Target Field is the home turf of the Minnesota Twins. Equipped with amenities like mobile seat upgrades, predictive gaming, free WiFi and mobile tickets, it is a popular venue for sports fans. Seating a whopping 40,000, this baseball field offers a good view of the game from all seats. Special stadium tours are organized for visitors. Concerts are also held here.
This joint rules the Twin City music scene. As a converted bus depot, the large two-story room offers excellent acoustics and sight lines. If live music is on the agenda, get there early and grab a table on the balcony. The music runs the gamut from reggae to punk to rock to country. If a local or national act is not scheduled to play, a DJ takes over and gets the dance floor jumping. Pool tables, pinball machines or video games offer quieter amusement.
The Orpheum Theatre opened in 1921 as a vaudeville house and then converted to a movie house. Thereafter, it fell into a state of disrepair due to competition from multi-screen, suburban theaters. The theater was renovated in 1994 and since then the Orpheum has hosted numerous Broadway musicals including world premieres such as "Victor/Victoria" and "The Lion King." Relax as you watch a musical or chill out at a concert here. You can also join your academically inclined friends for a lecture held in the theater. Regardless of the reason you visit this place, you will love the regal theater with a seating capacity of 2579. The Orpheum is part of the Hennepin Theatre Trust.
The Guthrie Theater was founded in 1963 with an aim to promote theater that was an alternative to the largely commercial Broadway. Today, the Guthrie Theater's mission remains the same but what started off as four productions is now a complex that includes three stages: the McGuire Proscenium Stage, the Wurtele Thrust Stage, and Dowling Studio. One doesn't have to be a ticket holder to visit the building and its cafe or lounge. There are also guided and self-guided tours.
This nightspot is considered by many to be the top rock club in the Twin Cities. The best of the local talent and many national acts headline each and every night. By the shape of the building, which looks like a large caboose, you would think the acoustics would be poor. Quite the contrary, as the overflow crowds will attest. Along with a great beer selection, wine, liquor and soft drinks are served. Stick with the burgers or appetizers to satisfy your hunger. Pool tables, foosball and darts provide a definite working-class atmosphere. Arrive early for local bands and even earlier for the big acts, otherwise you will be standing or miss getting in at all. Advance sale tickets are available at select locations. Price varies according to act. Doors generally open an hour or two before showtime.
Bustling with live music enthusiasts, The Fillmore Minneapolis is a trendy and upbeat venue for concerts. With a capacity to accommodate over a thousand guests, the interiors are rustic chic with traditional accents like striking crystal chandeliers. The venue also has a restaurant and bar which allows visitors to relish delicious drinks and food during gigs. Perfect for a night-out, The Fillmore will leave you impressed.
Located on the State Capital grounds, this memorial honors Minnesotans who served in the Vietnam War. More than 1000 names are engraved in the granite memorial. These are the Americans who were either killed or missing in action as a result of the war. Pay your respects by visiting this memorial site honoring those who gave their lives in service for their country. There is a book of names nearby which gives the location of each name on the monument. The location is a little hidden, so look for the monument close to the freeway and in the center of the grounds. Parking is available on the street or in lots not designated for state business.
The Bockley Gallery offers a stunning collection of art in the Minneapolis warehouse district. This gallery has highlighted works showcasing local culture and contemporary art since 1985. Exhibits feature beautiful masterpieces from local, national and international artists.
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts boasts an impressive selection of Impressionist paintings. Originally constructed in 1915, the Institute has been amazing gallery-goers with its substantial collection of over 85,000 pieces of American and European artists' works for roughly a century. Works on display here range from those by such legends as Matisse and Kandinsky to Picasso and Rodin. In addition to American and European paintings, there is also an excellent Asian collection.
Some of the city's largest and most elegant homes frame Lake of the Isles. This man-made lake is well stocked with panfish, attracting anglers of all ages in the warm months as well as the cold. Swimming is not advised, but the setting is delightful for sunbathing, a picnic or reading a book under a large shade tree. In winter, park officials designate skating areas and erect a warming house. Walking, jogging or biking around its 2.7 miles of shoreline provides outstanding views of the downtown and the surrounding neighborhood. The serene atmosphere of Lake of the Isles makes it the lake of choice for canoeists. The southern portion of the lake is connected to the city's largest lake, Lake Calhoun, by a quiet channel.
Travel half a mile south of Lake Calhoun on William Berry Parkway and you will find a lake that will make you wish summer were 12 months long. Named for the wife of Colonel Harry Leavenworth, the first commander of Fort Anthony (later named Fort Snelling), Lake Harriet is a lovely area consisting of sandy beaches, rose and rock gardens, a popular band shell and some of the city's most palatial homes. The Lake Harriet Trolley leaves from the lake's northwest curve, and Beards Plaisance, a large sheltered picnic area, occupies the southwest corner. The northwest shore is also home to the Lake Harriet Band Shell and refectory from which the Queen of the Lakes paddlewheel boat departs. The Lake Harriet Rose Garden, also known as Lyndale Park, located on the northeast corner of the lake, boasts some 250 different varieties of roses. This lovely sanctuary is a meticulously cared for and fragrant oasis of blooming flowers adjacent to a tranquil Japanese rock garden.
Camping, biking, skiing, canoeing and good old outdoor fun can all be found at the Hyland Lake Park Reserve south of Minneapolis. The Richardson Nature Center contains numerous exhibits and information about this 1,000-acre urban, woodland reserve. The nature trails are dotted with overlooks and observation decks allowing observation of deer, pheasant, ducks, geese and a variety of songbirds. There are 7 miles of hiking trails and 6 miles of paved bike paths. The Hyland Outdoor Recreation Center contains a snack bar, gift shop and restrooms. The center rents bikes, rowboats, canoes and paddleboats in the summer and skis, snowshoes and skates in the winter. The hiking and biking trails are groomed in the winter for cross country skiing and snowshoes. A large picnic area, a small fishing pier and boat launch are situated in the lake area.