The aquatic State of Minnesota in the north of the USA has been
dubbed the 'land of 10,000 lakes'. The poetic name of the State is
a Sioux phrase meaning 'land of sky-tinted water'. Obviously this
means Minnesota is rather wet, thanks to antediluvian glaciers
which scoured the landscape, leaving numerous basins ready to be
filled by great rivers like the Mississippi.
The result is Lake Superior, with its strands and scenic
shoreline, as well as dozens of other small bodies of water, linked
by hiking trails, ideal for outdoor recreation like camping,
kayaking, fishing and canoeing. In wintertime the countryside
becomes a wonderland for skiing and dog sledding.
The original inhabitants of this watery world were the Sioux
Indians. French pioneers penetrated the thick forests and found a
treasure-trove of furry creatures like beavers and muskrats, which
sparked a prosperous fur trade in the region, accompanied by
fishing and logging. Iron ore was then detected in the hills, and
the influx of settlers eventually drove out the Sioux. Today the
northeastern extremity of Minnesota still remains as largely
unspoilt wilderness, much as it was when the first Europeans came
across it in the 16th century.
Most of the population of Minnesota are urbanised, more than
half inhabiting the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St Paul, that
occupy opposing banks on the Mississippi River. The cities reflect
the jovial culture of the roots of the early settlers, who were
largely German, Irish and Scandinavian. The Twin Cities are
renowned for their entertainment, attractions and shopping
opportunities. Minneapolis in particular is a shopper's dream with
the mighty Mall of America situated in its suburb of
Bloomington.
Pleasant harbour towns and villages hug the north shore of Lake
Superior along the scenic Highway 61 drive, that offers
breathtaking vistas on its route to the Canadian border.
Time Zones
Climate Info
Minnesota experiences a continental climate with warm summers
and cold, often frigid winters. Normal daily temperatures range
from 12°F (-11°C) in January to 74°F (23°C) in July. Heavy
snowfalls occur from November to April especially in the northeast.
Blizzards hit Minnesota twice each winter on average and tornadoes
occur mostly in the south with approximately 18 tornadoes in the
state each year.
The airport is situated 10 miles (16km) south of
Minneapolis and 12 miles (19km) south of St Paul.
Time Difference:
GMT -6 (GMT -5 from March to
November).
Contacts:
Tel: +1 612 726 5800.
Transfer between Terminals:
The airport's two terminals are linked by covered walkways and a
free light rail that takes three minutes.
Getting to the city:
A Ground Transportation information booth provides passengers
with information and directions. City buses leave from the
Lindbergh Terminal to both Minneapolis and St Paul. A light rail
operates between the airport, downtown Minneapolis and Mall of
America. SuperShuttle provides a shared van door-to-door service to
the local cities and towns. Taxis are also available.
Car rental:
Car rental companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar,
Enterprise, Hertz and National and counters can be found in the Hub
Building, which can be reached by the free underground tram from
the Lindbergh Terminal. Shuttle buses to the off-site rental
companies are accessible from the Transit Center in the Hub
Building.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis are easily hailed from outside the arrivals terminals at
the taxi booth. The journey from the airport to Minneapolis takes
approximately 30 minutes, costing between $35 - $45, and to St Paul
around 20 minutes costing $28 - $34. Travellers can also call 612
726 5877 to book a taxi. To reach the taxi booth from the Lindbergh
Terminal, cross through the Tunnel Level toward the parking ramp
and go up one level.
Airport Facilities:
Northstar Crossing in the Lindbergh Terminal is a collection of
numerous shops, restaurants and food courts. Other facilities
include ATMs and bureaux de change, duty-free, postal services and
a children's play area. Business centres situated throughout the
airport offer Internet, fax and photocopying services. Wireless
Internet access is also provided. The nearby Hilton hotel offers
its rooms and gym facilities at day rates. Disabled facilities are
good; those with special needs should contact their airline in
advance.
Internationally renowned for its permanent collection of 20th
century paintings, drawings, prints, photography and sculptures,
the Walker Art Center is one of the country's leading contemporary
art centres and is one of the most visited museums in the USA. It
features works by top artists in a rang....
Internationally renowned for its permanent collection of 20th
century paintings, drawings, prints, photography and sculptures,
the Walker Art Center is one of the country's leading contemporary
art centres and is one of the most visited museums in the USA. It
features works by top artists in a range of styles, utilising
various multi-media installations and educational programs.
Contemporary art can also be experienced here through theatre,
dance, video, music and film. Next door is the Minneapolis
Sculpture Garden with creative contemporary work spread across a
huge area of parkland. It is the largest urban sculpture park in
the country and includes the colossal
Spoonbridge and Cherry Fountainby Claes Oldenburg and
Coosje van Bruggen, and Frank Gehry's
Standing Glass Fish.
Opening Time:Sculpture Garden: daily from 6am to midnight.
Galleries: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm,
Thursday and Friday until 9pm
Admission:$10 (adults), concessions available; the Sculpture
Garden is free on Thursdays 5 to 9pm (Target Free Thursday Nights)
and the first Saturday of each month
Located in the southern suburb of Bloomington, the futuristic
superstructure of the Mall of America is recognised as the largest
enclosed shopping and entertainment complex in the country. It
welcomes over 42 million visitors each year and is the fifth most
visited attraction in the USA with world-....
Located in the southern suburb of Bloomington, the futuristic
superstructure of the Mall of America is recognised as the largest
enclosed shopping and entertainment complex in the country. It
welcomes over 42 million visitors each year and is the fifth most
visited attraction in the USA with world-class shopping, family
entertainment, nightlife and numerous dining options. There are
over 500 stores and speciality shops including the Lego Imagination
Center, international department stores such as Bloomingdales, more
than 70 restaurants and fast food outlets, cinemas, theatres and
nightclubs, a wedding chapel and a mini-golf course. Underwater
Adventures is a massive aquarium with touch pools featuring sharks
and stingrays. Mall of America's famous centrepiece is The Park at
MOA, an indoor theme park with thirty rides and adventures.
Address:24th Ave S. and Killebrew Drive, Bloomington
Transport:Express bus 80 from downtown Minneapolis, or bus 54 from
downtown St Paul. The Light Rail Transit links Downtown
Minneapolis, the international airport and Mall of
America
Opening Time:Mall open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9.30pm, Sunday
11am to 7pm. Hours for restaurants, nightclubs and other
attractions may vary, as well as summer and holiday hours. The Park
at MOA: Monday to Thursday 10am to 9.30pm, Friday and Saturday 10am
to 10pm, Sunday 10.30am to 7.30pm. Aquarium: Monday to Thursday
10am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday 9.30am to 8.30pm, Sunday 10am to
7pm
Admission:Admission to The Park at MOA is free, but tickets must
be purchased for each ride. An Unlimited Ride Wristband is $24.95,
valid for one day. Aquarium: $16.95 (adults), $9.95 (children
3-12)
Situated on the westernmost end of Lake Superior, the largest
freshwater lake in the world, Duluth's international harbour is
filled with ships and the city bustles with sailors and the arrival
of new wares. Although miles from either coast, Lake Superior is
connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the ....
Situated on the westernmost end of Lake Superior, the largest
freshwater lake in the world, Duluth's international harbour is
filled with ships and the city bustles with sailors and the arrival
of new wares. Although miles from either coast, Lake Superior is
connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the St Lawrence Seaway. The
authentically restored waterfront can be explored along the
Lakewalk Trail, or the scenic Skyline Parkway drive above the
lakeshore on the bluffs, which affords magnificent views of the
city and harbour. The spectacular Scenic Hwy-61 (North Shore Scenic
Drive) follows the shore of Lake Superior for 150 miles (240km)
from Duluth to the Canadian border, its precipitous cliffs
interspersed with pretty little harbour towns, charming shops and
restaurants, waterfalls and beautiful lake-view picnic sites. There
are several state parks and hiking trails along the way, including
the long distance Superior Hiking Trail, and the unspoilt beauty of
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that draws canoeists from
around the world to its pristine lakes and streams.
