Minnesota Travel Story Part 1: Minneapolis + Mall of America
We packed up the kids and headed out on yet another travel story for the Post-Dispatch, this time heading north to Minnesota for the very first time. Our Minnesota adventures will be broken up into 2 releases with Minneapolis and Mall of America this weekend (Lifestyle section of the Post-Dispatch this weekend August 8th/9th) or you can check out the digital story of Mall of America with this link or the write up for other things to do in Minneapolis with this link.
Below are some of the featured images as well as several of my behind-the-scenes and other favorites. A special treat for me is that I got to see my Mizzou college buddy Greg Isenhower and meet his wife Rachel for the first time over dinner and drinks. To follow us for more BTS pics as they happen, be sure to follow me on Instagram @LuxePhotoSTL (and Twitter).
Update: Check out part 2 of 2 of our Minnesota trip just posted now. Duluth.
Above: Chain of Lakes park. If you like the outdoors feel mixed with a little city life, Minneapolis is a great place to be! I waited about 15 minutes for this couple to float into frame hoping to get this shot.
Above: Slightly different angle of the same area of the lake. Tons of people out walking, biking and meditating. I felt a little self conscious about having my big long lens out taking a shot of people on the beach. But hey, I was working! You get over that pretty quick but it is awkward sometimes.
Above: Not sure the frisbee game that was going on here but it was mesmerizing.
Above: Our AAA four-diamond Kimpton hotel room that welcomes dogs! So we had to do this trip with our little guy Ramsay. He loved the pet beds and his own personal water! Pics of Ramsay when he discovered it are on our Instagram feed @LuxePhotoSTL
Above: Spent the first night wandering around downtown Minneapolis. The only problem with having a dog here is that there’s not quite any green places you are ALLOWED to go with them.
Above: Midtown Global Market. Just happened to catch the tail end of a dance class with people of all skill levels.
Above: Midtown Global Market – fresh produce and food prepared from vendors all over the world. Of course we went by as many as we could to sample.
Above: Little vendor shops line the market and you can find all sorts of things from different regions of the world. I loved taking a peek at all of the food being prepared for visitors to see as they were making it.
It can be mild or intense, constant, burning sensation in the chest viagra free order http://twomeyautoworks.com/?attachment_id=207 and throat. Most drugs, food additives, and allergens can create toxic buy viagra prescription elements in the body. Therefore, it is relatively important to get assured for cheapest cialis in australia twomeyautoworks.com the treatment and asking a several question related to sex problem if they find embarrassment in asking it from a doctor face-to-face. A meal high in fats reduces the generic cialis price absorption speed of the treatment much faster. 4. Above: Radisson Blu hotel attached to Mall of America. Loved this place. So convenient to walk to the mall and then come back to rest up. Dog friendly also as we were welcomed with lots of snacks and toys for Ramsay.
Above: Our first visual walking into the mall. The Lego store was impressive. Another “non Lego authorized store” was in the MOA – got to meet Daniel Siskind, Master Brick Builder who was putting together a gigantic U.S.S. Missouri battleship -> see Instagram
Above: Inside the Mall of America theme park. My quote when my wife told me about MOA…”there’s a theme park inside the mall?” Yeah, and it’s big!
Above: A full sized log flume ride. And yes, you do get wet!
Above: The Dutchmen’s Deck – four story ropes course. This is impressive. Kids of all ages doing it (and some parents got roped in as well). No, I did not do it! This is also where you get on the zip line to ride across the Mall.
Above: Speaking of the zip line. If you want a bird’s eye view of the theme park, here ya go!
Above: The mall is huge but to be honest, I didn’t see many different stores than what I have seen in St. Louis. Just maybe more of them. The lego store, BrickMania and a couple of gaming stores stood out for me. Oh and the hot sauce place. That was cool.
Above: Sealife Aquarium. This is inside MOA and is a must see if you go. We went to one in Kansas City and they are so very well done. Kids will have a blast (and I did also!).
Above: HUGE I tell you!