The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul blend big-city sophistication with the livability of smaller towns. Minneapolis and St. Paul are important centers of commerce and industry with major corporate headquarters in electronics, computers, food processing and milling, retailing, medicine, transportation, and forest products industries. In addition, the Twin Cities and the state of Minnesota are often cited as innovators in government and public policy.

The Minnesota climate provides an ideal environment for year-round recreational activities. The change of seasons is enjoyed by natives and newcomers alike. Summer is warm and pleasant with lots of sunshine; autumn is cool and colorful; winter brings a beautiful white crispness; and spring returns with mild temperatures and welcome green landscapes. Within the Minneapolis and St. Paul city limits, you will find 31 large lakes, 243 public parks, and nearly 40 miles of Mississippi riverfront. The lakes and Mississippi River are connected by a parkway system extending over 35 tree-lined miles, with separate bicycle and running paths. In the summer, the lakes are dotted with sailboats, canoes, windsurfers, and swimmers. Most city parks have skating rinks in winter, and some parks have several miles of cross-country ski trails as well. Many of the wild areas of Minnesota are close to the Twin Cities. A few hours north of the Twin Cities is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the most unsullied wilderness areas in the nation.

Music and theater play a prominent role in the life of most Twin Citians. Music lovers can treat themselves to an evening of world class orchestral music with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra at the Ordway Music Theatre in St. Paul or with the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. For those looking for a different beat, choices range from jazz to blues to contemporary pop music. Both cities boast lively jazz and dance clubs. Professional theaters, community theaters, and comedy clubs in the Twin Cities area are outnumbered only by New York City. No other city, except New York, spends more on the performing arts than Minneapolis and St. Paul. Of the 90 playhouses in the area, probably the best known is the internationally acclaimed Guthrie Theater. An increasingly active dance community, ranging from classical ballet companies to improvisational dance, with a very strong presence of modern dance, rounds out the offering of performing arts.

Visual art enthusiasts can find more than 130 galleries and several major museums in the metropolitan area. The Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Walker Art Center both have extensive in -house collections and are frequently included in major touring exhibits. The University of Minnesota's Fredrick R. Weisman Art Museum, designed by internationally acclaimed architect Frank O. Gehry, houses a significant collection of contemporary art.

Twin Citians are avid sports fans and actively support their four home teams. You will undoubtedly hear references to the Minnesota Vikings (football), Minnesota Twins (baseball), Minnesota Timberwolves (basketball), and the Minnesota Wild (hockey).

Visit the city of Minneapolis website at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ and the city of St. Paul website at http://www.stpaul.gov/.