Some sporting events/stadium tours happening from the 12th through 16th. My parents went on the US Bank Stadium Tour a few years back and they said it was excellent.

For planning purposes, the MN Wild play VERY close to the St. Paul Hotel.

Dec 12:

MN Wild vs Edmonton Oilers

https://www.nhl.com/wild/tickets/single-game-tickets

US Bank Stadium Tour

https://www.ticketmaster.com/us-bank-stadium-tours-tickets-minneapolis/venue/50717

Dec 13:

US Bank Stadium Tour

https://www.ticketmaster.com/us-bank-stadium-tours-tickets-minneapolis/venue/50717

Dec 14:

MN Wild vs Philadelphia Flyers

https://www.nhl.com/wild/tickets/single-game-tickets

US Bank Stadium Tour

https://www.ticketmaster.com/us-bank-stadium-tours-tickets-minneapolis/venue/50717

Dec 15:

MN Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights

https://www.nhl.com/wild/tickets/single-game-tickets

Dec 16:

MN Vikings vs. Chicago Bears

https://www.vikings.com/tickets/single-game-tickets

We both loved this radio play and dining experience. It's a fantastic holiday event!

"Celebrating our 18th season, It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play returns this December! The Saint Paul Hotel presents playwright Joe Landry's acclaimed take on the classic 1946 Frank Capra film, It's a Wonderful Life. The shows are accompanied by a three-course luncheon for afternoon performances and a three-course dinner for evening performances. "

A wonderful place to see a show. "The Little Mermaid" is playing in December. This is right near the St. Paul Hotel if you are staying there.

The Chanhassen Dinner Theater is a great place for a meal and a show. They have dinner theater DOWN! "White Christmas" will be this year's holiday production. We have seen several productions there in the past and it feels fun and old fashioned. You'll want to get a rental car since it's a little ways away from Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The best lake in the land of 10,000 lakes! (I mean, we think so!) A beautiful place to visit and take a walk if it's not too cold. The Linden Hills neighborhood (close to the lake) contains some great shops and restaurants if you need a cozy place to hang out.

For the art and architecture fans, take a ride or stroll down Summit Ave. This street is home to the longest stretch of Victorian-era homes in the USA. It's an amazing place to go for a ride or a walk (if it's not too cold).

If you're a reader, you'll want to see 599 Summit Ave where St. Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald lived. Please take a selfie in front! (Photo of the house above)

We have never been to the James J. Hill House (240 Summit Ave) but the house tour is apparently excellent and it is on our list of things to do this December! The house is 36,000 square feet and is one of the stars on the avenue. "Experience Christmas in 1910—both upstairs and downstairs—in the sumptuous Gilded Age mansion of railroad titan James J. Hill.Admission includes self-guided access to holiday-themed exhibits and a 60-minute guided tour highlighting holiday stories and memories from both the Hill family and their staff."

More info here: https://www.mnhs.org/hillhouse

General admission is free and they have a wonderful collection!

Open Book is a building that houses a ton of cool things including MN Center for Book Arts (where Ali prints), the MN Center for Book Arts shop (pictured here), Milkweed Editions' Book store, FRGMNT coffee shop, etc.

A must-see for anyone who loves antiques! We can pretty much guarantee you've never been any place like it!

If you love a good local art store, you'll LOVE this place!

A must-see for music lovers! Prince loved EF, too.

A wonderful little toy shop with sweet things for kids and adults! This is also near "Patina" (excellent place for grabbing stocking stuffers) and some neat little restaurants and coffee shops at the corner of Selby/Snelling.

It might feel weird to go to a mall on vacation but this place is actually quite incredible. It contains an amusement park, an aquarium and tons more! Best to head there during the week while the kids are in school. Haha!

Just a fascinating food hall to grab a drink or a bite to eat. Several of these restaurants have received local and national awards!

Very close to O’Shaughnessy's (also on our list) and Surly.

They will be all decorated for Christmas!

They call it "Hell-A-Dazzle!"—"An explosion of holiday kitsch, a riot of lights, and a ridiculously fun excess of Christmas bling!" See photo of me celebrating Hell-A-Dazzle at Hell's Kitchen last year. They have delicious food and excellent, funny merch, too.

We love this place! You can even see Herb's championship ring inside! (Very close to The St. Paul Hotel. You can walk there in 5 mins.)

"INSPIRED BY THE LEGACY OF HERB BROOKS—Motivated, charismatic, driven. Herb Brooks was legendary. Herbie’s On The Park pays homage to Saint Paul’s native son, hockey legend, and mentor by offering a lively dining room and welcoming bar to inspire camaraderie and a communal spirit. Located in the historic Minnesota Club, we are steps away from the Xcel Energy Center, Home of the Minnesota Wild. As the Coach would say, “you’re meant to be here” and we are ready to be your pre-event and game day go-to with dinner and drinks, plus a late night menu, and special holiday menus. Oh, and if you believe in miracles, be sure and let Herbie know. His statue is right outside."

A fun brewery not far from our place. Excellent food, too! Minnesota’s first women-owned microbrewery.

A colorful and lively brewery in the heart of NE Minneapolis. They often have food trucks but check before you go! Ali has had a few art sales here.

Excellent place for brunch, lunch, dinner or drinks. They often have concerts so be sure to take a peek at their schedule.

Nice feature about The Aster Cafe on "Good Morning America": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxFvwbOfiyc

Holman's table sits right near the runway of the downtown St. Paul airport so you can watch the small planes land and take off! Very special place. Awesome restaurant for lunch, brunch, dinner and/or drinks.

O'Shaughnessy's is a great place to grab a cocktail, mocktail or bite to eat. It is famous for its "Keeper’s Heart" whiskey. It has a very cool vibe and they also have distillery tours which you can find out more about at their website. Very close to Malcolm Yards (also on our list) and Surly.

Keeper's Heart is "a new style of whiskey that brings together the best of Irish and American whiskey making traditions. Expertly crafted by world renowned Master Distiller, Brian Nation, formerly of Jameson, Redbreast, & Midleton whiskeys."

If you like anything British, you'll love this place! Very close to the Minnesota Orchestra and The Dakota Jazz Club if you are hoping to grab a bite and then see a show of some sort. Photo at the top of this page is us at Brit's.

"For over thirty years Brit's Pub has been Minneapolis's own little corner of the UK. The pub is known for nights by the fireplaces in the winter and lawn bowling on the rooftop deck in the summer - with a whole lot in between including legendary TV football (soccer!) and rugby events."

A Jewish deli/restaurant. It is a St. Paul staple! Alex loves it here and swears by their reuben!

If you are looking to get a quick bite to eat, Pizza Luce is an excellent place to eat in, take out, or have delivered. Wherever you are staying, there is likely a Pizza Luce nearby. The spinach artichoke dip and Pizza Athena are our favorites. They also have great salads.