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Capital city of Minnesota, United States
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Saint Paul (or St. Paul) is the capital city and the second largest city of the US state of Minnesota. Along with the slightly larger Minneapolis it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolis in the Midwest.
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At Minnesota Children's Museum, kids will have a blast discovering an exciting, immersive world that arouses their curiosity, increases their understanding, and ignites an appreciation for learning. Each of the Museum's seven galleries is uniquely designed to provide a hands-on, stimulating environment for children six months to 10 years old. Roving "funstigators" engage kids in fun and interactive smart play as they blow bubbles, toss balls, play with finger puppets, and provide a variety of stimulating play experiences for children of all ages.
The address above is for the MMAA Project Space, a small gallery in Lowertown with rotating exhibits; the MMAA also hosts temporary exhibitions at other venues around the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. A more permanent location for the museum is in the works. The MMAA is committed to representing the great cultural, racial, socioeconomic and regional diversity of American art and artists – past, present, and emerging.
Noted for its historic mansions. This neighborhood is also remarkable in its connection to the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, who was born in Saint Paul.
Tour the 1891 mansion of the famous railroad tycoon.
Runs parallel to Summit one block to the south. Noted for its multitudes of shops, although chain stores are increasing their presence at an alarming rate.
The headquarters of the Minnesota state government, completed in 1905 (construction started in 1896). This is the third building to serve as the state capitol—the first two are no longer standing—and it features the second-largest unsupported marble dome in the world, only bested by the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, which the Minnesota Capitol dome was partially modeled on.
Tour these sandstone caves, which were home to gangsters and speakeasies in the 1920s.
Built as a post office and a federal courthouse, this historical building now houses galleries and exhibits.
The Science Museum overlooks the Mississippi River and has a permanent exhibit devoted to the river. The museum also has a dinosaur fossils gallery and an experiment gallery with various hands-on activities. The collections gallery includes several quack medical devices from the now-defunct Museum of Questionable Medical Devices.
The state of Minnesota's main history museum, operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. Permanent and rotating exhibits on view.
Minnesota Transportation Museum
An old railroad roundhouse where historic locomotives and rolling stock come for restoration and maintenance. Also offers train rides.
Serves as co-cathedral for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis along with the Basilica of Saint Mary.
Natural history museum with a collection of animal and plant specimens from around the world. Also hosts Minnesota's only planetarium.
Hosts a swing night every Thursday complete with big band and crowded dance floor. Every Thursday from 7PM-10PM, lessons begin at 6:15PM. $7 at the door, cash only.
Takes place in January. Events take place in Downtown and Como Park. Noted for the annual Ice Palace.
Takes place along Grand Avenue on the first Sunday in June. Free parking is available at the University of St. Thomas north and south lots located on Summit and Cretin or Grand and Cretin. Free shuttle buses are available to event visitors.
Takes place in August at Harriet Island, just south of Downtown.
Takes place from mid-August through Labor Day and is one of the largest state fairs in the US. The main entrance to the State Fairgrounds is located at 1265 Snelling Avenue N, but you will first have to drive to one of the lots outside of the fairgrounds. As an alternative, you could take a bus. Metro Transit routes 3 and 84 stop near the fairgrounds. They also operate shuttles during the fair that offer non-stop service to the fairgrounds from various park-and-ride lots throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The Minnesota Rollergirls are a nationally ranked flat-track roller derby league and a member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The Minnesota Swarm is a box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League.
The Minnesota Wild are Minnesota's National Hockey League team.
The St. Paul Saints are a Minor League Baseball team and the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
Minnesota United FC is Minnesota's Major League Soccer team, and are members of the Western Conference. They play at the new Allianz Field in the Midway area of St. Paul.
Representing the University of St. Thomas, the Tommies are in the midst of an unprecedented transition directly from the non-scholarship NCAA Division III to Division I. Most teams play in the Summit League, a conference consisting of regional institutions that doesn't operate a football league. UST plays football in the Pioneer Football League, a conference at the second level of college football, Division I FCS, consisting of schools that don't give football scholarships. The ice hockey teams play in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (men) and Western Collegiate Hockey Association (women). Most venues are on campus except for the hockey arena, located in the inner southern suburb of Mendota Heights. A new on-campus arena that will host basketball and hockey is set to open in 2025.
Two-screen cinema.
Two-screen cinema.
The first Kurdish restaurant in the US.
Cheap Turkish food. It's about one block south of Hamline University.
Cafeteria-style restaurant with a great selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches. Don't leave without trying one of their decadent desserts, especially the turtle cake.
Mexican supermarket, deli, restaurant, and cafeteria on the West Side.
There are many locations of this pizzeria chain in the Twin Cities as well as some throughout Minnesota and surrounding states, but it all started here. Order your deep-dish Il Primo with the Walleye Strips and a pitcher of fresh beer right when you sit down because the pizza takes more than 30 minutes to cook. Family-friendly.
One of the Twin Cities' favorite burger joints.
Cited by many as their favorite Thai restaurant in the state.
The famed Minneapolis pizza mini-chain has now come to the capital city. This location boasts an authentic St. Paul neighborhood atmosphere with local color and a friendly staff.
Best Vietnamese food in the Twin Cities, among the best pho and banh mi you'll find outside Vietnam. A favorite destination not just for locals but for Food Network hosts and more. Quick, cheap, and delicious.
Historic restaurant blocks from the St. Paul Cathedral. Outstanding patio for summertime enjoyment. Award-winning wine list.
Pauly's
American food in a cozy, moderately upscale setting. Broadcast sports often playing on mounted televisions. Patio seating available during warmer seasons.
Cossetta's, or Cossetta Alimentari
Excellent Italian food in a spacious cafeteria setting. Salads, pastas, pizzas, and desserts. The mostaccolli ("mah-stah-cho-lee") is their signature pasta dish. The restaurant can get crowded around events at the nearby Treasure Island Arena. Free parking lot for restaurant patrons.
Bar and music venue in downtown.
Tequila bar that also offers Mexican bar food.
The Midway Saloon is a dive bar in the Midway with occasional live music.
The Bulldog offers over 100 kinds of beer and an assortment of food options, including vegetarian entrees. Also features shuffleboard, darts, and a shuttle to the Xcel Center on game nights.
Taproom attached to Summit Brewing, serving a rotating schedule of beers from the brewery; there are often food carts outside. The brewery also runs tours during the day, with sampling after the tour (for visitors over 21).
The Turf is one of the better venues in the Twin Cities to see local bands, and sometimes the occasional touring band. Cover charges on live music nights are usually between $5-10.
Woman-owned microbrewery and taproom. Also sells growlers.
Free wireless internet, fitness center, and coin-operated laundry.
The DoubleTree hotel offers 8,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
Complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast in an open air atrium. Indoor pool, fitness center and whirlpool.
149 spacious guestrooms in Lowertown. The hotel has been transformed from the restored Custom House, built 1933 and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
SpringHill Suites St. Paul Downtown
Cheapo Records
Warehouse of used CDs, records, and music-related gifts.
Independent record store.
Small family-owned liquor store that has a walk in cooler, tons of great micro/indie brews, over 80 types of scotch, and an excellent wine selection. Good deals as well as hard-to-find liqueurs.
Books, DVDs, CDs, LPs, and collectibles at half price or less.
Independent bookstore.
This farmers' market occupies one city block in Lowertown, and all the produce for sale here is grown within 50 miles of the Twin Cities.
Surplus store with an eclectic atmosphere and unique selection of merchandise.
By train
By bus
Bus services operate out of Union Depot (see "By train" above)
By car
Interstate 35E and Interstate 94 travel through Saint Paul. US 52 also is a freeway connecting Saint Paul to the southern suburbs.
Unlimited ride passes are available in 1-day, 7-day, and 31-day formats. Stored value passes (pay-per-ride) are also available.
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