I have a 5 hour stop over in Minneapolis. What should I do?

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

My first thought was :beer: but then I thought - 5 hours? I could consume flaggon after flagon of the local brew and miss my flight.

It's still the top candidate for passing my time. :)

Reading, drawing and listening to music are also top contenders, however all of them would be made even better with a little :beer:(or alot since I hate flying!)

What should I do?

[No Mandate Here.]

1. I know, I know, I'll get flamed for this,

but I think there is a shuttle to the mall of america, which is sort of interesting, with an amusement park and about a gazillion stores of every shape and size.

[cheezus]

3. no, good idea. The mall is right next to the airport

and you can easily kill a few hours there. They have an Apple store.....

[trotsky]

5. You shouldn't get flamed.

There is a shuttle, and it would be worth checking out for that kind of timeframe. (Since it's very near the airport.)

I don't actually buy much of anything there, but it's a lot of fun to walk around and look at stuff! Plus, don't you think you should be able to check off "The Largest Indoor Shopping Center in the United States" from your Must-See list?

[Kilroy003]

16. You're from MN, Trotsky?

Huh, who would've guessed?

[trotsky]

25. What, you haven't seen me?

Running around with this icepick in my head, I thought I was pretty conspicuous... ;-)

[Badger1]

2. what to do

Downtown is kind of far and an expensive cab ride. I think there are free shuttles to Mall of America. Bars, restraunts and shopping. There are some cool shops there. Not really much else close to the airport. There's even a Hooters there!

[LTR]

23. Downtown Minneapolis is overrated

It's starting to look like MOA.

[terrya]

4. Isn't there a statue of Mary Tyler Moore tossing her cap in Minneapolis?

That's what I read somewhere. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Kilroy003]

12. Yeah, there is.

Not worth travelling to MN to see it.

[kcwayne]

6. I'll bet you can get a good deal on snow shovels

They can't use them in June, July, or August up there.

[Droopy]

7. Ever read Stephen King's "The Stand"?

It would be a good way to pass the time.

Got to the airport lounge and get a table then spend the time reading and sipping your favorite drink.

I also read that you are going to have some free time in ND on your business trip. Well that book is about 1100 pages so you should have plenty of reading to do while you're there.

[SmileyBoy]

17. The weird thing about that book is:

Yesterday was June 13, the date in that book where the story began.

I read the book a few years ago, and I get a weird feeling everytime June 13 rolls around.

[mac56]

8. Airport beer is overpriced.

Find yourself a nearby bar that serves Summit or Schell's.

[UrbScotty]

9. Go to the bathroom

Just a thought.

[pauliedangerously]

10. Too bad the Light Rail isn't operational...

They are only doing test runs on the new track..the ONLY track...which runs from the airport to the MOA :puke: to DT MPLS.

You could have shot into DT for a quick look at the cool buildings and shot back.

Sounds like beer is the best option..:toast:

[Twillig]

36. I like the buildings in downtown MPLS.

One of the best skylines that I've seen. Of course I haven't live there in 15 years, but I like what they've added. Especially the Wells Fargo Tower.

The multifoods tower is still a pos. (no matter what name they give it!)

[pauliedangerously]

41. Yeah...

The skyline is what seduced me 11 years ago.

[Kilroy003]

11. That's probably enough time to see some of the Minnesota River Valley

Right around the airport is the largest metropolitan wildlife refuge in the country. Assuming the weather is hospitable and also assuming you're into that kind of thing. A cab ride from the airport to Fort Snelling State Park across the freeway would only be a few bucks. You could walk but I'm not sure if there are any sidewalks leading out of the airport. The Minnesota and Mississipi Rivers flow into each other about a mile north of the airport. You could buy a small bottle of booze from the duty free shops and just sit by the river and get wasted. Getting back to the airport might not be easy but most cab drivers have cell phones or you could just ask whoever drops you off to come back in a few hours. Minnehaha Falls is 5 minutes from the airport. The area is rich in history and natural beauty.

The MOA is worth seeing... once. It's pretty big and kinda' boring unless you are into shopping, and I've been to smaller malls in Houston and New York with much better stuff to buy.

Downtown Minneapolis is OK but you'd be hard pressed for time. If your flight is delayed you could check it out. There's plenty of local drinking establishments to try out.

If you plan on being in MN after June 26, a brand new light rail transit system will be operating. It runs downtown and to the MOA. Good luck...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. Not quite

Unfortunately, the light rail won't go all the way to the airport till this fall.

I suggest the Mall of America. You can go there, say, "Wow, that is a really big mall," and go back to the airport to read.

[Kilroy003]

15. Are you sure?

I have literature on my desk that says the Hiawatha Line opens on the 26th. It may not got all the way to the airport, I suppose.


Trotsky's right on though, try the Summit, the Great Northern Porter is similar to Guiness and very delicious. Summit Extra Pale Ale is damn good too. The other semi-famous local brew is Premium, it's not bad.

[chicaloca]

33. I heard...

That the line opening on the 26th is only going to Fort Snelling. Don't know that for sure, though. :shrug:

[1gobluedem]

14. Get a haircut

I had a five hour layover in Mpls last year and got a great haircut at the salon there; cut, style, and dry for only $20. Seriously.

[SmileyBoy]

18. Go to the MOA.

That's what locals call the Mall Of America.

[Love Bug]

31. No, we call it the Megamall or Hugedale

[MrsMatt]

40. My personal favorites are

Gall of America

or

Mall of Gomorrah

[SmileyBoy]

19. Tell me when you get to Fargo!!!

:hi:

[Kilroy003]

22. Ooh, I love Fargo.

No wait, I love...

Oh never mind.

[LTR]

20. Mall Of America

It's a quick bus hop there, and you can say you have been there.

It's overrated and kinda obnoxious, but at least it's more interesting than the airport.

[Lestat]

21. Definitely go to the Mall of America.

It'll kill lots of time.

[Kilroy003]

24. You know, it's funny that probably none of us

would go to the Mall of America but we always tell folks to go there when they're in town. I wonder why...

[LTR]

27. Coming from someone who used to live up there

Locals rarely go there, but usually go at least once every few years just to say they went.

The locals that hang out there are teen gang bangers from the city.

[Lestat]

28. I'm from the Alexandria area here in MN...

and the MOA is a four-hour drive from here. I only visit it once or twice a year because of the distance I have to travel. :shrug:

[LTR]

26. Or... listen to a few radio stations

I'm partial to Drive 105 (105.1 and 105.7). Automated, but good alternative music, with no heavy metal.

Others:

KFAI 90.3
Cities 97 (97.1)
KBEM 88.5 (jazz)
Air America (1530/740, though reception may be weak. Try 1530, it's closer.)

[HuckleB]

29. Minneapolis Mosaic!

http://www.minneapolismosaic.com/_events/june.aspx

Or... How can you miss the American Swedish Museum?
http://www.americanswedishinst.org/

Or... Check out the 9 Months In America exhibit at the Minnesota Museum of American Art:
http://www.mmaa.org/Exhibitions.htm

As for local beer, you can get some fair ones at the airport itself. Down a couple pints on your way back to the plane.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

30. Thanks everybody!

Very helpful!

Any local pubs worth trying to see?

[Kilroy003]

34. Not many by the airport

There are tons of cool bars/pubs in St Paul and Minneapolis, but the airport is closer to the suburbs. If I was near the airport and dying for a cold brew, I would probably go to, um, ah, well I'd probably just crack one open and sit on my porch (you're welcome to stop by if you want). It really depends on what time you'll be in. You could try to cab it to Downtown Minneapolis(15 mins from airport) and hit up Brit's Pub (lawn bowling), The Local or Kiernan's (Irish Pubs). Block E has some ultra schiek night-clubs and there are 25 or more bars within walking distance from there. If you come durng the day, forget about pubs since there wouldn't be anyone in them anyway.

You could come to my bar, that is, unless you're intimidated by topless women.

Your best bet, I will reluctantly admit, is the MOA. There's 10 or more bars there and it's less than 5 minutes from the airport. 20 years ago, before the mall was built, 494 (the freeway close to the airport) was lined with decent bars but they're all franchised out now. You can't really 'do' the Twin Cities in five hours. Give me five days and I guarantee you won't remember at least three of them.

Like I said earlier, getting drunk by the river would be the most enjoyable.

[Shananigans]

32. Hmm...I don't agree that locals don't go to the MOA...

Although it is a huge mall, I like going shopping there. Especially when I have more than one store to go to. Where else can you find everything you possibly need under one roof.

I suggest checking out the Mall of America, though. Even if you don't feel like wandering around, you can always go up to the top and check out one of the bars up there.

Or you could sit at the overpriced airport bar and drink.

[neverborn]

35. I LOVE YOU SHANNEEE!!! :P

Haven't PMed you in a while, so I just decided to post. Hi :hi: :p

[Magrittes Pipe]

37. You should masturbate.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

38. That's what the hotel is for.

That and drinky drink drink drinkin'!!!

[MrsMatt]

39. Drop in at my house

I live only 10 minutes from MSP, and I have GOOD beer in the fridge!