This trip was hosted by Visit Roseville.
Heading to Minnesota? You’re probably going to visit Minneapolis. Or St. Paul. Or both. So how do you pick which city to stay in? How do you pick which one to explore?
You don’t have to! You can visit Roseville, Minnesota like I did and get the best of both worlds.
Where is Roseville, Minnesota?
Glad you asked. Unless you’re a Minnesota local, you probably won’t have heard of this suburban community but if you’re looking for an easily drivable, convenient location to both Minneapolis and St. Paul, you’re in luck. Roseville is one of only two towns that borders both cities, making it easy to visit all the sites you want to see!
What to Visit NEAR Roseville, MN
When staying in Roseville, you have your choice of visiting the nearby twin cities or finding things to do in Roseville. And I did some of each!
Minnesota State Fair – St. Paul, MN
If you’re a state fair aficionado, you probably already know that the Minnesota State Fair is the second largest state fair in the country – a fact that Minnesotans are very proud of. And they’re also quick to tell you they are second only to the Texas State Fair most likely because it runs twice as long.
If you’re a fair food kind of person, I highly recommend the cheese curds, the french fries, and dairy bar. But don’t just take my word for it. Read all about everything I ate when I visited the Minnesota State Fair.
And it’s not just about the food (although mostly it is). I got to witness a calf being born at the Miracle of Birth Center! You’ll also find the usual rides and games and locally made stuff and, seriously, the nicest people. I even had a family share their fried alligator with me!
Can Can Wonderland – St. Paul, MN
If miniature golf and pizza doesn’t sound like a tourist attraction to you, then you clearly haven’t visited Can Can Wonderland.
Built in an old cannery, they call themselves “a whimsical wonderland of entertaining entertainment.” That translates as an arcade full of vintage games surrounding an indoor miniature golf course unlike any you’ve ever seen.
Each of the 18 holes is designed by a group of artists that creates not only a spectacularly visual experience but also a super challenging mousetrap of a hole.
And they have a whimsical assortment of cocktails and food to go along with your entertainment experience.
Betty Danger’s Country Club – Minneapolis, MN
Don’t let the name fool you. Betty Danger’s is NOT your stuffy grandfather’s country club. It’s a kooky, kitschy restaurant with “extra.”
By extra, I mean shuffleboard, outdoor miniature golf (where you can become part of the course if you choose to dine outside), and a big, whopping ferris wheel.
Eat your lunch (which was excellent), grab your cocktail (opt for the “surprise” margarita), and finish your meal with a whirl on the ferris wheel. Just make sure it’s not too cold, too rainy, or too windy otherwise Mother Nature will nix your plans, like she did with us.
(Special shout out to the amazing food and drink we had a Betty Danger’s. There was nothing that I didn’t love. Also, yes, I totally ate all of that cheeseburger. Sometimes the heart wants what it wants!)
Bell Museum – Minneapolis, MN
I’m such a science nerd that I can’t pick a favorite discipline. Although I studied biology, I love astronomy and I’m fascinated by paleontology. That kind of made the Bell Museum a perfect spot for me.
I checked out the hands-on lab, enveloped myself in cosmology (lamenting all the while that the planetarium was closed for maintenance during my visit), explored micrometeorites (it’s a thing!), and visited the iconic Wooly Mammoth, once found in the ice territory that would become Minnesota.
It also had one of my favorite gift shops! (I actually bought a Higgs Boson watch!)
What to Do IN Roseville, MN
Even though we found so much to do so close to Roseville, there might be a time when you’re looking for something to do or someplace to eat without having to venture too far. No worries. There’s a lot of fun to be had without ever leaving the border!
SeaQuest Roseville
There’s an aquarium. At the mall. I know, right?
Much like miniature golf and pizza, I couldn’t imagine an aquarium at the mall being terribly captivating. But once again, Minnesota surprised me. SeaQuest Roseville is a two story immersive aquarium and zoo of sorts that gives you hands-on access to stingrays, birds, and mammals alike.
Although I chose not to go snorkeling with the stingrays (water too cold for Fadra!), I loved entering an aviary full of parakeets ready to land and eat right out of my hands.
Rosedale Center
When you’re finished at the aquarium, there’s plenty to see at the mall. Yes, Rosedale Center is a regular mall but if you’re more of a tourist, you’ll love checking out some of the shops selling Minnesota fare from local artisans.
Eats and Drinks
If you’re not full from all the food at the Minnesota State Fair (or even if you are), you’ll want to get in a good meal. We had dinenr at three Roseville spots that might fit the bill for you.
Pizza Lucé – When we ran out of time at Can Can Wonderland, we hopped over to a nearby pizza establishment where – SURPRISE! you can get something other than pizza. I ate an entire portion of pasta and only had a little regret.
Chianti Grill – Looking for something a little more upscale? This approachable fine dining had everything from steaks to seafood. And went with a more local option and tried the Canadian walleye.
CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar – For our last meal in Minnesota, we dined in a private room at CRAVE. The staff could not have been more wonderful providing amazing wines, a million appetizers to sample, and a dinner of our choice (I went for the Vegan Curry and love every last bit of shocking spice). This was definitely my favorite restaurant in Roseville.
And if you need a nightcap, be sure to head to local Bent Brewstillery, where they make and serve craft beers. If you’re in the mood for spirits, you can purchase something locally made but due to Minnesota laws right now, they can’t serve it.
P.S. Dogs are allowed!
(I highly recommend snagging a bottle of the Spice Rum for later!)
Where to Stay in Roseville, MN
Are you ready to plan your stay in Roseville? Because they have plenty of places to stay!
I want to give a special shoutout to the Courtyard by Marriott in Roseville, who hosted my stay for this trip. Not only was the hotel modern and clean, but the staff was extra friendly, even providing me breakfast a few minutes after they had closed. (The breakfast as amazing, by the way).
And there are always cookies waiting for you every evening if the full service bar isn’t your speed.
Planning Your Trip to Roseville
If I’ve sold you on the location and the activities, there’s just one more thing to do. Figure out who to take with you!
Roseville is a great family destination with a lot of family-friendly activities and restaurants. But if you really want to have fun exploring, make it a girls trip like this hosted trip with Visit Roseville. Writers and colleagues became fast friends experiencing the fun of the Roseville area!
Video Adventures in Roseville!
If you still don’t get a feel for what Roseville and all of its surrounding areas are like, I’ve got a video showing all the fun we had!
