Minneapolis Official Visitors Guide - Fall/Winter 2007 - (Page 60) SPeCial advertiSeMent Science Museum of Minnesota T o p ( L - R ) : p H o T o c o u r t e s y o f t h e s a i n t Pa u l r i v e r c e n t r e & v i s i t o r s a u t h o r i t y a n d l a w s o n c o m m o n s ; p H o T o c o u r t e s y o f t h e s c i e n c e m u s e u m o f m i n n e s o ta ice Skating at landmark Plaza W Minnesota’s Capital City blends distinctive culture with outdoor excitement CULTURE The city’s vast cultural district extends from the Mississippi River to the Capitol complex, including gems such as the Science Museum of Minnesota, Landmark Center, Minnesota Children’s Museum and Minnesota History Center. Saint Paul’s dozen theaters and museums are located within easy walking distance and appeal to a broad audience. The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, home to the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Opera, brings the best of Broadway musicals and multicultural entertainment to downtown. The Fitzgerald Theater will continue to host Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion radio show and Penumbra Theatre Company will produce the entire 10-play cycle of former company member August Wilson, Saint Paul presenting two plays each season for the next five seasons. The 2007-2008 season includes Gem of the Ocean and The Piano Lesson. Saint Paul will play host to the top figure skaters in the country Jan. 20-27, 2008, as we welcome the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships to the Xcel Energy Center. OUTDOOR FUN & RECREATION Como Park is a popular destination, due to its wonderful conservatory and zoo, which offers free admission, is open 365 days a year and entertains children and families with animals ranging from monkeys and lions to penguins and polar bears. The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory’s newest exhibit, Tropical Encounters, is a total emersion experience that allows guests to visit an authentic neo-tropical rainforest and explore the relationships between plants and animals. Tropical Encounters takes guests on an adventure through a Central and South American rainforest where they will meet Jenna the anaconda and Chloe the sloth as well as freshwater stingrays, giant river turtles, frogs, toads, fish and free-roaming birds. They’ll also see rainforest plants such as mahogany, strangler fig, ice cream bean and more. During the holiday and winter seasons, Saint Paul sparkles with a winter wonderland of activities. Historic Rice Park offers a spectacular setting featuring a 75-foot tall Rockefeller Plaza-style Christmas tree decorated with 60,000 lights. The Winterskate outdoor iceskating rink has become a popular fixture in nearby Landmark Plaza. Saint Paul also offers unique shopping venues during the holidays with the bustling neighborhood stores along Grand Avenue and unique shops around downtown. ith its European charm and casual elegance, Saint Paul combines sophisticated chic with girl-nextdoor appeal. On any given night, formally dressed patrons of the Minnesota Opera can be seen mingling with hockey fans decked out in Minnesota Wild jerseys, both feeling equally comfortable in restaurants and bars near the Rice Park area. Saint Paul is recognized for its preservation of history, its dedication to the arts, the natural beauty of its parks and the renaissance of its Mississippi Riverfront, which lures visitors with biking and walking paths and suburbanites with condos and apartments, drawing them back to city living. The cultural offerings, recreational opportunities, vast urban green space and friendly citizens make Saint Paul hard to beat as a destination. 2008 Saint Paul Winter Carnival From Jan. 23-27 and Feb. 2, the Winter Carnival proves that Saint Paul citizens are very much alive during the winter. Spectacular ice carvings, snow sculptures, music and more the 100 other events add up to make the Winter Carnival “The Coolest Celebration on Earth.” Saint Paul riverCentre Convention & visitors authority 175 West Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 502 Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-265-4900 / 800-627-6101 www.visitsaintpaul.com 60 Minneapolis&Saint Paul Fall/Winter 2008 http://www.visitsaintpaul.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.