There’s lot to delve into in Minneapolis. No matter the time of year you’ll find local music, new plays in fringe theatres, museums full of fascinating exhibitions, world-class sports and pretty neighbourhoods that offer a warm welcome.
Minneapolis car rental is your key to unlocking the very best of the city.
City of music
Minneapolis is a city that always resonates to the sound of music. Walk into an intimate venue and you’ll find a local band just starting out, while touring acts often make a pitstop here.
Head to First Avenue & 7th St. Entry for both – bigger acts at the former, the stars of tomorrow at the latter. The outside of the building is adorned with stars that show the acts – both obscure and better known – who have played here. If there’s no-one due to play, check out what’s happening at the Cedar Cultural Center or the Varsity instead.
Prince is the city’s best-known musical son, and you can explore the complex where he lived and worked. Paisley Park is just to the south-west of the city in Chanhassen, a white box containing not only his home, but also recording studios and rehearsal rooms.
A blast of culture
There’s no shortage of things to see and do in the city, from venerable churches to quirky museums. Start a day out at the Basilica of St. Mary, erected in 1907 and the first of its kind in the country.
From there, make for the striking Weisman Art Museum, which focuses on contemporary art – all wrapped up in a trademark Frank Gehry design.
The Walker Art Center stands out too, a bold place that drills down not just into Pop Art, but into pop culture too. It’s home to fascinating performances, talks and exhibitions, plus work form Andy Warhol and Edward Hopper.
It’s adjacent to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, full of wonderful, playful and bold pieces, and the Cowles Conservatory, with its hothouse flowers and layout that complements its neighbours.
If there’s one gallery that’s a must-see, however, it’s MIA – the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s home to an encyclopaedic collection of painting, ceramics, drawing, prints and photographs, being particularly strong on Asian art.
You can walk between a Matisse, a Rembrandt, a Van Gogh and a Manet, then explore the sculptures and the Chinese Garden – it’s easy to spend a whole day here.
Shopping and dropping
You might not have come here to go shopping, but the Mall of America is more than just a collection of stores. The largest mall in the US, it also hosts a mini-golf course, cinemas, wedding chapel and a couple of dozen thrill rides at Nickelodeon Universe. There are character encounters here, plus coasters and more sedate family and junior rides.
If you’d rather not have the shopping and just the rides, drive out to Valleyfair a short way from the city. Peanuts fans are in for a treat – there are Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and Snoopy-themed rides, while elsewhere there’s the Soak City waterpark and an animatronic dinosaur park.
You can discover all this and more with car rental in Minneapolis from Hertz.
