Celebrate the arrival of warm weather in the Twin Cities with the help of our spring guide.
- Here are some ways to take advantage of the season.
1. Have dinner and drinks alfresco
Take advantage of the warm weather at these local outdoor venues.
🏖 For the view: spring park Back channel patching offers an outdoor beach vibe on the shore of Lake Minnetonka.
💕 For a night meeting: Amore Uptown has a romantic rooftop terrace a few blocks from the chain of lakes.
🎶 For live music: Aster coffee hosts a variety of live musicians, such as Sunday Jazz Brunches, on the courtyard patio.
🐶For the whole family: The eclectic Saint Paul Brewerybuilt in the historic Hamm brewery, has a large dog-friendly patio and outdoor pizza oven.
🍹 For drinks: Hai Hai tropical craft cocktails are best served outdoors.
2. Don’t miss these big events
👠 Minnesota Fashion Week is seven days of runways celebrating the best designers, brands and creatives from across the state. April 24-30.
💐 Blooming art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art features 140 fresh floral arrangements inspired by the museum’s permanent collection. April 28-May 1.
🎨 Art-A-Whirl, which the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association says is the nation’s largest open studio tour, is opening 60 art galleries, studios and businesses to the public free of charge. May 20-22.
🌭 GrillFest at CHS Field hosts more than 100 vendors offering unlimited samples of grills, wines and specialty beers. May 21-22.
🎭 The Flint Hills Family Festival offers $5 tickets to shows at the Ordway and Landmark Center, free outdoor entertainment and arts activities for all ages. June 3-4.
🎸 Rock the garden, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden’s iconic music festival returns after three years, headlined by Sleater-Kinney and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. June 11.
3. Cheer on our home teams
The Twins return to Target Field Thursday to face the Seattle Mariners in their home opener. But that’s not the only sports team you can see outdoors when the weather warms up.
⚽ Minnesota United F.C. plays all summer at Allianz Field.
⚾ And the Saints of Saint Paul kick off the season at home at CHS Field on April 12.
4. Avoid the city for a weekend at a nearby Airbnb
Go glamping – a glam camping mashup – in this treehouse by the lake in the Chippewa National Forest.
- The one-bedroom Airbnb has water, electricity, a powder room, wifi, and peace and quiet.
To note : No kitchen, heating, AC or shower, hence the camping part.
Three other cool Airbnbs…
5. Go out on foot or on wheels
If you’re like us, you’re ready to stretch your legs after a long winter.
6. Check out these restaurants in the park
If you spend your day outdoors, be sure to stop for a meal at one of these seasonal restaurants. To note : The dates depend on the weather.
- Sea salt restaurant in Minnehaha Park serves some of the best seafood in the Twin Cities. Opening April 15.
- bread and pickle in Bde Maka Ska sources its supplies from local farmers and offers a variety of craft beers and wines. Opening May 6.
- Sand castle on the beach at Lake Nokomis, Twin Cities breweries frequently take over the taps. Opening April 15.
- Dock & Paddle at the Lake Como Pavilion hosts live music throughout the week. Open now, Friday-Sunday, with extended hours to be announced.
7. Start your spring gardening
Whether you’re just getting started with plant parenting, adding to your collection, or replacing those that met a tragic end this winter, you’ll find something at these local nurseries.
🌱 Our plant advice: If you have a black thumb, a pothos plant requires little sun and can go weeks without watering.
8. Try a new activity
Take a walk on the wild (food) side by learning to spot edible treats in your own backyard.
- Ironwood picking offers weekend workshops on foraging for fruits, nuts, berries, leafy greens and herbs and more in natural areas within an hour of the Twin Cities.
What they say : “There’s awe, realizing, like, hey, dandelion is edible. Or you can find raspberries in an alley or hey, this tree provides great salad greens,” the founder of Axios told Axios. Ironwood, Tim Clemens, who runs the classes.
Do not wait : spring courseswhich cost $69 for a 2.5 hour walking tour, fill up quickly.
9. Visit the Arboretum
Usher in spring Minnesota Landscape Arboretumor 40,000 (!) tulips are expected to bloom in late April and early May.
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