Tours of the City
Walking Tours
Self-guided tours run along the St Anthony Falls Heritage Trail, a three-kilometre (two-mile) riverfront loop that takes in the historic flour-milling district, including views of this Mississippi River waterfall from the restored Stone Arch Bridge and Nicollet Island. The trail starts at the St Anthony Falls Historic District Visitor Center, 125 Main Street South East (tel: (612) 627 5433). The visitor centre is open Wednesday-Sunday 1200-1700 (May-October). There are brochures for the tour outside the centre at all times.
Set in a former underground nightclub, Down In History Tours, 215 Wabasha Street, St Paul (tel: (651) 292 1220; website: www.wabashastreetcaves.com), offers popular tours of the Wabasha Street Caves in St Paul, as well as a number of themed bus tours. A 45-minute walking tour of the Wabasha Street Caves costs US$5, meeting at 215 Wabasha Street South, St Paul, on Saturday and Sunday at 1100 and Thursday at 1700.
Coach and Trolley Tours
Metro Connections (tel: (612) 333 8687 or (800) 747 8687; website: www.metroconnections.com) offers sightseeing tours of the Twin Cities aboard deluxe coaches, with departures from either Minneapolis or St Paul. There are daily morning and afternoon tours of approximately three hours for a Twin Cities Highlights tour, with prices quoted as US$25. The highlights in question include the Nicollet Mall, the Downtown skyway network and the Metrodome. Tours run daily (June-August), Wednesday-Sunday (September-October) and on weekends or just Saturday at other times of the year. Among a choice of departure points and times, the Twin Cities Highlights tour sets off at 1030 and 1355 from the Mall of America (Transit Center).
Capital City Trolley (tel: (651) 223 5600) offers a one-hour narrated tour aboard a historic trolley, covering St Paul’s highlights and the Mississippi riverfront. Tours operate on Tuesday and Thursday 1000-1300 (May-October), cost US$15 and are available through reservation only (Monday-Friday 0900-1500). The trolley runs from the steps of the Capitol, along the Mississippi riverfront to James J Hill’s Summit Avenue mansion.
The Minneapolis RiverCity Trolley (tel: (612) 204 0000 or 378 7833) provides 65-minute tours of the Downtown and historic areas of Minneapolis, in replica turn-of-the-century trolley cars. Tours operate every 30 minutes, daily 1000-1600 (May-October), from the Minneapolis Convention Center and St Anthony Main. Passengers can also board at the Walker Art Center, Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Lake Harriet area. The fare is US$10 for a single tour, US$15 for an all-day pass and US$20 for a three-day pass. Single and day passes are sold on the trolley (exact change is required), while tickets are sold in advance at the Minneapolis Visitor Center (see Tourist Information).
Boat Tours
Padelford Packet Boat Co (tel: (651) 227 1100 or (800) 543 3908; website: www.riverrides.com) floats visitors down the Mississippi River in restored riverboats, with commentary on the historic sites of Minneapolis and St Paul. Dining and entertainment, including live theatre during the summer, are available. The 90-minute cruises depart from both Harriet Island in St Paul and Boom Island in Minneapolis, daily at 1200 and 1400 (June-August), Saturday and Sunday at 1400 (May and September). Fares cost US$12. During October, special ‘Fall Color’ cruises run on Sunday at 1400-1630, costing US$14. Boats depart from both Minneapolis and St Paul.
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Tours of the City