The Land of 10,000 Lakes is home to more than 429,000 people in Minneapolis, the state’s largest city, followed by the St. Paul community and Rochester community. Minneapolis condos, hotels, and office buildings have quite the view, with a modern city skyline dotted with picturesque lakes and green parks.

The Minneapolis community has a rich history of lumber and flour milling in the 1800s, followed by the rise of manufacturing and department stores in the 1900s. The renowned live music scene in Minneapolis and its art culture make it a refuge for creatives, while the region provides a mix of big-city lifestyle and small-town comforts for people from across the Midwest. This city has a lot to see and do, but here are some of the most popular attractions Minneapolis offers.

Mall of America

Arguably one of Minnesota’s most well-known attractions, the Mall of America is much more than just a shopping mall. It’s a massive entertainment complex complete with an amusement park, cinema, aquarium, and 520 retail stores ranging from big-name department stores to small specialty boutiques. It currently comes in seventh place on the list of the world’s largest malls.

When Mall of America opened in 1992, it was the largest mall in America and had the most vendors out of any U.S. shopping center. Over 400 events occur at the mall each year, generating close to $2 million in economic activity in the state.

The mall continues to capture attention, with over 42 million visitors every year. It’s conveniently located in the Bloomington community, just south of the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport off I-494 and State Highway 77. There are over 12,000 parking spaces, with public transport access including bus and light rail. Admission to the mall is free, although there are admission fees for Nickelodeon Universe and Sea Life aquarium rides. Moose Mountain Adventure Golf, Flyover America, Crayola Experience, and the Lego Store are also popular Mall of America attractions, along with regular concerts and seasonal events such as ice skating.

Minnehaha Regional Park

Natural beauty and Minneapolis’ outdoor recreation are on full display at Minnehaha Regional Park. Close to Minneapolis luxury homes overlooking the mighty Mississippi, the park is known for Minnehaha Falls, a 53-foot waterfall with beautiful limestone bluffs. It’s one of the oldest parks in Minneapolis, combining nature and the city with a playground, volleyball court, wading pool, and biking path.

Built in 1849 by Horace Cleveland, the 170-acre park draws in close to one million visitors every year, with the main waterfall sightseeing supplemented by historic preservation sites throughout the park. These historic gems include an 1870s Victorian train depot called Minnehaha Princess Station and the Longfellow House.

The park was recognized as the Minnehaha Historic District in 1969, landing it on the National Register of Historic Places thanks to its importance in architecture, transportation, and urban planning. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with no entry fees and is located just off Highway 55 and south of downtown Minneapolis by five miles. Athletic, picnic, and bandstand reservations are available, while the space is also open for gorgeous outdoor weddings. Plus, Minnehaha Park is one of several locations in Minneapolis to host the seasonal Music in the Parks program.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Minneapolis residents and visitors have access to one of the country’s largest art museums. The Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) is located just south of downtown in the Whittier neighborhood. Established in 1883 as the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, what is now known as the Institute was, and still is, dedicated to bringing art into the community. There are upwards of 90,000 artworks spanning 5,000 years of awe-inspiring world history. A visit to the MIA can include viewing art, in addition to textiles, sculptures, photography, prints, and drawings.

General admission to the art museum is free, with special community programs and featured exhibitions also offered. As one of the state’s major art educators, the MIA welcomes over 500,000 visitors every year, including thousands of elementary schoolers, for the Art Adventure program. It’s ranked top 10 in the country’s comprehensive art museums, made possible in part due to the Museum Library holding more than 60,000 art volumes.

The Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program is controlled by artists and celebrates creators who live in the state.

Guthrie Theater

Another artistic attraction is the historic Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis. The facility is a regional leader in theater performance and professional arts training, with a prime location overlooking the Mississippi River. There are three stages in this landmark venue, with full-service dining and entertainment for people of all ages. It opened in 1963 and was rebuilt in 2006 with an innovative design by renowned French architect Jean Nouvel. The theater seats 1,100 at its main stage, with a smaller 700-seat stage and an intimate 200-person studio.

Because the new facility opened with The Great Gatsby in July 2006, the Guthrie has hosted fan-favorite shows like Jane Eyre, A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Frankenstein, to name just a few.

After celebrating 50 years of performances in 2013, the nationally recognized theater received a $1 million grant for groundbreaking theater initiatives from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. While tickets are required for large productions, the Guthrie has several main spaces open to the public, including the Endless Bridge. Visitors can take in a show or participate in art workshops and classes led by passionate industry performers.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Over 40 eye-catching artworks are featured in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, an 11-acre outdoor park with lush greenery and downtown views. Located within the Walker Art Center, the garden is free and open year-round from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s operated by the Walker Art Center in partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, with accessible parking and public transport access.

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is one of the biggest urban sculpture gardens in the U.S., thanks to the 40 permanent pieces and additional temporary displays that celebrate all things art, culture, and creativity.

The Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture is the garden’s centerpiece and a popular postcard picture for Minneapolis. The unmissable sculptural fountain stretches across one of the park’s quaint ponds, where flora and fauna make regular appearances even in the city’s center.

The sculpture garden is seen as a focal point of the Lowry Hill neighborhood, which includes nearby Loring Park connected to the garden via a pedestrian bridge. In the early 1900s, the land was used for floral gardens and sports. Over the years, it’s remained a vital community gathering spot.

Since its creation in 1988, the garden has welcomed millions of visitors for strolls, picnics, weddings, and more special events.

Target Field

Home of the Minnesota Twins, Target Field is a big hit with baseball fans across the Midwest. Opened at the start of the 2010 MLB season, the open-air ballpark cost $555 million to build as construction commenced in 2007. Target Field is the third home of Minnesota’s Major League team, with the first 21 seasons played at Metropolitan Stadium, and the next 28 played under the famous white roof at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. While these facilities were shared with the Minnesota Vikings NFL team, Target Field is exclusively home to the Twins.

Although baseball is the big show at Target Field, the stadium has also hosted large outdoor concerts and football and soccer competitions. With a capacity of over 38,000 people, Target Field has become the main attraction in the heart of the Minneapolis warehouse district.

Located at 1 Twins Way on the city’s north side, Target Field is easily accessible by I-394 and I-94. Additionally, Metro rail and bus service transports visitors from across the Twin Cities to Target Plaza in the North Loop. The stadium is situated just minutes from the NBA stadium and concert venue Target Center, plus the vibrant First Avenue art scene. Tickets to a Twins game at Target Field range from $20-$120+ with everything from upper-deck seating to corporate hospitality suites.

More Minneapolis Attractions

While all of these attractions are big hits with Minneapolis residents and visitors alike, there’s plenty more to see and do in the Twin Cities. With hundreds of restaurants and bars throughout Minneapolis and nearby St. Paul, as well as natural parks and historic sites, your time in the city can be quite memorable.

If Minneapolis is the city for you, contact Kris Lindahl Real Estate at 1-(855) 967-7653 to get in touch with a local real estate agent who can help you find your dream home today.