Land of 10000 lakes III
"... for favorable conditions for grinding wheat, no place in the world can compare with Minneapolis. It is on the highways of rail transportation which lead from the grain-fields of Northwest to the great cities and seaports of the East"-- Eugene Smalley
Like other grand cities in the world, Minnesota is accompanied by a grand river dividing the city into east and west bank. Without this river, Mississippi, this city would probably be left unknown as an agricultural village in the wild Midwest.
It was one of the prosperous cities in the U.S. while the primary horn of industrial revolution was blown within the continent. Powered by the 50-foot drop of St. Anthony Falls across the river, the flour milling and lumber sawing industry grew in an unprecedented speed. Afterward, the flour mills outlasted the latter and Minneapolis was dubbed as "The Flour Milling Capital of the World" in 1880 and for 50 years thereafter. At its peak production, it produced enough flour to make 12 million loaves of bread in one day, an unheard-of volume at that time.
The portrait of old & current Minneapolis
Some ancient canals have been conserving until today
St. Anthony Falls(more like a dam for today's standard)
Today, Minneapolis has totally tuned into a modern metropolis. The iconic grid plans shape its contour, the commercial high-rises accumulate in downtown, fabulous shopping malls and department stores occupied the high streets. The city-based Target Field, an open-air ballpark opened in 2010, is home to Minnesota Twins City with its capacity of 39,504. Finally, the irreplaceable light rail, embraced again by trendy city planners around the world, leads to the neighbor St.Paul all the way south to the Mall of America and International airport.
I never really grasp the idea of a "CITY" from the western aspect until I visited Minneapolis. There is a prosperous downtown that satisfies all the demand in modern life - work, food, entertainment, and indispensable social life. On the other hand, there are tremendous suburb areas, which can be reached either by a 30-minute ride on bikes or a 20-minute drive through the highway. That is where the majority of people live and an invisible line of work-life balance seems to be drawn through those daily commutes.
Stroll in downtown with the highest ease
Hanging around Minneapolis is as simple as remembering the lyrics of your favorite song. Pick a gorgeous sunny afternoon, call up your friends and head to the NICE RIDE station, which is literally around every corner in the city, to rent a functional city bike. Voilà, the whole city is waiting for you to explore. Riding the bicycle to the attractions within the city is highly recommended -- St. Mary Cathedral, Art Museum, City Hall and Courthouse, and unmissable Mill City Museum are all reachable with several minutes ride. Also, don't forget to take the cycling lanes along the river, enjoy the fabulous view and check over the transformation of the city while passing by those modern and historical architectures. Needless to say, whenever you need a break, you could always find an enticing cafe, which is plenty alongside the routes, to have some cooling Sprite with friends
Pick up your favorite bike routes
The modern & historical look of Minneapolis
Like other grand cities in the world, Minnesota is accompanied by a grand river dividing the city into east and west bank. Without this river, Mississippi, this city would probably be left unknown as an agricultural village in the wild Midwest.
It was one of the prosperous cities in the U.S. while the primary horn of industrial revolution was blown within the continent. Powered by the 50-foot drop of St. Anthony Falls across the river, the flour milling and lumber sawing industry grew in an unprecedented speed. Afterward, the flour mills outlasted the latter and Minneapolis was dubbed as "The Flour Milling Capital of the World" in 1880 and for 50 years thereafter. At its peak production, it produced enough flour to make 12 million loaves of bread in one day, an unheard-of volume at that time.
The portrait of old & current Minneapolis
Some ancient canals have been conserving until today
St. Anthony Falls(more like a dam for today's standard)
Today, Minneapolis has totally tuned into a modern metropolis. The iconic grid plans shape its contour, the commercial high-rises accumulate in downtown, fabulous shopping malls and department stores occupied the high streets. The city-based Target Field, an open-air ballpark opened in 2010, is home to Minnesota Twins City with its capacity of 39,504. Finally, the irreplaceable light rail, embraced again by trendy city planners around the world, leads to the neighbor St.Paul all the way south to the Mall of America and International airport.
I never really grasp the idea of a "CITY" from the western aspect until I visited Minneapolis. There is a prosperous downtown that satisfies all the demand in modern life - work, food, entertainment, and indispensable social life. On the other hand, there are tremendous suburb areas, which can be reached either by a 30-minute ride on bikes or a 20-minute drive through the highway. That is where the majority of people live and an invisible line of work-life balance seems to be drawn through those daily commutes.
Must-visit Attractions: City Hall/St Mary's Orthodox Cathedral
Hanging around Minneapolis is as simple as remembering the lyrics of your favorite song. Pick a gorgeous sunny afternoon, call up your friends and head to the NICE RIDE station, which is literally around every corner in the city, to rent a functional city bike. Voilà, the whole city is waiting for you to explore. Riding the bicycle to the attractions within the city is highly recommended -- St. Mary Cathedral, Art Museum, City Hall and Courthouse, and unmissable Mill City Museum are all reachable with several minutes ride. Also, don't forget to take the cycling lanes along the river, enjoy the fabulous view and check over the transformation of the city while passing by those modern and historical architectures. Needless to say, whenever you need a break, you could always find an enticing cafe, which is plenty alongside the routes, to have some cooling Sprite with friends
Pick up your favorite bike routes
The modern & historical look of Minneapolis
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