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Downtown Minneapolis Quick Facts |
|---|
| Name | Downtown Minneapolis |
| City | Minneapolis |
| County | Hennepin |
| State | Minnesota |
| Area Code | 612 |
| Time Zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Website | www.downtownmpls.com/ |
About Downtown, Minneapolis
Downtown Minneapolis is a neighborhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota’s largest city. Located on the banks of River Mississippi, downtown Minneapolis is divided into Downtown East and Downtown West, with Portland Avenue, Fifth Street South, and the Fifth Avenue acting as the official line of division between the two.
Downtown Minneapolis is the economic center of the city and houses a number of Fortune 500 companies including Target, Xcel Energy, and Quest. Most of the skyscrapers of Minneapolis are located Downtown and this area is also well known for its lively entertainment scene. It is also the hub of tourist activity in the “City of Lakes”.
Best Time to visit Downtown, Minneapolis
Summer is the best time to travel to Minneapolis. Downtown is abuzz with tourists who flock here to enjoy the food, music, and beauty of the city. Fall, also seems a popular season. Winter has few takers as it is rather cold and snowy here.
Airport and Public Transport – Downtown, Minneapolis
The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is at a distance of 10 miles from Downtown, Minneapolis.The area is also served by light rail, commuter rail, and numerous buses. You can also take a cab or rent a car to get to this part of Minneapolis. To go around Downtown Minneapolis, use the skyways – the most extensive network of skyways in the world.
Accommodation Options in Downtown, Minneapolis
There are a number of hotels Downtown that are quite popular with tourists. Some of the best hotels are Best Western Plus – The Normandy Inns & Suites and Holiday Inn Express Minneapolis Downtown (budget hotel), Aloft Minneapolis, Doubletree Guest Suites Minneapolis, Hilton Minneapolis, Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis (mid-range hotels), and Graves 601, Le Meridien Chambers Hotel, Hotel Ivy and W Minneapolis (luxury hotels).
Things to do in Minneapolis Downtown
Visit Museums
The Foshay Museum and Observatory Deck located inside Foshay Tower, Minneapolis’ first skyscraper, is a small but rich museum that houses artifacts and article relating to the Foshay Tower, and is definitely one of the best places to get the bird’s eye view of the city. Know the history of the flour industry which made Minneapolis famous in the Mill City Museum, located at the banks of the Mississippi river. If you love art, then don’t miss the Walker Art Center, which is one of the most famous art museums of the United State.
Explore Parks and Gardens
There are a couple of well maintained parks in Downtown Minneapolis. The Gold Medal Park, located near the Guthrie Theatre gives a magnificent view of the riverfront. Go to the Mills Ruin Park, a historically significant park that was built on the ruins of the old flour mills. Visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden which is one of the largest sculpture gardens in the United States and marvel at the beautiful sculpture made by various artists. You can also take a walk down the famous Stone Arch Bridge and admire the beauteous sight of the magnificent Saint Anthony’s Falls.
Visit Churches
Churches in Downtown Minneapolis are known for their architectural styles. The Basilica of St Mary built in the Beaux-Arts style is the first basilica in America. This basilica is also known for the Basilica Block Party, a rock festival held in summer. Founded in 1871, the Bethlehem Baptist Church is the first Swedish Baptist church in Minneapolis. Another important church is the Central Lutheran Church which is considered the largest Lutheran cathedral-type building in entire North America!
Entertainment Options
The entertainment scene in Downtown Minneapolis is very vibrant. If you are in mood for theatrical or musical performances, visit the Orpheum Theater (built in Beaux-Arts style), State Theater (built in Italian Renaissance style), Pantages Theatre (originally built for Vaudeville) , Minnesota Orchestra (organizes the annual Sommerfest) and Guthrie Theater (latest theater to join the club). If you want to explore Minneapolis’ night life, head to the Warehouse District and Hennepin Avenue, in downtown. Catch you favorite players in action in Target Field (home of baseball team Minnesota Twins), Target Center (home of the basketball teams NBA Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA Minnesota Lynx) and Metrodome (home of NFL football team Minnesota Vikings).
Where to eat – Downtown, Minneapolis
Where to shop – Downtown, Minneapolis
The best known mall in Downtown, Minneapolis is the Nicollet Mall. Many world renowned brands like Macy’s, Banana Republic, and Gap have their stores in this mall. Go to Skyways, where you can find anything from comic books to designer wear! Gaviidae Common is another shopping center that houses retailers like Pacifier (known for baby products), Ann Taylor (for elegant suits and dresses), and Clay Squared (for local clay products). There are also two farmer’s markets – the Nicollet Mall Farmer’s Market and Mill’s City Farmer’s Market.
Educational Institutions in Downtown Minneapolis
Downtown Minneapolis is an important center of education. The North Central University, University of Saint Thomas, University of Phoenix Downtown Minneapolis Learning Center, and the Walden University are located Downtown. Some other educational institutes located here are Minneapolis Community and Technical College, The Art Institutes International Minnesota, and Globe University Minnesota School of Business.