Take the Light Rail Downtown:
Minneapolis' new Light Rail runs from the Mall of America to Downtown along the Hiawatha Corridor. Along the way, it stops at the Airport, Fort Snelling, several neighborhood stops, the Humphrey MetroDome, and ends near the north end of Nicollet Mall and the Warehouse District. From the hotel, you can either walk to the Mall of America or, catch a shuttle bus every half hour. Once at the Mall Transit Station, you can catch trains downtown about every 10 minutes. It's easy, and you don't have to worry about parking downtown. You might want to use Light Rail to get to the following points of interest:Minihaha Falls, the historic Mill District, Warehouse District, and Nicollet Mall.

Catch a Twins game at the MetroDome:
The Twins have a four-game homestand Friday, July 28th through Monday, July 30th. The game times are: Fri/28th--7:10pm; Sat/29th--6:10pm; Sun/30th--1:10pm; Mon/31st--7:10pm. While the Friday and Saturday games conflict with major Conference events like the Flea Market and the Banquet, perhaps a Sunday game would work into your plans. Click on the logo to the left to go to the teams website. Follow the schedule tab to July and you can purchase tickets through the web.

Nicollet Mall:
Nicollet Mall is a portion of Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Along with Hennepin Avenue, one block to the west, it forms the cultural and commercial heart of the city. The Nicollet Mall is an upscale shopping and dining district. Nicollet Mall has very wide sidewalks surrounding a small 2-lane taxi-and-buses-only street, promoting a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. You can see the Mary Tyler Moore Statue near Marshall Field's (formerly Dayton's and soon to be Macy's).

Brits Pub:
Nicollet Mall has many fun shopping and eating establishments. At the south end of Nicollet Mall is Brit's Pub. Sitting upstairs on their deck by the lawn bowling green with the downtown skyline before you is worth checking out.

Culture:
American Swedish Institute founded in 1929 by Swan J. Turnblad, is a historic house/museum offering a variety of programs designed to celebrate Swedish culture. The Turnblad mansion, which houses the Institute, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only castle in the Twin Cities. The American Swedish Institute is at 2600 Park Avenue in Minneapolis. This is NOT walkable from Light Rail.

Lyndale Park Gardens:
The "lakes" area of Minneapolis is worth seeing. A drive or walk around Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun is a beautiful summer activity. The downtown skyline is sometimes visible while the area is full of grand, historic homes. Located on the northeast shore of Lake Harriet, immediately adjacent to Roseway Road, Lyndale Park Gardens encompasses four distinctive gardens; the Rose Garden, the Perennial Garden, Peace (Rock) Garden and the Perennial Trial Garden. Immediately adjacent to the Peace Garden is the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary. Time spent wandering the gardens is relaxing and refreshing. 4125 E. Lake Harriet Parkway Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum:
The Landscape Arboretum features more than 1,000 acres of unique public gardens: spectacular annual and perennial display gardens, collections of plants developed for northern climates, natural and native areas, and demonstration gardens. Open daily to the public, the Arboretum conducts horticultural research and offers educational opportunities to adults and children. The Arboretum features a horticultural library and a conservatory, tea room, and gift shop. Enjoy by foot, car, or Trumpet Creeper Tram. Tour 20 "Secret Gardens" outdoor installations. Adults: $7 Children 15 and under: Free. Location Map.

Minneapolis Institute of Arts:
Minneapolis Institute of Arts is the Twin Cities largest art museum. It is free to the public except for special exhibits. One of the special exhibits during late July is one stessing Calder's Surrealism. Location: 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404

RibFest:
County Market RibFest on Harriet Island in St Paul runs July 27th through July 30th. Entry is free on Thursday afternoon and Sunday. Ten rib vendors supply a variety of eats. Music on Sunday will be Beatlemania and Kansas. If you are in town on Sunday and want something fun to do, go to RibFest.

Stone Arch Bridge:
The Stone Arch Bridge is the only bridge of its kind over the Mississippi River. It is made of native granite and limestone, and measures 2100-feet long by 28-feet wide. The bridge consists of 23 arches, and spans the river below St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, MN. Location: At the intersection of West River Road and Portland Ave. in Downtown Minneapolis. 125 Main St. SE, Minneapolis. It's not too far from the Mill District or the Humphrey Dome.

Mill City Museum:
The Mill City Museum offers a variety of programs and exhibits that help visitors understand the history of the milling industry and the impact it had on the city of Minneapolis. The activites at the museum are meant to involve visitors of all ages. The building's design gives the visitors a bird's eye view of the the Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls. These two resources served as sources of power that helped sustain the milling industry in Minneapolis during its heyday.