October Weather
Average High: 58° F. / 14° C.
Average Low: 39° F. / 4° C.
Average October Precipitation: 1.88" / 4.78cm.
Minneapolis was ranked in 1998 by Money magazine as the best large Midwestern city in which to live.
Minneapolis was named one of the safest cities in the United States.
Minneapolis features 22 lakes and 170 parks and with the Mississippi River winding through the city.
Downtown’s Nicollet Mall (a 12-block pedestrian thoroughfare adjacent to conference hotels) is home to more than 400 stores, which translates into more retail outlets in a four-block radius than any other city in the country. Minneapolis ranks fifth in the country in total downtown retail sales, only behind New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, and San Francisco. Suburban Bloomington is home to the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the country— the Mall of America. There is no sales tax on clothing in Minnesota.
All the wonderful downtown shopping areas, along with a multitude of restaurants, hotels, and other attractions, are connected by Minneapolis’ famed Skyways, a system of elevated enclosed walkways connecting more than 60 blocks of downtown Minneapolis.
The strength of the local theater community is evident in the more than 100 theater companies and 30 smaller theater venues sprinkled throughout the city.
The Twin Cities is the only metropolitan area in the country to have two world-class orchestras. The Minnesota Orchestra performs at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra presents concerts at the Ordway. And, in the spirit of all big cities, Minneapolis is also home to the Minnesota Opera and Minnesota Ballet.
Minnesota Quick Facts
“Minnesota” translates literally to “sky-tinted water.” The first time the possibility of statehood was introduced in Congress, the state's name was spelled “Minasota.” The state was admitted to the Union in 1858, the 32nd state admitted.
Minnesota, at 84,402 square miles, is the nation's 12th largest state. 4,854 square miles of Minnesota's area is covered by water.
Of Minnesota’s thousands of lakes, 118 are named “Long Lake” and 201 are named “Mud Lake.”
Minnesota has one boat per six Minnesota residents.
Minnesota is home to 66 state parks (233,000 acres), 57 state forests (3,317,000 acres), one national park (219,000 acres) and two national forests (4,521,000 acres).
Minnesota ranks 19th nationally in annual tourism business receipts (direct travel expenditures minus sales taxes). Tourism is a $7 billion business each year in Minnesota.
Currency Exchange
Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport offers an exchange service (612-726-5187) from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday - Saturday and from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday (holiday hours may vary). The currency exchange is located in the airport Business Center on the upper level of the main terminal between doors 5 & 6 across from Northwest Airline’s ticket counter.
Currency exchange is also available in downtown Minneapolis at:
Norwest Bank: 6th Street and Marquette Avenue, 667-1234
Monday - Friday, 7:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Norwest Bank: 1221 Nicollet Mall, 667-1532
Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Useful Phone Numbers
Emergency Numbers
Police, Fire, Sheriff, Medical 911
If you need a doctor because of an illness or injury:
If you need to go to a hospital:
Other Important Numbers:
Poison Information Center 612-347-3141
Metro Mobility 612-221-1932
First Call for Help (United Way) 612-335-5000
Police, Fire, (Administrative Calls) 612-348-2345
AAA 612-927-2600
Minnesota Tourism Information 651-296-5029
Minneapolis Convention Center 612-335-6000
Weather, Time & Temperature 612-512-1111
Transportation
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport 651-726-5555
Train-Amtrak 651-644-6012 or 1-800-523-8720
City Buses-Metro Transit 612-373-3333
