Golf has a rich history in the Twin Cities. Major championships have been coming to the region since the 1916 U.S. Open at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis. TPC Twin Cities used to host PGA Tour Champions annually, and as of 2019, the 3M Open is now a regular stop on the PGA Tour.
The Twin Cities also is home to nearly 20 Fortune 500 companies and a rich menu of cultural and entertainment options. Here’s a look at just some of the adventures couples can find during a three-day visit to the Twin Cities.
Day 1: Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, 20 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis, is a good place to start your Twin Cities visit. The resort is home to The Meadows, No. 6 in Golfweek’s rankings of the state’s public courses. It’s a lovely, but demanding layout, with water on 13 holes. Fittingly, for a casino course, there are many shots that present risk-reward scenarios.
The Twin Cities, of course, is defined geographically by the Mississippi River. So after golf, a good way to explore the metropolitan area is via charter boat tours. Another option: Spend an afternoon at Mall of America, which annually attracts more than 40 million visitors, not just for its 500-plus stores, but also attractions such as Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, FlyOver America and SMAAASH, a futuristic go-kart track and virtual-reality experience.
At day’s end, couples might enjoy returning to Mystic Lake for gaming or one of the nightly shows, many of which are free of charge. Or visit Target Field, one of Major League Baseball’s finest stadiums, to see the exciting young Twins play.
Target Field
Day 2: Despite its humble name, Chaska Town Course is a worthy neighbor to Hazeltine National; in fact, it hosted stroke-play qualifying when the 2006 U.S. Amateur was played at Hazeltine. The prolific architect Arthur Hills designed Chaska Town Course, which Golfweek ranks No. 5 in the state.
Chaska also is home to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, which has more than 1,100 acres of public gardens. Exploring the gardens by foot or on bicycles is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. The Twin Cities also is known for its parks. According to one recent evaluation, the parks systems of St. Paul and Minneapolis ranked second and third, respectively, among the 100-largest U.S. cities. One of best options, thanks in part to its waterfall, is Minnehaha Regional Park.
Minneapolis has one of the nation’s most vibrant theater scenes, so consider booking tickets to see a play. The Guthrie Theater, on the riverfront, has a proud Shakespearean pedigree, but you also can find American classics and first-run productions being performed nightly on one of its three stages. It’s also worth checking what independent theaters around town have showing.
If you would instead prefer lighter, entertainment, consider visiting Topgolf on the north
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By: Martin Kaufmann
Title: Couples Destination: 72 Hours in the Twin Cities
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2020/07/13/couples-destination-72-hours-in-the-twin-cities/
Published Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2020 14:25:57 +0000