Things to do in Minneapolis–St. Paul

America's biggest mall: 500+ stores plus an indoor Nickelodeon theme park, aquarium and mini golf, all under one roof.

Hands-on science playground on the Mississippi bluff with dinosaurs, a giant Omnitheater and endlessly pushable buttons.

A 53-foot waterfall tumbling through a leafy city park, Minneapolis's most photographed natural wonder.

One of America's great free art museums, 90,000 works spanning 5,000 years, from Monet to samurai armor.

Cutting-edge contemporary art beside the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry in the free Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

A museum built into the ruins of the world's largest flour mill, with an 8-story elevator show and rooftop river views.

4,800+ animals plus the Treetop Trail, the world's longest elevated pedestrian loop, on 485 wooded acres.

St. Paul's beloved free zoo and glass-domed Victorian conservatory, gorillas, orchids and polar bears, no ticket needed.

One of America's grandest domed churches, crowning a hill with sweeping views over downtown St. Paul.

World-class theater on the riverfront, wander its cantilevered Endless Bridge for free Mississippi views.

The legendary club where Prince filmed Purple Rain, still the Twin Cities' beating heart of live music.

Step inside Prince's private studio and home, recording studios, costumes, motorcycles and all that purple.

Narrated paddlewheeler cruises on the Mississippi from Harriet Island, river lore, eagles and skyline views.

A global food hall in a historic Sears building, 40+ vendors serving everything from tamales to injera.

James J. Hill's 1883 stone rail bridge, now a beloved walk-and-bike crossing over St. Anthony Falls, freshly restored and fully reopened in 2025.

Cass Gilbert's 1905 marble statehouse with one of the world's largest self-supported marble domes, free guided tours leave hourly.

Frank Gehry's crumpled stainless-steel landmark on the Mississippi bluff, 20,000+ artworks and always-free admission at the U of M.

Minnesota's natural history museum: beloved restored wildlife dioramas, hands-on labs, and a state-of-the-art digital planetarium.

A turreted 1908 castle-mansion turned Nordic culture hub, with craft workshops, exhibitions, and the celebrated New Nordic café FIKA.

Restored 1820s stone fort at the Mississippi–Minnesota confluence, where costumed interpreters unpack centuries of layered history.

1,100+ acres of U of M gardens, forest, and prairie, Three-Mile Drive, seasonal blooms, and the breeding grounds of the Honeycrisp apple.

Minnesota's big amusement park since 1976, 40+ rides, eight coasters, and the included Superior Shores Waterpark on the Minnesota River.

Driftless-area river county in northeast Iowa, with Mississippi River bluffs and small-town charm.

Wisconsin's Swiss heritage county, home to New Glarus, cheese factories, and 'eat. drink. yodel.' festivals.

An indoor family entertainment venue in Duluth's Canal Park, part of the Grandma's Restaurant Company family.

Narrated boat tours through the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on Lake Superior, departing Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin's longest known cave, offering guided walking tours near Spring Valley.

A historic lake town in the northeast Twin Cities suburbs, built around White Bear Lake itself.

A two-story gift and general store in Minnetonka with an on-site cafe, family-run since 1984.

A 39-room Jacobean Revival lakeside estate in Duluth, open for tours since 1979.

A freshwater aquarium on Duluth's harbor featuring over 250 species from the Great Lakes region.

A Wisconsin Northwoods lake town known for fishing, forests, and the Hayward Lakes chain.

A regional history museum and archive covering Rochester and Olmsted County, Minnesota.

A 200-foot-deep limestone cave near Harmony with an underground stream and 60-foot waterfall.

A Brainerd amusement park and pioneer village home to a 26-foot talking Paul Bunyan statue.

A card casino, hotel, and live harness-racing track in Columbus, Minnesota.

A Mississippi River city anchoring central Minnesota, with river parks, historic districts, and a college-town core.

A Mississippi River bluff town in southeastern Minnesota known for its lakes, limestone bluffs, and historic downtown.

A Mississippi River town in southeastern Minnesota and home to the National Eagle Center.

A Wisconsin Northwoods county of lakes and forest anchored by Shell Lake and Spooner.

A Twin Cities suburb near Mall of America, home to the Minnesota Vikings' headquarters.

A paddlewheel riverboat offering sightseeing and dinner cruises on the Mississippi River.

Heritage train excursions along Lake Superior between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minnesota.

Seasonal outdoor Renaissance festival near Shakopee with costumed entertainers, shopping and feasting.

A mile of self-guided paths through an 830-foot goose-shaped sculpture with native Ojibwe plant displays.

Free music museum at Landmark Center in Saint Paul with hands-on instrument galleries and a historic keyboard collection.

Minnesota's state tourism office in St. Paul, offering trip-planning help for visitors traveling around the state.

Community arts nonprofit and gallery space in Stillwater, showcasing rotating exhibits by regional artists.