If you’re looking for charm, natural beauty, culture and bountiful attractions,Minneapolisshould be the next city on your list of travels. There is no shortage of theater, art, music and festivals in this culturally rich metropolis. Minneapolis has long been known for interesting people and new ideas; it was the home of the new wave music scene that emerged in the 1980s, for example, and is still a vivacious destination for live music lovers. The culinary world is also thriving in Minneapolis, with numerous award-winning restaurants that lack the pretension of many other cities. And that’s just the beginning.

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• Bloomington
• Brooklyn Center
• Eagan
• Eden Prairie
• Maple Grove
• Woodbury

If it’s shopping you desire, Minneapolis will not disappoint. The Mall of Americaattracts shoppers from far and wide as the largest mall in the nation with more than 400 stores, an aquariumand an indoor amusement park. There is also the Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. This shopping destination features numerous shops, restaurants, galleries and attractions such as the Minneapolis Planetarium, all culminating at the Crystal Court, where an arrangement of glazed skyways gives way to other tall buildings in the area.

Minneapolis definitely has no shortage of museums; it’s possible to devote an entire vacation solely to museum tours in this city. There is the Walker Art Center, Hennepin Center for the Arts and the Ellingson Car Museum, for starters. The American Swedish Institute is also full of history, and smaller places like the Mill City Museum and the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices offer a unique and quirky perspective into times gone by. The University of Minnesota also boasts the Bell Museum of Natural History and theFrederick R. Weisman Art Museum. Other cultural stops include the Minnesota Opera and Minnesota Orchestra, the historic City Hall, the massive Central Library and the Minnesota Society of Fine Arts Complex, where you will find the Children’s Theater Company and Minneapolis Institute of Art and The Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Minneapolis has skyways that connect many buildings throughout the city, so you can get where you need to go without facing the chill. But if it’s nice outside there will be an abundance of outdoor attractions to enjoy, such as the Eloise Butler Wildflower & Bird Sanctuary, the Gateway Center, Minnehaha Park, and the Mississippi River. The city has numerous water attractions, with over 20 lakes and wetlands, the river, creeks and waterfalls, many connected by parkways in the Chain of Lakes and the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. Fort Snelling State Parkis also a beautiful location for outdoor activities including hiking, biking, skiing and much more.

Sports are big news in this half of the Twin Cities as well. One way that you’ll realize how close Canada is to Minneapolis is the activeCurling Clubin the neighboring city of St. Paul. But if curling’s not your thing, Minneapolis has lots of other sports to enjoy including the Minnesota Twins,Vikings , Timberwolves and Lynx.

This is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to Minneapolis. Whatever your pleasure, you’re bound to find it in the City of Lakes. And if you are looking for comfortable, convenient, and affordable hotels in Minneapolis need look no further than Extended Stay Hotels.