Get lost in fall fun this season in the Minneapolis Northwest area! Enjoy live music, petting zoos, several crazy corn mazes and pony rides at our area pumpkin patches and apple orchards. Try your hand at the Twin Cities Harvest Festival’s renowned Pumpkin Slinger all while enjoying fall’s most delicious foods – crisp red apples, fresh-baked pumpkin pies, caramel apples and fried mini donuts. Then, head to one of our favorite local craft breweries, OMNI Brewing Co. or Wicked Wort, and enjoy a sampling of some of the most innovative ales. Pair them with pizza from nearby Pig Ate My Pizza or visit a local winery, and you’ll be in fall foodie heaven.

Or, combine the gorgeous fall weather with shopping by visiting the Shoppes or Fountains at Arbor Lakes, in Maple Grove. These outdoor shopping centers rival the Mall of America in square footage but allow you to step outside into the crisp fall sunshine in between shops. Outdoor fountains and overhead trellis provide a quaint setting for popping into some of your favorite national brand stores, as well as unique shops like Color Me Mine and Good Things, which are beloved favorites here in Minnesota. The area also offers some wonderful salon and spa options: Woodhouse Day Spa, Simonson’s, Kalla Lily and MarcDaniel Salon are all within a short distance of the Shoppes and Fountains at Arbor Lakes. Book a nearby hotel and enjoy some of Minnesota’s best shopping and spa selections!

If you’re looking for top-notch restaurants, make a reservation at some of our favorites, such as Travail, 3 Squares Restaurant and Claddagh Irish Pub. They rank right along side larger city culinary draws. Local fan favorites like the 50’s Grill and Girvan Grille will have you planning your return visit before you even leave town.

If you’re eager to see a major sports event, Minneapolis Northwest is within close proximity to it all! The Minnesota Vikings (NFL), the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher football, Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) and the Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) all play within an easy half-hour drive from Minneapolis Northwest. And, the Minnesota Wild (NHL), which play in our sister city of Saint Paul, always draw sell-out crowds.

Concert goers can catch some of the biggest shows (Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Kings of Leon) at nearby Target Field, Target Center or the Xcel Energy Center. The Minneapolis metro area, which provides the highest number of professional theaters in the U.S. outside of New York City, will host national tours of Aladdin and In the Heights this fall, in addition to local professional productions of Annie and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Minneapolis Northwest is just a short drive from downtown Minneapolis and features so many charming opportunities for exploration and fall festivals. So join us this season and you’ll get lost in the fall fun too!