Holly Day

Sherman Wick

Walk Minneapolis and St. Paul Grab your walking shoes, and become an urban adventurer. Holly Day and Sherman Wick guide you through 35 unique walking tours in the urban epicenter of the Upper Midwest. The Twin Cities are home to world-class museums and theaters, a mosaic of distinct neighborhoods, and an extensive greenbelt that combine to make it one of the most beautiful metropolitan areas in America. Each self-guided tour includes full-color photographs, a map, and need-to-know details like distance, difficulty, points of interest, and more. Stroll from downtown Minneapolis to Minneahaha Falls, from St. Paul’s Hidden Falls Park to historic Irvine Park. Explore the Mill District and its revitalized historic warehouses, and avoid winter’s chill with eight miles of climate-controlled skyways. You’ll soak up history, stories, and trivia on your way to the best cafes, bars, and nightlife in Minnesota. So find a route that appeals to you, and walk the Twin Cities!

35 Tours Exploring Parks, Landmarks, Neighborhoods, and Cultural Centers of Minneapolis and St. Paul

Walking Twin Cities

Even though they're often lumped together, the Twin Cities are two distinct cities with very different histories. Minneapolis is the Mill City, the City of Lakes, composed mostly of flat prairies. St. Paul is the Capital City, built on rolling hills and high river bluffs. Culturally, the cities have their differences, too. Minneapolis is home to world-renowned theatres and modern art galleries, while St. Paul is the home of many of the state's institutions, from the seat of government to the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Minneapolis is a newer city, which is reflected in the architecture and overall vibe, while St. Paul's older neighborhoods feature some of the most intact Victorian-era houses in the country. Because of their locations on the west and east sides of the Mississippi River, critics say that Minneapolis is more like a modern West Coast city, while St. Paul is akin to a historic East Coast city. Both cities are linked by the Mississippi River--the same force that shaped their origins. St. Paul developed earlier, mostly because it was more easily accessible via the river. Another similarity between the two cities is the foresight by the Victorians who succeeded the cities' founders to invest money into their communities--both cities set aside large tracts of land for public use all along the rivers and lakes. Some of the most beautiful parks were plotted in the early days of the cities. Even today there are big differences between the cities. For example, St. Paulites, gluttons for punishment, host the annual Winter Carnival during the coldest time of the year. Minneapolitans take the easy way out by celebrating the Aquatennial Festival each summer. Despite having their city festivals at opposite ends of the solstice, Minnesotans love the outdoors. Even with the notoriously fierce winters, Minnesotans statistically spend more time outside than most. Whether you're interested in art, culture, history, or nature, there's a walk in this book designed for your interests. We hope that it serves not only as a guidebook for (re)discovering the Twin Cities, but as a springboard for additional explorations. This book contains 35 walks of varying levels of difficulty, built around the natural, architectural, and historical attractions of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The downtown areas of both cities are explored in depth, as well as many of the neighborhoods, scenic parks, and lakes that are scattered through the area.

34 Tours Exploring Historic Neighborhoods, Lakeside Parks, Gangster Hideouts, Dive Bars, and Cultural Centers of Minneapolis and St. Paul

Minneapolis began at the Falls of St. Anthony, the sole waterfall on the Mississippi River. The cataract, the great hydrological engine, propelled the city's economic growth and physical expansion, and two distinct municipal identities emerged. A city of seasons, Minneapolis celebrates winter flurries and chills with ice skating and hot chocolate at the annual Holidazzle Festival. In the sultry midsummer heat, the Aquatennial brings swimmers and boating enthusiasts to the Chain of Lakes and the river. Landmarks, too, define the topography-Spoonbridge and Cherry, the Stone Arch and Hennepin Avenue Bridges, the Foshay Tower and the IDS Center. Join local authors Sherman Wick and Holly Day on a trip beyond the typical guidebook as they explore the architecture, parks and historical figures of the Mill City.

Sherman Wick

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