100 Places that Adults Want to Go in the Twin Cities

Whether it be a date night or meeting up with a friend, I hope you find this list as a good resource for ideas of places that adults will want to checkout. Yes, I do have kids and we have plenty of places we like to go with them (guess maybe I should make another list for that). I started making this list when a friend moved and I wanted to find fun and interesting things to meet up to do. She had suggested several times I should make up this list and finally I decided it would be nice for me to share my ideas, as I looked at so many other lists for ideas but ended up coming up with many of my own ideas that you may not have seen on other lists. I generally try to keep costs down, so many of these things are free or lost cost.

FYI - These are in no particular order, just in the order I thought of them, did them or learned about them.

100 Places To Go in the Twin Cities Area

1. Try out the NEW Adult Nights Out at the Minnesota Zoo (FREE for members!!)
2. Or try out a Social Science Night at the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM and MPR members get a discount)
3. Have a 3-course dinner for two at Kafe 421  for only $25 (salad, pasta and dessert to share)
4. Play bocce ball or go bowling at Pinstripes in Edina and have dinner (go on Monday night for $10 Bottomless Spaghetti and Meatball and Chopped Salad)
5. Knock over some pins at Memory Lanes Bowling for as little $1.99/game.
6. Walk the 4 mile trail around at Cleary Lake at Cleary Lake Regional Park (also, add in the other 3 miles of trails), then.....
7. Grab some fresh pastries or soup and sandwich from Edelwiess Bakery and Cafe in Prior Lake
8. Take a guided tour of the St. Paul Cathedral and/or 
9. Tour the Basilica of St. Mary
10. Visit the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul (FREE admission on Tu evenings)
11. Do some hiking and exploring around Fort Snelling State Park and while you are there, 
12. Visit Historic Fort Snelling
13. Discover 19th-Century Minnesota at The Landing in Shakopee
14. Play Disc Golf or use the cross country ski trails or lay out at Wirth Lake beach at Theordore Wirth Park and while you are there,
15. Meander through the Quaking Bog as well as take a 
16. Stroll through the  Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
17. If you want to see more flowers still, check out the Lyndale Rose Garden
18. Take in all the sights and sounds at the Longfellow Gardens in Minnehaha Regional Park
19. Learn a little at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (free admission)
20. Take in even more art with a tour of the Weisman Art Museu
21. Browse and appreciate at the Walker Art Center on Target Free Thursday Nights or Free First Saturdays (this one also has family activities) 
22. Have a picnic and explore the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
23. Take a cooking class at Mississippi Market
24. Watch a free performance of the St. Paul Ballet on Ballet Tuesdays at the Landmark Center and while you are there, why not check out
25. The Landmark Center Museums and Exhibits, as well as
26. Have lunch at Anita's Cafe an Lunch
27. Don a pair of skates or blades and go skating at Skateville in Burnsville (they have times for 18+ and Active Older Adults)
28. Have dinner and ride the bull at Cadillac Ranch at the Mall of America
29. Be a thrill seeker and complete the course at Dutchman's Deck Adventure Course  and when you are ready to be back on land, 
30. Try out your skills on Moose Mountain Adventure Golf
31. Go tubing or skiing at Elm Creek Recreation Area
32. Take a beginner lesson in skiing or snowboarding at Buck Hill 
33. Take a class at their Outdoor School or try out the climbing wall at REI in Bloomington
34. Take in some nature at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (FREE admission on Thursdays Nov-Mar, and 12-6pm Apr-Oct)
35. Go to the opposite side of the Cities and check out the Muriel Sahlin Arboretum in Roseville
36. Enjoy a cruise on Lake Minnetonka with Al and Alma's  (this is the one I did, but there are others and often there is a Groupon Deal for this kind of cruise) 
37. Ride on a working steamboat on the Steamboat Minnehaha
38. Stroll around Caponi Art Park and Sculpture Garden
39. Hike Around Minnehaha Falls and grab a fish taco at the Sea Salt Eatery.
40. Spend some time shopping and eat on Grand Ave.  
41. Enjoy some ice cream at the Grand Ole Creamery and Pizzeria
42. Stop in at ArtScraps Reuse Store and see what you can find to inspire a new project
43. Watch a show at the upgraded Omni Theater and Explore the Science Museum of Minnesota (get a membership and it pays for itself very quickly)
44. Or consider going to a monthly Behind the Scenes at the Science Museum of Minnesota, it's on Monday afternoons which is not a day they are typically open.
45. Spend an afternoon at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
46. Dine and Shop at Midtown Global Market, check out their events calendar to find free events and discount days with vendors
47. Attend free events at the Mall of America, events are always changing and may include live performances, book signings, meet and greets, fashion shows and much more!!!
48. Catch a free performance, concert or movie at Centennial Lake Park and Edinborough Park Ampitheater
49. Take a leisurely paddleboat ride around the Centennial Lakes waterways 
50. Take your pick of the many hiking trails that make up over 15 miles of trails around the many lakes at Lebanon Hills Regional Park
51. Do some outdoor ice skating at Wells Fargo Winter Skate at Landmark Plaza (free to skate and show your Wells Fargo check or credit card for free skate rental!)
52. Take your ice skating indoors at The Depot Ice Rink (check the website for specials and discounts)
53. Take in a film or two or three at the  Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival (pretty much is ongoing most days in April)
54. See any movie for $5 on Tuesdays at Marcus Theaters (plus rewards members get free popcorn too!!)
55. See 3 movies for the price of 1 at Vali-Hi Drive In Theater (Plus $1 hot dogs!)
56. Another cheap movie option is $2 matinee or $3 evening tickets at the Riverview Theatre
57. Learn more about raptor at the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota
58. Learn more about the Swedish Heritage at the American Swedish Institute
59. Take a guided tour of the James J. Hill House
60. Get up close with nature at the Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington
61. Go canoeing at the Rice Creek Chain of Lake Campground and Park Reserve
62. Enjoy the Macy's Flower Show in Minneapolis in the Spring
63. Try out a SUP or paddleboat for free with Midwest Moutaineering  (check their schedule for dates)
64. Learn more about the history of St. Paul and trains at the Minnesota Transportation Museum at the historic Jackson Street Roundhouse
65. Go watch the ponies at Canterbury Park (be sure to look at the website for deals and specials as they usually have them)
66. Tour the Wabasha Street Caves (year round, but there is a Ghosts and Graves tour in October!)
67. Or if you have already done the cave tour, try out the St. Paul Gangster Tour
68. Try to find your way out of the Riddle Room.
69. FREE Schubert Club Courtroom Concerts: Thursdays, October through April
70. Sundays at the Landmark FREE Events
71. Attend a Preview Performance at the Guthrie Theater, most preview show tickets start at $15
72. Have a meal ANYTIME of the day, ANY DAY of the year at Mickey's Diner. It's on the National Register of Historic Places, been featured on Food Network, in national magazines and in several Hollywood movies.
73. Tour a MN Brewery. Some of the tours are free and often give a free tasting and others may cost about $5
74. Get in the Holiday Spirit and tour the Holidazzle Village (late Nov thru Dec)
75. Enjoy the many events of St. Paul Winter Carnival (the majority of the events take place one week in Jan/Feb, but there are several events leading up to it for a couple weeks as well as a couple afterwards)
76. Target Practice at Gander Mountain in Lakeville (others may have it but this is the one I have been to)
77. Get your paint on at Simply Jane Studio either with a scheduled class or Drop-In paint time
78. Check out the comedy at ComedySportz on Thursday for $10 Thursdays
79. Or get some FREE laughs at Open Mic Night at Acme Comedy Club on Mondays
80. Enjoy 2 for 1s (beer) and participate/watch some Karaoke (M & Tu) or Stand Up Comedy (W) at Dulonos Pizza, they have no cover live music but no 2 for 1s during live music
81. Find your way through the Amazing Mirror Maze (you can go through as many times as you want during one session, be sure to check Groupon as there is often a discount there for it)
82. Attend a Signature Event at the Alexander Ramsey House, including the Victorian Christmas, History Happy Hour, Ramsey After Dark, History Chef and more!
83. Go Cross Country Skiing at Hyland Park Reserve (they have a 5k route with manufactured snow, so skiing conditions in the winter on that route are often good)
84. Attend a FREE Music Under Glass Concert (8 week series in Jan/Feb) at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
85. Or listen to the Minnesota Sinfonia at one of their FREE concerts or educational programs
86. During the summer, attend one of the Minneapolis Parks Music and Movies in the Parks 
87. Reserve your tickets for a FREE Taping and Performance of Lowertown Line on PBS
88. Go for a bike ride. No bike? No problem. Get a 24 hour pass for $6 for a bike through Nice Ride Minnesota.
89. Savor a Juicy Lucy with Jojo's at the original 5-8 Club, or try out one of their other 3 locations
90. Be amazed at a Shakopee Prior Lake Water Ski Association Show FREE water ski show
91. Or depending upon where you are in the Cities, watch a performance on water by the Twin Cities River Rats
92. Watch the Minnesota Twins play for as little as $6 a ticket. To get a price this good you have to plan ahead buy tickets early and bring some binoculars for better viewing.
93. Or watch the St. Paul Saints from the Berm ($5) or Bleachers ($6) at many of their games
94. For only $2 (one ride) ride the Lake Harriet Street Car or ride all day for $5
95. Get a group of 6+ ladies together for a Thursday night out for a show at Old Log Theatre and get $5 off each ticket and a free glass of wine each
96. Put your way through 9 Holes of Mini Golf at Putter There for only $3
97. Check out an event at the Gay 90's, No Cover M-W for 21+ and drink specials
98. Try out lawn bowling, watch some rugby on TV or test your trivia abilities while enjoying some fish and chips at Brit's Pub.
99. Attend a monthly FREE tasting event at Sweet Science Ice Cream.
100. People watch and listen to free concerts at the Minnesota State Fair, be sure to buy gate tickets in advance to save a few bucks.