GWS2007 Conference: Enjoying the Twin Cities

Use the links below to find out more about the Twin Cities experience that awaits you outside the doors of the Crowne Plaza.

Ready to strike out on your own and explore? Check out downtown St. Paul.
Hungry? Who isn’t? Find out more about your choices in restaurants.
What about the other half of the Twin Cities? Venture over to Minneapolis.
You don’t need a car to enjoy Minneapolis/St. Paul.
More sources of info on the Twin Cities.

Downtown St. Paul

The St. Paul Skyway System. It’s easy to walk around downtown St. Paul even if the weather is not cooperating. The Skyway System is a series of pedestrian overpasses and interior walkways marked and mapped with standardized signage that allows you to walk around more than 40 square blocks of the downtown without ever going outside. You can use the Skyway to get to restaurants, services, and shops, or just to stretch your legs.
- Map of St. Paul Skyway system (JPG; will open in a separate window) | PDF printable version

The boundaries of Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park System, encompass about 72 miles of the river, including a narrow corridor through the Twin Cities. The park includes the St. Anthony Falls between Minneapolis and St. Paul—the only waterfall on the entire river—as well as the historically significant confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. The park’s visitor center is located in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota, and is open daily. (There is no charge to enter the VC.)

Interesting places.
- Alexander Ramsey House, the fully restored Second Empire (1872) residence of Minnesota’s first territorial governor. Intrepretive tours.
- American Swedish Institute, the country’s premier museum of Swedish-American art, culture, and history.
- Cathedral of Saint Paul, one of the most imposing buildings in the city, dating from 1906. Tours available.
- Just across the river from downtown Saint Paul you will find District Del Sol. This Hispanic area features a variety of charming Mexican restaurants, traditional Latino shops, specialty food items and colorful public artwork.
- Fitzgerald Theater, 1891 home of Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” nationally sydicated radio show.
- James J. Hill House, home of the railroad tycoon, combines rugged sandstone, massive scale, fine detail, and ingenious mechanical systems. Tours.
- Landmark Center, originally built in 1902 as a federal courthouse and post office, now hosts businesses and offices and serves as meeting and arts/performance space.
- Minnesota Children’s Museum offers hands-on exhibits in four permanent galleries and two changing galleries.
- Minnesota Historical Society’s History Center is the largest historical museum in the Upper Midwest. Renowned for its architecture. Exhibits and tours.
- The galleries of the Minnesota Museum of American Art feature works from the 19th century to the present.
- The Minnesota State Capitol is located just north of downtown. Free, 45-minute guided tours are available Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Tours are on the hour, last tour begins one hour before closing.
- Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Minnesota Opera, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and touring musicals.
- Science Museum of Minnesota is the largest of its kind in the region, with exhibits and large-screen movie presentations. The GWS Awards Banquet will be held at the SMM on Thursday evening, April 19; tickets will include admission to the exhibits.
- The Schubert Club’s Museum of Musical Instruments, located in the Landmark Center, is free and open 11a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Xcel Energy Center is a new 19,000-seat arena that hosts professional sports, big-name concerts, and similar events.
Map of downtown St. Paul attractions (JPG; will open in a separate window) | PDF printable version

Local parks. Visit St. Paul Parks and Recreation for more info and maps.

Restaurants in St. Paul

Use the St. Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau’s restaurant search engine to find eateries by cuisine or by location. You can also consult the Twin Cities Food Finds website, which bills itself as the most complete restaurant resource available. Search by name, location, or cuisine. Or, try the Citysearch restaurant/bar search engine. The latter two sites cover the entire Twin Cities area.
Printable PDF map of 24 restaurants within 8 blocks of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Printable PDF map of 21 restaurants in the greater downtown St. Paul area.

The Other Twin City: Minneapolis

Downtown Minneapolis is only about 5 miles from downtown St. Paul. Visit the Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Bureau site for complete information.

You Don’t Need a Car!

Downtown St. Paul is a very walkable, but if you want to venture farther afield on your own, there’s no need to pay for a rental (and the parking fees that go with it). The Twin Cities’ Metro Transit system can take you by bus between and around the cities. You can also use Metro Transit’s Downtown Zone system to ride around the downtowns of both St. Paul and Minneapolis. Click here for bus route maps for downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis (printable PDF files).