Marvellous Minneapolis

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/09/2022 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After being cooped up and locked down for the better part of two long years, travelers are taking the first tentative steps to ease their wanderlust. According to Statistics Canada, Canadians made 2.2 million trips to the United States in May 2022. That’s up significantly from May of 2021 but still only 59 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

So if you’re not quite ready to hop on a plane and cross the continent, a road trip might be the answer. And Minneapolis is the perfect place to start your post pandemic reentry. And to splurge a bit too.

With over 34 million visitors to the city every year, Minneapolis has its act together when it comes to hosting out-of-towners. Sweeping views of the Mississippi River, gorgeous architecture—both old and new, three pro sports teams, Target’s world headquarters inside a two-storey shopping mecca and a culinary scene that doesn’t quit are just the beginnings of its attractions.

Where to Stay

Do a deep dive into the heart of downtown with a stay at the perfectly posh W Minneapolis—the Foshay. The 32-storey skyscraper was the lifelong dream and namesake of Wilbur Foshay who made his fortune in utility companies. Completed in 1929, the tower was converted into the hotel in 2008, retaining its Indiana limestone exterior and elegant interior touches including African Mahogany panels, Italian marble, gold-plated doorknobs and ornamental bronze entrances. Thoroughly modern touches now mix with Art Deco accents to create spaces that are simply wow. Rooms are not huge but the bathrooms inside them area, with walk-in showers, glamourous lighting and deliciously scented soaps. Nespresso coffee machines and ridiculously comfortable beds round out the experience.

If something a little quieter is your vibe, head for Hotel Landing in the lakeside community of Wayzata, about 25 kilometres from downtown Minneapolis. The boutique hotel on the shores of Lake Minnetonka is thoroughly contemporary with luxury to spare, with suites that range up to 750 square feet in size. The main floor of the hotel boasts ninetwentyfive, a restaurant that combines midwestern favourites with coastal influences. At the top of the heap is the 22-ounce T-bone, priced at US$75.

What To Do

Spa, of course. Inside the ultra-modern Hotel Ivy is the equally contemporary Anda Spa. Full massages, skin treatments and facial are offered here along with ritual bath experiences. Take your pick from four soaks—rose quarts, ginger root, sweet birch or CBD—and sink into luxury for the next 30 minutes. Yes, it’s just a bath, but one where all the little extras like soothing sounds, sweet aromas, plush towels and soft lighting make all the difference. Spa guests also enjoy the extra large crystal sauna, aromatherapy steam room, the aura lounge with weighted blankets and the quartz spa with overhead rain showers, hydrotherapy pool and heated stone loungers.

Snag a seat for one of Minneapolis’s fan favourites—a Vikings game! The sky really is the limit inside the new U.S. Bank Stadium, with tickets soaring to $900 and beyond. On Vikings Game Day, get yourself invited to a tailgating party then come inside for more treats—from fried broccoli and walking tacos to dipping dots and mac and cheese.

Where To Eat

The culinary scene is alive and well in Minneapolis’s hottest neighbourhood, The North Loop. Warehouses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries have been upcycled into trendy shops and innovative restaurants, where a lively crowd means the nightlife goes on for a long time. Borough showcases the best of Minnesota’s seasons along with smaller plates designed for sampling and sharing. Start with the deviled eggs with bleu cheese, hot sauce and chicken skin them move on to hot link sausage served on a cornmeal waffle with cabbage slaw and a schmear of mustard seed. For something a little more casual, there’s a cocktail bar on the lower level called Parlor where the burgers are legendary.

There’s a two-month waiting list for a table at Owamni, winner of the James Beard award for the best new restaurant of 2022. Located on the shores of Mississippi River or Wakpa Tanka in the Dakota language, the bustling restaurant is a celebration of Indigenous food and culture. Most notably, the menu avoids dairy, wheat, flour, cane sugar, beef, chicken and pork — colonial ingredients that are not originally from the land. Sample the cedar maple baked beans, wild rice with currants, roasted sweet potatoes, a mushroom taco or elk corn sandwich before delving into one of the slow roasted bison dishes that are often a dinner special. Leave room for the sunbutter bar for dessert, topped with agave caramel and toasted sunflower seeds. And wash it all down with a Gaagaagiwaandagomin — which staff will patiently help you pronounce — the alcohol-free concoction featuring juniper, blueberry, bay leaf, sumac and agave.

shel@shelzolkewich.com