Approximately half of Minnesota's population lives in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, a metropolitan region also known as the "Twin Cities" or "Twin Cities," situated alongside the seemingly endless Mississippi River. We chose these two cities as our autumn travel destination because they boast numerous world-renowned shopping, entertainment, educational, and arts centers.
From the serene St. Paul...
Minnesota is a Midwestern state of the United States, becoming the 32nd state on May 11, 1858. Formed from the territories of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the state's name is derived from the Dakota word "mini sota," meaning "blue water," due to its famous "Thousands Lakes" (10,000 lakes). The state's motto is "L'Étoile du Nord" (French: The Star of the North).
We visited St. Paul, the state capital, on the first day of autumn when the weather was starting to get chilly. Perhaps the extensive network of lakes throughout the state makes the air here colder more quickly than in other states.
Mall of America: A shopping paradise.
So, to spice up our vacation together, I took my significant other to Bloomington, a city not far from here, which is considered the largest shopping mall in America.
The Mall of America (MoA) is considered a shopping paradise and is often described as a place every American woman dreams of visiting and spending money at least once in her life. Spanning over 1.2 million square meters—the equivalent of seven football stadiums—the Mall of America opened in 1992.
This center attracts approximately 40 million visitors annually with 520 stores and 50 restaurants catering to fashion enthusiasts. Major retailers within the center include: Macy's, Sears, Nordstrom Rack, Nordstrom, Forever 21, Best Buy, Marshalls, and more.
It's estimated that if someone spends at least 10 minutes browsing in one store, it would take them nearly 86 hours to explore all the shops here. Perhaps that's why this shopping district even has its own postal code and a hotel on-site.
Minneapolis Flour Museum
More than just a shopping area, it also features the Nickelodeon Universe theme park, the Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, a mini-golf course, and many unique model airplanes.
The following day, we went to visit a "must-see" place in St. Paul: the Cathedral of Saint Paul. This classical Renaissance-style cathedral was begun in 1907 and completed in 1915. The entire exterior walls are made of Rockville granite from St. Cloud, the interior travertine is from Mankato, and the main chapel wall is made of Botticino stone imported from Italy.
Specifically, a straight path will lead from the church to the front of the Minnesota State Capitol building.
Saint Paul's Church
Saint Paul's Church
Waiting for the sun to soften a little, the two travelers strolled leisurely through the zoo and nature conservation center located within the vast grounds of Como Park. One of the highlights is the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, a greenhouse with a dome-shaped structure housing a variety of flowers. Outside is the zoo, which provides natural habitats for leopards, polar bears, sea lions, African antelopes, giraffes, and more.
A long day ended beautifully on the Padelford yacht, slowly gliding down the Mississippi River. The autumn breeze caressed the back of their necks, tossing their hair like a gentle lullaby, harmonizing with the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the propeller of the old ship—a welcoming autumn song for the lovers from afar.
Go to the city... and grind
As a leading flour-producing center in the world at the time, Minneapolis was also known as the "Mill City." Therefore, the "Mill City" museum was included in our sightseeing map.
The first flour mill, Washburn A. Mill, established in 1874, was the world's largest flour mill, supplying flour to the entire country by rail and contributing to Minneapolis's economic development. At its peak, the mill produced 2 million pounds of flour per day. Production relied on the power of the Mississippi River's water flow.
Delicious dishes at Hai Hai
Until 1991, a fire destroyed almost the entire plant, and in 2003, the plant's historical museum was established in the ruins, next to Mill Ruins Park on the Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls.
For the first time in our lives, we saw firsthand the flour mill, the baking laboratory, and the water laboratory. They were accompanied by audio recordings of factory workers in the background, allowing everyone to feel like they were being transported back in time.
The highlight of the tour is the Flour Tower elevator show, which takes visitors inside a large elevator cabin that ascends and descends, with a detailed guide showing what was done on each floor of the factory when it was still in operation.
When our stomachs started rumbling, it was time for us to eat to our heart's content at the restaurant-bar with the unusual name: "Hai Hai".
Hmong village in St. Paul
When asked about this unique name, Christina Nguyen, the Vietnamese-American owner, excitedly explained: "Because this restaurant is located on 22nd Street, and in American English people greet each other informally with 'Hi,' which sounds similar to the Vietnamese word for 'two,' I just used that name."
Christina shared her experience of returning to Vietnam 15 years ago and the street food she ate there. This inspired her business idea to offer simple, authentic Vietnamese dishes in her restaurant, combined with an American bar style.
After enjoying Christina's delicious food, we ended our day off with two cocktails on the Minneapolis Queen cruise ship, gently gliding down the Mississippi River.
Looking at each other for a long time, I asked, "It seems like St. Paul was made for Minneapolis, just like we were made for each other, aren't we?" and received a shy nod...
Travel information:
- Because Minnesota has colder weather compared to other states, visitors should bring warm clothing during the fall. Also, when traveling between the two cities, avoid peak hours to prevent traffic congestion.
- Saint Paul's Cathedral is located at 239 Selby Street, right on the city's main thoroughfare, with plenty of parking available nearby.
- The Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul is completely free to enter. Address: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory - 1225 Estabrook Dr
- The Hmong markets and food stalls in St. Paul are a must-visit for shopping for souvenirs and enjoying the cuisine of countries along the Mekong River. Address:
Hmongtown Marketplace - 217 Como Road
Hmong Village - 1001 Johnson Pkwy Road
Hmong Cultural Center – Building 204, 375 University Ave W
Please note that when shopping here, locals only accept cash as payment.
- Some famous Vietnamese restaurants:
In Minneapolis: Hai Hai - 2121 University Ave NE
In St. Paul, restaurants located along University Ave. W include iPho by Saigon, Hoa Bien, Ngon Vietnamese Bistro, and others.
- Contact us to book a cruise tour along the Mississippi River:
Padelford Packet Boat: 205 Dr Justus Ohage Blvd, St. Paul (Minneasota). Website: www.riverrides.com
Paradise Charter Cruises and Minneapolis Queen - 2150 W River Pkwy, Minneapolis (Minneasota). Website:www.twincitiescruises.com
- Hotels: Saint Paul Hotel, Hyatt Place St. Paul/Downtown, Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown St. Paul, Hotel 340... Prices are quite expensive due to their location in the city center and the need to pay $20-$30 per car for overnight parking.
You can book a room at the Best Western Plus Capitol Ridge hotel right next to the Capitol building, which offers ample parking and is cheaper.
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