If you’ve never been to Minneapolis, you’re in for an adventure. The Twin Cities area is beautiful, green and lively, and you’re sure to find something fun to do.
Most of your time will be spent learning and applying those skills to real-life projects, whether that’s taking photos out on the town or working on a redesign. But the evenings are free for you to explore the city, meet your fellow workshop attendees and enjoy the Minneapolis sights.
For those of you staying on campus, there’s an activity lounge in the dorm — but here are a few ideas for exploring outside.
Wander the University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota campus. | Photo by August Schwerdfeger/Creative Commons
The campus is beautiful, with gardens, a bowling alley, a bookstore and museums. Goldy’s Gameroom is open until 10 p.m., and it serves food and drinks. If you’re looking for a more educational activity, the Weisman Art Museum is open until 5 p.m. (There are also plenty of quiet corners around campus if you need to recharge.)
Get lost at the Mall of America
The Mall of America features an amusement park in the middle. | Photo by Aina/Creative Commons
If you’ve got time for a train ride, visit the largest mall in the United States. You could spend hours wandering its 3 million square feet of retail space — oh, and the amusement park … and the aquarium. The Mall of America is about an hour away using the light rail that runs through Minnesota. Just remember to grab a map or download the app.
Walk the Stone Arch bridge
The Stone Arch Bridge runs over the Mississippi River. | Photo by Eric Kilby/Creative Commons
This historic bridge over the Mississippi River was built in 1883. You can go full tourist and take a Segway tour, or just walk or bike across and enjoy the view of St. Anthony’s Falls.
Visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
The Minneapolis Scuplture Garden. | Photo by Amber Billings
Less than 30 minutes away from campus lies a whimsical garden full of giant statues, including a giant spoon. It’s about 25 minutes by bus, and even quicker if you use Uber or Lyft. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is open every day from 6 a.m. to midnight.
Catch a Twins Game at Target Field
Target Field. / Photo from mlb.com
The Minnesota Twins are playing the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday nights. Tickets range in price from $16-$102 each and can be purchased online here. It takes about 20 minutes to get to Target Field from the dorms on the light rail. The light rail is $2.00 ($2.50 during rush hour) each way.
Munch on late-night snacks
Insomnia Cookies delivers dessert until 3 a.m. | Photo by Carl Lender/Creative Commons
OK, it might not be the healthiest activity, but there are plenty of late-night food options in Minneapolis. You can get warm cookies delivered to you from Insomnia Cookies until 3 a.m., or get your pizza fix at Mesa Pizza near campus, open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Still stumped for ideas? Feel free to ask your workshop leaders or the convention staff for their favorite spots around the city. And have fun!
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