Minneapolis's name was derived from a combination of Sioux and Greek words meaning "city of waters." No name could suit the area better - 22 lakes exist within the city limits and afford Minneapolis the nickname "City of Lakes." Minneapolis has a history impacted by natural beauty, its original Indian and immigrant residents and relationship with the mighty Mississippi River.
Minneapolis, a modern city perched on the west side of the Mississippi River, is recognized as one of the cultural and entertainment capitals of the United States. From an urban sculpture garden to one of the largest malls in America, the city boasts an abundance of unique sights for memorable Minneapolis holidays. Throughout the city, neighborhoods house unique shops and ethnic eateries, while the Mississippi River and more than 20 lakes within the city limits add to the landscape. During your Minneapolis holidays, you will  not be short of leisure activities in the area, including cultural events, professional sports and festivals galore.  The city boasts  three world-class museums, and has more theatres per capita than any other city outside of New York.  Culture is not only supported here but thrives.
Minneapolis holidays program might begin with the Chain of Lakes - Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, and Lake Harriet are just a few miles to the west of downtown; in all, 16 lakes are located within the city limits and more than 1,000 are in close proximity. Minnehaha Falls, the point at which Minnehaha Creek plunges into the Mississippi River, was made famous by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his poem The Song of Hiawatha. A life-size statue of Hiawatha holding his wife Minnehaha is located on an island just above the falls.
For those interested in Minneapolis's historical roots, the American Swedish Institute maintains a turn-of-the-century 33-room mansion that displays Swedish immigrant artifacts as well as traveling exhibits. The Ard Godrey House, built in 1849 and the oldest existing frame house in the city, features authentic period furnishings. Minneapolis's early history and development are captured at the Hennepin History Museum.
Fort Snelling, a historic landmark dating from 1820 overlooking Fort Snelling State Park, has been restored to its frontier-era appearance and is open six months a year. At the Minnesota Zoo, seven trails lead to exhibits in natural settings. The Minneapolis Planetarium, with a 40-foot dome, projects over 2,000 stars. More than 1,000 acres cultivated with numerous varieties of trees, flowers, and shrubs make up the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Minneapolis is the originator on a grand scale of the "second floor city" concept, integrating essentially two downtowns-a sidewalk-level traditional downtown and a second city joined by an elaborate skywalk system. Nicollet Mall, completed in 1967, redefined the urban downtown and eliminated the element of weather as a deterrent to the shopper. This all-weather skywalk system connects an indoor shopping center whose four major department stores and hundreds of specialty shops cover 34 city blocks. Shopping activity is also a part of the City Center mall, undergoing renovations in 2005. St. Anthony Main, along the historic Mississippi riverfront, consists of old warehouses and office buildings converted to a shopping center. Suburban Bloomington is home to the largest mall in North America, the Mall of America.
Elegant dining is possible at The 510 Restaurant, Goodfellow's, and Rosewood Room, named by Food and Wine magazine as Distinguished Restaurants of North America. Dinner cruises on the Mississippi River are offered during the summer.
WorldWeb.com travel and tourism guide for Minneapolis, as well as other similar resources, featuring hotels and other accommodations, tours, attractions, events, shopping and more, will help you plan successful Minneapolis holidays. While your Minneapolis holidays you can find visitor information at the Greater Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Center.  Another service,  Minneapolis 311 is a simple, 3-digit number residents, businesses and visitors can call to inquire about services, report problems, or get information necessary to spend a great holiday in Minneapolis.