My boyfriend and I will be visiting the Twin Cities the first week of July 2000 and need suggestions on everything - what to do and see, where to eat, etc. We're 30 and active, and will have a car so suggestions for day trips are also welcome. Thanks for your advice!

Obviously the Mall of America is a good bet for a day or part of a day. Biggest mall in the world, indoor amusement park, almost any store you can imagine, some good restaurants and bars.

Valley Fair is a nice amusement park near Mall of America. The Zoo is close by too and has a fine collection of animals.

I like Buca DiPeppo's downtown for a nice northern Italian meal. Everything is served family style with heaping plates of food as big as your head. For something a little more traditional, try Cafe Di Napoli on Hennepin.

Lots of great museums, etc. in the city including the Guthrie and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

For daytrips head about 10 miles east of St. Paul to Stillwater, MN. Then follow the Mississippi down to Red Wing, MN, and if you feel so inclined, on to a very wide spot in the Mississippi called Lake Pepin. Pepin, Wisconsin is a great place to grab dinner and take in a beautiful sunset.

Minneapolis/St. Paul is a great place. The are many places for active people to hike, bike ride or roller blade. Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles. Lake Cedar and all - have bike/hike trails all around them.Don't miss the rose gardens, if you like flowers. Minnehaha Falls is fun to stroll and see.

I live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and there are numerous things to see. One of the main things of course is the Mall of America. The Mall of America personally I feel is interesting to see although I wouldn't spend more than two days there since you probably want to see other things. Another thing to see is Grand Avenue down in St. Paul, which has small shops and great restaurants. In addition, if you had time you could try to head up to some of the lakes near Duluth and Superior, although this may be too far out of where you want to be which is the Twin Cities.

If you need any other ideas or information please feel free to contact me.