Minneapolis Travel Guide

Hey y'all! I'm coming back with another travel guide, this time I'm talking all about Minneapolis! Minneapolis is a quick four hour road trip for me, so it's always a good destination for a little weekend getaway. This time I stayed at The Graduate Hotel and I have to say I highly recommend it to anyone looking to stay in Minneapolis! It was such a cute boutique hotel with the coziest furnishings. It really felt like a place you'd want to snuggle up by the fire (preferably the one in the lobby, which is gorgeous). It had a very luxury ski lodge vibe that we really enjoyed!

First Stop: Total Wine & More
So this stop is technically a little outside the twin cities but it's definitely worth swinging by. They have great deals on wine, most of it at wholesale prices. This means you can pick up some great quality bottles for under $20! They also have a huge selection of beer and spirits, I'd totally recommend stopping if you have time!

Second Stop: The Mall of America
Anyone who knows me or reads this blog, or even anyone who has seen the inside of my closet knows I love to shop so this was a fairly obvious place to spend half a day. The Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the United States so if you're in need of a shopping fix.....enough said.

Third Stop: The Graduate Hotel
After a shopping spree we stopped by the hotel to drop off our luggage and check in. The Graduate is located in the heart of the University of Minnesota campus which puts you right within walking distance to some really neat shops, restaurants, and more. They also have a restaurant and bar attached, as well as a Starbucks!
Bonus: Not traveling to Minneapolis? No problem! The Graduate is a chain of hotels in college towns all across the country!

Fourth Stop: Sencha Tea Bar
This is a place we just happened to notice on the way to the hotel. It's about a block and a half walk from the hotel so it made the perfect pre-dinner relaxation spot. They had a massive selection of teas to choose from, as well as some light food offerings. This was a really quaint and unique place and I'm so glad we happened upon it!

Last Stop: The Melting Pot
If you haven't been to The Melting Pot at least once in your life you need to give it a shot. It's definitely an experience. They offer a huge variety of different fondues such as cheese, and chocolate fondues. If you feel like playing it safe try the Classic Alpine cheese fondue. For the chocolate fondue you can choose what type of chocolate you want and if you're 21 and over you can choose a type of alcohol to mix in as well. We went with dark chocolate and Bailey's and it was FANTASTIC.
Pro Tip: Plan on spending at least two hours here, this isn't a quick meal but it's totally worth the time investment!

Hopefully you've gotten the travel bug from reading this! Have you ever stayed at a Graduate Hotel? What's your favorite place to visit in Minneapolis? Let me know in the comments!