restaurant scene
Minneapolis has an incredible food scene and is home to the 2022 James Beard Award winning restaurant Owamni. In addition to that amazing restaurant, check out some of these other delicious spots:
- Billy Sushi
- 112 Eatery
- Spoon and Stable
- Wrecktangle Pizza
- Key’s Cafe
- Quang Restaurant
- Giulia
- Martina
- Colita
- Cardamom
- Hai Hai
- STEPCHLD
- Sanjusan
- Boludo
- Revival
- Centro
2. Attend an event at the Convention Center
The Minneapolis Convention Center holds TONS of fun events throughout the year to inspire your lifestyle from boating to golfing to e-biking. We love the Minneapolis Boat Show since we can dream of warmer weather and one of our favorite Minnesota pastimes!
- Minneapolis Boat Show (Jan 19 – 22, 2023): use code BOATSHOWPWS to save 25% off adult admission
- Jurassic Quest
- The Ultimate RV Show
- Lake Home & Cabin Show
- Totally Rad Vintage Fest
- Minnesota Golf Show
- Home & Garden Show
- e-bike Challenge
3. Savor a morning coffee or tea
There are so many wonderful coffee and tea shops around Minneapolis to spend a slow morning at or grab to go for a morning spent exploring. Below are some of my favorites:
- Cafe Ceres
- Backstory
- Spyhouse (at Hotel Emery)
- FRGMNT
- Wild Grind
- Northeast Teahouse
- Sencha Tea Bar
- Wesley Andrews
4. Explore one of the beautiful outdoor parks
Minneapolis has a park pretty much every 6 blocks so there are plenty of green spaces to enjoy. These are some of the best and most scenic options:
- Theodore Wirth Park
- Gold Medal Park
- Xcel Energy Water Power Park
- Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park/Stone Arch Bridge
- Lyndale Park Rose Garden
- Minnehaha Park
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Check out these 7 amazing bike routes around the Twin cities!
5. Shop at a local boutique
There are tons of local boutiques that are fun to check out. Some of my favorites are:
- Planty Queens
- The Foundry Home Goods
- Midtown Global Market (also good to enjoy a meal at!)
6. Visit a local museum
While museums are great to enjoy any time of year, I especially love exploring them on cold winter days when I otherwise may not want to leave my house. Some of the most inspiring local museums are:
7. Attend a professional sports game
Minnesota is home to major sports teams so it’s fun to catch a game and cheer on the hometown team! Check out games to support:
8. Stock up on goods at a Farmer’s Market
Farmer’s markets are one of the best ways to try local produce and Minneapolis has quite a few to peruse, some that are even open year-round! Check out these great options:
- Minneapolis Farmer’s Market
- Mill City Farmer’s Market
- Linden Hills Farmer’s Market
- Bachman’s Farmers Markets
9. Treat yourself to a spa day
Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to slow down and enjoy a relaxing day at the spa. Minneapolis is home to many good options but two of the very best for ultimate relaxation and service are:
10. Grab a Cider
The Cider scene in Minnesota has exploded in recent years and Minneapolis is lucky to have three cideries right in the city!
- Number 12 Cidery – great for ciders and woodfire pizza
- Minneapolis Cider Co. – enjoy a game of pickle ball too
- Sociable Ciderwerks – the original MN cidery! They do all sorts of fun activities like curling and ice skating in the winter too.
11. Check out a Play or Musical
Minneapolis welcomes world class musicals, plays, concerts and more and two venues to check for upcoming shows are:
If you’re looking to make your visit to Minneapolis into an overnight (as you should to enjoy even more time exploring!) check out one of my favorites: Emery Hotel, Hotel Ivy, The Hewing or the Four Seasons.
Check out more Minnesota adventures here.
Happy Exploring!
