I moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in August of 2015. When I was still new to the place, my great uncle, who has been a Minnesotan for decades, took me on a driving tour and gave me his highlights. It’s a gem of a metropolis we keep tucked up here in the northlands. Perhaps you, like me, are feeling a deep urge to Go Out and Do Stuff this summer after over a year of being homebound. Should your travels ever take you west along the I-94 corridor past the sprawl of Chicagoland and into the northern plains, these are a few of my favorite highlights from the Twin Cities’ metro. 

Stone Arch Bridge

Let’s start off in downtown Minneapolis. The city was once a grain milling hub, capitalizing on Saint Anthony Falls on the Mississippi as a source of power. Stone Arch Bridge was originally built for the railroad, which stretched west to bring in crops from the plains. Now, Stone Arch is a historic walking bridge from which you can enjoy a scenic view of the falls as well as the lock and dam. It’s a cool piece of history in the middle of a modern city. You may even encounter a few teenagers snapping their senior pictures while you’re there. 

First Ave 

For any dedicated fans of The Purple One, making a stop at Prince’s famous nightclub on the corner of 1st Avenue W and 7th Street S may feel like a pilgrimage. Regardless of your feelings on 80s psychedelic pop, it’s a cool building, and a great place to see a show. You can see the black brick walls outside adorned with the names of famous acts who have played there. It’s an iconic venue and, in my opinion, a bucket-list item for any music lover. 

Eat Street

Now we’re headed out of downtown to the south side. Going south on Nicolett, one of Minneapolis’s main drags, will bring you to the area colloquially known as Eat Street. Eat Street is a stretch of Nicolette, roughly from 24th to 28th Street, that boasts a high density of great restaurants. There are myriad options depending on your palate, but my personal recommendation is  Quang. If you’ve never had Vietnamese food before, do yourself a favor and try their pho (pronounced “fuh”). It’s beef and noodle soup flavored with star anise, basil, and mint. When I still lived in Minneapolis, I would have it every Wednesday for my weekly takeout treat. 

The Lake Chain

Those hailing from West Michigan may snidely view Minnesota’s lakes as merely glorified ponds, but they are nonetheless beautiful oases scattered throughout the city, and there are a lot of them. Of particular note is the Lake Chain in south Minneapolis, a single waterway that connects three lakes: Lake Harriet (the southernmost), Bde Maka Ska, and Lake of the Isles (the northernmost). Walking and biking trails wrap around all three, and are all connected. It’s beautiful, and a space that easily warrants a lazy afternoon with a good book or a podcast.

George Floyd Square

I had to mention this. As you leave the serene nature of the lakes, drive east on Lake Street. At Chicago Ave, turn south. In a mile, you’ll find the intersection of 38th and Chicago, which isn’t really an intersection anymore. What some people are describing as a “living memorial” occupies the space now. I’ll say this: perhaps, like me, you experience enough privilege and comfort to be able to mostly disassociate from the news. I can think and talk philosophically about issues of police violence, and then I can promptly forget about it and go eat dinner or fold laundry. But taking the drive down east Lake and Chicago, seeing the empty spaces where buildings used to be, the signs, the flowers, the paintings, the plywood-covered windows—it activates something in the deep brain. It makes it more real, and I think that’s a good exercise.

Summit Hill

One more stop to give St. Paul a little love. Head east from south Minneapolis and cross the river. Just west of downtown St. Paul, you’ll find Summit Hill. It’s a historical area full of old houses. Park and take a stroll around the neighborhood. I like to just wander around the streets and look at all the beautiful old mansions that I’ll never be able to afford. For you literary types, you can even find the house where F. Scott Fitzgerald used to live. And while you’re at it, stop for an espresso drink at Nina’s on the corner of Western and Selby. You can sit at one of the wrought iron patio tables and sip your latte while you channel your inner hipster and fantasize about working on your screenplay. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed your adventure. Stay a while, explore, and fall in love with this place as I have. 

Alex Westenbroek

Alex Westenbroek (’14) works as a speech language pathologist for WordPlay Speech and Language, a small company serving charter schools, grades K-12, in the Twin Cities metro area. Alex enjoys many things, including collecting and listening to vinyl records and playing board games. He lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.