Saint Paul is one part of a fantastic duo
Regal and refined, Saint Paul is one core of the sprawling Twin Cities, joined at the hip to its more famous brother – Minneapolis. It straddles the bending Mississippi River, offering museum-packed districts along the banks, and a montage of grandiose architecture that ranges from the neo-Gothic to the Chateaux-esque. Visitors can crane their necks upwards at the soaring dome of the Minnesota State Capitol, shop through farmers' markets, hit characterful dive bars, explore speakeasies still echoing with Prohibition, or simply kick back in cozy Saint Paul vacation rentals in historic neighborhoods.
From Grand Avenue to the grandiose in Saint Paul
Grand Avenue is the place to go to really get in with the local scene. It's packed with artisan bakeries, German beer shops, Polish dumpling houses, and Scandinavian delicatessens – a taste of Saint Paul's multicultural heritage. Just north is Summit Avenue, the old stomping ground of one F Scott Fitzgerald, and a medley of monumental homes done in half-timber. Saint Paul vacation rentals in Downtown, meanwhile, are the perfect launchpad to the acclaimed Minnesota Children's Museum, not to mention the green spaces and concession stands of the vast Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
Saint Paul buzzes with local life
While Minneapolis deals with the bulk of the visitors, Saint Paul does local life. That means parks and pretty botanical gardens where native Minnesotans stroll between the flowers and snowdrifts. It means hearty St Paddy's Day parades and Polish heritage festivals. It means the State Faire and all the pop-up food courts and music shows that brings in August. Meanwhile, traditional sightseeing is on offer – just look for Saint Paul vacation rentals near regal Summit Avenue or Grand if that sounds more like your sort of thing.
Summer fairs and fun in Saint Paul
If you're not planning on packing the thermals and snow boots, don't even think about coming to Saint Paul in the chilly Minnesotan winter. In fact, it might be better to hold off until around June, July, or August, when the parks and lakes and riverside green spaces here burst into life with festivals and farmers' markets. This is also when the State Fair is in town, which means a chance to get jolly in one of the largest shindigs of its kind in all of America.
Saint Paul, the land of rivers and lakes
Set on the rolling Midwestern plains, Saint Paul might just be the perfect capital of a state nicknamed the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”. Just stroll the bends of the Mississippi River as it carves through Downtown and you'll soon spot them, going from the bird-spotted wetlands of Pigs Eye Lake to the fishing banks of Long Meadow Lake. These floodplains are typical of the region, and come crisscrossed with babbling creeks and walking trails, many of which are protected under the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center – a place to spot river otters, skinks, and half-drowned forests.
Transportation to and around St. Paul
Fly into Minneapolis - St. Paul Intl. Airport (MSP), the closest airport, located 7.2 mi (11.6 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that's convenient for your trip, you might consider flying into St. Paul, MN (STP-St. Paul Downtown), which is 1.8 mi (2.8 km) away.
If you prefer train travel, make your way to Saint Paul Union Depot or St. Paul - Minneapolis Station to see more of the city. You can see more of St. Paul by jumping on the metro at Central Station, 10th Street Station or Union Depot Station.
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