Minneapolis - Sightseeing By Sea or By Land

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MAC Minneapolis Minneapolis - Sightseeing By Sea or By Land Map
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There are many different ways to see the Twin Cities. Private or group tours are a great way to orient yourself to the area. If it's a riverboat ride on the Mississippi that interests you, try the Padelford Packet Boat Company. In St. Paul, the cruises start at Harriet Island. In Minneapolis, head to Boom Island, across the river from downtown. Take a ride on the Betsey Northrup or Jonathan Padelford. These narrated tours are a great way to learn the history of the area, both human and geological. The Minneapolis tour includes locking through the Number One lock on the Mississippi River. Both locations offer dinner cruises and Sunday brunch cruises, as well as other special themes and music events. The St. Croix River is the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin, just a half-hour east of St. Paul. It is a nationally designated Scenic Waterway, and the shore is dotted with historic river towns offering drinking, dining and shopping. Just north and east of the Twin Cities is Taylor's Falls, where you can board the Taylor's Falls Princess or Taylor's Falls Queen for a short cruise to admire the scenic beauty and fantastic rock formations. There are also dinner cruises available. More intrepid visitors can rent a canoe for a self-guided aquatic adventure. Directly east, in Stillwater, the Andiamo is moored, offering buffet lunch cruises and more aboard the 1890s riverboat. South and east is Afton and the historic Afton House Inn. Their cruise ship line offers Sunday brunch and dinner cruises aboard three modern cruise ships of various sizes. Perhaps the best way to enjoy the lakes is on them. If you didn't happen to bring your own boat, try one of the tours offered. Lake Minnetonka offers many different types of on-lake excursions. Float along gracefully on the Minnehaha, the Lady of the Lake, or the Queen of Excelsior. If you prefer to go a little faster, try Mahogany Bay Vintage Cruise to rent a classic speedboat. On many of the area lakes, it's mostly self-serve. Visitors can rent bikes, canoes, windsurfers, jet skis, kayaks, paddleboats and sailboats.

Metro Connections is the grand motor coach tour that lets you ride in style. Narrated by a standing guide, tours take you throughout the Twin Cities and to the Mall of America. Bilingual tours and airport greeting are available.

If you would like a more intimate experience, try TwinCitiesTours. These tours don't use the typical mammoth tour bus; you will ride in comfort in a luxury sedan or van. This enables the tour to go into many quiet neighborhoods where a bus wouldn't be welcome. Each is narrated individually, not using a script. They offer several standard tours, including holiday lights, but you can customize your tour to cover exactly what you want to see. Get a little closer to the scenery in one of the many trolley cars that motor around the cities. Both downtowns offer trolley services. Or you can take a trolley around Lake Calhoun or Lake Harriet. Minneapolis RiverCity Trolley and the Minnesota Transportation Museum are two popular operators.







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Afton House Inn Restaurant


Dine in comfortable elegance
 3291 South St. Croix Trail
Minneapolis, MN 55001
+1 651 436 8883 / +1 877 436 8883
http://www.aftonhouseinn.com
Afton House Inn Restaurant
Minnesota Transportation Museum


Nostalgic rides around town
 193 Pennsylvania Ave East
Minneapolis, MN 55101
+1 651 228 0263
http://www.mtmuseum.org/
Minnesota Transportation Museum
Padelford Packet Boat Company


Narrated cruises on the Mighty Mississippi
 Harriet Island
Minneapolis, MN 55107
+1 651 227 1100 / +1 800 543 3908
http://www.riverrides.com
Padelford Packet Boat Company
St. Paul
Minneapolis
St. Paul
Lock and Dam #1


Magnificent panoramic views
 West River Road at East 50th St
Minneapolis, MN 55417
+1 612 742 2971
Lock and Dam #1
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