Minneapolis and the city of St Paul together make up the Twin Cities of Minnesota. The modern metropolis offers the best between the two cities providing a wide array of Twin Cities restaurants, excellent shopping opportunities and an abundance of attractions to keep visitors happily occupied. Public transportation is excellent and provides an easy way of getting around between the two cities. Both cities border the Mississippi River and tell a long tale of the history in the region.

St Paul Minnesota is the older of the pair and is the state capital. St Paul is more conservative, less noisy and smaller offering a different perspective of the Twin Cities. Victorian architecture abounds in St Paul Minnesota and blends with the more contemporary skyscrapers found in the downtown core. Museums, galleries and theaters comprise the cultural heart where many fun events take place. Vibrant nightlife and colorful artistic flair make this Minnesota hub a unique city with it's own special appeal. The history of St Paul Minnesota runs deep with most of the infrastructure built from resources from the old timber and flour mills along the Mississippi.

Hundreds of lakes and waterways in the area lend to exceptional outdoor activities. Skiing, hiking, camping and cycling are only a few of the activities available for visitors to enjoy. Twin Cities events include the Festival of Nations which has been a success since 1932. This festival is a multi-ethnic event and one of the areas longest-running festivals. Featuring the ethnic diversity of the area, the festival aims to promote cultural understanding and unite the community through special celebrations. A diverse menu of ethnic food is shared while myriads of artisans join in the ethnic bazaar in the month of May. Demonstrations and exhibits highlight different cultures such as Thai, Croatian, German, Hungarian, Indian and Malaysian.

Popular Twin Cities events also include the Winter Carnival, Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in May and the exciting Twin Cities Jazz Festival in the summer months. The Jazz Festival features regional, national and international performers along with craft exhibits and art displays. Downtown St Paul comes alive this time of year at a number of participating Twin Cities restaurants and other downtown venues. In July the Highland Fest kicks off for a three-day extravaganza with an art fair and festival events. Live entertainment, amusement rides, delicious food, an auto show and fireworks can all be enjoyed in the city of St Paul.

St Paul restaurants are known for their cultural blend of tasty cuisine. The Boca Chica Restaurante offers Mexican fare with recipes made from scratch. Dishes like Walleye Fillet, succulent chicken with Spanish rice and red snapper are served up with style in an authentic Latin setting. For great Italian cuisine head to DeGidio's Restaurant. Serving the city of St Paul since the 1930's, this favorite dishes out a promising menu of meals such as Penne Arribiata and Linguine Salsiccia as well as steaks, shrimp and fish. Enjoy Happy Hour and tantalizing Thai cuisine at Supatra's Thai Cuisine. The owner and chef offer delights of the culinary kind with aromatic dishes with chilies, ginger, lemon grass and basil. This Twin Cities restaurant also offers salads and other Thai treats.

St Paul is the low-key brother to high-energy Minneapolis. It's the perfect place to set out for a relaxing game of golf or just a stroll around the city making discoveries around every corner. If the assortment of shopping isn't enough for you then head to Bloomington for a day trip to the Mall of America, a shopper's paradise, but St Paul should keep you really busy! Take the chance to soak up the incredible awareness the city has for its community well-being before heading off in another direction.