9 spring things to do in the Twin Cities
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Tulip season has arrived at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Photo courtesy of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Celebrate the arrival of warm weather in the Twin Cities with the help of our spring guide.
- Here are a handful of ways to take advantage of the season.
1. Grab dinner and drinks al fresco
Enjoy the warming weather at these local outdoor spots.
🏖 For the view: Spring Park's Back Channel Brewing offers a beachy, open-air vibe on the shore of Lake Minnetonka.
💕 For date night: Amore Uptown has a romantic rooftop deck just a few blocks from the Chain of Lakes.
🎶 For live music: Aster Cafe hosts a variety of live musicians, like jazz Sunday brunches, on the courtyard patio.
🐶For the whole family: The eclectic Saint Paul Brewing, built in the historic Hamm's Brewery, has a spacious dog-friendly patio and outdoor pizza oven.
🍹 For drinks: Hai Hai's tropical craft cocktails are best served outside.
2. Don't miss these big events
👠 Fashion Week Minnesota is seven days of runways celebrating the best designers, brands and creatives from around the state. April 24-30.
💐 Art in Bloom at Minneapolis Institute of Art showcases 140 fresh floral arrangements inspired by the museum's permanent collection. April 28-May 1.
🎨 Art-A-Whirl, which the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association says is the largest open studio tour in the country, opens 60 art galleries, studios, and businesses to the public for free. May 20-22.
🌭 GrillFest at CHS Field hosts over 100 vendors offering unlimited samples of grilled food, wine and specialty beers. May 21-22.
🎭 The Flint Hills Family Festival provides $5 tickets to performances at the Ordway and Landmark Center, free outdoor entertainment and art activities for all ages. June 3-4.
🎸 Rock the Garden, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden's signature music festival, returns after three years, headlined by Sleater-Kinney and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. June 11.
3. Cheer for our home teams
The Twins return to Target Field on Thursday to play the Seattle Mariners in their home opener. But they're not the only sports team you can catch outdoors as the weather warms.
⚽ Minnesota United FC plays all summer at Allianz Field.
⚾ And the St. Paul Saints kicks off its home season at CHS Field on April 12.
- While you're there, check out the new foods like Bloody Mary burgers and baseball-themed cocktails.
4. Skip town for a weekend at a nearby Airbnb
Go "glamping" — a mashup of glam camping — in this lakeside treehouse in the Chippewa National Forest.
- The one-bedroom Airbnb has water, electricity, a half-bath, wifi and peace and quiet.
Of note: No kitchen, heat, AC or shower, hence the camping part.
5. Get outdoors on foot or wheels
If you're anything like us, you're ready to stretch those legs after a long winter.
- Lace up your sneakers and hit one our favorite walking trails.
- Four-legged friends can join and run free at one of our local off-leash parks.
- Prefer to travel on two wheels? There's no shortage of local bike routes to explore. Try Minnehaha Falls to Raspberry Island (18.6 miles round trip) or Minneapolis Grand Rounds (up to 51 miles).
6. Check out these park restaurants
If you're spending your day outdoors, don't forget to stop for a meal at one of these seasonal restaurants. Of note: Dates are weather-dependent.
- Sea Salt Eatery in Minnehaha Park serves some of the best seafood in the Twin Cities. Opens April 15.
- Bread and Pickle at Bde Maka Ska sources its ingredients from local farmers and offers a variety of craft beer and wine. Opens May 6.
- Sandcastle at the Lake Nokomis beach has frequent "tap takeovers" by Twin Cities breweries. Opens April 15.
- Dock & Paddle at the Como Lakeside Pavilion hosts live music throughout the week. Open now, Friday-Sunday, with extended hours to be announced.
7. Start your spring gardening
Whether you're new to plant parenting, adding to your collection or replacing the ones that met a tragic end this winter, you'll find something at these local nurseries.
🌱 Our plant recommendation: If you have a black thumb, a pothos plant requires little sunlight and can go weeks without watering.
8. Try a new activity
Take a walk on the wild (food) side by learning to spot edible treats in your own backyard.
- Ironwood Foraging offers weekend workshops on finding fruit, nuts, berries, leafy greens and herbs and more in nature areas within an hour of the Twin Cities.
What they're saying: "There's awe, to realize, like, hey, that dandelion is edible. Or you can find raspberries in an alleyway or hey, this tree provides great salad greens," Ironwood founder Tim Clemens, who leads the classes, tells Axios.
Don't wait: Spring classes, which cost $69 for a 2.5-hour walking tour, are filling up fast.
9. Visit the Arboretum
Usher in spring at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, where 40,000 (!) tulips are set to bloom in late April and early May.