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The 11-acre Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is studded with contemporary artworks, whilst the Walker Arts Centre next door has a permanent collection of modern art. During your trip to Minneapolis, visit the Chain of Lakes environmental area from uptown, or drop into the Mill City Museum to find out about the city’s fascinating history.

Fort Snelling is the city’s oldest building, built in 1820 as an outpost on the frontier, or you can immerse yourself in an exploration of the history of art at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Minneehaha Park, inspired by ‘Hiawatha’, in the southeast borders the Mississippi and has a 55ft waterfall, and after visiting it you can spend a pleasant evening in the Guthrie Theatre, a showcase for classical and contemporary performances.    

The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St Paul makes a great day out for the whole family and has an adjoining IMAX theatre. Don’t forget to check out the Como Town Amusement Park with its conservatory gardens, exotic fauna and regular exhibitions on conservation-related themes.

The Stone Arch Bridge spans the Mississippi at Minneapolis and is regarded as a major engineering feat. It spans 2100ft and affords splendid views of the city skyline and the St Anthony waterfall.

Minneapolis has more things to see and do than neighbouring St Paul, which tends to be quieter and more tranquil. Fort Snelling and Minnesota Zoo are popular with families, whilst art and architecture enthusiasts will enjoy a tour of landmarks such as the Walker Arts Centre and Guthrie Theatre. 

On your trip to Minneapolis be sure to drop into a few of the town’s vibrant live music venues, or for some fresh air and exercise go jogging in the parks, or boating in the Chain of Lakes. There’s so much to do here that you have to be somewhat selective.

For families who want a day out at a traditional park, Valley Fair is the biggest and most exciting amusement park in the Midwest, featuring the famous Steel Venom 360-degree spiral ride and incorporating the seriously wet Soak City Waterpark.

With numerous fine culinary traditions, the restaurants of Minneapolis offer superb farm-to-table dining experiences that you won’t find anywhere else in the States. Numerous local chefs have been awarded the Oscar of culinary practice, the James Beard Award, and styles of cooking range from BBQ, European and Greek dishes to Middle Eastern and German cuisine, and everything in between.

Bonfire wood fire cooking is popular in St Paul, whilst downtown you can find mostly sushi bars and traditional American diners. There are also music cafés and steakhouses galore, so the choice is yours and there’s certainly plenty to pick from.

"When travelling to Minneapolis for shopping, visitors are frequently astonished at the sheer range of goods on offer, and the number of outlets. "The main shopper’s paradise here is Edina, a district bordering the southwest part of the city. Grand Avenue in St Paul has the most independent shops, whilst antiques can be found in Stillwater. 

There are some curio and other independent stores at White Bear Lake, and the coolest boutiques can be found in Uptown Minneapolis around Calhoun Square and along Hennepin Avenue.