The Twin Cities/Minnesota
The University of Minnesota is located in heart of our metropolitan area, also known as the Twin Cities of Minneapolis (the largest city), St. Paul (the state capital), and the surrounding suburbs. The Twin Cities are abundant with opportunities in cultural activities, recreational sports, attractions, events, shopping, and restaurants. In fact these opportunities are unsurpassed in the Midwest. With a populations of over 2.5 million, the Twin Cities offers a big city atmosphere without all of the drawbacks (e.g., low pollution and low crime rates).
The metropolitan area’s innovative and cultural features include the Guthrie Theater, Ordway Music Theater, Orchestra Hall, Science Museum and Omnitheater, and Brave New Workshop. In fact, theaters thrive with more live theater seats per capita than any other city besides New York. Other popular attractions include the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Minnesota and Como Zoos, the Mall of America, the Minnesota State Fair, the Renaissance Festival, and Valleyfair. Throughout the metropolitan area, charming neighborhoods offer distinctive shopping, restaurants, and nightlife spots. From the Warehouse District and Uptown in Minneapolis to Grand Avenue in St. Paul, entertainment and dining choices abound with a variety of restaurants that can satisfy the diversity of any tastebuds.
Need to keep in shape, or just enjoy team sports? The University’s Recreational Sports program, one of the largest of its kind on any campus in the country, offers a wide variety of fitness activities. If you like to watch instead of participate, there are also plenty of opportunities at a variety of venues - Vikings (football), Twins (baseball), Timberwolves (men’s basketball), Lynx (women’s basketball), Wild (hockey), and the Thunder (soccer).
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the Twin Cities’ 150 parks and 200 lakes, ideal for picnicking, hiking, biking, swimming, canoeing, sailing, fishing, rollerblading or ice skating, crosscountry or downhill skiing, or simply sitting and thinking. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has an excellent online resource for exploring your options in outdoor recreational activities. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area, a wilderness treasure, is only a few hours drive north. The warmth of spring, greenery of summer, and bright colors of autumn pave the way for crisp white winters—where day-time temperatures generally average from 10 to 30 degrees above zero. The seasonal changes lend their beauty and variety to the urban landscape.
Graduate School link to local information – Campus, Twin Cities, Minnesota
City of Minneapolis
Homepage
City of St. Paul Homepage
Twin Cities Search
Page
Minneapolis Chamber
of Commerce
St. Paul Chamber
of Commerce
Yahoo!
Twin Cities Listings
Explore Minnesota
Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine
The
Weather Channel—Minneapolis
Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources