Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota, which forms “Twin Cities” with the neighbouring state capital of St. Paul. Bisected by the Mississippi River, Minneapolis is known for its many cultural landmarks, theatres, music scene, award-winning restaurants, sports arenas and it has a plethora of colleges and universities. The city and surrounding areas are filled with shopping areas, lakes, streams and parks with walking paths and bike lanes. Traveling around the city is easy by car, bus, on foot or bicycle. Minneapolis has ranked as one of the best biking cities in the country. Summers are very hot and humid and winters are opposite turning snowy and freezing. Minneapolis is a safe and casual city with lots of outdoor enthusiasts.
Northeast, Downtown and Uptown are the most popular areas for dining and entertainment within the city. The culture of Minnesota is a subculture of the United States with influences from Scandinavian Americans, Irish Americans, German Americans, Native Americans, Polish Americans and numerous other immigrant groups. The weather changes drastically from one season to the next, so be sure to check the local forecast before you visit and dress accordingly.
Climate
Weather in Minneapolis is very different from one season to the next. Summers are hot, humid and sunny with occasional thunderstorms If travelling in the summer, plan to bring a swimsuit and take a swim in one of the many popular lakes. Most lakes have several family-friendly public beaches with lifeguards on duty. Autumn is beautiful, being warm during the day, cooling down in the evening. Leaves on the trees are at their peak colours in October. Winter is snowy and very cold. If one were to travel to Minneapolis in the winter, warm clothes and shoes that can trek through the snow will be essential. Spring is beautiful with trees budding, flowers blooming, birds chirping and the occasional rainy day. Outdoor activities are popular year round. The Department of Natural Resources is a useful site learning about nature in Minnesota. http://dnr.state.mn.us/fall_colors/typical_peak.html
Local business etiquette and customs
The Minneapolis Business Journal is a good resource for local business information http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities. Business etiquette is multicultural and easy going. Men and women shake hands when meeting one another. Business dress code is often business casual. Women may wear dresses, skirts or pants with a blouse and a sweater or a blazer weather permitting. Some offices allow dark jeans. Women are well respected in the business place and have the same social freedoms as men. It’s common to have dinner or a happy hour drink with colleagues, as business meetings or simply to get to know one another.
Travel and transport
Minneapolis streets are on the grid system, which makes travelling around the city easy to do. Renting a car would be ideal if one must leave the Minneapolis area, as the Light Rail Train runs from the MSP airport to the Mall of America, to Downtown Minneapolis and does not have access to suburban cites. Buses are easy to take downtown. Uber is available and my personal favourite mode of transportation when I travel, as I don’t have a car. However, it requires an app on your phone. Taxi Cabs are easily found the downtown areas and are more difficult to flag down when outside of the downtown area. Rainbow Taxi, Yellow, Blue and White are trusted Taxi Cab services. Biking is very easy, there are self-serve rental bike stations all over the city. Walking is easy as well, streets are well lit, traffic lights and sidewalks are helpful for pedestrians.
Dining and bars
There are so many wonderful restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Many bars and restaurants have rooftop patios open in the summer and autumn.
- 112 Eatery – known for an eclectic menu of elevated comfort fare for dinner & late-night dining.
- Lucia’s – Classic American Capital Grill – steakhouse.
- Fuji Ya – Japanese.
- It’s Greek to Me – Greek.
- Quan’s – Vietnamese.
- Broders – Italian,
- Bar La Grassa – Italian.
- St. Paul Grill – Classic American.
- Marvel Bar – artesian cocktails.
- Prohibition at the W – cocktails.
Music venues
- The Varsity
- First Avenue
- Fine Line
- MN Orchestra Hall
- Dakota Jazz Club
Women’s networks and events
Woman’s Club of Minneapolis, The Small Business Association of MN, Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, many public libraries, colleges and the University of Minnesota have networking and events.
Beauty and fitness
Minneapolis has an easily accessible walking trail system through the many parks throughout the city. One will find tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, bike and canoe rental, sailboats and other recreational watercrafts on the many lakes and streams. Joggers, walkers, runners, bikers, inline skaters, dog walkers and many people enjoying the many lakes and spending time in green spaces and parks. There are many premier beauty salons and spas. Some of my recommendations are:
Beauty
- ReVamp Salon,
- Spalon Montage,
- Aveda Institute,
- Hair District,
- Hair Police,
- Thomas Charles Salon
Fitness
- LA Fitness,
- Core Power Yoga,
- Six Degrees Studio,
- YWCA
Safety and emergency services
Minneapolis is generally very safe. For emergencies, dial 911. Like travelling anywhere, take our Maiden Voyage standard safety precautions into account. Areas in North Minneapolis are known to be rough and have a higher crime rate. Luckily for tourists, (and most residents), these neighbourhoods are isolated and the average person would have no reason to visit them. Your average citizen is knowledgeable about the area and happy to share information when asked.
