Minneapolis Fun
 

I am planning a girls weekend to Minneapolis in July and am looking for any recommendations on hotels, restaurants, bars/clubs, things to see and do, etc. Two friends are from the area, so I'd like to find some different things that they may not have seen or done yet. Thanks!

I think the best place to stay when in Minneapolis is the 601 Graves Hotel. Good location, and very swanky design. Neat place overall.

I always enjoy Nye's Polenaise Room for a fun diversion. I think 20-21 (a restaurant at the Walker Art Center) is worth planning a meal around.

I'm sure you'll get other ideas, but that is what comes to mind.

In July, you have the option of enjoying the lakes. You may want to spend an afternoon in the Lake Minnetonka villages of either Excelsior or Wayzata, and then line up a dinner boat cruise. They can last anywhere from 90 minutes to a few hours and are lots of fun in the summer.

Might consider a quick trip to Stillwater if your friends haven't been. Great shops, restaurants, dinner train. Downtown is all very walkable.

If you are coming to Minneapolis in July then plan on spending as much time as possible outside. Walk around Lake Calhoun, play at any of the many,many public beaches or drive out to Lake Minnetonka and take the boat cruise from Wayzata to Excelsior and back. Visit the Walker and the outdoor sculpture garden. Eat on the Stella's, Solera or Brit's (can go lawn bowling at the same time) roof deck or venture to Lord Fletchers and eat there. Just don't spent too much time indoors, Minnesota summers are for being outside.

In terms of hotels, the best in town these days is the Chambers with the Graves 601 a close second. Chambers has an excellent restaurant (Chambers Kitchen, chef jean gorges vongcheron)that if surprisingly reasonably priced and a great roof bar that would be fun for a girls weekend. La Belle Vie is another excellent restaurant but maybe not appropriate for a chicks getaway.

Have fun

To echo the advice above, lawn bowling with beer at the Brit is definitely fun! Also, hit Bryant Lake Bowl. It's a vintagey bowling alley-- but hip, with great, local, organic food and concerts, too. See if anything is going on the weekend you'll be there. Shop in Uptown, and for eats, definitely check out 112 Eatery, The Modern, Barbette, the Town Talk Diner. You can find websites for all these places through Google. Another different/fun thing to do is to get breakfast/brunch while watching vintage cartoons (Sat. or Sun.) on the big screen at the Suburban World Theater.
http://www.suburbanworldtheater.com/
Midtown Global Market is also fun, with all different kinds of shops and food:
http://www.suburbanworldtheater.com/
And even if you don't stay at the 601 Graves, you can hit their restaurant and bar, Cosmos, and have manis or pedis next door at the Jewel Spa: www.jewelspa.
Have a great time!!

Thank you so much for all the wonderful suggestions. The lake ideas, roof top bar, and lawn bowling sound great.