While you're at it, scrap all the singsong sound bites from “Fargo” (the Oscar-winning brainchild of moviemaking natives Joel and Ethan Coen) and the mental image of blond, blue-eyed Nordics eternally buried beneath mummifying layers and earflap hats.
Of course, not all “Minn-ee-so-dah” preconceptions are completely wide of the mark. On a positive note, “Minnesota Nice” is an oft-repeated notion that will likely surface during your trip. Conversely, it can get pretty nippy in these parts—Minneapolis-St. Paul claims the coldest average temperature of any major metro area in the lower 48 states.
But while plenty of minus signs turn up in the weather almanacs, on average, the mercury typically doesn't dip below zero. Besides, when the flurries are flying, you'll find climate-controlled respite within each city's “skyway” system. Minneapolis' continuous network of enclosed pedestrian bridges is purportedly the world's largest, and the 5 miles of glass tunnels in St. Paul link downtown restaurants, hotels, attractions and other businesses.
In addition to the twisting icicles that cling to St. Paul's Cass Gilbert-designed state Capitol, Jack Frost crafts powdery white landscapes that invite vigorous play. Cross-country skiers test their endurance on well-groomed trails at Como Park in the capital and at Minneapolis' Theodore Wirth Park.
Sports played on ice are time-honored winter traditions, too. Hockey players, curlers and speed skaters dominated the cities' contribution of home-grown athletes to the 2010 Winter Olympics, when Minnesota natives outnumbered competitors sent by any other state. That same year, the Minnesota Twins played their inaugural game at Minneapolis' Target Field. Conveniently, the Minnesota Timberwolves hit the court next door at Target Center, while the Minnesota Vikings pursue gridiron glory nearby at U.S. Bank Stadium. And St. Paul's sports fans certainly aren't left wanting—the Minnesota Wild face off against other tough-as-nails NHL teams at the Xcel Energy Center.
In terms of culture, the Twin Cities are well-off, whether you're referring to their wealth of performance venues, creative thinkers or ethnic communities. At St. Paul's Fitzgerald Theater, century-old walls soak up “A Prairie Home Companion” host Garrison Keillor's lazy baritone voice, while the impressive Guthrie Theater overlooks Minneapolis' historic riverfront, where 19th-century lumber and flour mills once harnessed the power of St. Anthony Falls.