A No-Admission-Just-Walking Day in Minneapolis

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So you’re driving around the country (more on that in future blogs) and you find your family in Minneapolis for a day.

No Advance Planning Needed!

Morning:
Talking a morning walk may not be the first activity most families would choose on vacation, but walking through the habitrail-like skyways above Minneapolis is fun for all ages. Sure, they’re warm and dry, but they also have coffee and snack bars all along the way, stores for shopping once the stores open, lots of windows to look out over the city and many twists, turns and forks. Enter near the Target Store on Nicollet or the Hilton on Marquette between 10th and 11th. Wander through, stop for coffee, juice, muffins and see who can navigate the family all the way to 1st street.

If you have a good snack in hand (make your purchase before you get too close to the Mississippi as food options decline quickly closer to the river) then all in tow may have enough energy to make their way to the Stone Arch Bridge where you can read the notices on the West Side Milling District and the waterworks that powered the mills. Returning to the west bank of the Mississippi, head to the Guthrie Theater where you can take a self-guided tour with a free iPod download. Look down on the Stone Arch Bridge and see if you can trace the walk you’ve taken.

For lunch try Allie’s Deli and Catering at 527 Marquette for tasty sandwiches made to order to recharge after your walk.

Afternoon:
In the afternoon head over to the sculpture garden across from the Walker Art Center. Not only does it have the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture (which all visitors to Minneapolis should see), but it’s a great place to wander at whatever pace your kids prefer. We like finding sculptures to imitate. George Segal’s Walking Man is a pretty straightforward sculpture to imitate. Other more modern pieces require more creativity to mimic. Spend time viewing a piece of art. Then have each family member try to replicate the artistic presentation of the selected sculpture.

By the end of this Minneapolis walk, you’ll be ready to sit down and put your feet up!

A Day In New York City

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New York is a fabulous place to visit as a family. Here's one (of MANY!) itineraries to try on your next visit.

Advance Planning: Book hotel reservations and get tickets to a Broadway Show. You can also wait in line for tickets at TKTS in Times Square on the day of your show for less expensive tickets, but that means less touring around the city and fewer show options. One hotel option, although moderately expensive for New York, is the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Less expensive hotels can be found farther from tourist hot spots.

Arrive Friday night. Stay at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square for the Wow! factor-- kids (and parents) will love the glass elevators which have guests selecting the floor before entering the elevator.

Friday night:
Go out to an Italian dinner-- try Amarone-- reasonable sized portions, fancier dishes for more adventurous palettes, basic pasta for the less adventurous.

Walk around Times Square-- listen to the voices. How many different languages can your children hear being spoken? Climb to the top of the red stairs and have someone take your family photo with Times Square brilliantly lit in the background.

Saturday morning:
Take a cab to the Tenement Museum in the lower East Side at 108 Orchard Street to arrive by 10am. Get tickets for one of the GREAT tenement tours lasting an hour. While waiting for your tour, stop in for a coffee and lemonade or croissant at 88 Orchard Street then walk down to the Chinatown markets along Grand Street. Can you find two Chinese characters that are the same in different signs?

Come back in time to browse the great Tenement Museum bookstore before your tour then take your tour. Afterward have lunch at 88 Orchard Street-- salads, sandwiches, smoothies-- good food.

Saturday afternoon:
Walk back to Times Square If you have an evening show or at least up to Union Square via Broadway if you have time before an afternoon matinee. There's a great market in Union Square to browse on Saturdays.

Go to an afternoon matinee (see advance planning).

Saturday evening:
Have drinks at The View-- a revolving bar where guests under 21 are permitted before 9 pm. Or for something more active, check out the view from The Top of The Rock at Rockefeller Center. The view here is similar to the Empire State Building without the cool factor and generally without the lines. If you still want to walk, walk 10 to 15 minutes on over to the Apple store just to check out their glass cube entrance.

Have dinner someplace casual but with atmosphere. Plenty of restaurants to choose from, Vnly is one nearby place with a menu that includes an excellent baked mac and cheese. After dinner, watch the skaters at Rockefeller Center or skate yourselves. Walk around Rockefeller Center window shopping before heading back to your hotel.