Disclaimer: I was born, raised and currently live in Minneapolis. After traveling and living abroad for four and a half years, visiting 40 countries, I returned to Minneapolis because I love this place. Forbes recently rated Minneapolis as America’s Most Relaxed City, which inspired me to write this fawning post.
• According to a survey taken by Central Connecticut State University, Minneapolis is the most literate city in the United States. The city was ranked 4th on the Daily Beasts’ list of America’s smartest cities.
• According to Travel + Leisure magazine, Minneapolis is one of the world’s top cities for cyclists. Runner’s World magazine ranks the area as the sixth best for runners in the U.S.
• Minneapolis is second only to New York for the most live theater seats per capita in the U.S.
• Target Field, the new baseball stadium for the Minnesota Twins, is the nation’s greenest stadium.
• Minneapolis is the birthplace of the eclectic and singular “Jucy Lucy” burger.
• Minnesota’s nickname is “The Land of 10,000 Lakes” (there are actually far more). There are 12 lakes in Minneapolis proper, as well as three creeks, three large ponds and the Mississippi River.
• Minneapolis is routinely honored by a variety of polls as one of America’s safest cities, most fun cities, coolest cities, sustainable cities and best places to live.
• Rollerblade, the company that popularized inline skating, was founded in Minneapolis.
• The bulk of Minneapolis’ downtown area is connected by the “Skyway” system, nearly eight cumulative miles of second level, enclosed, environmentally controlled walkways connecting shopping, dining, hotels, entertainment, residential, business and government buildings.
