Any Dopers from that area? We’re going to be there for about two weeks. The Fella and I like off the beaten path stuff. (I can find everything else on travel websites.)
He will be working for part of it, so I will be doing my mass transit thing. For some parts we do plan to have a car and do stuff in other states.
My sister lives a couple of blocks from Minnehaha Falls in Minnehaha Park. The falls are nice, and there is a trail that follows the creek to the Mississippi River. The hike from the falls to the river is rather short, and I actually like it a little more than the falls. The park is next to a stop on the train line that goes from downtown to the airport, so it should be reasonable to get to.
Edit to add: there are supposed to be some caves along the Mississippi in that area, but I have never tried to find them.
The caves are probably all boarded up - they don’t tend to be safe - they are sandstone caves and easy to suffocate in.
The Twin Cities has some really great restaurants. There are some good clubs and bars. The Twins are playing. Theatre here is some of the best outside of NYC or LA.
If you are a museum person, the Mill City Museum in downtown Minneapolis is one of a kind - its a museum in honor of the flour industry - in an old flour mill that sort of exploded. Its run by the Minnesota History Center, which has several other public transportationable places to visit.
For a longish drive, going up to Duluth and up the North Shore can give you some beautiful scenery - there are a lot of waterfalls up there worth stopping for - and MILES of trails. Duluth is two hours North, you want to go at least two hours North from there as far as Temperance - if not farther. Make sure to give custom to the Temperance Liquor store, if just for the name. There is also a ton of parkland in and around the Twin Cities to explore.
Cross into Wisconsin on I-94 and almost immediately take Highway 10 south, which will connect to Highway 35 South (near Prescott, WI) along the Mississippi River. This is a very nice scenic drive along the river with many overlooks, and it passes through some nice little towns along the way, including Stockholm, WI where you can visit the Stockholm Pie Shop. Further south is the town of Pepin, near which the Ingalls family had a homestead. It’s been recreated and you can visit it. Continue a little further south and you will come to a Nelson, where you can cross the bridge back into MN and travel north back to the MSP area. There are a couple of state parks along that highway to stop and see. Easy day trip.
You could swing over to either of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe casinos: Entertainment | Grand Casino MN One is in Onamia and the other is in Hinkley.
You had me at pie.
I think I may love you. But thanks for a great idea!
Thanks, but he hates casinos and I only love a good card game. <I’m a cardshark ya see–a shady gritfter–some bad dame …> Meh really, neither into casinos 
I’m not much for gambling either* which is why I linked to their entertainment page. Looks like there’s boxing, comedians, music and a powwow coming up.
*The only gambling I like to do is the slot machine in Pokemon… but it is some of my Band’s livelihood
Thanks for the tips everyone! We’re heading off on Sunday. Tentative plans to head over to Wisconsin and see the House on the Rock and stuff too.
It is a long way to House on the Rock - Four there, four back - and it takes a long time to see.
Oh yeah. When I say two weeks it’s days on the front and back end of it. Also four hours…He’s done it in traffic just getting to work. I’ve driven to Austin and back in a day for a project.
Hours of driving aren’t the issue. 
Try a guided Segway tour. The tour is informative, and of course you get to ride a Segway, which is a pretty fun thing if you’ve never tried it.
Here is an idea to build upon one already suggested:
You mentioned at some point having a car to visit other states. If you like wine and beautiful scenery I would make a day trip to visit the Great River Road Wine Trail. It is a collection of mostly very nice wineries along a route that follows the Mississippi between Minnesota/Iowa and Wisconsin. Make sure to drive highway 35 on the Wisconsin side for great views of the river and bluffs. The first winery is 50 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. I am a bit biased but I think the tour rivals California wine tours. You would need an overnight stay along the way to visit all 11 wineries, however, you could hit 5 or 6 in a day trip.
My favorite stops are Villa Bellezza and Danzinger Vineyards, however, we have not made the entire tour yet.
You can’t beat Pie and Wine…then some ice cream at the Nelson Creamery.
If you’re going down towards Stockholm it’s just a bit further down the river on the Minnesota side to Wabasha where the National Eagle Center is. Great place to see bald eagles up close.
Then a few miles south of there in Kellog is Lark Toys. It’s a huge toy store with a lot of unique toys as well as wood toys they make on site, a candy store, a carousel, and mini golf.
I always like to recommend the house of balls.
My favorite place in the Twin Cities is Nye’s Polonaise Room. Great food, great martinis, and great piano bar sing-along. I don’t know if it is still open or not, but if it is, it is great fun.
JUST closed, and it leaves behind many mourners. I have a friend who was a regular for many years.
But First Avenue is still around, as is Psycho Suzis.
Downtown St. Paul is actually getting interesting. Nightlife is still iffy if you aren’t going to a concert at the Ordway, but dining has gotten really good. Meritage, St. Dinette and Heartland are all right there - and all very good (well, I’m not fond of Heartland, but I’m apparently one of the few - I think it reaches and doesn’t quite get there - and when you pay that much for a meal, it has to actually meet expectations).
Nye’s is closed? Nooooooo1!