The Twin Cities along with several small nearby river towns were settled around the confluence of the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers. The waterways were important transportation corridors that fueled economic growth.

For much of their history, the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis engaged in fierce rivalry, but today they have settled into a spirit of cooperation that makes them collectively a center for arts and entertainment, as well as home to a host of major and minor sports teams.

The area contains much more than just the two cities and visitors should plan to stay for an extended period, if they are intent in seeing most of what the area has to offer. Here are a few highlights: