A Sustainable Travel Guide to Minneapolis St Paul

Minneapolis St Paul, also known as the Twin Cities, is named City by Nature for its natural beauty meets urban living. Minneapolis and St. Paul are rich in vibrant parks, locally sourced dining, green transportation options, and a strong sense of community committed to environmental stewardship. Whether you're strolling along the banks of the Mississippi River, exploring local farmer’s markets, or visiting the city’s many art museums and historic sites, you’ll find countless ways to experience the Twin Cities while minimizing your environmental impact. Dive in, and discover how to explore Minneapolis-St. Paul sustainably.

Shop - Minneapolis

The Foundry Home Goods (Northloop) Shop featuring simple, useful, and beautiful objects for the home

Parc Shop (Northloop) Curated shop of simple, minimalistic pieces and unique goods from independent designers & makers

Hazel & Rose (Northeast) Boutique that carries thoughtfully curated contemporary sustainable & ethical fashion

Explore this amazing strip of vintage shops. Often they will host back alley pop-ups and great events. Check out Twin Cities Vintage Map for more!

Moth Oddities (Northeast) Curated men’s and women’s vintage clothing collected from around the world plus a side room hosting workshops

Olio Vintage (Northeast) A unique collective of specialty vintage retailers under one roof + local makers & artists.

Tandem Vintage (South Minneapolis) A playfully curated shop full of colorful vintage + thrift finds

the fitting room (South Minneapolis) Boutique featuring slow fashion designers and locally produced clothing, jewelry + accessories

carousel + folk (South Minneapolis) Vintage shop with home goods, giftables + plants

Tare Market (South Minneapolis) Grab any snacks or bulk items at MN’s first zero waste and [re]fill shop located in South Mpls - and Northeast Mpls too. If you’re needing a few grocery items stop by one of the many food coops across the Cities! The Wedge is a fan favorite with the best coconut soft-serve and juice bar!

Shop - St Paul

IDUN (Cathedral Hill) Boutique featuring luxury, timeless slow fashion, and sustainable brands and objects

Ergo Floral (Cathedral Hill) Floral and plant shop featuring local and sustainably grown flowers, plus workshops and field trips to local flower farms

Selby & Snelling Crossing has an array of vintage, slow fashion, and locally-owned shops. It's worth a stroll with a coffee and pastry from Rose Street Patisserie.

Spoils of Wear (Selby & Snelling) Clothing shop of fair trade, social + environmentally conscious brands, including a variety of MN-made products

Eat

Since 1985, French Meadow Bakery & Cafe has championed organic, farm-to-table dining. Their seasonally inspired menu offers options for every diet, sourced from local farms that provide fresh, sustainable ingredients. Famous for their bakery, be sure to grab a slice of cake to go! (St Paul or Lyndale, Minneapolis)

Wise Acre Eatery sources all its produce from its very own farm in Plato, Minnesota, ensuring seasonal menu changes year-round. Enjoy their mini market, grab a quick deli sandwich, or dine in for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. (Tangletown, Minneapolis)

Brasa offers flavorful dishes inspired by the southern U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean. They prioritize regional meats, organic produce, and fair-trade coffee and teas. The green sauce is to die for! (Grand Ave, St Paul and Northeast, Minneapolis)

The North Loop in Minneapolis is a walkable area known for its array of restaurants and shops. A few other spots worth exploring with a seasonal menu include Spoon & Stable and Mara at Four Seasons.

Discover the authentic flavors of North America at Owamni’s decolonized menu, free of ingredients like wheat flour, cane sugar, and dairy. Sourcing from Indigenous food producers locally and nationally, Owamni celebrates sustainable Indigenous foodways and their deep connection to the land. (North Loop, Minneapolis)

Tullibee at the Hewing Hotel in the North Loop highlights Scandinavian roots and a farm-to-table approach. Their menu reflects the hyper-local ingredients found in the region, including meats sourced from local farms in Wisconsin to locally-grown vegetables and foraged wild mushrooms. (North Loop, Minneapolis)

LAUNE Bread focuses on seasonality and simplicity, crafting naturally leavened breads, pastries, and cookies inspired by European and West Coast American traditions. Committed to sustainability, they use whole grains and source 75% of ingredients locally, with a full list of farmers available on their website. (Lake Street, Minneapolis)

Bang Brewing is committed to sustainability, using certified organic malts, grains, hops, and yeast in all their beers. Since 2013, they’ve offered returnable growler bottles, with all spent grains, hops, and yeast donated to a local farmer. (St Anthony Park, St Paul)

Henry and Son’s is an indie wine shop in Minneapolis, specializing in natural and organic wines from independent, small-batch producers rarely found elsewhere. Owners Henry and Skedsvold prioritize sustainable practices, offering wines free from unnecessary additives, unlike many mass-produced labels. (Harrison, Minneapolis)

Explore

Minneapolis and St Paul host dozens of farmers markets all summer and late into the fall. Many of them will have live music, free yoga, and delicious bites from local makers. Get up early and hit up Mill City Farmers Market for a rotation of the best local makers and growers. Drop off your goods and wander along the Stone Arch Bridge. Zip up to the top of the Guthrie Theater and see the best view of Minneapolis from the amber box.

Swing through the Northrup King Building during Northrup King Nights, where more than 200 studios and 400 artists open up their galleries and spaces. Be sure to visit Public Functionary for must-see art events and talks, plus their cafe for a snack!

Minneapolis Institute of Art is always free and open to the public. Every Third Thursday they host an event and invite you to explore the galleries late into the evening. Plus as a museum, they are committed to a greener future.

Sustainable fashion has a voice here with multiple fashion shows focused on vintage and sustainability including Into the Studio by sustainable designer Danielle Everine supporting Fashion Revolution and Rull & Bull a fashion runway featuring all vintage and secondhand looks. The fitting room also produces fashion shows including Evolve for Fashion Week MN featuring all local and sustainably focused designers.

If you love vintage or scoring one-of-a-kind treasures, then you won’t want to miss the monthly Mpls Vintage Market pop-up. It also has the best vibes and the most stylish people!

Minneapolis St Paul is home to the American Craft Council, which hosts a wide array of maker-oriented events and if you’re lucky enough, look out for Indigo and Snow’s must-try indigo-dyeing and shibori workshops.

Minneapolis has 98 miles of bike lanes plus 101 miles of off-street bikeways and trails. It’s a scenic way to get to know the city! If you don’t have a bike, there are plenty of places to rent a bike including Tangletown Bike Shop. Public transportation is also fairly accessible with the light rail running between downtown Minneapolis and St Paul, plsu routing directly from the airport! If you need a car Evie is an all-electric carshare service with over 150 shared vehicles in the Twin Cities!

No city does nature like Minneapolis. Nature walks around the chain of lakes is a must. We recommend grabbing an NA beverage from Marigold and wandering through the rose garden at Lake Harriet. Catch some live music or a movie at the bandshell all summer long. You can rent bikes or kayaks