Why Minneapolis?

For more information about our host city, visit the Meet Minneapolis website.

Minneapolis at a Glance

I2SL was pleased to bring the 2013 I2SL Annual Conference to the Twin Cities. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

  • Minneapolis—St. Paul is the 16th largest metropolitan area in the United States and the primary business center between Chicago and Seattle.
  • Minnesota is home to 19 Fortune 500 companies—including Target, Xcel Energy, 3M, and Ameriprise Financial—more than any other state.
  • The University of Minnesota, located in Minneapolis, has the fourth largest enrollment among U.S. public four-year universities. More than a dozen additional institutions of higher education call the Minneapolis—St. Paul area home.
  • The Mayo Clinic, Saint Mary's Hospital, and Rochester Methodist Hospital—located just 90 minutes from Minneapolis—form the largest integrated medical center in the world.

Transportation

Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport

Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) is the country's 14th busiest travel hub, and only one other U.S. city serves more nonstop markets per capita. MSP's central location offers a speedy trip to the city; one way from MSP to the Hilton Minneapolis takes approximately 20 minutes. Visit the MSP website for more information on ground transportation, maps, and directions from the airport to local destinations.

Parking

The Hilton Minneapolis offers valet parking for $23.00 daily. Self parking is available for $13.00 (the garage entrance is at the intersection of 11th Street and 2nd Avenue).

Convenient and affordable public parking is also available throughout the downtown area. Visit the MPLS Parking website for parking lot and meter locations, rates, and additional information.

Public Transportation

Attendees are encouraged to go green while in Minneapolis, so plan to walk or take public transit as much as possible. Great restaurants, Broadway shows, museums, professional sports, a vibrant nightlife, and plenty of family fun are all within blocks of one other.

Metro Transit operates one of the largest public transportation systems in the country. Fares range from $1.75 to $3.00, depending on the time of day. If you're already downtown and need to hop a ride a few blocks, the fare is 50¢ in the Downtown Zone. Look for buses marked "Free Ride" and pay no fare when boarding along Nicollet Mall.

For an extremely efficient way to travel, zoom around town on the Hiawatha Line. Light-rail transit connects downtown Minneapolis with the airport, Mall of America, and 18 other stations.

Taking the Metro Transit light rail from the airport to the Hilton Minneapolis is easy and inexpensive:

  • From the airport ground transportation area, follow the signs for the light rail.
  • Upon arrival at the light rail station, purchase your ticket ($1.75 to $3.00 depending on the time of day) and then board the Hiawatha Line toward downtown.
  • Take the Hiawatha Line to downtown and disembark at the Nicollet Mall Station.
  • Across the street from the station (northwest corner of 5th Street and Nicollet Mall), look for the "Nicollet Mall Free Ride Bus" sign.
  • Board the Nicollet Mall Free Ride bus (marked "Free Ride") and take it to the 11th Street stop.
  • From the bus stop, cross 11th Street and walk one block east to the Hilton Minneapolis.

Visit the Metro Transit website for more information, fares, and schedules.

Taxi/Shuttle Service

Shuttle and cab services are available anywhere in the metro area. Catch a taxi or shuttle at the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) and any hotel, or call ahead for service. Visit the Meet Minneapolis website for taxi/shuttle recommendations and contact information.

SuperShuttle fares are $16 one way or $26 round trip between MSP and the Hilton Minneapolis. Enter discount code "7RNGX" to receive a 12 percent discount on your round trip reservation.

Restaurants

Minneapolis boasts one of the best culinary scenes in the country, featuring award-winning chefs, world-class restaurants, and sustainable farm-to-table cuisines. Visit the Meet Minneapolis website for a comprehensive list of local restaurants, searchable by cuisine.

Things to Do

Museums

Take a tour of one of Minneapolis' "must-see" museums, including the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Weisman Art Museum, the Walker Art Center, and the Mill City Museum.

Outdoor Activities and Gardens

Minneapolis was rated the "Fittest City in America" by the American Fitness Index. Outdoor activities, such as lakes galore, the most bike-friendly city in the nation, a park every six blocks, and four professional sports teams guarantee that your visit to Minneapolis will be active. For those looking for organized outdoor excursions, companies like Above the Falls Sports Mississippi River Adventures provide a range of biking, kayaking, and other tours of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Performing Arts 

Did you know that Minneapolis has more theater seats per capita than any other U.S. city outside New York? Minneapolis has become a premier destination for the performing arts. Take in a show at the Guthrie, one of the city's Tony Award-winning theaters, or take in the arias of Rossini at the Minnesota Opera.

Shopping

Shopping in Minneapolis is unlike anywhere else in the country, featuring a combination of ambitious young designers, funky neighborhood boutiques, fabulous neighborhoods, major retailers, and big malls like the Mall of America.

Interestingly, the Mall of America was designed with sustainability in mind. Despite the size of the building and Minneapolis' cold winters, the building does not have a central heating system. While the entrances of the mall have heaters, heat is produced in the rest of the building by solar radiation through skylights, light fixtures and electronic devices, and body heat from its many patrons.

*Please note that inclusion on this page does not imply endorsement by I2SL.

Maps 

Not sure how to get to or around Minneapolis? Visit the Meet Minneapolis website for local and regional maps, or visit the Hilton Minneapolis website for a map and directions to the hotel.

 

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