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Minneapolis City & Skyway 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 unique 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! $150 (1-2 persons)
$25 (each additional person) 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. Guthrie Theater This is where we will begin our tour. The Guthrie Theater is open to all, giving everyone the opportunity to appreciate its clever architecture and spectacular views of the Mississippi River from its unique vantage point. (Dependent on Guthrie lobby hours.) Gold Medal Park A place for community gathering alongside the Guthrie Theater, this park offers stunning views of the cityscape. It takes its inspiration from the Native American mounds that are found throughout Minnesota. Mill Ruins Park This park interprets the history of flour milling in Minneapolis and showcases the ruins of several flour mills that were abandoned. Stone Arch Bridge We'll walk out onto the the Stone Arch Bridge, a former railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls, which has been turned into a pedestrian bridge for everyone to enjoy. This is the location of several annual art fairs. It is the only arched bridge made of stone on the entire Mississippi River and the second oldest bridge on the river. US Bank Stadium & Light Rail First Avenue & 7th St Entry No tour of Minneapolis would be complete without a nod to our beloved Prince. We'll stop by to read the writing on the wall. Be the first this summer to see the new 100-foot-tall mural of Prince, painted by muralist Hiero Veiga. Nicollet Mall This mile-long, pedestrian oasis is lined by bars and restaurants overflowing onto the sidewalks, art, bountiful greenery, and many shopping options. 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 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. The Wall that Sings 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
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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. What is included
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