Nearby Attractions
Carol's house is beautifully situated for almost anything you'd like to enjoy in the Twin Cities. It's near the major interstate highways, right on the line of a terrific public transportation system, and centrally located just over the Mississippi from downtown Minneapolis.
Parks, Lakes and Bike Paths
Minneapolis has an extensive park system, designed with the goal of having a public park within four blocks of every home. Carol's house is across the street from Logan Park, and less than a mile from a public water park.
There are bike paths throughout the city, and bikes for rent in the park from April to October. You can bike from Carol's house to the scenic "Chain of Lakes" in under 20 minutes, or visit any of the 27 lakes within the City of Lakes (Minneapolis).
There are also a number of "specialty" parks, like the golf courses, water parks, the parks around the lakes, parks with lake beaches, roller skating and skateboard parks. For a special treat, there's the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in Theodore Wirth Park, or the Rose Garden at Lake Harriet -- to name a few.
Professional & College Sports
Name your sport: Vikings Football. Tiberwolves Basketball. Twins Baseball. Wild Hockey. Lynx Women's Basketball. Golf. Fishing. Canoeing, Kayaking, and Sailing (rentals on Lake Calhoun and Lake Minnetonka). Skiing in the winter, Water Skiing in the summer. Come for the Minneapolis Aquatennial in July and see some world-class tennis.
All these sports are played near Carol's house -- the hardy can walk to the Target Center, or take the city bus for $1.75. A taxi is about $5. The International Youth Soccer tournament is played just north of Carol's, and Minnesota United FC is now MLS with a stadium being built ten minutes from Carol's house to the east.
Add to that all the UofM sports teams, plus those from the many other local colleges and universities.
Theater, Music, Dance: Culture
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Restaurants, Breweries, Wineries
The world-famous Guthrie Theater, just across the Mississippi, is a favorite destination for many people visiting Minneapolis. There are also local theater companies and traveling shows from New York nearby, on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis five minutes away.
There's a popular music scene (think "Prince"), jazz clubs, the Minnesota Opera Company, and the world- renowned Minnesota Orchestra. It's the capital of choral music, and hosts many chamber groups and choirs, like the Rose Ensemble, St. Olaf College Choir, and more.
There's the Minnesota Ballet and numerous visiting dance troups that perform here. The multicultural demographics attract dancers and other entertainers from around the world.
Check out Carol's "guest info" page for new lists of restaurants, microbreweries, wine tastings, even nearby distillery tours. www.Facebook.com/VisitNortheastMinneapolis.
There are seven nice restaurants, at least six coffee shops, and numerous breweries within walking distance of Carol's house and dozens within easy reach. Many of them serve ethnic cuisine including Vietnam, Lebanon, Poland, the Middle East, Afghanistan, Mexico, Ecuador, the Mediterranean, India. There are upscale eateries, fish & chips, McDonalds.
There's a microbrewery tour of the city, and frequent wine tastings. A visit to the Global Market is a little further - maybe fifteen minutes - but there you can find multiple world cuisines in one place.
Museums & Galleries
Minneapolis has a plethora of fabulous museums. The famous Minneapolis Institute of Art is huge and free. The Walker Gallery is free to tour every first Saturday. So is the California Building, a large artists' studio building near Carol's. The third Thursday there are art events at the Casket Arts building down the street from her.
The American Swedish Institute, Russian Museum, and Minnesota History Museum are popular destinations. Just across the river from Carol's is the Mill City Museum, built on the banks of the Mississippi in the ruins of the city's first flour mill.
There are also small little-known collections for those with special interests, like the Fiber Arts Center or Brick Mania -- a veritable shrine to adult Lego art near Carol's..