10Best's Minneapolis Attractions & Activities
-- Kim Goodin, 10Best Travel Editor
Consult most any traveler familiar with the area, and you'll learn that Minneapolis, above all else, takes its free time very seriously. After all, this is a place where the number of theaters per capita is second in the US only to New York City, a remarkable fact for a city its size but not at all surprising if you've ever had the chance to catch a show at venues such as the Guthrie, Orpheum, or Pantage. For the more visually-inclined patron of the arts, Minneapolis promises an amazing repertoire of museums that includes the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, home to one of the country's top collections of Asian art, and the Walker Art Center, a stunning multi-purpose complex designed by Herzog and de Meuron. And while there's plenty for the eyes and ears to take in at these places, don't think for a second that Minneapolis is a "sit and watch" kind of town. The public park system here is regarded as a model program for other large cities, and no matter in what direction you look, there's sure to be a public greenspace, trail, or garden awaiting exploration. This is especially apparent in the spring and summer, when it seems like every resident in town owns in-line skates (they were invented here), a Frisbee, and a pair of running shoes.