Twin Cities Tours: Top 5 Minneapolis & St. Paul Day Trips
So, you’re thinking about visiting the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, and want to make the most of your time? A day trip is very the ticket! That it offers a good way to see the highlights without getting overwhelmed. We looked into some awesome full-day tours in the area. And we found some pretty sweet ones we want to tell you about.
1. Minneapolis City Highlights Tour
If you are after a broad overview of Minneapolis, the City Highlights Tour is something you may think about. That it often starts with downtown, where you get to see spots like the Mill City Museum, which used to be the biggest flour mill on earth! It then heads over to the Stone Arch Bridge which offers an awesome photo op with views of the Mississippi River. Usually these types of tours take you through spots, just like the Walker Art Center and its sculpture garden, very the Spoonbridge and Cherry!
But wait, there’s more! So many trips head over to see the historic mansions along Summit Avenue. Often they end with a drive along the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. It winds through city lakes and parks, that show you a ton of green space.
2. St. Paul Gangster & History Tour
If you’re keen to hear tales, it looks like you might very like a Gangster and History Tour of St. Paul! Back in the day, during the 1920s and 30s, St. Paul actually had an agreement with crooks, something called the “O’Connor System”. In a way, the police let the criminals hang out there, as long as they didn’t stir up too much trouble.
You go to see some spots just like the old crooked cop hangout. These were places that hosted folks such as John Dillinger, Ma Barker, and the like. What it gives you is the feel of a secret side to the city.
3. Twin Cities Brewery Tour
Want to try some local flavors? Then the Twin Cities Brewery Tour just could be it! What these tours do is they typically haul you off to, I guess, about three or four different breweries in Minneapolis and St. Paul. By the way, here you not only see what they’re doing to make their beers, and how they create beer, but try various craft beers also. Indeed they cover all sorts of styles too, very the IPAs to stouts to lagers!
Often these tours have guides who tell stories about brewing in the region too. Sometimes a lunch is included with this package.
4. Mississippi River Cruise and City Tour Combo
For a relaxing vibe with awesome scenery, maybe it could be the Mississippi River Cruise and City Tour Combo for you. First of all, it gets you to see Minneapolis or St. Paul on a bus tour that rolls around all over the spots we told you before. What it adds is that, in addition to just sightseeing by vehicle, you also cruise on the Mississippi! Actually, plenty of cruises will give narration about the history along the river while you just kick back on the deck. Then just take it all in, so it could be the views.
The combos normally go anywhere from April to October. Then that is really weather dependent.
5. Private Customized Tour of Minneapolis and St. Paul
Fancy seeing stuff you wanna check out at your pace? Right, then you’re gonna enjoy the Private Customized Tour of Minneapolis and St. Paul! First of all, you chat with the company who makes these, and they sort of help plan out the day just how you would imagine. So maybe, that you only want to do museums or shopping. Naturally, a few tours do it that way! It comes with someone that knows the place showing you all around!
Oh that means you do it your way, that is it you get a real sense, you know, as in just local insights.
