Backyard Destinations

The vast majority of people probably aren’t thinking of booking their next trip to Minnesota. After all, what is there to do in the state? That’s a question that crossed my mind a couple of times when I booked a flight to the Land of 10,000 Lakes to attend a travel blogger conference called TBEX at the end of May.

But now, after having spent about a week in the area, I’m very much convinced that some day, the Twin Cities area will become a touristy destination.

View of the Minneapolis skyline from Stone Arch Bridge

Minnehaha Falls

Foshay Tower & Observation Deck

View from the Foshay Tower Observation Deck

Mills City Museum observation deck

View of Raspberry Park from Kellogg Boulevard

Pedestrian footbridge – part of the Minneapolis Skyway System

Weisman Art Museum (by architect Frank Gehry, who also designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall)

Canadian geese at Mills City Museum


Cathedral of Saint Paul


House on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul – the largest stretch of Victorian houses in the United States

American flags on Kellogg Boulevard


Saint Anthony Falls, Minneapolis

There are tons of things to do and see in Minneapolis and Saint Paul! It’s really a wonder why the cities aren’t more recognized. There’s something here for all types of travelers. Whether you’re traveling as a family, going solo, traveling in a group, looking for an urban adventure, or craving to do things outdoors, there’s no way you’ll ever be bored in the Twin Cities. It’s really all just about being open to enjoying an area that isn’t so hyped up.

Minneapolis and Saint Paul are also attractive because they’re both walkable cities with an easy and accessible transit system that makes it easy to get around and to sights and attractions like Minnehaha Falls, Mills Ruins Park, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, and Summit Brewing Co. Uber is also active in the cities, so that’s another more convenient transportation option.

Minneapolis Skyway System

Metro bus

Train station

Minnehaha Park

Minnehaha Park


Mills Ruins Park

Sunken Garden at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Summit Brewing Co., Saint Paul

Lake of the Isles

Wabasha Street Caves

Surley Brewing Co., Minneapolis

Lake Calhoun

Japanese Garden at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Saint Paul

The food scene is also reportedly great – someone told me that Minneapolis is a city where you’d want to eat out – although I can’t attest to it because I didn’t partake in it much. However, there are an abundance of restaurants to try out that might be appealing to foodies!

Food from Haiku Japanese Bistro is pretty decent

What makes the cities even more worthwhile at this point is that they are not yet a heavily marketed destination, so experiencing this Midwest gem now makes it even more special. The area is home to more than 3 million people, and it’s really exciting to experience all the cool things in their backyard, including architecture, history, live shows, musicals, plays and concerts.

This United States backyard is quite a treasure that I’d highly recommend visiting. It offers a unique, unexpectedly vibrant traveling experience in the Midwest.

More about what you can do in the Twin Cities can be found here.