Minneapolis-St PaulCommonly known as the Twin Cities,
Minneapolis and St Paul form a sprawling metropolis on either side of the
Mississippi River.
The older city, St Paul, is the state capital, smaller, quieter and more reserved than its modern sibling across the river. The capital has a compact downtown area sporting a variety of restored Victorian architecture among its glass skyscrapers. It is also the cultural center with universities, museums and theaters. Minneapolis, founded on money made by the hundreds of saw and flourmills along the
Mississippi has many contemporary
buildings in a slick new downtown area with a lively, arty character and a vibrant nightlife.
Both cities are hubs for the Mississippi riverboat traffic that call from as far away as the river's mouth at
New Orleans. The very existence of the Twin Cities is due to the only waterfall on the Mississippi,
St Anthony Falls, whose hydroelectric power fuelled numerous flour and timber mills along the river, and today the Riverfront district in Minneapolis is a scenic stretch lined with old warehouses, mills and historical walking trails.
With hundreds of lakes lying within the Twin Cities area, there are endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, with miles of trails surrounding the lakes. Residents of the Twin Cities pride themselves on a high quality of life that includes sport and outdoor activities as well as top priorities such as a good education, a clean environment, excellent health care and a low crime rate. They boast a rich arts and cultural entertainment scene with more concert venues per person than any other city in the country, except
New York. And the southern suburb of
Bloomington is home to the largest shopping center in the US that includes an aquarium and amusement park under the same roof as hundreds of shops, restaurants, bars and theaters.
Getting Around: Getting around on foot in the downtown areas of the massive metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St Paul is a fascinating experience on the famous skyways, a network of enclosed walkways which connect buildings in the city centers at second-story level, ensuring no pedestrian has to be exposed to bad weather. About 60 blocks of downtown Minneapolis are connected by skyways totaling about five miles (8km). When your feet are tired, hop on the bus. MetroTransit operates one of the largest public transport systems in the
United States, running about 73-million bus trips every year. Trip planners and route information are readily available in the city and from hotel concierges. The Hiawatha Light Rail Transit route links downtown to the airport and the
Mall of America. The twin cities also have numerous taxi services, available on call or outside hotels and other public venues.
Climate: The climate of the Twin Cities,
Minneapolis-St Paul, is rather harsh, because of its northerly and land-locked location. Winters are bitterly cold, with abundant snow, temperatures plunging well below freezing. Summers are mild to warm, but short-lived. In fact records show that the Twin Cities have maximum temperatures of below freezing point on 76 days out of the year. Rainfall can occur all year round, but is most plentiful in June. The driest month is February.
