Saint Paul, MN Road Trips

Saint Paul is in the Upper Midwest along the Mississippi River, just east and downstream of its sister city Minneapolis. Its location near the head of navigation on the Mississippi River led to its historical development as a transportation hub for freight from the west and to the east and south. The geologically recent Mississippi River is a prominent feature of the landscape, traversing the city from the upscale riverside homes in Highland Park to the undevelopable floodlands near the junction with the Minnesota River, through the historic downtown riverboat landings and railroad infrastructure, the Mississippi River is the defining feature of Saint Paul. Winters in Saint Paul can be very cold, summer is often warm to hot and frequently humid, snowfall is common in the winter and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall occur during the spring, summer and autumn. If you are not fond of the cold, May-October would be the best time to visit Saint Paul. Downtown Saint Paul has a skyway system to allow you to escape the elements in bad weather, although it isn't nearly as extensive as the one in downtown Minneapolis. 1 Saint Paul Visitor Information Center, 75 W 5th St (inside the Landmark Center between Washington and Market), ☏ +1 651 292-3225. M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM.

1 Minnesota Children's Museum, 10 W 7th St (between Wabasha and St Peter; Light rail: 10th St or Central), ☏ +1 651 225-6001. M 9AM-4PM (Memorial Day to Labor Day), Tu-Th 9AM-4PM, F Sa 9AM-8PM, Su 9AM-5PM. 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. $8.95, children under 1 are free. Free for everyone on the third Su of the month. 2 Minnesota Museum of American Art, 332 N Robert St (at 4th St, in the Pioneer Building; Light rail: Central), ☏ +1 651 797-4057. Th-F 11AM-6PM, Sa-Su 10AM-4PM. 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. Free. (updated May 2016) 3 Summit Avenue. Noted for its historic mansions. This neighborhood is also remarkable in its connection to the writer F.

1 The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, 408 Saint Peter St, ☏ +1 651 291-1144. (updated Dec 2020) 2 Wabasha Street Caves, 215 S Wabasha St, ☏ +1 651 224-1191. 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. Saint Paul Winter Carnival, ☏ +1 651-223-7400. Takes place in January. Events take place in Downtown and Como Park. Noted for the annual Ice Palace. (updated Feb 2018) Grand Old Day, Grand Avenue. 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. 3 Irish Fair of Minnesota (Harriet Island, cross over Wabasha Street bridge and you’ll see the park on your right), [email protected]. Takes place in August at Harriet Island, just south of Downtown. 4 Minnesota State Fair, ☏ +1 651 288-4400. 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.

1 Babani's Kurdish Restaurant, 32 E Fillmore Ave (at Wabasha; Bus: 62, 75), ☏ +1 651 602-9964, [email protected]. M-F 11AM-2:30PM and 5PM-9PM, Sa 4PM-9PM. The first Kurdish restaurant in the US. (updated Feb 2018) 2 Black Sea Restaurant, 737 Snelling Ave N (between Minnehaha and Englewood; Bus: A Line, 67, 84), ☏ +1 651 917-8832. M-Sa 11AM-8PM. Cheap Turkish food. It's about one block south of Hamline University. $6-11. (updated May 2016) 3 Cafe Latte, 850 Grand Ave (at Victoria; Bus: 63), ☏ +1 651 224-5687. Su-Th 9AM-10PM, F Sa 9AM-11PM. 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. 4 El Burrito Mercado, 175 Cesar Chavez St (at State; Bus: 68), ☏ +1 651 227-2192. Cafeteria: 7AM-8PM daily. Restaurant: M 10AM-6:30PM, Tu-F 10AM-8PM, Sa Su 8AM-8PM. Mexican supermarket, deli, restaurant, and cafeteria on the West Side. 5 Green Mill, 57 Hamline Ave S (at Grand; Bus: 63), ☏ +1 651 698-0353. M-Sa 11AM-1AM, Su 11AM-midnight. 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. $7-17. 6 The Nook, 492 Hamline Ave S (at Randolph; Bus: 74), ☏ +1 651 698-4347. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F,Sa 11AM-11PM. One of the Twin Cities' favorite burger joints.

1 Amsterdam Bar and Hall, 6 W 6th St (at Wabasha; Light rail: Central), ☏ +1 651 222-3990. 11AM-2AM daily. Bar and music venue in downtown. (updated May 2016) 2 Barrio, 235 E 6th St (at Wacouta, near the north side of Mears Park; Light rail: Union Depot), ☏ +1 651 222-3250. Tequila bar that also offers Mexican bar food. 3 The Midway Saloon, 1567 University Ave W (at Snelling; Light rail: Snelling Ave; Bus: A Line, 16, 21, 84), ☏ +1 651-213-9266. Daily 11AM-2AM. The Midway Saloon is a dive bar in the Midway with occasional live music. 4 The Bulldog, 237 E 6th St (at Wacouta, near the north side of Mears Park; Light rail: Union Depot), ☏ +1 651 221-0750. 11AM-2AM daily. 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. (updated May 2016) 5 Summit Brewing Tap Room, 910 Montreal Circle (turn right from Montreal Ave, left from Montreal Way; Bus: 83), ☏ +1 651 265-7800, [email protected]. Th 4PM-8PM, F 4PM-10PM, Sa noon-10PM. 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). (updated May 2016) 6 Turf Club, 1601 University Ave W (at Snelling; Light rail: Snelling Ave; Bus: A Line, 16, 21, 84), ☏ +1 651 647-0486. 5PM-2AM daily. The Turf is one of the better venues in the Twin Cities to see local bands, and sometimes the occasional touring band.

1 Motel 6, 1739 Old Hudson Rd (at White Bear, off of I-94 exit 245; Bus: 63), ☏ +1 651 771-5566, toll-free: +1-800-899-9841. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Free wireless internet, fitness center, and coin-operated laundry. $48+. (updated May 2016) 2 Best Western Plus Como Park Hotel, 1010 Bandana Blvd W (at Energy Park Dr, midway between Snelling and Lexington; Bus: 3B), ☏ +1 651 647-1637, fax: +1 651 647-0244. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. $100+. 3 DoubleTree by Hilton, 411 Minnesota St (at 6th St; Light rail: Central), ☏ +1 651 291-8800, fax: +1 651 605-0263. The DoubleTree hotel offers 8,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. 4 Drury Plaza St. Paul Downtown, 175 E 10th St (at Jackson; Light rail: 10th St), ☏ +1 651-222-3337. Complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast in an open air atrium. Indoor pool, fitness center and whirlpool. 5 Holiday Inn Downtown, 175 W 7th St (at Kellogg; Bus: 21, 54, 61, 63, 64, 70, 74), ☏ +1 651 225-1515, toll-free: +1-888-465-4329. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. (updated Feb 2018) 6 DoubleTree by Hilton St. Paul East, 2201 Burns Ave (at McKnight, off of I-94 exit 246B; Bus: 63), ☏ +1 651 731-2220. (updated May 2018) 7 Hyatt Place St. Paul/Downtown, 180 E Kellogg Blvd (between Jackson and Sibley; Light rail: Union Depot), ☏ +1 651 647-5000. Check-out: noon. 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. (updated Mar 2018) 8 SpringHill Suites by Marriott St.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP IATA) is just outside the southwest corner of the city. It is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and also a hub for local discount carrier Sun Country Airlines. Metro Transit provides bus service between the airport (at Terminal 1) and downtown Saint Paul on Route 54, which runs along West 7th Street. The bus comes by every 15 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, every 20 minutes on Sundays, and the trip time from the airport to downtown is roughly 20 minutes. If your flight arrives at Terminal 2, take the light rail (free fare between terminals) one stop north to Terminal 1 and transfer to the bus. Taxi fare from the airport to downtown is around $31-38. 1 Union Depot, 240 E Kellogg Blvd. Station hours: 6AM-11:45PM daily. Ticketing hours: 6:30AM-11:30PM daily. Is the hub for inter-city train and bus services in Saint Paul. (updated Oct 2023) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America. (updated Mar 2022) Route stopping at Saint Paul: The Empire Builder, operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago. This train covers a route similar to the historic Empire Builder of the James J. Hill Great Northern Railway.

Metro Transit, ☏ +1 612 373-3333. Operator of the public transit system in the Twin Cities. Single-ride fares (including unlimited transfers for 2.5 hours) for local and limited-stop services (including the METRO Light Rail) are $2.50 during peak service hours (M-F 6AM-9AM and 3PM-6:30PM, excluding certain holidays) and $2 at all other times. For express services, the fares are $3.25 during peak hours and $2.50 during off-peak hours. Other fare options are described below. METRO Light Rail. The Green Line runs from downtown Saint Paul to downtown Minneapolis. The line starts at Union Depot and runs down 4th Street and Cedar Street, goes past the State Capitol, and then runs west down University Avenue through the Frogtown and Midway areas before reaching the city of Minneapolis. Trains run every 10 minutes during much of the day, with service being reduced to every 15 minutes later in the evening, and then just hourly during the overnight hours. Bus. Bus service in Saint Paul has improved, even if it doesn't quite match up to services in Minneapolis. The 54 runs fairly often between downtown Saint Paul and the airport via West 7th Street. The A Line runs frequently along Snelling Avenue and Ford Parkway. The A Line is also different from the other bus lines in town in that fares are paid before boarding the bus; each stop has a ticket machine (cash and credit cards accepted, no change given) and a Go-To card validator. Unlimited ride passes are available in 1-day, 7-day, and 31-day formats. Stored value passes (pay-per-ride) are also available.