Stone Arch Bridge - Minneapolis

Of all the bridges in Minneapolis, heck of all the bridges in Minnesota, the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis in my opinion is the most beautoful of them all.

The Stone Arch Bridge connects St. Anthony Falls to downtown Minneapolis over the Mississippi River. The Stone Arch Bridge is a pedestrian-only bridge, making it safe for bikers, joggers, and lovers alike. The bridge was built as a railway, carrying trains to and from the Minneapolis Great Northern Depot. The railway ceased used in 1978, and has since been restored to its magnificant self in 2005, with its lastest addition being lighting. The bridge offers a fantastic view of Minneapolis, and it is the most up-close-and-personal view I think you can get! You will see the Guthrie Theater in the foreground to the left, the Gold Medal Flour building also in the foreground, all giving way to the prominent skyscrapers.

The bridge itself is a thing of beauty. I was super excited when the bridge was our focal point in my engagement photos. My brother took the photos, and he is a native of Minneapolis, and the Stone Arch Bridge was once his jogging route. We were so pleased at how they turned out, and we wouldn't have done them any other way. This goes to show the versatility of this bridge. If you don't believe me, check it out yourself!

Foshay Tower - Minneapolis

If anyone out there is an avid reader of my blog, they would know that I love seeing city's from the top, and to see my home city from above was very exciting for me. The Foshay Tower is the only building in Minneapolis with an observation deck. The Foshay Tower is the shortest skyscraper in Minneapolis, so it would offer a unique vantage point, looking up at all the buildings, unlike in most other cities. With that being said, the Foshay Tower was once the tallest skyscraper in Minneapolis!! I didn't believe it the first time I heard it, either!

When we got to the top of the Tower, I noticed it was really windy. Funny, I hadn't noted the wind on the streets...! The Foshay Tower is one of the few open-air observation deck left in the US of A, so we were sure to see for miles, fingerprint-free! Like many other observation decks that I've been in, the Foshay Tower had descrpitive plaques, telling me what I was looking at and in what direction I was looking in.

Looking north, you can see the Wells Fargo Building to the left. The top of the Wells Fargo Building lights up at night and puts an exclamation point on downtown Minneapolis. Other buildings to note looking north are the Capella Tower, and the IDS Building. To the east, you will be able to see downtown St. Paul, the twin city to Minneapolis, also buildings like the Campbell Mithun Tower, the Accenture Tower, and if you look close enough, you can see a portion of the Metrodome peeking around some buildings. To the south, I-35W dominates your view. My all-time favorite building is off to the southwest, the AT&T Tower. You can also see the Minneapolis Convention Center, and a few tall apartment buildings. To the west, you will see a vague sight of Minneapolis, but if you look through some buildings, you can see the top of the Target Center, and Target Field!

I was very satisfied after being to the top of my home city! It offered great views, and there was even a floor inside that had a video timeline of the Foshay's conception, to where it is now! All in all, a great experience!!

Lake Calhoun/Surrounding Lakes - Minneapolis

Lake Calhoun is such a serene place to be. This is another raved-about place that took me years to get to, and after I was there, I had no idea why it took me so long. Lake Calhoun is huge! It is just southwest of downtown Minneapolis, at the end of Hennepin Ave. People always seem to be hanging out here, whether they be running, boating, swimming, or just sitting o a bench looking out onto the waters. As the temperature turns nice and the calendars change to the spring months, people seem to find Calhoun. If you get to the right vantage point, you are looking over water and trees onto the Minneapolis skyline. Call me selfish and biased, but the Minneapolis skyline is my favorite. I try to find it everywhere possible, but if it's over a lake, it's even better! If you are looking for a relaxing afternoon, a good place to jog, or a place to play fetch with your dog, come to Lake Calhoun!

Minneapolis has over 15 lakes and wetlands, and that's just in the city! One can take an hour for lunch, find an area of water, and eat comfortably. No other major city can offer that. Minneapolis is a city of nature, and that further justifies why I continue to live here, despite the cold, which brings me to my next point.

Winter is also a great time to go to the lake. Many people in the upper midwest ice fish. As Minnesota is named the Land Of 10,000 Lakes for a good reason, one doesn't have to look very far for year-round activities. Ice fishing takes patience, but it's a great sport. You can bond with your buddy over beers and great stories while wasting away the day without a care in the world. People actually take off work and school for the openers! It's a way of life up here!

If anyone feels the need for an abundancy of water, Minneapolis wouldn't be a bad destination idea!

Sculpture Gardens - Minneapolis

Before I moved to the Minneapolis area, I had no idea that there was a huge sculpture garden just west of I-94. I had driven that route too many times to mention, and little did I know, just on the other side of a line of trees was acres of sculpture gardens. To be completely honest, it wasn't until I was watching the Minneapolis auditions of American Idol in 2007 I believe and saw a cherry on a spoon that I started inquiring about this odd piece of art. Surely, it wasn't in downtown. How could it be? There isn't enough room for that. I have been downtown so many times and haven't seen a trace of it. Then I spent a few days at my brother's place in South Minneapolis and I begged him to take me there.

Holy Moly! These sculpture gardens are huge! There are so many sculptures and I didn't even know they were there! Turns out American Idol had it right, there is a huge cherry on a spoon, right there in Minneapolis. And boy, is it gorgeous! The "Spoonbridge and Cherry" is the focal point of the gardens, and there are so many others there, too, that it took us probably 3 hours to stroll the many acres. It is fun to just hang out there for an afternoon, taking in the artsy side of MPLS.

A great feature of the gardens is a bridge you can cross, spanning right above the 6 lanes of I-94. It's kinda freaky at first, walking above the traffic, but then it sets in and is very cool! The gardens are also cool to see from above. Knowing me and photography, I had fun thinking up different angles and different opportunities.

As much of a secret as the sculpture gardens are in Minneapolis, I would tell all my friends about it. It is a great place to go for relaxation, to study, to take your kids and let them loose, or to just come see another unique side of Minneapolis. 

Getting Around - Minneapolis

There are plenty of easy ways to get around in downtown Minneapolis and its surrounding areas. One of the newest modes of transportation in Minneapolis is the Lightrail System. This system takes you all the way from Target Field in the Warehouse District to the Mall of America, with plenty of stops in between including both airport terminals. No matter where you are going, a ticket can cost you only about $3.00 per day. Plans are now in place to expand the Lightrail System to run between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul.

The Skyways are another easy way of getting around downtown Minneapolis. Downtown has 8 miles of Skyways, the largest system in the world, linking 69 city blocks. This is a great way to get around: the Skyways keep you warm, they have great directionals, and they are perfect if you are hopping around from building to building/retail shop to retail shop.

Walking is always a perfect way of getting around in any city. I will always advocate for walking. If you want to brave the always changing Minnesota weather, walk outside. You will get a better sense of the history of downtown, and maybe even run into Mary Tyler Moore! The streets are easy to navigate, and the people are always friendly if you need help.

Other ways of getting around in Minneapolis are by car, taxi, bus, bike.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis is abundant in things to do. Minneapolis is more of a natural city than a sight-seeing city, but if you come here looking for things to do, you will not be disappointed. I live in Minneapolis and haven't even gotten around to all there is to do in this city. Come along with me in my home city as I show you around!

Destination: Minneapolis

Check out the beauty of Minneapolis!

Overview
Getting Around
Target Field
Sculpture Gardens
Lake Calhoun/Surrounding Lakes
Foshay Tower
Stone Arch Bridge

Target Field - Minneapolis

I can't count the number of Minnesota Twins games I have been to at the Metrodome. There was just something wrong with watching America's game in a climate controlled building with a huge teflon roof over you. Let's face it, the Metrodome was the eyesore of Minneapolis. Granted, the dome did have some home-field advantages for the Twins, such as pop-ups in the lights and the crowd noise, but what is the crowd noise advantage if there is no crowd, right? Enter Target Field.

Target Field opened up for its Inaugural Season in 2010 to an eager Minnesota Twins team, and to a state full of people breathing a sigh of relief. Finally, outdoor baseball! Minnesota finally got it right! But is Target Field all its cracked up to be?

I had the honor of going to Target Field's first organized baseball game. Nope, not the home opener for the Twins, but an exhibition game for the University of Minnesota Gophers baseball team. How lucky were the Gophers to be playing on the new grass, new dirt, in front of a brand new crowd, bundled up, ready to brave the elements? I'd say pretty lucky! Target Field was selling tickets to this game on a first-come-first-serve basis to the first 25,000 people to enter the turn-styles. My husband and I got up 4 hours before the rooster crowed to get in line for tickets, not knowing the number of people who were going to be doing the same. Luckily, we were one of the first people in line....unluckily it was still March and the temperatures were teetering right around freezing. Sitting in the cold for 4 hours before the gates opened wasn't the most brilliant of ideas, but we knew it was going to be worth it.

The actual game started at 1pm, and the gates opened at 9am, giving the few select people a chance to take a thorough look at the place. Target Field is amazing. All the history of the Twins is all over the stadium! Kirby Puckett has his own area in the Legend's Club, and the Champion's Club holds the World Series Trophies. Unfortunately, the only access to the Champion's Club is a season ticket, but if you take a tour of Target Field, you will get to mill around the Champion's Club all you want! Other great features include the Townball Tavern, a great bar honoring the smalltown ball through the decades in Minnesota. Townball Tavern also has a section of flooring taken out of the court where the original Minneapolis Lakers used to play basketball! The scoreboard is enormous, about 500 times the size of the one in the Metrodome, not to mention it is HD equipped!! A favorite of mine is the homerun celebration feature. Located in centerfield, this large feature is the Twins original "Shaking Hands" logo from 1961-1981. It features Twins characters, Minnie and Paul that light up when a Twins player hits a homerun. There are twice, maybe 3 times as many restrooms, twice the room on the concourse featuring heated lamps for fans' comfort.

A lot of Target Field is local. The limestone of the facade of the building is Minnesotan, and the batter's eye showcases Minnesota pine trees.

Since the Minnesota Gophers game, I have been to 2 other games there, and have gone on a tour. Catching a game at Target Field fills you with excitement! The fresh outdoor smells, the wind in your hair, the roar of the crowd, the crack of the bat, and the sights of downtown Minneapolis right in front of you! The crowd is way more into Twins baseball now that they are playing outdoors, which makes the game that much more thrilling. Each Twins hit causes an eruption, and don't even get me started with what a homerun causes! The games people go to most likely are their first games, so you'll hear a lot of chatter around you, comments such as, "look at that, daddy," "wow, that is enormous," "I can't believe this is the same team that played in the dome," "the food here is so much better," "I don't even feel like I am in Minnesota." Even if you aren't a Twins fan, you would appreciate the venue.

 There is so much to see throughout Target Field, and it will give me lasting memories each time I enter the park.

Target Field is definitely all it's cracked up to be!

GO TWINS!!!

Tips on Target Field:
- If it is your first time at Target Field, you might want to arrive early. There is a lot to see, and you won't want to miss being part of history.
- There is no general admission into Target Field, so be prepared to pay a little more for face value. It's worth it!
- There also is no will-call. You cannot leave a ticket at the window for someone in your party. You either have to wait outside for them, or have them purchase the ticket themselves.
- Any seat in Target Field is a good seat. When I attended the Gophers game, I sat in about every section, and you will get a unique vantage point from anywhere in the stadium.
- The food is outstanding! On top of your usual hotdogs and brats, there is Minnesota State Fair food (food on a stick), chicken fingers that I think are better than anything you would get at a restaurant, tons of snacks, cookies, and beverages.

The Mirage - Las Vegas

The Mirage is a cool Casino/Hotel. The Mirage has a rainforest theme, and is very welcoming! The first time I went to Vegas, it was at the Mirage that I won my first chunk of money, at Casino War no less! My most recent visit to Vegas was in May of '10, and they added a few new games to the casino, including Blackjack Switch. This game is one of my favorites. We played it at the Wynn in the fall of '09 because that was the only casino that had it. Blackjack Switch is a game where you are dealt 2 hands, and you can switch the top 2 cards. It allows for more strategy, but the dealer busts on a 23 or higher, not a 22 or higher.

The Mirage also has a fantastic Volcano Eruption Show in front of it. The show runs from 8pm-Midnight, on the hour, every hour. This Volcano Eruption is something you wouldn't want to miss. There is a huge rocky waterfall outside the Mirage that starts spewing lava , choreographed to music. The show lasts about 3-5 minutes, and you will not be disappointed. In my opinion, the Eruption is better than the Water Show at the Bellagio.

Little Italy/Chinatown - New York City

After my trip to NYC, I learned that almost every big city has a Chinatown, but the Chinatown, and Little Italy for that matter, in New York City was my first experience! I really didn't know what to expect!

I remember walking to Little Italy and Chinatown from Battery Park (in lower Manhattan), and all of the sudden, there we were, in Chinatown. I knew this not by the street signs (because there probably weren't any), but I knew this because of street(s) lined with vendors, the smell of Chinese food, the music, and the sights of the hustle and bustle of Chinese folks. What really overwhelmed me was that the streets were cram-packed with merchadise, and probably a lot of haggling. I tend to get a bit claustrophobic when I get in large groups of people in small spaces, but I was up for the challenge. My family and I walked up just one street and spent about an hour doing so. There was THAT much stuff to look at!! I ended up with a lasting impression, and a nice Chinese lantern.

Little Italy was a few streets over, as I remember. Walking down this street, it was like someone flipped a switch. Little Italy was still crowded but there wasn't so much merchandise on the sidewalks, but more Italian restaurants. Luckily we had all worked up an appetite after Chinatown, so we decided on a cute little place, complete with Italian music and the best Italian food I have ever eaten!!

The Chinatown's and Littly Italy's of other big city's just don't carry the same punch as the one's in New York City. You will enjoy yourself if you decide to visit!

Empire State Building - New York City

In my personal opinion, the Empire State Building defines the New York City skyline! It's a gorgeous building, and the sights from the top are unbelieveable!

The Empire State Building (ESB) is a 102 story landmark in NYC with its name deriving from New York's nickname, The Empire State. It stood as the world's tallest building for more than 40 years until the completion of the World Trade Center's North Tower in 1972. Today, the ESB is the 3rd tallest skyscraper in the Americas, following the Willis Tower (formally the Sears Tower), and Trump International Hotel and Tower both in Chicago.

We wanted to see New York City from the top at night, so as the night grew on, so did the fog. We had gotten tickets for that night, partly because there were no lines, but they wouldn't let us up because the fog was too thick for visitors to see anything, so they allowed us to come back the next day and skip the lines!! Sweet!

When we got up there, the views were, as I said, unbelieveable!! Each observer gets a 360 degree view of beautiful New York City, including a few of its boroughs, if it's a clear day! On a clear day, one can see far into New Jersey, and way out into the Atlantic!! As a lot of you know, I love seeing city's from the top, and there was SOOOO much to see from the ESB!!! So many buildings, neighborhoods, ponds, Central Park, cabs, and so on and so forth!!

You can stay up at the top for as long as you wanted, and luckily I had reinforcements to drag me down to the street again. The ESB was an excellent experience, and when anyone is in NYC, they should definitely take the time to go observe New York from the top!

Tips on the Empire State Building:
-The lines are always extremely long (except for our rare experience), especially on weekends I would assume, so be prepared for that.
-The observation deck is fenced in, outdoors. If there is anyone afraid of hieghts, it might be unnerving for them.