Linden Hills & Lowry Hill
Minneapolis is not called the City of Lakes for nothing, and two of the best are in sleepy, leafy, residential Linden Hills. Either swap the car for a bike at Calhoun Rental and pedal south to Lake Harriet, or hop on the streetcar at Richfield Road and West 36th Street. Then head west for Norman Rockwell—esque restaurants and shops in the hub of this charming village-in-a-big-city. For some culture, take a 15-minute drive north to ritzier Lowry Hill and check out the recently expanded Walker Art Center and sculpture garden.
restaurants
Café Twenty Eight
At this warm neighborhood bistro, enjoy organic chicken tacos or grass-fed steak.
2724 W. 43rd St., (612) 926-2800
The sassy waitstaff of this great local diner serves up the area's best juicy burgers and thick, gooey shakes.
3912 Sunnyside Rd., (952) 920-6881
Sebastian Joe's
Try the heavenly Oreo flavor at this legendary Twin Cities ice cream emporium. It's a bit of a mob scene in the summer, but the wait is worth it.
1007 W. Franklin Ave., (612) 870-0065
shops
Wild Rumpus
Through the kid-size purple door awaits a collection of 36,000 kids' books and roaming live animals (cats, lizards, even tarantulas!).
2720 W. 43rd St., (612) 920-5005
This bastion of hard-to-find all-natural European toys also has beautiful vases and beeswax candles for grown-ups.
4306 S. Upton Ave., (612) 929-2707
activities
Streetcar Museum
Learn about the history of the city's rail system as you ride.
Board at Lake Harriet or Lake Calhoun, (952) 922-1096
Pack the bathing suits and head to one of the two sandy beaches. Harriet North Beach (at Lake Roseway Road and E. Lake Harriet Parkway) has restrooms for changing.
43rd St. W and E. Lake Harriet Parkway, (612) 230-6475
This lauded modern-art museum has tons of activities for kids, including Tuesday art playdates. The Claes Oldenberg spoon-and-cherry in the sculpture garden is a local landmark.
1750 Hennepin Ave., (612) 375-7600
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