There’s no shortage of things to do in MSP this summer. Outside of the many events and festivals taking place, you may be looking for some tips on activities, places to go and off the beaten path experiences to fill your days. Our company partners have some recommendations for you!
- Get Active
- Get Outdoors
- Get Outside the Cities
- Experience the Culture
- Visit Museums
- Enjoy fresh food
- Build an Experience
- Have an evening at the theatre
- Check out our zoos!
Get active:
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Rollerblade the Greenway
The Greenway is a 5.5 mile long former railroad corridor that now is owned by Hennepin County. It’s been transformed into an awesome bike path and walking track that does not connect to the road and passes under bridges, under stadiums, and next to our famous lakes.
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Bike & run around our beautiful lakes
Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes for a reason! Our scenic waterways are perfect for any active outside adventures. Visit the chain of lakes in Southern Minneapolis for a fun day out with the family.
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Running races, bike gatherings, warrior dashes, Kubb (a.k.a. viking chess) in a grassy park
As well as our lakes, Minneapolis and Saint Paul have tonnes of green space for any event. Our parks are pristine and have a wide variety of wildlife – from squirrels to geese, you never know what you’ll see at the park,
Get outdoors
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Go camping in one of Minnesota’s many State Parks
Minnesota has some of the most lush state parks in the country. Our large water systems make it so that we have campgrounds 20 minutes out of the cities. But why not take a drive up to the north shore, where state parks feature Lake Superior and the gorgeous northern atmosphere.
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Visit the lakes in Minneapolis
You can’t visit Minnesota without taking a trip to the lake! And perhaps the most famous set of lakes are the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis. Complete with beaches, fishing piers, playgrounds, picnic areas, watercraft rental and more, there’s something for everyone.
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Kayaking/canoeing on Lake of the Isles or Lake Harriet
Lake of the Isles and Lake Harriet are the perfect lakes for taking out a canoe. Rent one or bring your own, just get out on the water for a fun way to spend the summer afternoons.
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Walk around St. Anthony Main or Boom Island
Admire the Mississippi River and the Stone Arch Bridge from St. Anthony Main and Boom Island Park. These serene communities have incredible views of Downtown Minneapolis and have the most vibrant residents. Take a stroll through Boom Island Park to catch a sunset over the city, and top it all off with dinner and a movie in the historic St. Anthony Main Main Street.
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Bike/run on the various trails
Consistently ranked as one of the top bike cities in the country, Minneapolis and Saint Paul have an incredible amount of trails to check out. Fun fact, you can ride 50 miles in the cities and never have to leave the metro area! Rain, snow, or shine, there’s a trail for you. Why not take the scenic hour bike ride along the Mississippi from Minneapolis to Saint Paul to start out?
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Visit Minnehaha Falls
Our little local waterfall. Minnehaha Falls is a gorgeous slice of nature in our own backyard. Complete with picnic area, green space and a bandstand, make Minnehaha Falls a priority when in the cities.
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Canoe in Taylors Falls
Take it drive out to Interstate State Park and visit the iconic Taylors Falls. Bordering Wisconsin, the falls are perfect for any day trip for any age. Canoe the river in the summer for the ultimate midwest experience.
Get outside of the cities
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Drive out to Stillwater
Step away from urban life and take a short drive to Stillwater to experience Minnesota’s birthplace with historic Main Street attractions and nearby trails and cruises along the St. Croix River.
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Place a bet & take in some horse races at Canterbury Park
A classic day outside the cities can involve an exhilarating horse race! Take in the racing, and turn up the fashion for a day on the greens.
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Experience some thrills at Valleyfair
Experience the ride of your life at Valleyfair! Fun for the whole family, Valleyfair amusement park is open all summer and is the perfect family stay-cation half an hour out of the cities.
Experience the culture
There are always things going on in Minneapolis and Saint Paul that highlight our diversity.
One of our writers’ favorite events is the Little Mekong Night Market in July in Saint Paul:
“Some of my favorite places and events that highlight the diversity in Minnesota is “Little Mekong Night Market” which is held in July in Saint Paul. It’s a unique street market festival inspired by night markets in Southeast Asia. Another place is Hmong Village in Saint Paul that is similar to street stalls in Southeast Asia where they sell food, vegetables and other items”
Visit our local museums
The MIA’s mission is to “inspire wonder through the power of art”. This beautifully curated museum collects, preserves, and makes accessible art that comes from all over.
This iconic, hard to miss art center sits just outside of downtown Minneapolis. Home to Spoonbridge and Cherry and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, The Walker is a must-see on your Minneapolis list.
Sitting between the Como Zoo and the Mississippi River, The Bell Museum’s mission is to ignite curiosity and explore our connections to nature, the universe, and beyond. As Minnesota’s official natural history museum, there’s a tonne to see and a lot to do.
The Minnesota Museum of American Art brings American artists from the 19th century to the forefront in their stunning downtown Saint Paul facilities.
There’s no place quite like the Science Museum in Minnesota! Their mission is to “Turn on the science” and that they do! With a focus on learning, driving policy change and improving Minnesotan lives, this museum is great for all ages.
Enjoy fresh seasonal food
- Mill City Farmers Market (Saturday mornings)
- Minneapolis Farmers Market & Paul Farmers Market
- Midtown Global Market
Build an experience
- Visit the Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis before having brunch or dinner on Eat Street
- Walk down Summit Ave in St Paul and look at all the old mansions with a coffee from Nina’s
- Grab a patio spot and take in the vibrant energy of our unique neighborhoods
Have an evening at the theatre
- Guthrie
- Hennepin Theatre Trust
- Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
- Palace Theatre
- Fitzgerald Theatre