Visiting St. Paul, MN

2014 Host City - St. Paul, MN

Convention and Visitors Bureau:

To find out fun and exciting things to do in St. Paul, please check out the list of suggestions below courtesy of Vicky Williams, On-Site Chair for the 2014 Annual Conference, or visit the local Convention and Visitors Bureau website:  http://www.visitstpaul.com

Things to Do:

Things to do in Downtown St. Paul

  1. See the capitol building--Designed by Cass Gilbert, the Minnesota State Capitol is considered an architectural masterpiece. Explore the House, Senate and Supreme Court chambers, see the legislature in action, visit the gold-leafed Quadriga on the roof when weather allows, stop in the restored Rathskeller Café and walk the Capitol Mall. http://sites.mnhs.org/historic-sites/minnesota-state-capitol
  2. Visit the Minnesota History Center—This beautiful building includes an interactive museum, the Minnesota Historical Society Library and archives, two museum stores, and Café Minnesota, featuring local, sustainable foods. http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/
  3. Explore the Science Museum of Minnesota—Just a short walk from the conference hotel, the museum houses interactive displays, the Mississippi River Visitor Center, and an Omni Theater. http://www.smm.org/
  4. Tour the Landmark Center—Built in 1902 and once home to the Federal Courthouse and Post Office for the Upper Midwest, this historic building houses many cultural organizations, as well as St. Paul’s Visitor Center, a café, gift shop, museums, and exhibits. http://www.landmarkcenter.org/
  5. Rest in Rice Park—Flanked by the Landmark Center, the Ordway, and the James J. Hill Reference Library, this city park has a beautiful fountain, a statue of F. Scott Fitzgerald, and plenty of benches.
  6. Check out what’s showing at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts—Known for its great acoustics, the Ordway features musical theater, orchestra performances, and dance. Here’s some of what’s scheduled for 2014-2015: http://www.ordway.org/performances/14-15/
  7. Walk along the Mississippi—Right across the street from the conference hotel is a walkway that takes you along the edge of this busy river. Walk across the bridge and you will be at Harriet Island, http://www.visitsaintpaul.com/poi/view/Things-to-Do/Parks-Zoos/Harriet_Island.

At the Top of the Hill

  1. View the St. Paul Cathedral—Built from 1906-1915, this magnificent church is home to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/
  2. Take a trip back to the Gilded Age at James J. Hill House—This enormous red sandstone home, constructed in 1891 by the builder of the Great Northern Railway, is known for its ingenious mechanical systems. http://www.visitsaintpaul.com/poi/view/Things-to-Do/Museums-Historical-Sites/James_J._Hill_House?category=3313
  3. Stroll down Summit Avenue—Walk or drive (there are tours available) past blocks and blocks of grand Victorian mansions (the Governor’s Mansion is on this street), churches, and synagogues. The University of St. Thomas and Macalester College are here, as well.
  4. Shop and eat on Grand Avenue—one block over from Summit, find Grand Avenue, where many of the Victorian homes have been converted to unique shops. You will also find a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries. http://www.grandave.com/

That Other City

Hop on the light rail and you can be in Minneapolis in a few minutes. In Minneapolis you will find the Guthrie Theater (http://www.guthrietheater.org/), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (http://new.artsmia.org/), and much, much more.

And then there’s. . . The Mall of America

Did you know that the enclosed shopping mall was invented in Minnesota? The very first enclosed shopping mall was Southdale in Edina, Minnesota, and it opened in 1956. Now, we have the Mall of America in nearby Bloomington with 520 stores, 50 restaurants, an aquarium, and an amusement park.