Minneapolis, Minnesota is a lively city that thrives despite being the coldest metropolitan in the United States (the mean temperature is a brisk 45.4 °F, or 7 °C). The city’s eastern border connects with St. Paul, the state’s capital, together forming the Twin Cities.  Its population of 377,392 (2007) is moderate by metropolitan standards.  However, the Twin Cities is a cosmopolitan, densely packed city.  Whether coming during the winter freeze or the summer sauna, visitors will be pleased to find a variety of things to see and do, from paddleboat rides around the lakes to watching live comedy to ice-skating.

Named after the Dakota word for lake (mni), Minneapolis stretches across both sides of the Mississippi River, and is home to over twenty lakes (such as the local favorite, Lake Calhoun), wetlands, and waterfalls –  including the historic St. Anthony and Minnehaha Falls – thus earning its nickname as the “City of Lakes.”  Minneapolis ranks as having one of the nation’s largest and best-designed park systems.  The city’s numerous parks, walking paths and gardens account for nearly 17% of the land, providing a refreshingly higher scenic-to-smog ratio than many other cities.  Visitors in September and October will be awed by the impressive foliage – a gorgeous farewell to fall.
   
    Minneapolis has the third largest theatre market in the United States.  For a taste of Broadway, head to the Guthrie Theater, where you can watch classic plays such as The Great Gatsby.  For gorgeous views of the Mississippi, walk out on the cantilevered bridge.  Fans of comedy should check out the Brave New Workshop, one of the oldest sketch comedy shops in the country, which offers both improv and sketch comedy shows throughout the year.  Its impressive list of alumni includes Al Franken, Mo Collins, Louie Anderson and Cedric Yarbrough.  Art lovers should check out The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

    From classical to jazz to progressive hip-hop, Minneapolis has a flourishing and eclectic music scene, and is home to musical prodigies Bob Dylan and Prince.  Sedate yourself in symphonic bliss at Orchestra Hall, or catch a live band at First Avenue, a historic venue where many national bands got their start, such as Soul Asylum, The Replacements and Semisonic.

Minneapolis has a diverse nightlife to suit any night owl on the prowl.  Laid-back hipsters should head to Dinkytown, a subsection of Minneapolis just north of the Mississippi.  Sink into a cozy couch and watch underground local music at the Kitty Kat Club, or fill up on Italian at Loring Pasta Bar, whose upper floor is famed to have been Bob Dylan´s apartment while attending the University of Minnesota.  Modern urbanites can check out the ultra-hip Bellanotte, located in the heart of downtown, or clink cocktails in uptown´s Stella´s Fish Café, whose rooftop balcony breathtaking views of the city (this only applies during the warmer months, which really do exist).

    Winters can be long and downright bitter, but the brave are rewarded with plenty of activities.  Check out the spectacular Holidazzle Parades from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas, or take a family trip to The Depot, a historic train station renovated into a glass-walled ice arena, providing excellent views of the city.

During the summer, hearty appetites fill up at the city’s annual Minnesota State Fair, held during the week before Labor Day.  The state fair is the second largest in the nation and serves up a deliciously, albeit fattening, array of fried foods on a stick, from the classic hot dog to the exotic alligator to the cosmically caloric candy bar.  The fair recently introduced “hotdish” on a stick, named after the state’s dinner specialty of the same name – a variation of the traditional casserole.  Fair-goers can also check out livestock, art exhibits, and national music acts at the Grandstand Stage.