Minneapolis/St. Paul re-union site

Old Jan 14th, 2003, 04:39 AM
  #1  
Kate
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Minneapolis/St. Paul re-union site

Message: My mom is turning 85 this year and we are planning a re-union for 4 siblings and spouses and 6 grandchildren, aged 13 - 24.
We chose Minn because Mon has not been there yet. It will be in early July. we will be coming from CA, OH, MA and CT.
I would like suggestions on where to stay and
what to do.
We want a resort type hotel - not too remote, so people can get there easily. We need flexibility - some will stay a week, others just a few days.
We were thinking about the greater Minneapolis/St Paul area, but are open for suggestions.
I appreciate any help you can give.


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Author: memory ([email protected])
Date: 01/03/2003, 02:20 pm
Message: Don't know Minnesota, but thought I'd offer this, since we are coming up on similar landmark occasions. If you haven't done so recently, as a gift, how about a set of family photos, including a picure of all of you! Good luck and congratulations to your Mom. You are all very fortunate!


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Author: Kate ([email protected])
Date: 01/13/2003, 12:58 pm
Message: I have been doing some research and found a couple of possibilities. Does anyone have any feedback about these places?
Northland Inn & Executive Conference Center, 4 Points Sheraton St. Paul Capitol, Sheraton Minneapolis West,
Hilton Minneapolis North, Country Inn by Carlson St. Paul ast. I am wondering about location, are there restaurants, etc nearby?
Thanks.....


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Author: try this ([email protected])
Date: 01/13/2003, 01:03 pm
Message: Kate,
You might try and repost your message with a title such as "Information neeeded on Minn./St. Paul area." I've found that posts with specific places mentioned in the title usually get more responses. good luck.


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Author: cheryl ([email protected])
Date: 01/13/2003, 03:51 pm
Message: There is a resort in upstate New York on a beautiful lake- Lake George. It is called Silver Bay. It is inclusive, reasonable and one of the great Adirondack camps. This camp is where the girlscouts were founded. There are many activitites, boating, tennis, sailing, campfires, etc. Good luck, it should be fun.


 
Old Jan 14th, 2003, 05:39 AM
  #2  
Kelly
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I've never stayed at the 4 points Sheraton-St. Paul, but have been to a few conferenes there. It's right on I-94. There's a Chevy's Mexican Resteraunt right across the street along with some retail shops and fast food places. Grand Ave. with lots of shops and restaurants is not far, but not walking distance.

The location isn't bad, it would be pretty easy to get to most of the main attractions in the area.
 
Old Jan 14th, 2003, 06:11 AM
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Carp
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I would not stay at the 4 Points Sheraton in St Paul. It is right off of I94, but the area around there is not the best. I will not go over there past dark unless I have to. Do you want to be near attractions, etc. The Northland is nice, but not close to everything.
 
Old Jan 14th, 2003, 07:23 AM
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plummie
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There really aren't any "resort type"
hotels in the Twin Cities area. There are a number of hotels near the Mall of American if your group is into mega-shopping or there are kids who would enjoy the rides and amusements. Lots of hotels in downtown Mpls. with lots of restaurant choices, shopping, some nightlife. Downtown St. Paul is charming, fewer hotel choices, fewer restaurant choices, but a good science museum and a history museum.
 
Old Jan 16th, 2003, 02:33 PM
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Marie
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Plummie is right, there really are no resort type hotels in the Twin Cities. Lots of conference hotels (like the Northland Inn), but to find resort hotels you should go north - like Brainerd or Duluth. There are some great resorts up there - especially if anyone in your party likes to golf.

Within the cities, my best recommendation would be to get a hotel close to the Mall of America. They are mostly chains, so indistinguishable from each other. (Avoid the Thunderbird hotel!) You would be close to many restaurants and one of the major tourist attractions (the mall). Other things to see and do: Fort Snelling (living history), see a Twins or Saints baseball game (Saints games are FUN!), tour the gangster caves in St. Paul, see a play/musical (unfortunately, the Guthrie Theater will be dark then, but there is always the Chanhassen Dinner Theater and many other regional theaters like the Old Log), go see the fireworks on the 4th over the Mississippi in downtown Minneapolis, drive to Stillwater and stroll around.

For more ideas on what to do or where to eat, I recommend doing a search using the keyword Minneapolis or St. Paul. Also check out the Chowhound website for restaurant recommendations.
 
Old Jan 16th, 2003, 02:50 PM
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Jen
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Our family has a reunion every three years in Minnesota. We have over 300 relatives come so we need a big resort. The last 4 reunions have been in Alexandria. It is called the Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center. It is about 2 hours northwest of the Twin Cities. We have family from MN, OH, IL, WS, and FL come everytime and it works out fine flying into the Twin Cities and renting a car.

Check out their website:

http://www.arrowwoodresort.com

Happy Planning!
 
Old Jan 21st, 2003, 04:45 AM
  #7  
Kate
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Author: Kate ([email protected])
Date: 01/20/2003, 10:57 am
Message: Thanks for all the feedback. I appreciate it. We want to stay near Minneapolis/St. Paul. Perhaps I am looking for something more like a conference center than a resort.
Any suggestions other than Northland Inn? We would want a nice pool, on-site bar/restaurant, convenient to other restaurants, walking opportunities. We will have transportation, so we can get to attractions.


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Author: cd ([email protected])
Date: 01/20/2003, 12:11 pm
Message: Kate:
Check into this: http://www.nicolletislandinn.com/geninfo/location.html I have never been there but it sounds good. Views of the Mississippi and Minneapolis.


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Old Jan 21st, 2003, 04:46 AM
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Kate
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Thanks - Nicollet Island Inn looks like a great spot for a special dinner.
 
Old Jan 21st, 2003, 06:11 AM
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Carp
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Try the new Marriott-Depot downtown Minneapolis. It has a waterpark inside, it is adjacent to the indoor (and very beautiful!) skating arena, "The Depot." That is the only semi-resort like place in the cities I can think of.
 
Old Feb 27th, 2003, 03:32 PM
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I am still working on getting this trip together. Some family members are balking because they heard that Minnesota is very hot and humid in July and that there are black flies at that time of year. Is this true? Would the flies be a problem in the greater Metro area? How hot? How humid?
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Old Feb 27th, 2003, 03:52 PM
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Avg. high in July is 84 degrees. It can get humid, no question, but it is a little hard to predict our weather in Minnesota. I certainly don't think the flies are bad in the cities, but Mosquitos can be troublesome, using bug spray usually takes care of it. I think our summer weather is great, it is our winters that are so horrible!
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Old Feb 27th, 2003, 04:05 PM
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Minnesota is nowhere near as humid as about 3/4 of the rest of the country in summer. Hot? Yes. Humid? Try Houston, Cleveland, or New York City. Summer is great here!
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Old Feb 27th, 2003, 07:29 PM
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Kate-----I don't know if you want to be downtown where there is some shopping---in which case I'd recommend the Minneapolis Hilton or the Marquette Hilton. If you're thinking of the Mall of America area----there are a couple of nicer hotels that have shuttles right to the MOA-----my husband and I really like the Hotel Sofitel---nice rooms, nice French atmosphere, 2 very nice restaurants & nice bar right on the premises, unfortunately, no pool,but nice public areas. The MOA area is about 15 min. south of the downtown area of Minn/St.Paul. I wouldn't worry about the heat, humidity or black flies. That can happen at any time, but usually Minnesota summers are very nice. Another hotel we like to stay at is the Marriott Southwest----this does have a nice pool, whirlpool, area----it's a newer hotel, nice comfortable rooms (nothing really fancy), pretty bar and public area, restaurant on the premises (nothing to rave about, but nice convenient for brunch),but it also is about 15 min. or so from the Mall of America. Not sure if you're into the shopping or not. Tons of restaurants in the MSPaul area, but if you stay in the 'burbs,you'll have to do some driving, but it's only about 15-20 min. from anything in the Twin Cities.
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Old Feb 27th, 2003, 08:45 PM
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I agree with most of the other posts and I think you would enjoy the Hotel Sofitel. It is also one of our favorites and close enough to everything else to make it easy to do whatever you want. Not far from MOA or Airport either. If you want to be downtown I like the Marquette (older hotel but nice) but also have stayed at Hilton, Marriott and Radisson Plaza downtown and all would probably meet your needs. I live in CA and also agree that MN weather is nice in the summer. It is much hotter and more humid many other places than MN. Have a great reunion.
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