Minneapolis and St. Paul might be called twins, but they are not identical. Minneapolis has more attractions and businesses, and St. Paul (10 mi/16 km away) is the state capital. The Minneapolis metro area, on the banks of the Mississippi River, teems with Fortune 500 companies, a thriving music, art and theater scene, and professional sports teams.
The surrounding area offers lakeside resorts, farm communities and river towns, as well as the gigantic Mall of America in nearby Bloomington. Even bitter winter weather doesn't deter residents—they bundle up well and navigate Minneapolis via the all-weather connectors among downtown buildings.
