EEK! Bed Bugs in the blue room in the Carriage House. Recently stayed here and woke up one morning…read morewith bites above my knee and found 3 dead bugs on the sheets. It was a Saturday and no one was in the office and the owners are not listed on the website, plus NO phone number on the website. Finally I saw a worker loading a van and told him and he responded immediately texting the owner. They were full that night and couldn't put me in another room and offered to find a local hotel (which later they reneged on); the worker said they did call for inspection and said repeatedly they would reimburse my stay for the inconvenience. It was annoying not to have any communication with the owner and only when I got home on Sunday did they email to say there was nothing (who knows if that is true) and no mention of a refund. Very disappointed.

Our stay at the Clifton 300 was fantastic. We stayed in the Crystal Mansion room, which was…read moreabsolutely beautiful. Everything about Clifton 300 was impressive. The staff were extremely nice and accommodating. I had help bringing my bags upstairs to our room, they walked us through everything and offered help any time we needed it. We reserved the haunted movie lounge, which was a very unique experience. The hot tub was excellent and very peaceful. It rained while we were in the hot tub but it was covered very well and only elevated the experience! The koi pond is so beautiful and relaxing, and we loved enjoying the entire property. Highly recommend staying here! Also, don't forget to book a trolly tour! Such a unique experience, and the tour guide has such a fun personality it was incredible!! 10/10 Would stay again and again!

Highly recommend this. Jim was a great tour guide and these guys do it right. I've been on many…read moretours in other cities, but this one is tops.

Ray and Steve were great guides. Made the nervous people in our group feel at ease. After the warm…read moreup to make sure you know how to operate the Segway you go on a historical tour that was very informative. We went up and down the river and covered a lot ground. Fun group activity! Thanks again!

I used to work across the street from the Foshay - was there about ~9yrs and never checked out this…read moregem. I did go during Doors Open which is probably the busiest time to go. They have 1 elevator that goes straight up to the 30th floor. The details on the doors and around the building were amazing. Once you get up to the 30th floor there's a small museum where you can learn more about the tower. Then you take a few stairs up to get out to the observation deck. I will say it's pretty tight up there. Not ideal for big groups that can't separate. Each direction has a look out otherwise you can just look through the bars. For sure a cool place to visit at least once.

Very disappointing. Will not be returning nor will I recommend it to anyone. Walked in and it was…read morevery unclear on where to go and there was no staff to be found. Eventually one person showed at a random desk past the lobby way down the main hall. He was on the phone for quite a while so we tried using the QR code to buy tickets but it wasn't working. When he got off the phone he didn't believe me and made me do it again just to prove it. Then he seemed unsure on how to help us. Once he got it figured out it cost $20 per adult to get in. He gave us a keycard to get access to the elevator and once we took ourselves to the museum we were disappointed to find that no one was in there to answer questions or explain things and there wasn't any audio interviews or videos. It was just a small room with photos, newspaper clippings, and official documents framed on the walls. The view from the deck was nice and felt safe but the wall was too tall for my son to see over. The view finders posted on each corner were very old with cloudy lenses making them a bit useless. Paint was chipping off everywhere and there was graffiti and gum all over. The painted "selfie spot" was barely recognizable. If it was free I'd maybe do it again but with the shape it's in and the almost nonexistent customer service, I advise against it. It's honestly quite embarrassing considering it's supposed to be a luxury historical hotel that attracts people from out of town. I also would advise against staying in the hotel. We accidentally got off on the wrong floor and noticed dirty black painted hotel room doors, smudges all over the antique elevator doors, general uncleanliness, and a lack of a "luxurious" feel. That combined with no staff or guests coming and going in the lobby, bar, and restaurant is not what you'd expect for a hotel of this caliber. I really hope different management buys the place and changes things because it's a beautiful building with so much history and potential.

You had me at giant blue rooster…read more But this sculpture garden has more to offer. Currently a gaggle of geese are loitering near the spoon cherry. The interplay of space and monolithic sculptures is impressive. There were also many people out just enjoying the lawns, playing games, and enjoying froyo from a cart. The mix of serious and playful sculptures makes for an experience of art at once fun and whimsical and heavy, thoughtful, striking. I have never seen anything like this in California, or any other place that I've visited, to my recollection. It's worth a stop! The lot has a 5.00 flat rate, and there are also street parking meters too. There is a bridge over the freeway to/from Loring park, I think it's called. We did not go over there. Highly recommend!

Appreciated my friend and her husband spontaneously taking me here on our way home from dinner…read moretonight. Just outside the Walker Art Center, this Sculpture Garden is both a greenspace and a celebration of artistry. Some of the pieces are newer but a couple have been since the beginning like the Spoonbridge Cherry and the blue rooster. You scarcely notice the highway close by as you walk amongst rabbits and geese and robins and people walking their dogs. It's peaceful, and fun, and free (except for parking, which was $1). Well worth a visit!

Back in 1973 a friend and I crashed the grand opening ceremony and I recall walking away with a…read moreglossy multi-page booklet, a complementary hard hat (not remotely useable) and various other minor swag. The Philip Johnson designed IDS center seemed glittery, glamorous, exotic and impressive. I will admit to being a bit awestruck. Over the years I have innumerable fond memories whether entering at street level, walking in on the skyway level, sitting out on a balcony overlooking the Crystal Court or very occasionally parking below and taking in the scenery from the long lost observation level. In fact, at the risk of TMI I proposed to my late wife in 1978 while seated at a corner window table at the then still newish restaurant Windows on Minnesota (another casualty of change). Back in the day my father used to describe the IDS tower by slowly raising his middle finger. He dismissed it as "the box that the Foshay Tower came in." Well... that was then and this is now. My most recent memories are of of a tired, sparse, neglected and lonely place. Maybe an homage to glories past but one that has decidedly seen better days. Perhaps it is inevitable that as downtown Mpls has changed and become significantly repurposed structures such as the once inspiring IDS have lapsed into a rather sad reality. A veritable shadow of itself. I'm left with some great memories however!

The IDS center is the center of downtown Minneapolis. It is the hub of the skyways everything you…read moreneed right downtown and the IDS is in the center of it very comfortable very inviting friendly environment. I love it.

In an effort to prevent a looming running rut, I decided to register myself (and a lucky friend)…read morefor the City Running Tours' Beer Run. We met up with Nate downtown and began our three-for-one jog, pub crawl, and history tour throughout parts of Minneapolis. We learned lots, drank plenty, and greatly enjoyed the chilly, Minnesota evening. I'd highly recommend signing up for a running tour when active friends and family come to visit. As I understand, they have a variety of different tours available at a few distances. Outside of racing, this tour is about as fun as running gets!

Dropped in last night for their free Thursday evening admission. All I had to do was check-in at…read morethe front desk and receive a small medallion to wear. They even had a fun free craft going on in the basement, all supplies included and snacks! Yay! I just took an explore at my own pace through a couple of exhibits. The docents are a little creepy... I know they're just doing their job by standing there staring at you or following you around (probably because guests are bad at respecting the rules), but yeah, I found them a little distracting/detracting from the experience. Oh well. I just tried to ignore it and focus on the art as best I could. Moving from room to room and spiralling up gradual stairways will kind of get you lost inside the building. It's large and has multiple floors. The space will shift from cozy to grandiose at a moment's notice. If you don't like being lost, grab a map before you go in. If getting lost is a fun part of the experience for you, then by all means, just enjoy following your nose like I did, haha! I happened to be there on opening night for the new kid's exhibit they added, where you are encouraged to touch as part of exploration. It's not terribly large, but I like things that encourage imaginative play. Shame I saw one lady just staring at her cell phone like a drone while her kid played beside her. There are all-gender bathrooms on the ground floor by the lobby, and additional restrooms scattered throughout the center (when you stumble across them, lol). There are also coat closets for you to hang your coat if you don't need it; they keep the center nice and warm inside! There is an occasional water fountain as well, which is a godsend since they do not allow you to carry ANY drinks (even recloseable water bottles like Hydroflasks) into the exhibit spaces. There are also a couple of gift shops. The one in the lobby has affordable things, the one deeper in on the second floor is like modern art for your home + a wall of books. There are a couple of theatres inside, along with a full restaurant (y'know, if you have money for fancy-schmancy things like eating, oops). For parking you have a couple options: you can utilize the surface lot for $5 and it'll last you until midnight, or you can use the underground lot for $8. Depending on the weather conditions, that extra $3 might make it worth it to you to choose the underground space. On a chilly Thursday November evening, I still chose the outdoor lot and there were plenty of parking spaces available. There is also the option of squeezing into parallel parking along Vineland and using the meters. Obviously, the sculpture garden is also right next door to explore at any time of day for free. I highly recommend it, if only to take a quick selfie with the Cherry & Spoon or blue Cock.

I had the pleasure of attending the performance of Shamel Pitts - Tribe: Marks of Red on Saturday…read moreand it was interesting. I was very entertained as the performers were absolutely AMAZING. I enjoyed the space and I will be back another show and all of the other art parts that offer because I really love the arts. Go and be inspired.

Located right by the MIA...this is a very unique and interesting museum...that I didn't even know…read moreabout until I came here for an art workshop. Came here actually for an interesting art workshop called "Create 'Unexpected Art' with Becka Rahn" which involved creating images and computers and the final product would be a swatch of material from an image that I created!Which is to be mailed to the participant via mail.. which I haven't yet received...I took this workshop with a past participant who was raving about it ... I really did enjoy my experience and I am so looking forward to my finished product! $5 gets you in and also a tour of the museum/mansion.. oh what a deal.. and like Rhonda G. says below... it's really like having a Downtown Abbey right here in Minneapolis! FREE Parking that's connected to the museum, too! Look forward to attending more interesting events here in the future!

If you are a native Minneapolite - or even just a transplant / convert - check this place out. It's…read morekitty-corner from the MIA so you can make a day of museum hopping followed by a meal at one of the many restaurants along nearby Eat Street (Nicollet Ave). For a minimal fee, you'll be able to check out the fantastically-curated exhibits that explore different topics relevant to Hennepin County's history through photographs, textiles, paintings, videos, audio-recordings, sculptures, artifacts, and more. It is a full-sensory experience in a historic mansion that cannot and should not be missed. In addition to traditional exhibitions, they have unique and fun programming - which sounds like it will be more frequent according to an article I read recently about the new director! Plus, the mansion is available as a venue rental. I even considered it for my upcoming wedding! The biggest downsides (and biggest complaints I had while working there) are 1) the fact that the building is not handicap accessible and 2) the lack of air conditioning in the summertime. It's an unfortunate reality about many historic buildings but even more so for HHM...as a non-profit and lesser-known museum, lots of funding is needed to facilitate the appropriate and allowed retrofitting while still protecting the historic integrity. Admittedly, I am a bit biased in my love of this place. When I graduated with my B.A. in cultural studies and comparative literature, I began scouring the Twin Cities for non-profit gigs, especially those in the Arts. I landed my first post-college job as a museum administrator at the Hennepin History Museum despite having never stepped foot in the mansion or even knowing of its existence. It was an amazing experience and I learned a lot, but the most valuable thing I learned was what an exceptional gem HHM is. Please do not miss out on the opportunity to explore!

- Mill City Museum…read more Mill City Museum was one of the highlights of my time in Minneapolis and is absolutely worth visiting. One important thing to know is that the museum closes around 4:30 p.m., so plan accordingly. I would recommend giving yourself at least 90 minutes to two hours. You could move through faster, but you would miss a lot of the history and displays. Admission was around $15, and it was completely worth the price. After purchasing a ticket, you receive a sticker with a scheduled time for the Flour Tower experience. When that time arrives, you report to the designated area on the first floor. While waiting, there is plenty to explore about the history of the mills, the surrounding area, and the enormous role Minneapolis played in the flour industry. I do not want to spoil the Flour Tower experience, but I will say this: it is absolutely worth doing. My advice is to sit in the front row near the middle. I happened to choose that seat by chance, and it ended up being the best seat in the house. The experience genuinely surprised me and became one of the first things I told friends and family about when I returned home. Afterward, you are taken to the top of the building, where there are excellent views of the surrounding area. You can see the Pillsbury Mill across the river, the Stone Arch Bridge, St. Anthony Falls, the lock and dam, the Guthrie Theater, nearby park areas, and portions of the historic mill ruins. Once you return to the first floor, you can also walk through and see the ruins up close. I spent about an hour and a half here and felt that was a good amount of time, although someone who enjoys reading every display could easily spend two hours or more. I highly recommend Mill City Museum, especially for anyone visiting Minneapolis for the first time. It is educational, creative, memorable, and one of those attractions that is much more impressive than you may expect going in.

Really loved this museum!! Especially the observation deck and the movie at the end . There was a…read morebread tasting and a fool proof recipe given. It was informative in terms of understanding the city culture and flour milling. Great gift shop too! I highly recommend.