Printable View
Like Raven, I want to travel north. Except I don't want to permanently.
I was thinking about taking a fall trip north. Madison, Wisconsin and northern Michigan are on my agenda, but I've been thinking about going to Minneapolis.
I've heard it's a hip town and pretty with all the lakes. I need to do something more off the beaten path. I can't keep heading to California, Florida, and the Smokys.
Any comments on the Twin Cities?
Been to Madison. Nothing to see there. AT.ALL.
We're leaving for the TC next Thursday.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">We are leaving for Mineapolis next Thursday for Polaris's 50th. Playing Saturday night at the party are:Quote:
Originally posted by reason:
Like Raven, I want to travel north. Except I don't want to permanently.
I was thinking about taking a fall trip north. Madison, Wisconsin and northern Michigan are on my agenda, but I've been thinking about going to Minneapolis.
I've heard it's a hip town and pretty with all the lakes. I need to do something more off the beaten path. I can't keep heading to California, Florida, and the Smokys.
Any comments on the Twin Cities?
38 Special
Johny Lang
John Fogerty
Victory riders don't do no Philadelphia Freedom.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Huh...I've heard nothing but good things about Madison. I suppose, then, I would have been disappointed.Quote:
Originally posted by gae:
Been to Madison. Nothing to see there. AT.ALL.
We're leaving for the TC next Thursday.
It is an odd coincidence that I brought up Minneapolis just before you travel there. Please tell me what you think of it.
<font color="#000002" size="1">[ July 14, 2004 04:39 PM: Message edited by: reason ]</font>
It's karma, babe.
That's all it is.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Funny how the hyped up towns end up being such a bust. About 4 years ago I went to San Antonio and Austin, Texas.Quote:
Originally posted by gae:
Been to Madison. Nothing to see there. AT.ALL.
We're leaving for the TC next Thursday.
Ok, maybe the 106 degree temperature had something to do with it, and maybe the fact that school was out at UT for the summer, but what a God forsaken place is Austin.
Characterless, dull suburban sprawl. The center of town - the state capitol and the university - is certainly nice, but nothing to write home about.
And don't get me started on San Antonio. The Riverwalk is cool, but once you've eaten dinner and strolled through once or twice you're done. The city has all the ambience of Dayton, Ohio, and dining options that run the gamut from Mexican, Mexican, to Mexican.
Huevos rancheros, anyone?
(In all fairness, I enjoyed the missions, even in the oppressive heat. I also enjoyed the Alamo, only because it was air conditioned.)
<font color="#000002" size="1">[ July 15, 2004 08:44 AM: Message edited by: reason ]</font>
I was in the Twin Cities over the 4th of July. Plus I used to work for St. Paul insurance, so I've spent enough time up there, I think, to qualify as a quasi-expert. Personally, I like that part of the world, but not just the cities themselves. If you have the time, make the drive on U.S. 61 (Great River Road) between LaCrosse, WI and St. Paul. It hugs Ol' Man most of the way, and the scenery is excellent. I took Jenn on the Minnesota Zephyr Dinner Train in Stillwater (which is east of St. Paul) that's a neat town.
And face it, everyone likes Mega Mall. It truly is something else. I was always down with Snoopy and the gang, and Legos rule, and they have a lot of both at the mall.
Minneapolis was always this town that tried to be hip and cosmo. St. Paul is more old-school. Unlike Minneapolis, the people in St. Paul realize a rose by any other name is a rose, and no matter how chic Minneapolis tries to become, it can never escape the fact that it's in Minnesota.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Since Minnesota is surrounded by the great states of Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas, I have no illusion that Minneapolis is the center of the universe. But since the metro area is home to about 15 Fortune 500 companies (compared to about 9 or 10 in Cincinnati), one of the nation's largest universities, and has a Scandavian bent to which I'm not accustomed, I think it could be an interesting place.Quote:
Originally posted by Lew:
I was in the Twin Cities over the 4th of July. Plus I used to work for St. Paul insurance, so I've spent enough time up there, I think, to qualify as a quasi-expert. Personally, I like that part of the world, but not just the cities themselves. If you have the time, make the drive on U.S. 61 (Great River Road) between LaCrosse, WI and St. Paul. It hugs Ol' Man most of the way, and the scenery is excellent. I took Jenn on the Minnesota Zephyr Dinner Train in Stillwater (which is east of St. Paul) that's a neat town.
And face it, everyone likes Mega Mall. It truly is something else. I was always down with Snoopy and the gang, and Legos rule, and they have a lot of both at the mall.
Minneapolis was always this town that tried to be hip and cosmo. St. Paul is more old-school. Unlike Minneapolis, the people in St. Paul realize a rose by any other name is a rose, and no matter how chic Minneapolis tries to become, it can never escape the fact that it's in Minnesota.
Gotta agree with Lew about the Twin Cities being nice but nowhere near as nice as the towns surrounding them.
Used to live in the area, dated a girl from Stillwater which is a really really nice town and you should check it out as well as the river drive he suggested. It is awesomely beautiful in places.
The people there tend to be friendly but a bit reserved and the Lutheran influence is very strong. Ask a typical Minnesotan how they feel about living there and the standard answer is a deadpan but friendly "Well, we like it."
I was having a conversation the other day when the observation was made that people from harshly cold climes seem to be friendlier by and large and that jibes with my experience.
I fondly remember attending the winter festival in St. Paul when the temp was hovering around 20 below and it didn't phase the crowds, and it was packed, at all. You have to think that people who are willing to hold a festival outdoors in the middle of winter where the temps can easily go subzero just have to have an optimistic outlook. Or be certifiably crackers.
Of course I also liked my brief visit to Madison, WI which was a prime candidate in my wife's recent job search.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">One thing I've noticed in my 5 years of conversations with people with whom I do biz with in the TC area, is their attitudes come April or early May. It's still snowing and they're sick of it. It'll be mid April and conversations start with phrases like, "We're all depressed," and "It snowed a foot last night."Quote:
Originally posted by Pi?a:
Gotta agree with Lew about the Twin Cities being nice but nowhere near as nice as the towns surrounding them.
Used to live in the area, dated a girl from Stillwater which is a really really nice town and you should check it out as well as the river drive he suggested. It is awesomely beautiful in places.
The people there tend to be friendly but a bit reserved and the Lutheran influence is very strong. Ask a typical Minnesotan how they feel about living there and the standard answer is a deadpan but friendly "Well, we like it."
I was having a conversation the other day when the observation was made that people from harshly cold climes seem to be friendlier by and large and that jibes with my experience.
I fondly remember attending the winter festival in St. Paul when the temp was hovering around 20 below and it didn't phase the crowds, and it was packed, at all. You have to think that people who are willing to hold a festival outdoors in the middle of winter where the temps can easily go subzero just have to have an optimistic outlook. Or be certifiably crackers.
Of course I also liked my brief visit to Madison, WI which was a prime candidate in my wife's recent job search.
Tack a month of winter at the beginning and end of our winter and you have Minneapolis.
Can someone attest to the fact that the freuleins in the TC area tend to be rather blonde and uh..large?
That came from a friend who lived in the area for a while.
<font color="#000002" size="1">[ July 15, 2004 03:37 PM: Message edited by: reason ]</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeah, cabin fever is a problem but if you make it a point to get out and about and suck up the sunshine as much as possible it's just a minor problem. It's like the prevalence of Seasonal Affective Disorder here in the Northwest.Quote:
Originally posted by reason:
One thing I've noticed in my 5 years of conversations with people with whom I do biz with in the TC area, is their attitudes come April or early May. It's still snowing and they're sick of it. It'll be mid April and conversations start with phrases like, "We're all depressed," and "It snowed a foot last night."
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well in a very limited sense perhaps but we're really talking completely different animals here. Winter in Minnesota is something you need to experience to truly appreciate. When's the last time you heard about people getting snowblind or dealing with whiteout conditions in Cincy? (White out is amazing though pretty damned dangerous.)Quote:
Tack a month of winter at the beginning and end of our winter and you have Minneapolis.
Back in 96 or 97, I'm on the phone to my boss in St. Paul. We were cold here, so I asked him what they were up there. He was like, "well, it's been worse, but I'd say it's bad here."
"Well what does that mean? What's your temperature?"
"Well, ambient is only about 10 below, but the wind-chill is maybe minus 50."
I turned down a chance to join their corporate legal department. I have no regrets.
Being the Southern Boy that Trav is, we've had a number of conversations about what to take on this trip.
It's SUMMER he keeps telling me. Summer in Florida = 105+. Summer north = 75+ [img]eek.gif[/img]
Having spent a couple of summer vacations in Michigan, (LP) I declared at the outset that I was taking and/or wearing my leather. And chaps.
Guess who will be the most comfortable?
[img]biggrin.gif[/img]
Well, as it turns out, mah Daddy wants to take a road trip to Wrigley to see the Cubs play, so me and my bros will probably end up in Chicago. That wipes out the trip north I'd take on my own.
A childhood friend and his wife invited me out to Palm Springs in November. Last November they threw a little bash on Catalina Island, and I went. Had a good time, so if the event happens this year I may go.
According to today's newspaper, the high today in Minneapolis is 90. But it is supposed to cool off to the low 80's tomorrow.
I would imagine the humidity is lower there than it is here. But don't quote me on that.
Hi all,
I'm taking a break from doleing out justice Jumper style when I saw this thread.
The best way to see a city is to run a marathon in it. I did the twin cities marathon last year and I can say I really liked what I saw. Minneapolis was very urban, st. paul was old school.
The women up there, that I saw, were very attractive. The lakes are beautiful and there appeared to be tons of trails to rollerblade, bike, or run on.
D2 and I really liked it....
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've gotta concur with Jumper on this. I lived there, both in the burbs and in city for a few years and one of the things I miss the most is the awesome parks system they've got. I used to be in better shape and just loved the fact that I could literally bike from downtown to the southern suburbs and almost entirely stay inside one park or the other.Quote:
Originally posted by Jumper69:
The best way to see a city is to run a marathon in it. I did the twin cities marathon last year and I can say I really liked what I saw. Minneapolis was very urban, st. paul was old school.
The women up there, that I saw, were very attractive. The lakes are beautiful and there appeared to be tons of trails to rollerblade, bike, or run on.
D2 and I really liked it....
In the summer the parks are filled with bikers, rollerbladers and what have you out in force on the trails around all the lakes there and it's really something to see. Very friendly and generally healthy folk.
Reason- unfortunately, very high moisture content. And as a result, the state bird of Minnesota is the mosqito.