Comments (0) Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Guests - 2012
St. Anthony Falls
Any attempts to show the Twin Cities area at its best to a skeptical visitor will need to cover a lot of bases: the city as cultural nexus, a place of historical import, a melding of civilization and nature, and a vibrant center of day-to-day life. It so happens that practically every great aspect of Minneapolis life is within walking distance of St. Anthony Falls, one of the most scenic and attractive stretches of the Mississippi River. This is where Minneapolis built its industrial core, became Mill City, and found itself the epicenter of one of the Midwest's biggest agricultural markets. Engineering enthusiasts and history buffs can find plenty to marvel at in the locks and dams or the Mill City ruins and accompanying museum. Architectural preservationists and cyclists alike have made the Stone Arch Bridge a local landmark, as well as the location for the Stone Arch Festival of the Arts and summer fireworks displays. Nearby Hennepin Island Park is a small but welcoming spot that makes a stunning vantage point. And from here it's a short trip to other local landmarks your visitor might want to see — Nye's, the Guthrie, the Soap Factory, and St. Anthony Main are all within comfortable walking distance.
