Travel: It’s a twin-win situation
Chris Doyle finds five memorable words sum up his trip to the US cities of Minneapolis and St Paul
“BE excellent to each other.” For some reason, it’s those five words that I come back to when I reflect on my time in Minneapolis and St Paul.
Whether it was having a conversation with a local or how I was welcomed as I visited one of their many brilliant sights and attractions, the people went above and beyond to make sure my stay was one to remember.
There’s no half measures in Minnesota. If they do something, they do it right.
Minneapolis and St Paul are charming cities in their own right but their close proximity to each other means they are often referred to as the Twin Cities.
It’s not just a fitting nickname geographically – the two almost have an older-younger sibling relationship with one another as they tussle for supremacy.
However, when it boils down to it, they’ve got each other’s back and I felt that intrinsic link between the two as I spent time in both cities. What you don’t find in one, you’ll find in the other. Their one-two punch is as good as they come.
I started my trip by wandering around the bustling downtown Minneapolis to see what the city had to offer. Loews Minneapolis Hotel is a great base to explore the city as everything is pretty much in walking distance.
So, after I fueled myself with some French toast and lemon curd, I set off to see what I could find. The iconic music venue First Avenue was my initial destination and its star wall honours all the legendary artists who have played there. That and the Bob Dylan mural were both spectacular.
The Mill City museum was up next and it was the perfect place to get things started to learn about the city and its history. I finished the tour taking in the amazing panoramic views of the city, including the Stone Arch bridge, on the top floor.
I then decided on a short visit to the museum’s neighbour, The Guthrie Theater, where I ended up coming across a hidden gem.
It’s not known for its viewpoint but it’s what I’m going to remember it for. I travelled up to the ninth floor to an area called the “Yellow Room” not knowing what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised.
The views of the skyscrapers were mesmerising but the amber box you look out of makes it seem like everything is made of gold. It was unreal.
I hopped across to St Paul in the afternoon and grabbed a bite to eat at a pub called Shamrocks where I quickly found out they were big on their local food.
I was told I had to try a “Juicy Lucy” and when I found what it was, it was a no-brainer. A burger with cheese inside the meat patty? My mind was blown. Simple, but effective. Messy, but worth it.
St Paul has a traditional feel to it and as it’s evolved over the years, it has made sure it’s not forgotten its roots. And nothing epitomises this more than Keg and Case Market.
It’s located on the grounds of the now closed Schmidt Brewery but they have kept that history very much alive. After lunch, I jumped across the road to check it out.
I loved taking a look around all the independent businesses and the fact there is only one seller per product, so that entrepreneurs don’t have to compete against each other, was a unique touch.
After buying some handcrafted souvenirs to bring home, I enjoyed a refreshing Pale Ale upstairs at Clutch Brewing Company, overlooking the busy crowds going about their day.
On day two, it was back to Minneapolis. And my first stop was all about the man who is synonymous with the city – Prince.
The late singer was born and bred there and it’s something they take immense pride in. After his death in 2016, his house and recording studio, Paisley Park, was opened up to the public.
I took in the VIP tour and, even though I’m not the biggest music buff, it was an amazing experience. Everything is preserved the way Prince wanted it to be. The highlight was hearing an unreleased track that he was working on before he passed – and the fact you’re not allowed any phones or cameras on the tour adds a layer of authenticity to it all.
If you’re a big Prince fan, you will be in your element but it’s well worth a visit for anyone.
Next it was another Minnesota passion as I headed back downtown for a Minnesota Twins game.
Baseball is one way the neighbouring cities really come together to show a united front.
I had experienced a New York Yankees game before but this was different. There was a real local feel to it, instead of thousands of tourists filling up the stadium. The crowd electric.
If you visit Minneapolis and St Paul and the two cities don’t max you out, a quick jaunt over to Bloomington should be on the itinerary.
And if you love a bit of retail therapy, it might even move to the front of the queue since it’s the home of the enormous Mall Of America.
It’s the biggest shopping centre in North America with an astonishing 520 shops.
It also has a theme park slap bang in the middle. There are two hotels attached to it but Hyatt Regency ington offers better value as it’s only a stone’s throw away. After spending too much time in Nickelodeon Universe and all of its 27 rides, I tried to sneak in a farewell beer. I stumbled upon an arcade game bar called Up-Down. Inside, there is a neon sign with the words: “Be excellent to each other”. That was it. It perfectly summed up my trip. Minnesota is a beautiful state and, like Glasgow, it’s the people that make it special.