Minnesota winters may be famously harsh, but don’t sleep on the “City of Lakes” during any one season. Channel your inner Scandinavian (many settled in the Upper Midwest) and enjoy special winter events like The Great Northern Festival, the Nordic Terrace at Riva at the Four Seasons, and the City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival, among others. Or, simply walk along a snow crusted trail, skate on an ice-capped lake, and warm up with a sauna session after. If the cold really isn’t your thing, fear not, as there’s a skyway system, the largest contiguous one in the world, that includes ten miles of enclosed bridges connecting about 80 city blocks.

The city is well-known for its amazing and diverse art scene, including highlights like the Walker Art Museum, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (with its iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry piece), and The Guthrie Theater. Plus, not only is Northeast Minneapolis home to Art-A-Whirl, the largest open studio tour in the nation, it’s a full on Arts District, too. Pro tip: don’t miss the amazing collection of hometown hero Prince murals throughout the city.

Compared to other big cities and tourist destinations, Minneapolis is super affordable. Not even affordable, there’s actually lots to do that’s completely free, like visiting museums, seeing architectural delights, doing a mural walk, and more. Bonus: public transit offers great access to the city. The light rail is super easy for visitors to navigate, and you can walk or bike most places downtown and nearby.

Minneapolis has an incredible and diverse food scene (and not just for the Midwest). National acclaim has come with James Beard winning eateries like Owamni, a beacon of the Indigenous foodways movement and Hai Hai, a Southeast Asian street food spot. Hmong cuisine has found a stronghold in Minneapolis, too, with delightful options like Diane’s Plane, Union Hmong Kitchen, and Vinai.

With nicknames like “City of Lakes” and “City by Nature” it’s not shocking that Minneapolis excels in terms of outdoorsy offerings, boasting 180 parks, 22 lakes, and the Mississippi River. In fact, no matter where you are in the city, you’re never more than six blocks from a park! Don’t miss exploring the famous chain of lakes by strolling the shoreline paths, paddling on the water, or catching a show at the Lake Harriet Bandshell. Minneapolis earns accolades for being bike-friendly too, with miles of protected lanes on roadways, plus dedicated trails for cyclists.