The best things to see and do in Minneapolis, Minnesota

(This article details a stage of a coast-to-coast trip through the United States)

We are in Minneapolis, the most populated city in state of minnesota, which is also known by its nickname, the Land of 10.000 lakes., in the area of ​​the Great Lakes north of the United States.

Such lakes, along with the other waterways and their numerous national parks and forests, offer residents and tourists a clear vocation for an outdoor lifestyle in the spring and summer seasons.

As you can imagine, the city is very rich in water, with about twenty lakes and wetlands, plus the Mississppi river, streams and waterfalls.

For this reason it is also known Minneapolis and City of Lakes, an expression that appears on many municipal vehicles and properties.

The best things to see and do in Minneapolis in one day

On this new day of our journey through the Great Lakes regionFrom the hotel that was located on the outskirts we headed towards the city center.

I must admit that the Downtown We found it quite monotonous, boring and standard, with many fairly uniform office buildings, with restaurants and little else.

Mississippi River in Minneapolis

From there we went to the other side of the Mississppi river, to an area called River Side, apparently quite pleasant to live in, with houses in a half-American neighborhood.

The river bank gives the impression of being an area in the process of transformation and regeneration, with a recent offer of leisure venues.

The Mississippi rises a few kilometers north of Minneapolis.

Although Minnesota is called the state of 10.000 lakes, it seems that there are really 12.000.

Lake Walk in Minneapolis

From the River Side we head to the lake area de la ciudad.

Very well maintained, you can explore the paths that surround them by bike, or on foot, on roller skates or by car. Many of them are linked by a route interlakes.

The three lakes that we have seen in Minneapolis make up a fantastic leisure and relaxation area.

Walking we have gone completely around the Lake Harriet, more than four kilometers in about two hours.

Although the day was cloudy but without rain, it was a very pleasant walk, very relaxing.

Along the way there are various piers with fishermen and their rods, there are people paddling their canoes, and also a large number of squirrels of various colors and shades that only flee when you really get closer than two meters.

We have taken advantage of the tour to take a hot dog and a bag of popcorn.

We sit in the benches that surround the lake to look at the tranquility, breathe the trees and feel the water. many people doing jogging, by bicycle and on skates.

There are times when it feels like it's always Sunday in places like this.

In some corners there are small beaches with small children playing in the sand and bathing in the lake.

What also surprised us was the large number of beautiful houses that surround the lake.

All fantastic, spacious, with terraces overlooking the lake, with manicured lawns, lush vegetation.

It seems unbelievable that so many people can have this type of residence, all of them without fences, with gardens shared by everyone, with everything visible.

Our attention was caught by a group of lonely benches that surround the lakes, in their walker's route, and that transmit a certain melancholy.

Maybe we are missing, or someone permanently sitting there so as not to lose that peace.

We also passed by the Lake Calhoun, very beautiful, and we continue on our way to the Lake of the Islands.

Rose Garden in Minneapolis

Before reaching this lake, we detour a few meters to visit the Rose Garden, garden that, like that of San Francisco, offered the view a multitude of shapes and colors of the rose.

We spent a long time smelling them and photographing close-ups of the petals.

El Lake of the Islands, smaller than the previous ones, has an island in its center, as well as various piers for rowing clubs.

There were quite a few canoes on the lake and people on a beach.

Finally we went to visit a more commercial area of ​​the city, where we ate at a restaurant/pub/party room called Slims Saloon.

I remember that in the hotel we saw The diligence (The Stagecoach) of John Ford, film shot in Monument Valley.