Experience the best of Minneapolis-Saint Paul

Minneapolis and Saint Paul face each other across the Mississippi River and form Minnesota's urban heart. Minneapolis has the Mill City Museum, which tells how the falls at St Anthony powered the flour mills that made it the milling capital of the world, the Stone Arch Bridge and a chain of lakes ringed by walking and cycling paths. The Walker Art Center's sculpture garden holds the Spoonbridge and Cherry, a giant spoon with a red cherry.

Saint Paul, the state capital, has the domed Cathedral of Saint Paul and the Minnesota State Capitol, with a marble dome designed by Cass Gilbert, and Summit Avenue, lined with Victorian mansions. Minnehaha Falls, a waterfall in a Minneapolis park, appears in Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha. The Mall of America in Bloomington is an enormous shopping and entertainment complex, and First Avenue, a Minneapolis nightclub, features in the film Purple Rain.

Walleye, wild rice soup and hotdish, a casserole, are Minnesota classics, the Jucy Lucy is a burger stuffed with melted cheese, and the Hmong, Somali and Mexican communities add their own restaurants. The Minnesota State Fair in late summer is a showcase for food on a stick. Winters are very cold, with skywalks linking downtown buildings, and summers are warm and green.