Road Trip Destination: Minneapolis, Minn.

Edward Kearns

Edward Kearns

What do you get when you combine college and fun? Road trips.

You can find plenty of attractions and activities to fill a weekend by heading northeast to Minneapolis. Aside from shopping in the Mall of America or watching one of four major professional sports teams play, Minneapolis also has a multitude of art galleries, theaters and museums.

The Mall of America has three major attractions you might enjoy. At the top of the list is Camp Snoopy; the nation’s largest in-door family theme park. The park takes up close to seven acres and has more than 30 rides to enjoy.

Underwater Adventures, also in the mall, is Minnesota’s largest aquarium. Here you can get up close and personal with aquatic life by touching live sharks and stingrays.

When night falls, it’s time to head upstairs to the fourth floor and into America Live. There students can find five unique restaurants and bars. In addition to the food, dancing and other barroom activities, America Live features live dueling piano shows.

For those looking for more cultured activity, there are plenty of theaters and museums to visit.

“I liked the museums and I saw “Cats” [in Minneapoilis],” says Chasity McHenry, a student at SDSU.

The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis is only one of many. Currently they are featuring The Death of a Salesman. On September 18, Lady with a Lapdog will open on the stage.

Also in Minneapolis is the Minnesota Institute of Arts. There students can find a number of exhibits. Best of all, it is completely free everyday.

“Currents of Change: Art and Life Along the Mississippi River, 1850-1861” is being featured at the institute now. The exhibit will be on display until October 10.

Uptown Minneapolis has many bookstores, novelty stores and movie theaters that show independent films.

The Twin Cities have more cultures than Brookings. “There is more diversity there,” says Aidan Bunkers, an SDSU student.

Like all cities, Minneapolis has downsides. For those who have always lived in small towns, driving in a big city can be quite the hassle. The solution? Use the downtown public transportation and skywalks throughout the downtown area.

Another problem that Brookings doesn’t have: gangs.

“I didn’t like the gangs when we went downtown”, McHenry said. “It was scary.”

If you’re worried about that, remember the gang problem in Minneapolis is relatively small compared to other major cities across the United States.

With fine dining, art, theater, nightclubs and amusement, there is something just about everyone would want in a road trip.

Minneapolis, Minn

Distance From Brookings:217 miles

Estimated Trip Time:4 hours 41 minutes

Take Highway 14 east to MN Highway 23. Follow 23 Northeast to US Highways 212. Turn East and Follow 212 in to Minneapolis.

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