Need help relaxing? Get yourself a facial, full body wrap, or straight razor shave at Accolades Salon Spa. For deeper relaxation, The Wellness Center is a holistic healing center which offers several types of massage and acupuncture.

A good coffee shop with free wireless access can be a welcome change of pace for the busy traveler. Urban Bean Coffee Shop is an easygoing neighborhood café with mismatched furniture and excellent espresso.

You’re in steak country now. Many of the national steakhouse chains can be found here, but those looking for a more local experience should try Jax Café. A Minneapolis institution since 1933, Jax is famous not only for its steaks and seafood but also for its brunches. For a quick snack, sample the "Jucy Lucy," a burger stuffed with molten cheese, at Matt’s Bar. Too much meat? Here’s your antidote: Café Brenda, a gourmet vegetarian and organic seafood restaurant.

Minneapolis is blessed with verdant and well-planned city parks. The trails of Minnehaha Park wind through sculpture gardens and waterfalls to limestone bluffs overlooking the river. The woodlands of Theodore Wirth Park, west of downtown, offer trails perfect for hiking or cross country skiing, as well as an 18-hole public golf course.

There’s no reason to feel guilty about wanting to go there: the Mall of America is not like the mall near your house. With more than 400 stores, an amusement park, and an aquarium, it’s practically a city of its own, and it’s accessible by light rail from downtown. However, if the weather’s nice, you may want to do like Mary Richards and shop at the outdoor Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. There are plenty of places there to shop, eat, and drink, and its Farmers Market is a favorite local destination.