Outstanding attractions

Downtown Minneapolis

After the day’s sessions are done, Minneapolis offers so many options for attendees to get out and enjoy.

HEADLINE-GRABBING ART
USA Today, New York Times, Time, Newsweek, Travel + Leisure. They’re all raving about Minneapolis’ booming arts scene: A half billion dollars in new arts infrastructure – all designed by international architects. It’s all located in or near downtown, making it easy for your attendees to experience while they’re here.

• Walker Art Center : Its doubled in size with the expansion, and houses a Wolfgang Puck restaurant and a performance space, along with new galleries for its contemporary collection.
• Guthrie Theater: The spectacular new 3-theater complex on the Mississippi Riverfront is not only a destination for shows, but to eat, shop and simply enjoy the views.
• Minneapolis Institute of Arts: Known as one of the country’s best comprehensive museums, attendees will enjoy art that spans centuries in a newly-expanded building.

Read more about Minneapolis arts and museums.

A THEATER TOWN
With more theater seats per capita than anywhere but New York, Minneapolis boasts more than 30 venues and nearly 100 theater groups.

• Tony Award-winning theaters: Only Chicago can claim as many as Minneapolis. The Children’s Theatre Company and Theatre de la Jeune Lune – both located close to the Minneapolis Convention Center – earned Tonys in the last few years. The Guthrie was our first in 1981.
• Hennepin Avenue Theatre District: A haven for jump-starting Broadway runs like the Lion King and Sweet Charity, downtown’s vibrant theater district offers a full season of musicals, concerts and other performances.

Theater-going options in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area are endless. Read more about it.

SHOPPING, SHOPPING AND MORE SHOPPING
When it comes to ways to spend, Minneapolis is tough to beat. We’re home to trend-setter Target, the country’s first enclosed mall and the largest shopping complex in the nation, so we know how to shop! And with no sales tax on apparel, your attendees can take home more Minneapolis memories.

• Downtown: Your attendees can step out of the convention center onto Nicollet Mall. A pedestrian thoroughfare, it’s home to Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s, along with unique boutiques and great restaurants.
• Mall of America: Getting there is easy with a light rail train that connects downtown Minneapolis with Mall of America and the airport.

For detailed shopping info, itineraries and ideas, visit our online shopping section.