Minneapolis is the biggest city in Minnesota and one of the most authentic American urban areas (despite its strong Scandinavian heritage). As such, it’s definitely worth visiting.
Still, the place is larger than you think and denser with content. So, in order to get to see as much as you can during a short stay, you’ll need to devise a plan. You’ll need a list!
Now, in order to make this list as comprehensive as possible, we’ll try to focus on different categories of attractions. We’ll include an art center, a club, a mall, a natural wonder of Minneapolis, and one of the marvels of its architecture.
With that in mind, here’s our list!
Table of Contents
1. Walker Art Center
This center was founded in 1927, and it quickly rose to prominence as one of the foremost art institutions on the continent. The place features works of Andy Warhol and Jasper Hohns, and it has something for every art lover in the world. If you are affectionate towards these fine arts, you must plan a stop at this museum.
The best thing about the center is its dynamic exhibition program. While the museum has some pieces that are always exhibited, it also has new art on a regular basis. It even has some hands-on workshops where you can create your own art or even participate in live performances. It’s a place that any creative should visit in their lifetime.
One more curious thing about the place is the fact that it’s home to over 40 sculptures, making it one of the largest urban sculpture parks in the country. On top of it all, it’s home to famous sculptures like “Spoonbridge and Cherry.”
Overall, it’s your shot at finally visiting one of the places you’ve only read about.
2. The Pourhouse
If you’re looking for an entertainment venue, regardless of whether it’s a bar, a live music spot, or a club, you can get it all at The Pourhouse. The venue started in 2012, which seems like a short time to become a massive landmark; however, it achieved that and more in this short 12-year span.
The bottom line is that the place is designed as a speakeasy, which can quickly transform you through time and space into the Prohibition era, one of the most interesting periods in the city’s history. Not only that, but the place also has a special room called “Al Capone’s Safehouse,” which is a safe area that you can only get to via a secret entrance. In other words, it’s the best place ever for a bachelor/bachelorette party.
All of this makes numerous cocktails and craft beers taste even better and more authentic. This last part is especially important since Minneapolis is a place with so many breweries and distilleries that finding the right place to sample some of it makes quite a difference.
3. Mall of America
Shopping malls are the biggest monuments of consumerism; some would even say that they’re the perfect showcase of all of its best sides. Well, if you share these ideological sentiments or just love shopping, there’s no reason to skip visiting the biggest mall in the entirety of the United States. It’s over 5.6 million square feet, large, and features more than 500 stores.
In fact, the place is packed with content that you can find anything you want there. The thing is that there are so many dining opportunities and great venues for entertainment, regardless of whether you’re traveling single, with a group of friends, or with a family. As for the stores, by the time you get to see all that they have to offer, chances are that there will be a few new stores opened for you to visit.
Moreover, it’s a place that most travel vloggers would suggest you visit. If you follow any of them and they visit Minneapolis, you might have seen them here.
One interesting thing that you wouldn’t expect from such a structure is its commitment to sustainability. There’s no central heating system; instead, the heat is generated by lighting, store fixtures, and body heat of visitors. It works better than you would expect, and it sends a powerful message.
4. Minnehaha Falls
It’s easy to forget that Minneapolis is “greener” than most other major US metropolises. In order to remind yourself of that, just go to the Minnehaha Falls, a 53-foot waterfall located within Minnehaha Regional Park in Minneapolis. This is a place that covers 193 acres and offers a beautiful natural escape within the city itself. In other words, it’s an amazing place for you to escape all the hecticness of the city and take a break from visiting some other locations on this list.
The waterfall itself is amazing. In an era where people travel just so that they can enrich their Instagram feed, this should be a reason enough for a visit. However, it doesn’t have to be just a vanity trip. You can actually use it to reconnect with nature, even in such a concrete jungle.
Remember, this is not just an ordinary waterfall. Poems were written about this place, and who knows how many artists took inspiration from the marvelous site that it presents. It is, therefore, a must-visit for anyone on their artistic pilgrimage.
5. Stone Arch Bridge
This list wouldn’t be complete without at least one architectural marvel of the city. The Stone Arch Bridge was constructed in 1883 by James J. Hill, and it connects downtown Minneapolis with the neighborhoods of Northeast Minneapolis. The bridge itself is made out of limestone and native granite.
At the time, it was considered to be a significant marvel of engineering and it marked a start of transformation of this city into a massive industrial hub.
Other than being a sight to behold, the bridge has a massive historical significance. Seeing as how it’s a part of the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail, it can also be a part of your route aimed at learning more about the history of Minneapolis.
Wrap up
The content of your own must-visit list could be drastically different than the one presented above. After all, your list should fit your interests. The very point of listing these top-rated attractions was to show you that Minneapolis has something to offer regardless of where you fall on this spectrum of interests. There’s something in Minneapolis for everyone.
