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Ultimate Guide to Vacations in Our Cities

A look at the Twin Cities through the eyes of a tourist.

July 2007

Everyone needs a vacation; it’s hard-wired into our DNA. We all need a break from our routine, a change of pace, a chance to do something—anything—that doesn’t involve work. But all too often vacations are work; too much work, in our opinion. That’s why in this issue we’re recommending that if you really want to get away, and avoid all the planning and packing and hassle of a traditional vacation, consider looking at your own city through the eyes of a tourist. Because sometimes, all it takes to make the familiar fresh is a different perspective.

To help focus your sense of local adventure, we’ve put together nine vacation packages, all less than a gallon of gas away, as seen through the eyes of different kinds of travelers. Whether you’re a History Buff, Arts Aficionado, Foodie, Fashionista, or other type of tourist, there are more than a hundred vacation-worthy activities and destinations to choose from.

Have fun, and don’t forget the sunscreen.

—Tad Simons

Fogo de Chão

The Foodie

Though hungry Midwesterners flock to the Twin Cities for the walleye, it’s now possible to scare up a week’s worth of sophisticated global fare that will leave smug East Coast travel writers shocked and awed.

Glamorama

The Fashionista

Once fashion’s flyover zone, where parkas and Minnetonka moccasins were de rigueur, the Twin Cities is becoming a fashionista destination thanks to some of fashion’s biggest and hottest players.

Candyland

The Kid at Heart

Whether you’re a ten-year-old in search of a water slide, a parent planning a family-friendly getaway, or simply a child at heart needing a break from the adult world, the Twin Cities has gobs of fun-filled, kid-friendly entertainment.

Uptown Art Fair

The Arts Aficionado

When you travel, you head for the museums, art galleries, and other citadels of culture. Because to you, art is life, and you know from experience that wherever art flourishes, the air-conditioning is usually very good.

The Ethnographer

The Ethnographer

Ethnic and cultural diversity haven’t always been hallmarks of the Twin Cities travel experience, but we’re definitely improving. From District del Sol in St. Paul to the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis, there truly is something for just about everyone—from every background—in the metro area.

Uptown Theatre

The Night Owl

Many places in the Twin Cities don’t come alive until the sun goes down, and many people don’t either. If you too are a creature of the night, there are plenty of ways to entertain yourself in the precious hours before breakfast when everyone else is asleep. Have fun.

The Capitol

The History Buff

When you travel, you like to know what happened, where, and why. Local history fascinates you, because it tells the story of the region and people you are visiting. So grab our guidebook and go; the Twin Cities has a few tales to tell too.

The Sports Fan

The Sports Fan

Summer is all about playing outside, or watching people play, or—if you happen to be at the Metrodome—watching people play inside. Sports fans can do it all and more in our cities.

The Nature Lover

The Nature Lover

As a nature lover, you like to take advantage of the momentary lull between blizzards we call summer. Lucky for you, the Twin Cities is crawling with parks, lakes, trails, and natural wonders to explore; that’s one of the reasons we’re continually ranked among the healthiest and happiest people in the country.


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