Minneapolis is a large city in the Midwest part of the US, close to Lake Superior. The town is connected with Saint Paul and forms the Twin Cities. Minneapolis lies on the Mississippi River and has plenty of fun things to do for the whole family. The city has an abundance of water with 13 connected lakes and a large river.
It is home to major professional American sports teams like Vikings that play in the NFL, and TimberWolfs, an NBA franchise. The city is also home to a vibrant music scene, with many famous American authors made their name in Minneapolis. It is easy to find fun for adults, but fortunately, you can also entertain youngsters in a large metropolitan area.
Foreign visitors require USA ESTA to come to the Twin Cities. You can apply for travel authorization online, where you will need to answer a set of detailed questions. American administration will need up to 72 hours to process your application. Once you get the permit, there is a 24-month period in which you can visit the US.
Top fun for teenagers
Jumping newer grows old, and the metropolitan area has several adventure parks with trampolines. Head down to Rockin’ Jump for a healthy dose of bouncing, dunking, and tackle an obstacle course. You can get the adrenaline up in Sky Zone Trampoline Park. Popular American Ninja competition sparked obstacle course frenzy in the country, and you can try this type of exercise in Schaper Park Challenge Course.
Minneapolis has long and cold winters, but it also has snow and sledding hills. If you like skiing or snowboard, you could visit the Como Park Ski Center. With a 150-foot height difference, it provides around 15 acres of the ski area and a couple of miles of cross-country trails.
Summer also offers excellent fun attractions. Valleyfair is among the largest Midwestern amusement parks. You can find Dinosaur’s Alive, Soak City Waterpark, more than 70 rides, and eight roller coasters among top attractions.
Mini golf could be great fun for the whole family, and the best courses are at Big Stone Mini Golf & Sculpture Park, Can Can Wonderland Mini Golf indoor facility suitable for year-round fun.
Como Town amusement park is near Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. You could go on fun rides in the park and then check out the Zoo.
Although the winters are freezing, Minneapolis has hot summers, and in the high tourist season, there are plenty of community beaches on nearby lakes. Anoka County has Centerville Lake Beach, Coon Lake, and Lake George Beach. Baylor Regional Park Beach, Lake Minnewashta, and Lake Waconia are the most visited in Carver County. Other notable nearby swimming spots are Schulze Lake Beach, Lake Josephine, and McCarrons Country Park Beaches. Read more interesting stories and news at The Right News Network.
Indoor go-karts Minneapolis
Since the weather is not so great from October till April, indoor activities are an essential part of the Twin Cities’ offer. A popular fun in Minneapolis is go-carts. You can find a great indoor go-kart at Big Thrill Factory. The track allows 11 drivers to compete for the trophy. Another excellent go-kart arena is ProKART Indoor Racing.
MB2 Raceway is another excellent indoor go-kart facility that offers regular rides, special packages, and private events.
Family restaurants in Minneapolis
Like every big American city, Minneapolis is full of exceptional restaurants. If you are planning to dine with kids, the high-end restaurants are not on the top of the list. Red Cow is a popular chain of burger restaurants with fast service, great burgers, and some veggies.
Blue Door Pub is in Uptown, and the must-have dish is called Juicy Lucy, and the locals appreciate the Lyn-Laker Blucy sandwich. If your kids are gamers, Chatterbox Pub has plenty of board games and old-school Nintendo, Atari, and Sega game machines, along with a great menu.
Pizza lovers could head down to Pizzeria Lola. Tilia offers kids activities on top of its diverse menu, while Brasa Premium Rotisserie focuses on locally sourced ingredients and fast service with a kid-friendly menu.
Are there mountains in Minnesota?
Minnesota is called the land of a thousand lakes. Many lakes and rivers form the landscape, and there are no massive mountain ranges in the area. The biggest range is the Sawtooth Mountains stretching 30 miles along the shores of Lake Superior. The highest peak in mostly flat Minnesota is Eagle Mountain with 2,301 feet. Both areas are close to Superior National Forest and, just like Lake Superior’s shores, offer plenty of hiking trails.
You will not be disappointed if you choose Minneapolis for the start of the Midwestern road trip. Foreign visitors, however, need ESTA travel authorization. Do not book any accommodation or airplane tickets before approval from the American administration. Once you have ESTA approval, you can visit the US for up to 90 days.
Bottom line
The biggest urban conglomeration in Upper Midwest is Minneapolis- St. Paul, with a metro area with a population of 3.6 million. The city has numerous attractions for visitors of all ages. If you want to explore Minnesota’s state, there are many natural attractions, 72 State Parks, and other protected areas.
