Nicollet Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis: A Great Place to Live, Work, and Shop

The downtown neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a terrific place to shop on a Saturday afternoon, catch a show, or enjoy a leisurely stroll. The most popular spot in downtown Minneapolis is, without a doubt, the Nicollet Avenue pedestrian mall. Not only is this downtown spot a great place to shop and dine, but it is considered by some to be the heart of the city's activity. The overall atmosphere of Nicollet Avenue is very festive around the holiday season when the trees are lit up in celebration. Every winter, Minnesotans bundled up in their warmest winter gear line the street to watch the Holidazzle parade hosted by Macy's. Vendors at the parade sell fresh crepes with your choice of topping as well as other treats intended to keep visitors warm. For $7.00, visitors to the parade can sit in a fully enclosed, heated tent and even enjoy free hot cocoa and cider. For those hearty souls brave enough to bear the frigid temperatures, a Starbucks is never too far away.

Nicollet Avenue is a fantastic place to shop after work and on the weekends. Visitors to Nicollet can enjoy upscale shops such as Neiman Marcus, Saks 5th Avenue, and Macy's, as well as stores that sell the basics, such as the ever popular Target. Crystal Court in the IDS tower features stores such as Banana Republic and the Gap as well as several dining venues. The best part about the shopping at Nicollet Avenue is the fact that virtually all of the buildings downtown are connected by the skyway system. With a map, or a willingness to ask the locals for directions, the skyway system is easy to navigate. And with all of the tiny shops that make up the skyway system, you may just discover something new.

Dining options on Nicollet Avenue are diverse and ever changing. One popular hang-out for locals is Brit's Pub, which features British entrees and pints of beer and cider. Brit's also has an outdoor patio for lawn bowling, which is a popular activity on a warm summer night. One of the best places for fresh Mexican food on Nicollet Avenue is a fairly new restaurant called Masa. The restaurant has a clean and fresh atmosphere and its food is on the light side.

Getting to Nicollet Avenue from the airport or the surrounding metropolitan area is easy. The light rail runs right into downtown from the airport, while numerous bus lines travel in and out of the city. With Minneapolis' expanding public transportation system, it is possible to enjoy a day at the Mall of America in the suburbs and then hop on the light rail to enjoy Nicollet Avenue in about a half hour.