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.