Nestled on the upper banks of the Mississippi River in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Minneapolis and St. Paul, collectively known as the Twin Cities, offer a multitude of tourist attractions for people with different kinds of interests. Some tourists mistakenly don’t consider heading to the harsh winters or hot summers of the Twin Cities area for a getaway. Whether it is colder than you have ever imagined or so hot and humid that you wish for snow, there is an attraction for everyone. Three of the most noteworthy attractions are the Mall of America, the Fitzgerald Theatre and the Walker Art Center.
Edina, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, is the home of the first enclosed shopping mall, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the Mall of America located just ten minutes away in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Mall of America, one of the Twin Cities' most popular tourist attractions, opened in 1992 and boasts over 520 shops, over 50 restaurants, an indoor theme park, a 1.2 million gallon (approx. 4.5 million liters) walk-through aquarium, a movie theater and a wedding chapel. Just to put things in perspective, 32 Boeing-747’s could fit in inside the mall and if a shopper spent 10 minutes browsing in every store, it would take them 86 hours to get through the whole mall. The Mall of America is a great place for adults, teens or families to escape the brutal winter weather of the Twin Cities.
When tourists are interested in taking in a local show, one of the most picturesque theaters in the Twin Cities is the Fitzgerald Theatre. Located in Minnesota’s capitol of St. Paul, the Fitzgerald Theatre’s namesake is The Great Gatsby author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, a St. Paul native. Not only is the Fitzgerald Theatre breathtakingly beautiful, but it is St. Paul’s oldest surviving theater space. Most famous for being the home of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion live radio program, the Fitzgerald’s stage has been host to Broadway shows, vaudeville shows, concerts, film festivals and more.
Tourists that visit the Twin Cities may be thrilled to know that they can visit the Walker Art Center. Established in 1927, the Walker Art Center is one of the most popular modern art museums, in terms of the number of visits, in the United States. Artists and art lovers alike can stroll the gallery and view works by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore and others. After taking in the indoor exhibits, visitors may choose to head outside for a leisurely walk through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden which is adjacent to the museum.
