Get to know Minneapolis!
|
HeART of Minneapolis
Walking Tour $75 per person Tour offered May through September
Thu / Sat Start time: 1:30pm Thu / 10:00am Sat Duration: 2 to 2-1/2 hours Departure: Nicollet Mall & Washington Ave S Return: Nicollet Mall & Washington Ave S Be able to walk up to two miles. |
Skyways of Minneapolis
Walking Tour $75 per person Tour offered year-round
Mon / Tue / Thu / Fri Start time: 10:00am Duration: 2 to 2-1/2 hours Departure: Foshay Tower (W Hotel), 821 South Marquette Ave Return: Foshay Tower (W Hotel), 821 South Marquette Ave Be able to walk up to two miles. |
|
Minneapolis is a city deeply committed to the arts, with a set of core values that guide its vibrant cultural scene. Whether exploring galleries, attending a performance, or simply walking the city’s streets, Minneapolis offers a wealth of artistic expression that celebrates creativity, diversity, and community.
This walking tour through the heart of Minneapolis is a perfect blend of the arts and urban life. We'll walk the length of Nicollet Mall, a showcase of public art that transforms the heart of downtown into an open-air gallery. The artworks blend seamlessly with city life, encouraging pedestrians to pause, reflect, and engage with their surroundings. This mile-long corridor features a diverse range of sculptures and installations that reflect the city’s culture and history. We'll encounter a mix of notable buildings both historic and modern, all contributing to the unique character of downtown. On our way to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden we will walk along the Loring Greenway, a scenic pedestrian pathway connecting downtown to Loring Park, one of Minneapolis’ oldest and most beloved green spaces. Originally designed as a public park offering a natural escape in the heart of the city, it has long been a popular spot for relaxation and recreation. Today, it's just as popular, and the pedestrian spaces provide the backdrop for vibrant water features, picnic pavilions, and bronze, abstract and whimsical sculptures.
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which sits adjacent to the Walker Art Center, spans 11 acres and features over 40 sculptures, many of which are large-scale, contemporary works by renowned artists. The art pieces spark imagination and conversation, and the garden's serene, park-like atmosphere provides a perfect setting for reflection and enjoyment.
Once we have had our fill of inspiration, you'll have the option to stay longer and have lunch at one of several highly recommended nearby restaurants on your own, or public transportation will whisk us back to where we started our artful journey. Highlights: Spoonbridge and Cherry, Mary Tyler Moore Statue, George Morrison's Tableau, Chihuly, IDS Center (tallest building in Minneapolis), Orchestra Hall and Peavy Plaza, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Shah Armajani's Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge What is included:
|
A great way to see the city all year-round, stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer!
Minneapolis is home to the largest, contiguous skyway system in the world! Originally designed to counter the 1950s post war suburban boom by revitalizing the city's retail core, today the second story walkways connect 80 city blocks and meander more than 9 miles. This is a great way to see the city -- inside and out -- during cool weather, hot weather, rainy days and the brutally long Minnesota winter, so pretty much year-round! There are so many treasures within downtown's unique architectural landscape, and the skyway system is sometimes the only way to see them.
We'll ascend into the second-story walkway from the Foshay Tower (now the W Hotel) to begin the tour. We'll walk through reimagined skyscrapers, old buildings boasting stylish hotels, old banks turned modern restaurants, original department stores, the oldest skyway, the most colorful skyway, the double skyway, buildings showcasing impressive collections of public art, as well as some of the most historical buildings still standing. We'll return to the Foshay Tower where you can take advantage of the opportunity to check out the city from the 31st floor of the only outdoor observation deck in the city!
The skyway is such a huge part of our city identity, the Replacements even wrote a song about it, aptly named Skyway. Take a listen. Highlights: Foshay Tower, IDS Center (tallest building in Minneapolis), Capella Tower, Government Plaza, Minneapolis City Hall, Minneapolis Public Service Building (public art collection), Nicollet Mall, The Dayton's Project, and the Mary Tyler Moore Statue (see some of Minneapolis in the show's opening credits) What is included:
|
"Our tour of Downtown Minneapolis with Jessica was an absolute delight!"
- Barbara P.
- Barbara P.
"I highly recommend this sightseeing tour if you're a visitor, or a local."
- Sandy M.
- Sandy M.