There are plethora of great things to do in the Twin Cities (definitely more than can fit in one day). Between the thousands of food and drink options, tons of outdoor activities, museums and galleries, and events ANYONE can have fun in the Cities for a day.
Maybe it’s just because I grew up in a small town next to a small city- but being in a big city gives me so much energy. Minneapolis-St. Paul and the surrounding cities have such a buzz about them. One of my best friends and I spent a day taking it all in (or as much as we could) and we had a blast.
A bonus? I asked some of my Twin Cities Blogger friends what their go-to’s are. Scroll to the bottom to see what the locals love!
Before You Go
Parking- We were in the cities on a Saturday, so there were many areas where parking was free. We spent about $15 parking in various places throughout the city. Regardless of which day you visit, I would suggest budgeting for parking, especially if you are there during the week. Much of the city uses the Parkmobile USA app, search “MPLS Parking” in the app store.
Wear comfortable shoes- If you really want to enjoy some of the awesome spots (like the Stone Arch Bridge and the Sculpture Garden) without worrying about your feet, I would encourage wearing comfortable footwear.
Now for the good stuff: Here’s how to spend one day in the Twin Cities!
Start the Morning with Spyhouse Coffee
Spyhouse Coffee Roasters was our first stop of the day and a great way to get us going. We chose to enjoy our coffee in-store at the Saint Paul location. The coffee shop had a vintage-but-cool feel, and was VERY busy.
We LOVED the coffee! We both ordered the Carmella Latte- a combination of caramel and vanilla with a super cute name. Our lattes were delicious and the presentation was 10/10.
The food however, I would suggest skipping. I ordered the almond croissant, and Heather ordered the blueberry muffin. The croissant was hard as a rock and the muffin was very soggy. *I promise this is the only negative thing I have to say about the trip!
Go Shopping at Mall of America
Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like Mall of America is a bucket-list item. Three levels, 500+ stores and a Nickelodeon Theme Park? Sign. Me. Up.
We spent about 3 hours in the morning wandering around, taking in the expansiveness of the mall, and spending entirely too much money.
Before we left we grabbed lunch at the food court on the third floor. There are restaurants and food options scattered throughout the mall.
Enjoy the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Home of the iconic “Spoonbridge and Cherry” the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the perfect combination of art and fresh air. There are 40 outdoor fixtures in the garden, sure to keep you entertained (and walking) for as long as you would like.
Admission is free, but we did pay $4 to park in the lot.
Grab a Pick-Me-Up at Fairgrounds Cafe
Fairgrounds Cafe was the perfect early afternoon stop. The quirky theme brings back memories of fun summer days at the circus or fair. There are so many great options including cold brew, nitro coffee and matcha, and kombucha on tap.
Heather ordered a cold brew with vanilla sweet cream, and I ordered a matcha latte. We were both happy with our drink choices and ready to take on the afternoon!
Walk Across the Stone Arch Bridge
The Stone Arch Bridge is another iconic Minneapolis stop. What used to be a railway bridge crossing the Mississippi river is now a pedestrian and bicycle bridge. A fun fact: the Stone Arch Bridge is the only “stone arch bridge” on the entire Mississippi River!
We meandered across the bridge, enjoyed views of the dam, river, and city, and took a few photos.
We were at The Stone Arch Bridge for just under an hour. If you want to spend more time there there are trials on both sides of the river that may give you a better view of the bridge itself. We didn’t have any trouble getting parking in the West lot on a Saturday afternoon.
The East end of the bridge was the perfect spot to get great photos with the city in the background!
Have A Cocktail on the Rooftop of Hewing Hotel
After seeing some friends visit the Hewing Hotel rooftop a few weeks earlier, I knew this HAD to be a stop on our list. The top-floor bar and rooftop has excellent views of the city and a full selection of food and drink.
After taking a few photos of the Downtown Minneapolis Skyline we sat down to have a drink. We both ordered the cocktail ”Behind Louhi’s Eyes,” a combination of Sipsmith Zesty Oragne, lemon, pomegranate, Licor 43, Yellow Chartreuse, and Allspice dram. This cocktail was sweet, easy to drink, and screamed girls-weekend! We spent just over an hour at Hewing Hotel.
Normally, the rooftop doesn’t open until 5pm. But luckily the day we were there it opened as 11am. Also notable, to get onto the rooftop you have to ask an employee at the front desk to take you up via the elevator. Follow Hewing Hotel on Instagram for updates!
Eat Tacos at Centro in Northeast Minneapolis
Maybe it’s just me and the people I surround myself with, but I believe tacos are a universally beloved food option. The food at Centro was incredible.
We ordered the chips and salsa to start- three different kinds of salsa: Salsa Roja, Salsa Verde, and Salsa Cruda. SO good! We each ordered the Chicken Tinga Taco, Heather ordered the Pascado Taco, and I ordered the Chorizo Taco. Heather’s favorite was Chicken Tinga, and I was partial to the Chorizo. We didn’t end up ordering margaritas, but the people at the table next to us were raving about them!
Centro does not take reservations, seating is on a first-come-first-serve basis, and it’s a free-for-all when a table is open. Ordering at Centro is a little strange. Everything is done via online ordering straight to the kitchen and the staff will bring over your drinks and food as it’s ready. Good things to know when planning!
Order a Beer at Indeed Brewing
if you grabbed food at Centro, heading over to Indeed Brewing is about a 2 minute walk. Indeed Brewing has locations in Minneapolis and Milwaukee, and I can vouch for the Minneapolis taproom being a warm and inviting place.
Heather grabbed the Mexican Honey: Imperial Lager and I ordered the Patchwork Sour: wood barrel-aged sour red ale with mixed berries. We were both happy with our selections, and sat for about an hour and a half playing “garbage” with a deck of cards.
We were lucky to get seating when we arrived at around 6:30, but by 7 the place was packed and every seat was full. Indeed brewing is a pretty popular place, so I can suggest getting there early to get a seat, or cross your fingers and hope you get lucky!
How cute was their patio area with the string lights!?
Pick Up Dessert at Crumbl Cookies
I had heard plenty about Crumbl Cookies, but this was my first opportunity to try it myself! Crumbl has a rotating selection of cookies, so you have to hope that you’ll be interested in one of the six options that they have (not a tall order!) We ordered the Peanut Butter Brownie, Classic Chocolate Chip, Coconut White Chocolate, and Cookies n Cream Milkshake.
The cookies were soft and decedent. Having a bite (albeit a large bite) of each left us full! Crumbl Cookies was such a fun way to top off the night!
Honorable Mention: Coffeesmith in Forest Lake, MN
Although Coffeesmith is quite a ways outside of the hub that is Minneapolis-St. Paul, as a coffee-lover, I have to say that it’s worth the drive. Dare I say that it may have been the highlight of the trip…? Granted, coffee was an important part of the itinerary for this getaway!
We both ordered the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Latte. Whatever you’re imagining: that’s what it was! Creamy, cinnamonny coffee with light, fluffy cold foam and crunchy pieces of Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal on top.
Twin Cities Travel Blogger Recommendations
They say if you’re looking for the BEST places to go when visiting someplace new: ask the locals. That’s exactly what I did when I got recommendations from 16 Twin Cities based Bloggers.
Fort Snelling State Park
Jacki | @hittheroad.jacki
if you’re craving the comfort of the outdoors among the towering buildings of the Twin Cities- look no further than Fort Snelling State Park. Fort Snelling State Park is a year round urban oasis boasting miles of trails and views of both the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Some of my favorite trails are the loop around Snelling Lake or a 1-3 mile loop around Pike Island with views of both rivers. You can find more adventures by Jacki at @hittheroad.jacki on Instagram.
Hotel Crosby
Rana | @rana.monet
Rana Monet is a connoisseur of leisure travel and luxury Midwest lodging. When she is staycation in the Twin Cities she chooses Hotel Crosby for the boutique experience and rooftop hot tub. Follow @rana.monet on Instagram for your next lodging destination. Cheers!
Northern Coffeeworks
Lizanne | @lizannelately | lizannelately.com
A friendly coffee shop in Minneapolis, this is the best place for a maple latte! The natural light streaming in makes it so cozy and welcoming and the staff is always delighted to see you. They always have a seasonally rotating menu as well with fun drinks and feature local Fruit & Grain Poptarts and more!
Boludo Pizza
Jessica | @worldtravelista1
When Jessica of WorldTravelista isn’t taste-testing in Italy, you can find her noshing on local Minneapolis favorite pizza Boludo. Boludo brings their taste of Buenos Aires to Minnesota with 6 different specialty pizzas. You can find Jessica by the handle @worldtravelista across all socials and @worldtravelista1 on Instagram.
Number 12 Ciders
Sara | @planetwithsara | planetwithsara.com
Number 12 Ciders is one of the best spots for ciders in Minneapolis! Great location, fun leagues, delicious cider, and an on site Wildfire Pizza truck. Plus the owners are super kind and passionate about cider making.
Minnehaha Falls
Jess and Jake | @ilovebeerfromhere.travels.mn | ilovebeerfromhere.com
Local Minneapolis Bloggers Jess and Jake of @ilovebeerfromhere.travels.mn share on of their favorite hikes, right in the middle of Minneapolis. ”Minnehaha Falls is a must when in the Twin Cities. It’s no secret, but most people will stop at the Falls, but there’s a great hike if you follow the creek all the way to the Mississippi River. After you’ve completed, be sure to grab a pint at Arbeiter Brewing, Venn Brewing, or Sea Salt right in the park!”
Two Pony Garden’s Pizza Farm
Tracy | @whatstirsyoursoul | whatstirsyoursoul.com
Tracy with What Stirs Your Soul Media loves road-tripping and finding soul-stirring experiences. One of her favorite ways to spend the day in the Twin Cities is at Two Pony Gardens Pizza Farm. Enjoy a magical afternoon of playing in wide-open spaces, eating delicious homemade pizza, hiking the property, meeting the animals, relaxing and connecting with nature. You’ll also find an adorable farm stand stocked with honey, jelly, flowers and more. Follow along with Tracy at @whatstirsyoursoul.
Modist Brewing
Heather | @wanderlustinreallife | wanderlustinreallife.com
Heather of WanderLust in Real Life is a craft beer fanatic! Her travels across the USA and abroad always include a brewery or a great spot to try some local brews. When in the North Loop of Minneapolis, one of her favorite breweries is Modist. Her wedding reception was held at a nearby venue so the ”First Call” coffee lager always brings back nostalgic memories of photos taken in the taproom with her husband & dog. You can follow along with her beer-ventures near and far on instagram @wanderlustinreallife and read more about her favorite breweries in the Twin Cities on her blog!
Coldwater Spring
Karen | @galavantgal | galavantgal.com
Nearly everyone in Minneapolis will recommend that while visiting you have to check out Minnehaha Falls. But what not even all locals know is there’s a beautiful park just south of the falls called Coldwater Spring. Meander your way through prairie and wildflowers to find the historic remnants of a spring house that looks just like a tiny castle! From there you can keep walking or biking on trails along the river that connect as far as Fort Snelling State Park to St. Paul. For more Minnesota Adventure ideas follow @galavantgal. Happy Adventuring! -Karen
Dogwood Coffee
Lacey | @lacey.elsewhere
Come for the coffee stay for the vibes! Dogwood Coffee Co. is a unique coffee shop in Northeast Minneapolis. Featuring beautiful murals, cozy nooks, a huge patio, tons of space to work & study, plus a ping pong table! I recommend trying the Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade or Brown Sugar Cardamom Latte. They also serve beer & kombucha!
Harriet Lake
Antonia | @kneadtoroam | familieslovetotravel.com
Families visiting the Twin Cities will love Lake Harriet. This cozy urban lake offers a large playground and a lovely paved stroll around the lake (less than 3 miles). Challenge kids to find the cute fairy house (on thr south side of the lake). In the summer families can also rent kayaks and munch on food at Bread & Pickle. If you want to do a picnic instead grab a pizza from Broders’ Cucina Italiana (5th and Penn).
Les Sól Boutique
Hannah | @whereshewore
Minneapolis has so many great, local, female-owned boutiques! One of my favorites is Les Sól. They carry erhical and sustainable clothing, accessories, and gifts. It’s super cute inside too- I always feel transported to somewhere sunnier and warmer than Minnesota (80% of the year). Follow Hannah at @whereshewore for more fashion, style and travel content!
Bob Dylan Mural
Katherine | @katherine_wanders | katherinemendieta.com
Katherine Mendieta is a photographer and videographer who travels the world capturing lifestyle films of everyday moments and momentous occasions, and travel gems around the world. When hosting friends visiting Minneapolis, she’s likely taking them to one of the many incredible murals in downtown. A favorite is the colorful five-story tall Bob Dylan mural, painted by world-renowned street artist Eduardo Kobra.
Foshay Tower
Kristen | @expeditionkristen | expeditionkristen.com
Check out The Foshay Tower observation deck in downtown Minneapolis for incredible views of the Minneapolis skyline. Purchase tickets in the hotel lobby for $10/adult, then take the elevator up to the Foshay Tower museum where you can learn about the builder, Wilbur Foshay, and the building’s interesting history during the roaring 1920s. Then head out to the observation deck and walk around for a complete 360 view of Minneapolis. On a clear day, you can see St. Paul! Hi! I’m Kristen – a Minnesota-based travel writer. You’ll want to follow Expedition Kristen if you enjoy spending time outside and want recommendations for great places to hike, ski, and kayak around the Midwest and beyond. You’ll also find info about dog-friendly places, reviews on hotels, Airbnbs, and cabins, and recommendations for breweries and coffee shops. Happy adventuring!
Honour Cafe
Gabbi | @gabbimcmullen
Honour Cafe in Northeast Minneapolis is a great spot for coffee, pressed juice, açai bowls, and great vibes! They also hive bikes you can rent hourly! Locally owned and operated, so please support this small business! @honourtheday on Instagram.
Lake Minnetonka
Shelby | @sincerelyshelbystahl | shelbystahl.com
No trip to Minnesota is complete without time spent on one of our famous 10,000 lakes. Known as one of Prince’s favorite spots, a place fit for Gatsby level boat parties, mega mansions, good fishing, the resurrected Minnehaha steam boat and more, Lake Minnetonka is one of the most famous lakes in the world. Spending the day floating your cares away is absolutely recommended and Rockvam Boatyards can hook you up with a seafaring beauty that’s worthy of a visiting captain and their crew. There are many places to eat along the shores of Lake Minnetonka including Lord Flechers, Maynard’s and Cov. Native @SincerelyShelbyStahl posts plenty of the Lake Minnetonka lifestyle in the summer for inspiration. Follow her to help guide your lake day adventure.
Map of Recommended Locations
I put together a map with ALL of the recommendations from this post. Use it to help plan by identifying locations and planning your itinerary!
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