TravelGuides

(TGA) - Hi,
We are visiting Minneapolis/St. Paul from April 1 to April 5.
Our plans include a tour of the campus at the Univ of MN followed by a Minnesota Wild hockey game on April 2nd, on Saturday, April 3rd we are going to the Twins game at the new Target Field.
Can anyone recommend which area we should be looking to stay in a hotel? Since I am not familiar with the cities, what would be convenient to all of these locations? We will be driving in from Chicago so we do have a car. I would rather stay downtown instead of driving everyday if possible.
My two sons are 12 and 16 so I would like a hotel with a pool and a suite style arrangement.
Thank you so much.
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If it were me, I'd stay downtown, but consider parking costs. There are a few "suites" style hotels in downtown, but the pool requirement will kick several out. For sure, I know the Residence Inn at the Depot is attached to a water park. Campus is close to downtown and can be accessed by a city bus, if desired. The Xcel is in St. Paul, so this will require driving, a cab, or connecting buses.
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If you're staying that long, I would suggest staying in downtown Minneapolis, only because there is a lot you can walk or bus to, including the U & Wild game. The new Twins stadium is walking or light rail distance from any hotel. My only suggestion is to not be on the bus later in the evening, otherwise, it's easy and fine. Check Travelzoo.com, they always have amazing hotel deals.
St Paul is an awesome town, although it's a little dead in the evenings. It is more active on game nights, and the Science Museum is pretty awesome.
If you don't want to pay for parking, then look into staying around the U. But there's not much in the way of things to do over there.
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There is a large regional - all the midwest, even Illinois are coming to the University of MN for a high school Robotics competition 4/1 to 4/3 at Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena. I would book your hotel ASAP many of the mentioned places to stay near campus and downtown are on the list of lodging for this event. I don't know that it would fill the hotels, but it's possible availablity could be down in some places due to this event.
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You're looking at three really separate geographical areas. So you will be traveling a bit.
But I like the downtown Minneapolis idea, and Residence Inn sounds good. Should be walking distance to Target field
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The Residence iInn (or the Courtyard too) at The Depot are good and it is a nice waterpark. Not too inconvenient either for the U of M campus. The walk to Target Field would be 12-13 blocks across the downtown core. The Wild play in St. Paul so that's definitely a car trip. We usually park in the Science Museum Ramp. If time permits a visit there is always interesting.
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U of M area hotels primarily include Holiday Inn Metrodome and Radisson University. HI is on the West Bank of the campus, Radisson on the East Bank. Note neither own their parking so you will pay for parking just like downtown. However, either might be a good "in-between" spot considering the previously mentioned thought your areas of interest are in different areas of the city. Both these are near freeway access if you must drive (mostly you'd be driving to XCel). HI has a small pool onsite, Radisson (I believe) offers access to the U pool, though the pool is mostly for lap swimming as opposed to "splashing around". HI offers service to the Light Rail Station to get to Target Field (and the train goes to/from MSP Airport and Mall of America, possibly making a car unneeded? You'd just have to consider your trip to St. Paul for XCel Center...probably about $25 one-way taxi?). Both have a form of suite, though not with kitchen if that's what you're looking for. Otherwise, other suggestions on the forum are pretty good ones.
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I agree with the others that downtown Minneapolis would probably be the best. You'll have to drive to the Wild game in St. Paul and to the U of M (I guess you could walk this, but I wouldn't...around a couple miles depending on where you are downtown), but Minneapolis has more to offer. I'm not sure which hotels have pools/suites, but I'd look for something close to Target Field so you can walk, or look for somewhere close to the light rail so you can catch the train to the game. Being near the light rail would also be nice if you want to head out to the Mall of America without driving.
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We have room blocks at Residence Inn at the Depot for a wedding--lots of people with children booked there and are coming a day early so their kids can enjoy the waterpark. I have never seen the water park....but others seem to like it. If you stay at the hotel you get free passes. Might be a good activity for you kids to fill some of the time.
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