Travel Midwest Magazine Travel Midwest Digital ReplicaSUM17 | Page 82

Mall of America Bloomington, Minnesota MINNEAPOLIS, MN Noted as the sister of St. Paul, and both of which make up the Twin Cities, Minneapolis has a vibrant and lively atmosphere to get lost in. Whether you’re looking for a weekend of shop- ping in the Mall of America, or wanting to tour the city (try it in a kayak!), you’ll find something to love here. Just at the tail end of summer, you can make your way to the Minnesota State Fair, which is the second largest state fair in the entire nation, for a fun-filled weekend. With hundreds of free shows and live enter- tainment, 500 different fair foods to choose from, fireworks, carnival rides, and more, the entire family will walk away satisfied. 80 | Summer 2017 | Travel Midwest Looking for a bit of history and education? Cruise the north end of the Mississippi River in the famous Minneapolis Queen, a paddlewheeler cruise that offers private charters along the giant river and in Lake Minnetonka as well. These boats are authentic replicas of their predecessors that were once used to travel the mighty Mississippi long ago. Public cruises are $20 per adult, and $11 for children from 2-10 years old. Snacks and a cash bar are also on board the sightseeing cruise. Pri- vate charters are a bit more costly, but well worth the money if you’re traveling with a large group.