A Week Near Lake Harriet: Minneapolis at Its Most Walkable
Sometimes the best kind of Minneapolis stay is not downtown, not at the airport, and not even planned around a big event. It is simply finding a comfortable place in a great neighborhood and settling into the rhythm of walking, coffee, good food, and the everyday beauty of the city.
Our experience
We recently spent a week in the 50th and France area, close to Lake Harriet and surrounded by the kinds of streets that make you want to keep walking just to see what is around the next corner. Classic Craftsman and Tudor-style homes, mature trees, gardens, and larger mid-century modern houses closer to Minnehaha Creek made even a simple morning or evening walk feel like part of the trip.
The neighborhood also put us close to several Minneapolis favorites. We ate at Broders' Pasta Bar twice, made room for Minnesota-style pizza, stopped at Red Cow for an easy meal, and spent several mornings over coffee at Jones Coffee on Xerxes Avenue.
For us, that combination is hard to beat: excellent walking, great local restaurants, beautiful homes to admire, and easy access to the lakes and trails that make Minneapolis one of our favorite cities to visit.
Minneapolis is known as the City of Lakes, and Lake Harriet is part of the city's Chain of Lakes. What surprised us again was how naturally the lakes, trails, creeks, parkways, and residential neighborhoods connect. A simple neighborhood walk can easily turn into several miles without ever feeling like you planned a major outing.
Must-sees and must-dos
- Lake Harriet — walk or bike the lakeside trails and enjoy one of the prettiest parts of the Minneapolis park system.
- 50th and France — explore the walkable neighborhood district, then wander into the surrounding residential streets to admire the architecture.
- Minnehaha Creek — follow the creek for a quieter side of Minneapolis and some especially enjoyable neighborhood walking.
- Broders' Pasta Bar — make room for pasta. We ate here twice, which tells you how much we liked it.
- Minnesota-style pizza — try the thin, flat crust, plenty of cheese, and sweeter sauce. It may not be everyone's definition of pizza, but it is undeniably Minnesota comfort food.
- Red Cow — an easy stop for burgers, sandwiches, salads, and a good beer list after a day of exploring.
- Jones Coffee — settle in for coffee and a slower morning on Xerxes Avenue; it was also a comfortable place for us to open the laptop and get a little work done.
Our pro tip
Do not assume you need to stay downtown to enjoy Minneapolis. Staying near Lake Harriet and 50th and France gave us quiet residential streets, restaurants and coffee nearby, and easy access to the city's lakes and trails.
Bring real walking shoes and leave some open time in your schedule. This is the kind of neighborhood where a quick walk can unexpectedly turn into several miles.
And if you find a restaurant you really like, go back. We ate at Broders' Pasta Bar twice. No regrets.
If you want the flexibility of having your own car, compare rental options at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport through QEEQ.
If you arrive before check-in or have time to explore after checking out, find luggage storage near the Minneapolis Convention Center through Radical Storage. International travelers can arrange a United States eSIM through Airalo before arriving, so mobile data is ready when they land.