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.