Flew in from Chicago for a wedding and stayed with college friends. Every time I visit, I'm amazed…read morehow this city keeps getting better and better. The wedding was held at 300 Clifton, in Loring Hills on estate row. It's a landmark estate previously owned by a lumber baron at the turn of the century. 300 Clifton (named after the street it's on) was recently purchased, restored and is being used as a historic six-bedroom B&B and event venue. My neice Ali's wedding, reception and dinner was held outside, on the beautiful estate grounds. The bride and groom stood on the front porch and greeted the 150 guests... a wonderful idea I wish more couples would follow. The ceremony was held on the lawn under the the rose bush trellis. The bar was set up on the enormous back porch. A 5-course dinner was served under a huge tent, complete with fans (it was over 80 degrees). The only time I went inside was for wedding cake, so I only got a quick peek at the public rooms. Would love to come back for a tour. I can't think of a more lovely place to hold a wedding than here. My only suggestion is that they add more restrooms.

EEK! Bed Bugs in the blue room in the Carriage House. Recently stayed here and woke up one morning…read morewith bites above my knee and found 3 dead bugs on the sheets. It was a Saturday and no one was in the office and the owners are not listed on the website, plus NO phone number on the website. Finally I saw a worker loading a van and told him and he responded immediately texting the owner. They were full that night and couldn't put me in another room and offered to find a local hotel (which later they reneged on); the worker said they did call for inspection and said repeatedly they would reimburse my stay for the inconvenience. It was annoying not to have any communication with the owner and only when I got home on Sunday did they email to say there was nothing (who knows if that is true) and no mention of a refund. Very disappointed.

Ray and Steve were great guides. Made the nervous people in our group feel at ease. After the warm…read moreup to make sure you know how to operate the Segway you go on a historical tour that was very informative. We went up and down the river and covered a lot ground. Fun group activity! Thanks again!

Highly recommend this. Jim was a great tour guide and these guys do it right. I've been on many…read moretours in other cities, but this one is tops.

Such a great experience checking out the Foshay Museum and Observatory!…read more It was a bit confusing to find since access is only available through the Marriott hotel, but the staff was super friendly and gave great directions. It was fun to learn about the history of Foshay. It was a bright a d clear day and we were able to clearly see spectacular views of the airport and downtown St Paul.

I used to work across the street from the Foshay - was there about ~9yrs and never checked out this…read moregem. I did go during Doors Open which is probably the busiest time to go. They have 1 elevator that goes straight up to the 30th floor. The details on the doors and around the building were amazing. Once you get up to the 30th floor there's a small museum where you can learn more about the tower. Then you take a few stairs up to get out to the observation deck. I will say it's pretty tight up there. Not ideal for big groups that can't separate. Each direction has a look out otherwise you can just look through the bars. For sure a cool place to visit at least once.

You had me at giant blue rooster…read more But this sculpture garden has more to offer. Currently a gaggle of geese are loitering near the spoon cherry. The interplay of space and monolithic sculptures is impressive. There were also many people out just enjoying the lawns, playing games, and enjoying froyo from a cart. The mix of serious and playful sculptures makes for an experience of art at once fun and whimsical and heavy, thoughtful, striking. I have never seen anything like this in California, or any other place that I've visited, to my recollection. It's worth a stop! The lot has a 5.00 flat rate, and there are also street parking meters too. There is a bridge over the freeway to/from Loring park, I think it's called. We did not go over there. Highly recommend!

Appreciated my friend and her husband spontaneously taking me here on our way home from dinner…read moretonight. Just outside the Walker Art Center, this Sculpture Garden is both a greenspace and a celebration of artistry. Some of the pieces are newer but a couple have been since the beginning like the Spoonbridge Cherry and the blue rooster. You scarcely notice the highway close by as you walk amongst rabbits and geese and robins and people walking their dogs. It's peaceful, and fun, and free (except for parking, which was $1). Well worth a visit!

The Tallest Building in Minnesota…read more Rising above it all in downtown Minneapolis, the 729 feet high IDS (Investors Deversified Services, Inc.) Tower with 57 levels and 1.4 million-square feet of office and retail space is the tallest building in Minnesota. But just barely. This massive glass and steel skyscraper is only 15-feet taller than the nearby Capella Tower. There is a huge debate between the IDS Tower and Capella Tower on who is truly Minnesota's Tallest Building. What isn't debatable is that the IDS Center is the heart of the Minneapolis Skyway System and Downtown Minneapolis. It is more than a skyscraper. The IDS Center is a complex featuring the 57-level skyscraper, eight-story annex building, Marquette Hotel, two-story retail mall, and the Crystal Court. Unfortunately for the Minneapolis visitor, they will most likely not rise above it all. The tower is primarily a vertical privatized establishment for business. Unlike many skyscraper landmarks, there is no top of the world bar or restaurant here. Chances are that the visitor will be seeing the IDS Center from the street, retail mall, and Crystal Court. This is the way that I saw it. And the way that Mary Richard's saw it. If you are unfamiliar with Mary Richard's she was the main character on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," which took place in Minneapolis. On the opening song "Love is all Around" there is the famous scene of her tossing her cap towards the building. As for me, I tossed more than one photo towards it. Unlike Mary Richard's I patronized the Starbuck's on the second floor in lieu of Basil's Restaurant. As you can see below, the vantage point of taking it the height of IDS Tower was from the Nicollet Transit Mall which runs through the Heart of Minneapolis. It is the centerpiece of the skyline. I spent the majority of my time here in the Crystal Court and not surprisingly in Starbuck's. The Crystal Court is an indoor park. The highlight of the park is the 105-foot tall cascading water fountain. Some people could describe it as an indoor rain forest. Throughout this indoor park beneath a glass enclosed roof in the shadow of the skyscraper are 18 olive trees and 68 benches. There is also a 29 foot interactive kiosk. Complimenting the indoor park is a gigantic American flag. In the heart of the hustle and bustle of Minneapolis this a tranquilizing indoor downtown space. Upstairs on level two, is the core of the skyway system. From the core of the skyway system four skyways radiate towards different areas of downtown. This is the zenith of the skyway experience. Looking down from the skyway level is a gorgeous view of the IDS Center Crystal Park which is one escalator ride below. It was here that I extended my moments in the tallest building of Minneapolis at the heart of the largest skyway system in America with a cup of Starbuck's. It was here that I'd continue along the skyway for more urban adventures. It was also here that Prince can be seen in "Purple Rain" looking at a shop. It is also here and downstairs in the Crystal Court where it is difficult to find a public restroom. When the need to use a restroom arrised I was left to utilize the one in the basement level of Nordstrom Rack by the Niccolet Transit Mall entrance. There you have it. Although the upper floors were off limits to me, the moments I exchanged seeing it from the street and inside its retail mall and Crystal Court were moments well spent.

Back in 1973 a friend and I crashed the grand opening ceremony and I recall walking away with a…read moreglossy multi-page booklet, a complementary hard hat (not remotely useable) and various other minor swag. The Philip Johnson designed IDS center seemed glittery, glamorous, exotic and impressive. I will admit to being a bit awestruck. Over the years I have innumerable fond memories whether entering at street level, walking in on the skyway level, sitting out on a balcony overlooking the Crystal Court or very occasionally parking below and taking in the scenery from the long lost observation level. In fact, at the risk of TMI I proposed to my late wife in 1978 while seated at a corner window table at the then still newish restaurant Windows on Minnesota (another casualty of change). Back in the day my father used to describe the IDS tower by slowly raising his middle finger. He dismissed it as "the box that the Foshay Tower came in." Well... that was then and this is now. My most recent memories are of of a tired, sparse, neglected and lonely place. Maybe an homage to glories past but one that has decidedly seen better days. Perhaps it is inevitable that as downtown Mpls has changed and become significantly repurposed structures such as the once inspiring IDS have lapsed into a rather sad reality. A veritable shadow of itself. I'm left with some great memories however!

In an effort to prevent a looming running rut, I decided to register myself (and a lucky friend)…read morefor the City Running Tours' Beer Run. We met up with Nate downtown and began our three-for-one jog, pub crawl, and history tour throughout parts of Minneapolis. We learned lots, drank plenty, and greatly enjoyed the chilly, Minnesota evening. I'd highly recommend signing up for a running tour when active friends and family come to visit. As I understand, they have a variety of different tours available at a few distances. Outside of racing, this tour is about as fun as running gets!

Dropped in last night for their free Thursday evening admission. All I had to do was check-in at…read morethe front desk and receive a small medallion to wear. They even had a fun free craft going on in the basement, all supplies included and snacks! Yay! I just took an explore at my own pace through a couple of exhibits. The docents are a little creepy... I know they're just doing their job by standing there staring at you or following you around (probably because guests are bad at respecting the rules), but yeah, I found them a little distracting/detracting from the experience. Oh well. I just tried to ignore it and focus on the art as best I could. Moving from room to room and spiralling up gradual stairways will kind of get you lost inside the building. It's large and has multiple floors. The space will shift from cozy to grandiose at a moment's notice. If you don't like being lost, grab a map before you go in. If getting lost is a fun part of the experience for you, then by all means, just enjoy following your nose like I did, haha! I happened to be there on opening night for the new kid's exhibit they added, where you are encouraged to touch as part of exploration. It's not terribly large, but I like things that encourage imaginative play. Shame I saw one lady just staring at her cell phone like a drone while her kid played beside her. There are all-gender bathrooms on the ground floor by the lobby, and additional restrooms scattered throughout the center (when you stumble across them, lol). There are also coat closets for you to hang your coat if you don't need it; they keep the center nice and warm inside! There is an occasional water fountain as well, which is a godsend since they do not allow you to carry ANY drinks (even recloseable water bottles like Hydroflasks) into the exhibit spaces. There are also a couple of gift shops. The one in the lobby has affordable things, the one deeper in on the second floor is like modern art for your home + a wall of books. There are a couple of theatres inside, along with a full restaurant (y'know, if you have money for fancy-schmancy things like eating, oops). For parking you have a couple options: you can utilize the surface lot for $5 and it'll last you until midnight, or you can use the underground lot for $8. Depending on the weather conditions, that extra $3 might make it worth it to you to choose the underground space. On a chilly Thursday November evening, I still chose the outdoor lot and there were plenty of parking spaces available. There is also the option of squeezing into parallel parking along Vineland and using the meters. Obviously, the sculpture garden is also right next door to explore at any time of day for free. I highly recommend it, if only to take a quick selfie with the Cherry & Spoon or blue Cock.

I had the pleasure of attending the performance of Shamel Pitts - Tribe: Marks of Red on Saturday…read moreand it was interesting. I was very entertained as the performers were absolutely AMAZING. I enjoyed the space and I will be back another show and all of the other art parts that offer because I really love the arts. Go and be inspired.

Located right by the MIA...this is a very unique and interesting museum...that I didn't even know…read moreabout until I came here for an art workshop. Came here actually for an interesting art workshop called "Create 'Unexpected Art' with Becka Rahn" which involved creating images and computers and the final product would be a swatch of material from an image that I created!Which is to be mailed to the participant via mail.. which I haven't yet received...I took this workshop with a past participant who was raving about it ... I really did enjoy my experience and I am so looking forward to my finished product! $5 gets you in and also a tour of the museum/mansion.. oh what a deal.. and like Rhonda G. says below... it's really like having a Downtown Abbey right here in Minneapolis! FREE Parking that's connected to the museum, too! Look forward to attending more interesting events here in the future!

If you are a native Minneapolite - or even just a transplant / convert - check this place out. It's…read morekitty-corner from the MIA so you can make a day of museum hopping followed by a meal at one of the many restaurants along nearby Eat Street (Nicollet Ave). For a minimal fee, you'll be able to check out the fantastically-curated exhibits that explore different topics relevant to Hennepin County's history through photographs, textiles, paintings, videos, audio-recordings, sculptures, artifacts, and more. It is a full-sensory experience in a historic mansion that cannot and should not be missed. In addition to traditional exhibitions, they have unique and fun programming - which sounds like it will be more frequent according to an article I read recently about the new director! Plus, the mansion is available as a venue rental. I even considered it for my upcoming wedding! The biggest downsides (and biggest complaints I had while working there) are 1) the fact that the building is not handicap accessible and 2) the lack of air conditioning in the summertime. It's an unfortunate reality about many historic buildings but even more so for HHM...as a non-profit and lesser-known museum, lots of funding is needed to facilitate the appropriate and allowed retrofitting while still protecting the historic integrity. Admittedly, I am a bit biased in my love of this place. When I graduated with my B.A. in cultural studies and comparative literature, I began scouring the Twin Cities for non-profit gigs, especially those in the Arts. I landed my first post-college job as a museum administrator at the Hennepin History Museum despite having never stepped foot in the mansion or even knowing of its existence. It was an amazing experience and I learned a lot, but the most valuable thing I learned was what an exceptional gem HHM is. Please do not miss out on the opportunity to explore!

- Mill City Museum…read more Mill City Museum was one of the highlights of my time in Minneapolis and is absolutely worth visiting. One important thing to know is that the museum closes around 4:30 p.m., so plan accordingly. I would recommend giving yourself at least 90 minutes to two hours. You could move through faster, but you would miss a lot of the history and displays. Admission was around $15, and it was completely worth the price. After purchasing a ticket, you receive a sticker with a scheduled time for the Flour Tower experience. When that time arrives, you report to the designated area on the first floor. While waiting, there is plenty to explore about the history of the mills, the surrounding area, and the enormous role Minneapolis played in the flour industry. I do not want to spoil the Flour Tower experience, but I will say this: it is absolutely worth doing. My advice is to sit in the front row near the middle. I happened to choose that seat by chance, and it ended up being the best seat in the house. The experience genuinely surprised me and became one of the first things I told friends and family about when I returned home. Afterward, you are taken to the top of the building, where there are excellent views of the surrounding area. You can see the Pillsbury Mill across the river, the Stone Arch Bridge, St. Anthony Falls, the lock and dam, the Guthrie Theater, nearby park areas, and portions of the historic mill ruins. Once you return to the first floor, you can also walk through and see the ruins up close. I spent about an hour and a half here and felt that was a good amount of time, although someone who enjoys reading every display could easily spend two hours or more. I highly recommend Mill City Museum, especially for anyone visiting Minneapolis for the first time. It is educational, creative, memorable, and one of those attractions that is much more impressive than you may expect going in.

Really loved this museum!! Especially the observation deck and the movie at the end . There was a…read morebread tasting and a fool proof recipe given. It was informative in terms of understanding the city culture and flour milling. Great gift shop too! I highly recommend.