Where To Stay In Minneapolis For Families
Loring Park
For romance also check out W Minneapolis – The Foshay. This swanky, sophisticated property is inside a historic 1920s tower, just a few minutes’ drive from the Target Center. The rooms and suites are stylish, with high-end linens on comfortable beds and impressive bathrooms with black marble floors and, in many cases, standalone tubs and rainfall showers. Most also come with great views.
Amenities include a steakhouse, fitness center, and loaner bikes. There is also valet parking for a fee, and the hotel is dog friendly.
Best Location In Minneapolis Minnesota: A Quick Guide
Below, youll find a list of the best areas to stay in Minneapolis depending on your travel style and what you may be planning to do during your trip. Keep reading below to find all the specific information you need about each particular area mentioned here.
- Best location in Minneapolis for sightseeing: Downtown Minneapolis
- Best inn / B& B: 300 Clifton
Downtown East Where To Stay In Minneapolis First Time
Downtown East, also known as the Mill District, takes visitors back in time to the industrial era of the late 19th century, when Minneapolis was blossoming under its milling business. You can learn about its legacy and check out some really fascinating museums and ruins to learn about this.
With its location on the banks of the Mississippi River, Downtown East is a prime spot for scoring some sensational river views. There are a number of green parks to relax in, and you can find more or less any cuisine along these streets. If youre deciding where to stay in Minneapolis for your first time, Downtown East has everything you will need!
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Mill District For History Culture And A Little Bit Of Everything
Mill District is a historically significant part of Minneapolis. The district is located inside the larger neighborhood of Downtown East, known for being a historic and cultural center. Its a place where you can see the best parks in Minneapolis.
Mill District is known for the Mill City Museum, Guthrie Theatre, and the legendary West River Parkway, the starting point of the national scenic byway called Great River Road.
If you love excellent theatre, you will be located by the nationally renowned Guthrie Theater.
Although slowly being developed to provide more housing, it has many buildings from a time when it was a purely industrial area that was recognized as the worlds largest flour mill which is now where the Mill City Museums is located.
Many old mills are now converted into housing developments where you dont get to explore the interior. However, the area has revitalized some excellent green spaces with the always amazing Gold Medal Park as a prime example.
From the Mill District, youll have the chance to enjoy great views of the Mississippi River and have easy access to the Stone Arch Bridge, another iconic Minnesota landmark that you need to see.
If you are looking for a place to stay in Minneapolis that embodies a great blend of city life and culture, this is a great pick for you.
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Dinkytown One Of The Most Happening Areas In Minneapolis
Dont be fooled by the name Dinkytown is one of the most happening areas in Minneapolis.
The center of student life thanks to its proximity to the University of Minnesota, Dinkytown offers a dizzying mix of shops, eateries, cafes, and bars, with plenty of live music and event venues to liven up the evenings.
Its impossible to visit Dinkytown and not rub shoulders with Stadium Village, the ultimate student sporting hotspot.
During seasonal games at the Huntington Park Stadium the neighborhood gets livelier than ever, with every sports bar, restaurant, and venue filling up and spilling out into the streets in classic tailgating style.
Sporting events arent the only draw of Dinkytown there are also plenty of arts & cultural offerings to take advantage of during your stay in Minneapolis.
The Northrop Auditorium, built in 1928 and restored in 2014, seats approximately 2,700 people for lectures, music and dance concerts, and theatrical performances, with particularly noteworthy guests including the Dalai Lama.
There is also the art deco-style Varsity Theater, which has since gone on to become a much-loved music venue.
Last but hardly least, there is the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, located on the Mississippi River and housing over 25,000 pieces of modern art, as well as traditional Native American pottery and Korean furniture.
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Best Areas To Stay In Minneapolis
Minneapolis is one of Americas most livable cities, blurring into St. Paul to the east to create the Twin Cities of Minnesota, home to over 3 million people. The Downtown core comprises several neighborhoods the Central Business District is the traditional commercial heart of the city with most of the hotels, good restaurants, and a smattering of sights. The adjacent North Loop and Warehouse District is now a vibrant area of buzzy shops and innovative restaurants, while Downtown East and Elliot Park encompass the Mississippi riverfront and iconic Stone Arch Bridge over St Anthony Falls, as well as the innovative Mill City Museum. To the south, Loring Park is best known for the Walker Art Center. There are also plenty of attractions in South Minneapolis, including the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Minnehaha Park of Hiawatha fame. There are also several artsy outer neighborhoods known for their restaurants, bars, and galleries, and a vast network of parks, rivers, and the Chain of Lakes that ring the city.
Until 2020, Minneapolis was most famous for being the home of the late musician Prince , but that changed after the murder of George Floyd that year. Most of the damage that occurred in Minneapolis in the summer of 2020 took place 3 miles south of citys downtown, and the city has been healing ever since.
Theres no need to rent a car. Public transportation in Minneapolis is inexpensive and comprehensive.
Recommended Area: Downtown Minneapolis
Downtown is known as the business area of Minneapolis, hosting impressive skyscrapers, office complexes and the most important museums in the city.
Downtown Minneapolis is bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and is an industrial oasis with several well-known attractions such as First Avenue, a live music club, which is a great place to discover the nightlife of the city.
In this area, you will find department stores and boutiques, ideal for shopping lovers. It is also Downtown that concentrates the restaurants, breweries and high-end hotels of Minneapolis.
Downtown Minneapolis has several transport options to move to other districts, including routes 4, 11 and 61 of the bus, which makes it one of the best areas to stay in Minneapolis, since it is very well-connected.
Downtown Minneapolis is a recommended area for business travelers, thanks to the Minneapolis Convention Center, where major events are held frequently.
Why is this a recommended area to stay in Minneapolis, MN:
- Best area for sightseeing
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Other Resources For Travelling In The United States
If you are traveling to other cities beyond Minnesota you will probably want to check some of our other guides to the United States. Check the best places to stay in Chicago and where to stay in Denver.
Are you already in Minnesota or visiting it soon? Leave your thoughts and questions in the comment box below.
Take Advantage Of Amenities
Choosing the right location and hotel is imperative if you want to make the most of your trip. Many hotels offer a free shuttle to and from the airport, as well as other Minneapolis attractions like the Mall of America.
You can also save money by finding a hotel that offers free breakfast and free parking. Parking in the city can be expensive and difficult to find, so you may want to forgo renting a car altogether and walk or take public transit to avoid this.
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Downtown St Paul One Of The Best Areas To Stay In Minnesota
Our final destination of Downtown St. Paul is the only one on this list located in the other of the Twin Cities. While it still features many of the stereotypical attractions that youll find at the heart of any major city, St. Paul is a little different from Minneapolis in that it has less in the way of nightlife and tourism, yet more to offer in the way of culture.
For starters, as the Capital of Minnesota, this is where you will find the state Capitol building, which is always a wonderful place to uncover the history and enjoy the architecture of an American city.
Speaking of which, the city is also home to a number of museums for you to enjoy, including the Minnesota Museum Of American Art, the Minnesota Childrens Museum, the Minnesota History Centre, and the Science Museum Of Minnesota.
Outside of history, there are plenty of other options on offer as well. There are three fabulous parks, offering you the chance to get outdoors and experience the natural side of the city, which also hosts large events at numerous points throughout the year.
You have places where you can enjoy the theatre and performing arts endeavors, such as the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Palace Theatre, Ordway Center For The Performing Arts, Roy Wilkins Auditorium and the Fitzgerald Theater.
You even have the Minnesota History Center Library, which is on the National Register Of Historic Places, and the Landmark Center, which is a stunning building constructed at the start of the 1900s.
Opening 4th Quarter 2022
Transportation
Pet Policy
Facility
- Open 24/7
Health and Fitness Center, On-site
We offer a 24-hour fitness center featuring the latest Fitness cardio equipment, weight machines and free-weights to keep you balanced and tension-free.
On-Site Fitness Center Available
- Hours: 12:00 AM to 11:45 PM
- Fitness Center Type:Extensive Offering
Standard Internet Services
Neighborhoods
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Dinkytown / University Of Minnesota Area
The tiny neighborhood of Dinkytown borders the large University of Minnesota campus on the north bank of the Mississippi, just across from East Town. It can be a fun place to stay, with students unsurprisingly making up the majority of residents and plenty of diverse places to eat and drink . The Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum is another plus, and the area is well-served by light rail. The campus itself is a hub for arts and cultural events, with Northrop Auditorium the primary venue.
- Metered on-street parking is usually easy to find in Dinkytown, but its only 10 minutes to the CBD on #3 or #6 bus. The light rail station lies in the center of the university campus.
Is It Safe To Stay In Downtown Minneapolis
Downtown Minneapolis is a safe area to stay in Minneapolis, and there are plenty of hotels and accommodations available if you choose to stay there.
The Mall of America is also located in the suburbs of Minneapolis, and it is a popular tourist destination where you can find plenty of shops and restaurants. You can also take the light rail back to downtown Minneapolis if you need to go back during the daytime hours.
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Minneapolis Is Great For Brunch And Foodies
Many in Minneapolis take brunch seriously. No matter what you want for brunch, from fried chicken to oatmeal, you can likely find it here. The city is also a treasure trove of food in general. There are gourmet options, New American style diners and some things that are Midwest specialties, like cheese curds. One of Minneapoliss must-try dishes for burger lovers is the Jucy Lucy , which is a burger with cheese in between two thin patties.
Downtown East For Us Bank Stadium Events
Next on the list for where to stay in Minneapolis is Downtown East. This location is central and developed around the nearby US Bank Stadium. Known as Downtown East, this neighborhood has completely changed since the old Metrodome left the scene.
Filled with new restaurants, a not-for-profit brewery called Finnegans Brewing, and excellent events for travelers.
Downtown East is located adjacent to the Mill District so you can also walk to Mill Ruins Park, Gold Medal Park, Mill City Museum, Guthrie Theater, and the Mississippi River. Downtown East is among the greatest spots to take pictures of Minneapolis.
If there are no events in the area, this neighborhood can get a little quiet. Youll still be in easy cab distance to other neighborhoods and areas mentioned in this piece like Northeast or Uptown, plus US Bank Stadium has its own light rail station.
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Central Business District Theater District
The heart of downtown Minneapolis is lacking somewhat in character, but is likely where youll be staying most of the hotels are here. Dominated by office buildings and skyscrapers , the area tends to wind down on weekday evenings, but its nevertheless home to some of the citys best restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment venues . And in winter , the enclosed Minneapolis Skyway System means you can traverse the area without going outside. Nicollet is downtowns core shopping and entertainment street, while Orchestra Hall is home to the Minnesota Orchestra. Also here, First Avenue and Dakota Jazz Club, legendary live venues associated with Prince. In terms of restaurants, steakhouse lovers are in for a treat: Murrays and Mannys are 2 of the standouts.
- The CBD offers the widest choice of accommodation in the city beyond the airport, though prices are usually fairly high. Though there are no major sights here, you will have central access to the citys transportation network everything is a short cycle or light rail ride away.
- Its best not to drive in the city center: many streets are one-way and it is illegal to drive on the Light Rail tracks or on Nicollet. Parking is expensive and often hard to find.
Elliot Park Hotel Autograph Collection Minneapolis
823 5Th Avenue South
The Minnesota Mill City Historical Museum is 1.2 km from the venue, while Nicollet Mall is 1.4 km away. Guests will find Minneapolis city centre within a 10-minute walk from the accommodation. Elliot Park Hotel, Autograph Collection is just a short walk from the historic tower “Foshay Museum and Observation Deck”.
- Free Wi-Fi in rooms
This venue is located in Downtown Minneapolis district, not far from Minneapolis Skyway System Shopping Mall. The accommodation is a 5-minute walk to the centre of Minneapolis. Emery Hotel, Autograph Collection is just a short walk from Mall of America.
- Free Wi-Fi in rooms
Target Field Baseball Stadium and US Bank Stadium are located at 1.2 km and 1.5 km respectively. The city centre is within 10 minutes’ walk away. Minneapolis Marriott City Center is a short walking distance from Hennepin Center for the Arts.
- Free Wi-Fi in public areas
- 24-hour reception
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North Loop/warehouse District For Nightlife
The North Loop/Warehouse District of Minneapolis is the best place to stay if you like up-and-coming neighborhoods. If you are thinking about where to stay in Minneapolis and want a walkable, modern, and revamped place to visit, this is your spot.
In this neighborhood, you can walk to dozens of trendy restaurants, bars, and shops. Also called the Warehouse District, this neighborhood was largely made up of empty warehouses and historic industrial buildings that had fallen into disuse.
It wasnt until very recently, new life was breathed into this carcass of industry. Today, the Warehouse District is a vibrant neighborhood filled with top restaurants, lively nightlife, and condos that fly off the market.
One of the top hotels in the North Loop is the Hewing Hotel, a boutique hotel offering a rooftop offering excellent views of the Minneapolis skyline.
The North Loop/Warehouse District is located next to Target Field so it is an ideal place to stay in Minneapolis if you are going to a Minnesota Twins game or concert downtown.
The North Loop/Warehouse District is within walking distance from the main downtown area and easy to get to theaters and clubs. If you stay in this area, make sure you check out the Bob Dylan mural on Hennepin Avenue its a great spot to snap a photo for the gram.
Downtown West For A Quiet Experience Or Visiting Other Suburbs
While the neighborhoods name is Downtown West, it really isnt downtown at all. This neighborhood is on the fringe of the first-ring suburb of St. Louis Park.
However, Downtown West is the perfect place to stay if you are looking for a quiet and relaxing experience in the Twin Cities.
This neighborhood is known for its excellent shopping with the West End shopping center being the center point of the neighborhood, so you can easily find everything you need without having to leave the area.
Youll also be close to some of Minneapolis best restaurants and bars outside of the main downtown area of Minneapolis, making it easy to still get out and explore the city.
Downtown West is easily accessible to and from other suburbs of the Twin Cities. However, if you stay in this neighborhood its highly recommended that you rent a car, as there is no light rail station to get to this area from the airport or other areas of central Minneapolis.
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