DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Minneapolis - Park Place
In Case of Emergency
- If you have any issues on your travel days or outside of your scheduled activities, please notify your contacts and they will do their best to assist you.
- Dial 9-1-1 from any local telephone to contact emergency response if you need police, fire or emergency medical assistance during your stay.
UMN College of Veterinary Medicine
- The College of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1947 located on the St. Paul Campus.
- Minnesota’s only Veterinary college
- Fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education
Getting around
Ride Shares:
The Twin Cities offers a range of transportation options, one being ride shares. Both Uber and Lyft are active and available for use. The best way would be to download their respective apps.
Uber:
To access Uber's website, click here.
Scooter/Bike Rentals:
Minneapolis offers scooter and bike rentals, all of which are weather dependent.
Scooter Rental:
Access the rental information website.
Bike Rental:
Access the rental information website.
Metro Transit: Bus and Train (Light Rail)
Metro Transit is Minnesota’s public transportation provider in the Twin Cities.
Bus and Train fare information
- Fares for buses and trains are the same: $2.00 Non-Rush Hour; $2.50 Rush Hour
- Rush hour is defined as 6:00am — 9:00am and 3:00pm— 6:30pm Monday through Friday.
- If you’re planning an extended stay and would like to use Metro Transit regularly, a Go-To Card allows you to purchase fares in advance and swipe the card on the bus or at ticket machines.
- Trip planner allows you to plan your trip in advance. Visit Metro Transit's website and enter your starting address and destination for the most efficient bus routes and times.
- When paying your bus fare in cash, use the exact change when possible. Drivers cannot make change.
- Each fare includes a 2 ½ hour transfer
- Pay the bus fare when you board the bus.
- Light rail/train tickets must be purchased from a ticket machine at the platform before boarding the train.
Metro Transit Service Centers : Visit the Information Desk located in Coffman Memorial Union on East Bank in Minneapolis or Saint Paul Student Center for Go-To Cards and transit information.
Metro Transit Green Line
The Green Line is a train that operates between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul, passing through the West Bank and East Bank of the University of Minnesota.
The Green Line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Purchasing Fares:
- Fares are valid for 2½ hours from time of purchase and must be purchased before boarding the train; tickets cannot be purchased onboard. Customers must be prepared to show proof of payment on the train. Those without a valid ticket or pass are subject to a $180 fine.
- Ticket machines are located at each station. Purchase a ticket from the machine using cash or a credit card. Note that rail station platforms are paid fare zones, reserved for those who are purchasing tickets or for ticketed customers who are waiting for or getting off trains.
- Frequent riders will want to purchase a Go-To Card. Just touch your card to a reader at the station and the fare is paid instantly. Add value to your card online or at a station ticket machine.
- Go-To Cards, Metropasses, U-Passes, College Passes and Student Passes are accepted at rail stations. To use one of these passes, you must validate it by touching it to the card reader before boarding.
Transfers
- When paying with a single-ride ticket, transfer is built into fare. METRO trains connect with buses at stations, so when you get on the bus, just insert your single-ride ticket into the farebox. METRO tickets are valid for unlimited rides on buses and light rail for 2½ hours after purchase.
Minneapolis/St. Paul Tour Information
The Minneapolis and Saint Paul area boasts numerous lakes and outdoor parks, shopping, theater, and culture. If you are interested in any tourism outside of your academic visit, please let us know and we can help coordinate arrangements.
On Campus:
- U of M Department of Theatre Arts and Dance performance schedule
- Ted Mann Concert Hall website
Both departments offer numerous events featuring student performers.
Area Attractions
Stone Arch Bridge
The Stone Arch Bridge is a must-see for any architecture buff. This 2,100-foot granite and limestone bridge (featuring a total of 23 arches) was constructed in 1883 and was vital to the city's development. Designated a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1971, it is the only stone arch bridge to have ever traversed the Mississippi River. Today, you can walk or ride bikes between Father Hennepin Bluffs Park on the east bank of the river and Mill Ruins Park on the west bank. Cost: Free
Guthrie Theater
Named for founder Sir Tyrone Guthrie, the downtown theater is one of the nation's most renowned and one of the city's most beloved treasures. The Guthrie Theater's repertory company has made a name for itself with its highly praised balance of classical theater and avant-garde productions. Aside from its three individual stages, the theater also boasts a full-service restaurant, two casual eateries, a cocktail lounge and some of the best views of Minneapolis from the banks of the Mississippi River.
Walker Art Museum/Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
The Walker Art Museum houses a large collection of contemporary visual art and design exhibitions.
Museum Admission: $15.
Across the street, visit iconic sculptures such as Spoonbridge and Cherry as you walk through an outdoor collection of sculptures and flowers at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
Admission is free to the garden.
Mall of America
As one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, Mall of America features — 520 stores, 50 restaurants and attractions galore, including Nickelodeon Universe®, the nation's largest indoor theme park, and the American Girl store. Plus, there's no sales tax on clothing or shoes!
Cost: FREE (but you may want to bring money to shop!)
Science Museum of Minnesota
The Science Museum of Minnesota, founded in 1907, is a large regional science museum located on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul. The Science Museum's programs combine research and collection facilities, a public science education center, extensive teacher education and school outreach programs, and an Imax Convertible Dome Omnitheater to provide science education to our audience of more than a million people per year.
Cost: $29.95 for general adult (18+) admission
Museum Indigenous Access $0.00
Please contact (651) 221-9444 or email [email protected] to reserve your tickets. Some restrictions apply. Learn more.
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
“To inspire our public to value the presence of living things in our lives”
We at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory hold everything we do against the expectations laid forth in our mission statement. Every animal exhibit, plant exhibit, education class and youth camp is driven by this statement and our commitment to the community in which we live.
Cost: Free
Minneapolis Institute of Art
“Inspiring wonder through the power of art.”
The Minneapolis Institute of Art enriches the community by collecting, preserving, and making accessible outstanding works of art from the world’s diverse cultures.
Cost: Free
Special Exhibits: Review Website
Theodore Wirth Regional Park
https://www.minneapolisparks.org/parks-destinations/parks-lakes/theodore_wirth_regional_park/
Theodore Wirth Regional Park is 740 acres of park that offers a variety of spring and summer time activities for guests to enjoy.
Showcases areas like the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
Bell Museum
https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/
Inspire, explore, create
We are Minnesota’s official natural history museum, established by the legislature in 1872 and held in trust by the University of Minnesota. For over a century, the museum has preserved and interpreted our state’s rich natural history and served learners of all ages. Additionally, our scientific collections contain over one million specimens, representing every county in Minnesota and various locales around the globe.
Cost: Adult $15 (museum only), $10 (planetarium only), $21 (combo museum + planetarium)