It’s not something that we didn’t know already here at Minnesota Journeys, but it’s always nice to hear someone else agree with us. This week, Lonely Planet released its third annual list of top 10 U.S. travel destinations. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul scored the eighth spot. Cool coffee shops, ethnic eateries, swank art museums, and plenty of theater. You name it, the cities have it, say the Lonely Planet editors “but there is no attitude to go along with the abundance.”
out side the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
Among the highlights mentioned in the story is Minneapolis’ affinity for bicyclists, earning it the moniker of “the country’s best bike city.” Contributing to this reputation is the city’s Nice Ride bike-sharing program, as well as its web of new bike lanes. Uptown’s Bryant Lake Bowl received a mention from Lonely Planet for its unique atmosphere and good food, as did the famed First Avenue & 7th Street Entry, “the epicenter of the Twin Cities’ music scene.”
St. Paul’s noted ambassador Garrison Keillor was also highlighted, along with the city’s Fitzgerald Theater, where Keillor tapes his beloved Prairie Home Companion show. (We’ll forgive the Lonely Planet’s misspelling of Lake Wobegon. For those readers who haven’t ventured Up North, it is a fictitious location, after all.)
Other locations making the top 10 list include Louisville, Ky., Fairbanks, Alaska, San Juan Islands, Wash., Philadelphia, American Samoa, Eastern Sierra, Calif., Northern Maine, Verde Valley, Ariz., and Glacier National Park, Mont. Great company indeed. December, during the holiday season, is the perfect time for travel planning in 2013. Include the Twin Cities on your next outing. You’ll be happy you did, but don’t just take our word for it.
