|
Minneapolis City, Skyway & Food Tours
Welcome to my Minneapolis! This is where I grew up and the city that keeps me coming back no matter where I roam. As an international tour guide, I spend a lot of my time excitedly researching and traveling to far flung destinations. It is with this same enthusiasm for foreign lands that I created these distinctive day tours of my hometown, which include just some of the things I find remarkable about the city. This isn't a tour of historical facts and figures, instead, I want you to get to know Minneapolis by experiencing it with me! City and Skyway Tours
$75 per person, minimum 2 people Food Tours $95 per person, minimum 2 people Heart of Downtown (walking tour)
Tour offered May-September 2 to 2-1/2 hours 9:00 am Departure: Guthrie Theater, 818 South 2nd Street (front door) Return: Foshay Tower, 821 South Marquette Avenue Itinerary Here are just some of the things we will visit on our tour. There are lots of interesting bits in between! Guthrie Theater & Gold Medal Park We'll start at the Guthrie Theater, with its clever architecture and spectacular views of the Mississippi River from its Endless Bridge. Then a walk through Gold Medal Park, inspired by the Native American mounds that are found throughout Minnesota, and a place for community gathering alongside the theater. Mill Ruins Park & Stone Arch Bridge We'll pass by old mill ruins steeped in the history of flour milling in Minneapolis, to the Stone Arch Bridge, a former railroad bridge, now a walking/jogging/cycling/rollerblading/one-wheeling bridge for everyone to enjoy. It remains the only arched bridge made of stone on the entire Mississippi River and the second oldest bridge to span the waters. Hop the Light Rail from US Bank Stadium (MN Vikings) to Target Field (MN Twins) First Avenue & 7th St Entry No tour of Minneapolis would be complete without a nod to our beloved Prince. We'll stop by the music venue, First Avenue, made Minneapolis-famous by starring in the movie Purple Rain, as well as the 100-foot-tall mural of Prince painted by muralist Hiero Veiga. Nicollet Mall The nation's first transit mall — a mile-long, pedestrian oasis lined by bars and restaurants overflowing onto the sidewalks, and myriad public art incorporated into the landscape. Stop and chat with the iconic Mary Tyler Moore (see some of Minneapolis in the show's opening credits)! We'll also hit a few well-known murals along the way. IDS Building The tallest building in Minnesota, the IDS stands at 792 feet above the city and is at the core of the downtown Minneapolis skyway system, which is the largest, contiguous enclosed walkway in the world! Let's get up into it! Then we'll stop in to see the award-winning 23,000 square foot urban park that is Crystal Court. Foshay Tower The Foshay was completed in 1929 and modeled after the Washington Monument. It's a fine example of Art Deco architecture. It remained the tallest building in Minneapolis until 1972. From the observation deck high above the city streets, it's easy to imagine what it once was in its early glory days. This is where our tour will end and you can choose to visit the observation deck on your own. I will also suggest some great restaurants in the area for lunch. What is included
|
Skyway Tour (walking tour)
Tour offered year-round, Mondays/Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays 2 to 2-1/2 hours 10:00 am Departure: Foshay Tower, 821 South Marquette Avenue (lobby) Return: Foshay Tower, 821 South Marquette Avenue Itinerary 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 inside the Foshay Tower to begin the tour. We'll walk through original department stores, new department stores, old banks turned modern restaurants, the widest skyway, the shortest skyway, the double skyway, buildings showcasing impressive collections of public art, sports venues - home to the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx, as well as some of the most historical buildings still standing, with memorabilia on display, in the skyway, of course. 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 Building, Rand Tower, Capella Tower, Minneapolis Public Service Building, Target Field, Target Center, Mayo Clinic, Dayton's, Medical Arts Building, and Young-Quinlan Building. Food Tour (walking tour)
Tour offered year-round on Fridays 2-1/2 to 3 hours 11:00 am Departure: Hell's Kitchen (inside doors), 80 South 9th Street Return: Foshay Tower, 821 South Marquette Avenue Itinerary On this walking food tour you'll get a taste of what makes Minneapolis so special. Because all our local spots are connected by skyway, we'll never be rained (or snowed) out. Our small groups of only 6-8 people set us apart. You will feel like you're dining out with friends. These five restaurants were chosen because they tell a story of Minneapolis. It's a food story full of character(s): immigrants, community partners, new visionaries, and the tried and true. They believe "wealth is built at the table," and "everyone deserves a good meal." They make the "food you grew up with," and "pay attention to the seasons and support local organic farms." Simply put, they make "damn good food." Whether you're just passing through or live in the area, join us for this 2-3 hour food journey, and savor what it's all about! PLEASE NOTE: There will be no dietary accommodations. Peanuts are ground on the premises of one venue. Highlights: Foshay Tower, IDS Building, Capella Tower, Oldest skyway, public art. What is included
|