Has the task of planning a girls’ weekend in Minneapolis fallen on your shoulders? There’s no need to feel overwhelmed about where to take your friends each night of your getaway. This city is full of great stuff to do from morning until late night! In fact, Minneapolis is a great spot whether you like shopping, exploring fun restaurants, grabbing drinks at happy hour, or visiting landmarks.
While you may think that your girls’ weekend itinerary has to stay focused on attractions in the city, the best-kept secret around is that Minneapolis is the perfect spot to bond over the beauty of the great outdoors.
A tour we think you'll love
The city’s proximity to some of the best lakes in the country means that you can also surprise your friends with a little bit of cruising! The best part is that lakes are so close that you’ll be back in time for a night out on dry land.
Are you ready to have so much fun while you shop, dine, and laugh at your ladies’ night away? This list of seven girls’ night out ideas Minneapolis visitors can enjoy covers all of the city’s great places to visit and explore in the morning, afternoon, and night!
1) Bring Your Girls’ Weekend Getaway To The Lake
Just wait to see everyone’s expression when you tell them that you’re all going on a party cruise on Lake Minnetonka! Located a short drive from Minneapolis, Lake Minnetonka is an 18-acre body of water surrounded by natural beauty and wildlife. While the lake is serene, it’s actually considered a hub for the “party on the lake” lifestyle that is so strong in the Twin Cities.
No company knows every twist, turn, and curve of the shoreline of Lake Minnetonka like PaddleTap. We have a fleet of top-of-the-line vessels designed to provide the elite, personal experience you simply can’t get from other boats!
At PaddleTap, we cater to travelers planning a girls’ weekend in Minneapolis by offering pickup and drop-off spots near some of the area’s best breweries. We offer cruises that are perfect for girl trips, friend reunions, bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations, and more.
When you reach out to book your experience, our helpful staff will be happy to help you find the perfect option based on your party size, style, and travel dates.
Here’s a peek at what’s on the table:
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Private tours on our tiki boats, pedal pubs, or party pontoons
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Small group and public tours
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The LazyTap Party Boat ride aboard our double-decker vessel
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Electric Duffy boat rental
While most of our tours last 100 minutes, a few are 150 minutes long. Our tours offer elite experiences with affordable rates, friendly services, and so many ways to customize your fun! The best part is that you’ll be dropped off at the dock in time to enjoy a fun ladies’ night in downtown Excelsior.
Every trip is BYOB! There’s no better way to make every moment you spend together on a girls’ trip count! Book your spot with PaddleTap today!
2) Get A Taste Of Luxury At Hotel Ivy
Do your friends like to make everyone else green with envy whenever you hang out? Hotel Ivy was made for you! You can make the ambiance of this swanky hotel the backdrop of your vacation even if you don’t have the budget to stay the night. That’s because the bar is an iconic downtown establishment that’s open to the public.
Claim a spot inside this modern and sleek lounge to let the expert mixologists pour your crew some cocktails. Whether you come before or after dinner, the shared plates and live music will set the perfect mood for the night. Ivy is also a top spot for happy hour in Minneapolis!
3) Hop To Maple Grove For Some Shopping To Find Great Looks For Girls’ Night
Prep for a ladies’ night Minneapolis style by heading to the mall to pick out your outfits before hitting restaurants and bars! The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes is widely considered the best spot for shopping in the Minneapolis area if you want to avoid trekking around the city just to shop at stores you like.
This shopping center consists of four blocks of upscale retailers. The shopping complex houses a number of well-known women’s apparel retailers and cosmetics stores.
Don’t worry if your dinner reservations aren’t until much later in the night. The great restaurants and snack spots here make grabbing lunch easy!
Good to know: Maple Grove is located just 25 minutes outside of Minneapolis. A daily commuter route offers multiple options for going back and forth between the two cities without spending the night outside of Minneapolis.
4) Plan A Spa Day Before A Big Girls’ Night
Add some pampering to your girl’s weekend by penciling spa-time magic into your itinerary. Here’s a list of popular Minneapolis spots to consider as you shop around for the right package:
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Sabai Body Temple (2753 Hennepin Avenue)
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Tula Spa (319 West 48th Street)
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Anda (201 South 11th Street)
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Spa Sweet (4747 Chicago Avenue)
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Awaken for Wellness (1821 Saint Clair Avenue, St. Paul)
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HALO Healing Therapies (514 North 3rd Street)
5) Take A Trolley Tour On A Girls’ Night, Morning, Or Afternoon
Minneapolis Trolley Tours is a company offering unforgettable tour experiences that let guests discover the beauty, history, and spookier side of Minneapolis. Here’s a look at what you can book:
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Candlelight Ghost Tour: Beginning and ending at the haunted mansion at 300 Clifton in Minneapolis, this spine-tingling after-dark journey brings passengers to haunted sites and paranormal hotbeds around the city.
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Gilded Age Mansion Tour: Perfect for people who love architecture, this experience brings guests to famous Minneapolis mansions belonging to some of the city’s wealthiest families from the past!
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Narrated Scene Tour: This incredible tour brings trolley riders through five districts of the city. Guests will learn many interesting tidbits about how Minneapolis became one of the nation’s most important metropolitans!
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Breakfast Trolley: Perfect for a slow weekend morning, the breakfast trolley pampers guests with a leisurely pace that’s perfect for sipping coffee while taking in pretty views in the early light. The finale of the experience is a stop at Nicollet Diner for the best breakfast in Minneapolis. Yes, breakfast is included with the cost of your ticket!
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True Crime Tour: What kind of dark secrets is Minneapolis hiding? Hear the shocking truth about sensational crimes, notorious mobsters, and other sordid affairs!
Tip: With these tours filling up fast, you’ll want to book your group tour ahead of time to ensure there’s a seat for everyone attending your girls’ weekend. Minneapolis Trolley Tours offers group discounts for groups of 10 or more.
6) Enjoy Good Food Around Nicollet Avenue On Your Girls’ Night
Nobody can accuse any street in Minneapolis of being devoid of amazing culinary options. However, a stretch of Nicollet Avenue positioned just south of downtown is definitely the city’s unofficial restaurant alley. In fact, this part of the city is known as the Eat Street corridor. While the eateries and bars in the neighborhood are eclectic, we’ll save you the trouble of having to shop around for the most popular restaurant.
All locals know that the most famous Eat Street restaurant is the Black Forest Inn. Locally owned and operated since 1965, this iconic German restaurant has a beer garden and patio seating. In addition to serving incredible beers and drinks, the Black Forest Inn also has a German-European menu featuring authentic bratwurst, schnitzel, braised pork shank, cabbage rolls, Bavarian pork sandwiches, apple strudel, and Black Forest cherry tart!
7) Visit The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
You can always have just as much during the day as you can at night when you’re coming to Minneapolis for a girls’ weekend. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the perfect example of why you might want to linger around town the morning after your last night to visit some fun attractions! In fact, this is one of the best spots to take pictures to always remember your girls’ weekend.
This 11-acre park is a free Minneapolis attraction that’s open to the public. Visitors can embark on self-guided tours that provide information about the artists behind the massive sculptures that pepper the greenery.
While the best views are available during the day, the park can fit into a girls’ night! With the park open until midnight, you could always plan to come to take cool photos of the larger-than-life sculptures at night in between dinner and drinks during your girls’ weekend.
Make Every Day And Night Count During Your Fun Minneapolis Trip
There are so many great things to plan for a girls’ night out Minneapolis visitors will never forget! There’s no question that you’ll want to spend a lot of time exploring the restaurants and landmarks that give the city its character. However, nothing creates memories like a cruise among girlfriends.
That’s why PaddleTap is here to help you plan a legendary excursion on Lake Minnetonka. We make booking a trip for a girlfriend getaway so easy. Contact us today to start planning a trip that will make sure the best girlfriends turn into lifelong ones!
