Of course we have our mega popular shops- Jo-Ann's [1649 W. County Rd B2, Roseville] and Michaels [66 West 66th Street, Richfield], but with a visit to Minneapolis you probably want something a little more special... Some of the best shops are in uptown. Uptown houses the hipsters and, with them, their love for crafts. You just have to look a little bit to find your own treasure of a shop. Other good shops are scattered around the cities. A good place to find yarn and is at Needlework Unlimited [4420 Drew Avenue South]. Soft yarns in every color and every shade! The great selection and quality yarns make this a great place to check out. For you sewers out there, another great shop that gets rave reviews is SR Harris Fabric [8865 Zealand Avenue North, Brooklyn Park]. It's a 30,000 sq foot warehouse with any fabric you can imagine! It's definitely worth a peek into.
We have a lot of different food to try here. Some of my favorite places are Nong's Thai Cuisine [2520 Hillsboro Avenue North, Golden Valley] for delicious Thai food in an adorable setting. Anything you get is delicious, though I must recommend the Thai iced tea. If I'm in the mood for Italian food, I go over to Robbinsdale for Nonna Rosa's [4168 West Broadway Avenue, Robbinsdale]. The atmosphere is fancy without being too overdone. The food is authentic and full of flavor. You just cannot go wrong here. An easier and more casual option is Athens Cafe [4080 West Broadway Avenue #141] which has amazing Greek food. Gyros, dolmades, spinach pies, and more! The food is like “fast food Greek”- if that were a thing. It's super delicious and a great place to try if you are looking for something new.
Some great places to be inspired are our great parks. Some of my favorites are Minnehaha Falls [Minnehaha Falls] which has trails, places to picnic, and a great atmosphere. It's not unusual to see musicians and painters creating art here, making this one of the top places for artists to be inspired- by each other and the the beautiful waterfall.
Another great park (and great place to see!) is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden [725 Vineland Place]. One of the first things that comes to mind when people think of Minnesota (after snow and cold) is the cherry spoon sculpture. In the heart of Minneapolis it will give you top notch people watching. The beautiful art surrounding you is bound to inspire! It's definitely a must see no matter the occasion.
Another place filled with art is the Minneapolis Institute of Arts [2400 3rd Avenue South]. Many different exhibits come through and there is so many different types of art. An easy way to spend an hour, an afternoon, or even a whole day! Walk through to let inspiration hit and then sit down to craft at a nearby cafe!
If the timing is right, you might just catch one of our festivals. My favorite is our Renaissance Festival. Camel and elephant rides, pillow fencing, seeing fairies and mermaids... This place is buckets of fun. Plan to bring money, good walking shoes, and a smile. Maybe you will even pick up a handmade wizard wand or see someone walk on a flaming tight rope!
The obvious place to pick up a souvenir is the Mall of America [60 East Broadway, Bloomington]. There are so many shops that you literally shop until you drop. The Mall of America contains many Minnesota themed stores making it an easy place to pick up any souvenir you desire for you and your friends. The mall also has an indoor theme park where you might go on the Sponge bob roller coaster or the Paul Bunyan water ride! With so many stores to choose from and things to do you are bound to be entertained- and find something fun to take home!
There is lots of special places to see. From the parks I mention below to things hidden in the cities waiting to be found. A fun way to spend your day is by taking a trip to Uptown [Uptown]. Shops spread throughout the whole city, small theaters, great food, and interesting people make this a fun trip to take.
Another great place is downtown. Downtown houses the Mill City Museum [704 South 2nd Street] - a fun place to take kids. It also has the International Market Square where you can go for more food and shopping in authentic international shops. If you come in the summer, you can expect to see a crowd at the Minneapolis farmers market. For good produce, cute little shops, and great times look no further. Pick up some produce for a good price or some handmade jewelry from local sellers!
Of course you cannot forget Hennipen Ave when you visit downtown Minneapolis. Hennipen Ave contains many theaters where comedians, dancers, and Broadway musicals go to perform. For popular shows visit the Orpheum Theatre [910 Hennepin Avenue]. For smaller, but still incredible, shows I suggest the Pantages Theatre [710 Hennepin Avenue]. For dance the obvious choice is The Cowles Center [528 Hennepin Avenue]. Just a walk down the road makes a great place to take memorable photos.