Minneapolis/St. Paul folks-- need travel advice

[fudge stripe cookays]

Thinking about coming up to Minneapolis St. Paul this summer for some genealogy research at the History Center in St. Paul.

Can anyone recommend some decent lodging pretty near it? And keep in mind I'm very spoiled. Not quite Four Seasons spoiled cuz my pocketbook can't handle it, but Hyatts and Westins and whatnot. I like fu-fu linens and great room service food. Can't help it.

Of the ones that are close, are any within walking distance? This would be my first trip to Fitzgerald-land, so I'm excited. Just found out this past weekend I had way more ancestors and cousins here than I thought.

Would love to meet with nice progressive Minnesota DUers! Who thinks they might be around in May-July? I haven't decided when yet.

FSC

[Oreo]

1. The St Paul Hotel

I don't think it's walking distance but it's pretty swanky

http://www.stpaulhotel.com/

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. Thanks!

Yikes! Those rates are almost too swanky.

Let me mention here that this is part of a three-pronged trip to Madison, Chicago, AND Minneapolis. So I don't want to blow my entire budget in one city either.

It's hard being spoiled on a budget!

Hope I'll get some takers for a meetup. ;-)
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[northernsoul]

24. actually, it is walking distance f/ History Center

and its probably the best hotel in the Twin Cities by all accounts. It's where Clinton stayed back in the good ol' days.

[MsAnthropy]

2. http://www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/leisure

That might help.

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. It did! Thanks!

I gotta go see the Peanuts statues! The only statues you see down here are freaking mustangs and horses and cowboy crap.

FSC

[trotsky]

3. Kelly Inn - not very fu-fu but very close, IIRC.

http://www.bestwesternstpaul.com/

[no name no slogan]

4. The Kelly is also close to the state capitol, btw

Hey FSC, I work over in that area (I'm a state bureaucrat). Let us know when you're in town so we can show you some good old-fashioned Minnesota hospitality. BTW, do you prefer tuna or hamburger hotdish? ;)

ON EDIT: also, if you're going to the MN Historical Society, bring your wallet. Admission used to be free, but in the era of Gov. Tim "No New Taxes" Pawlenty they now charge an admission fee of $6-10/day, IIRC.

--posted from Minnesota, where the only thing going up is your property taxes because the gubnor won't raise taxes on the rich...

...and your aggrivation because the transportation system is going to hell...

... and your medical bills because you're losing your coverage due to state budget cuts...

...and your blood pressure because the school district is having yet another referendum to get operating costs...

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. Hey thanks NNNS!

Kelly may not be fu-fu enough for my taste. I'm thinking I may branch out and rent a car. Down here I'm used to driving to everything anyway.

Ah yes! The famed hot dish! Sort of like fish fries in Wisconsin. Such quaint Midwestern traditions! Burger, btw. I'm a meatatarian.

On edit:
$6-$10 a day? F^%&! More reasons to hate the freaking Repugs. No wonder you guys hate Pawlenty so much! On second thought, maybe I'll HAVE to stay at the Kelly! Good thing I'm cashing in some air miles for this trip!

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[KitchenWitch]

8. Renting a car is a good idea

Our public transit system is somewhat lacking if you want to venture beyond the downtowns. While you are in St. Paul, you must have pizza at the Savoy Inn (the place is not much to look at, but their pies are good!)

Don't get me started about Pawlenty. I almost wish his predecessor was still in office. (note, I said *almost*)

[fudge stripe cookays]

9. Now, don't go tempting me....

with pizza, dammit! I'm going to try to eat as healthy as I can and be a good girl while I'm up so I can show off my newly svelte self!

I've just lost 15 pounds, and am aiming for more by then.

Do they sell by the slice? ;-)

Gah. You know Pawlenty's bad when folks are wishing for Coleman back. That IS bad.

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[KitchenWitch]

10. Coleman was mayor of St. Paul

Jesse Ventura was Tim Pawlenty's predecessor.

[fudge stripe cookays]

14. Ack! That's right.

Didn't I SAY I'd never been to Minnesota before? I've just been absorbing here and there from DU. :D

FSC

[KitchenWitch]

16. Hey no problem

I only wish "The Ventura Years" were not so memorable!

I hope you enjoy your stay here, there are wonderful things to do for just about every taste!

[no name no slogan]

19. YES!!! THE SAVOY RULES!!!

I actually work a block from there, and can see it out the window near where I sit. What a GREAT place. Excellent pizza, a union shop, and also a longtime DFL hangout, to boot!

[dpbrown]

26. I stayed at the Kelly and wouldn't recommend it to anyone

I told myself I was going to say something if I ever got a chance.

The toilet seat didn't even stay up.

An aged, beat-down motel that I would avoid if I could.

The St. Paul has already been mentioned. The Holiday Inn RiverCentre is also close, and you might consider the Rose Arbor Bed and Dinner, just a couple blocks away from the History Center.

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-2243902-rose_arbor_inn_a_bed_dinner-i

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[goodhue]

11. two downtown St. Paul options

Not as upscale as The St. Paul Hotel or as affordable as Kelly Inn, check out

Radisson Riverfront Hotel St. Paul
http://www.radisson.com/stpaulmn

Embassy Suites Hotel Saint Paul
http://www.embassystpaul.com/?fLanguage=English

[katinmn]

12. St. Paul Hotel

It's maybe a mile from the History Center. They'll spoil you, it's historic, and the on-site St. Paul Grill is the best place to dine in St. Paul (IMO).

http://www.stpaulhotel.com/

edit: oops! I see several beat me to it. Aren't we helpful? LOL.

[MrsMatt]

23. You can hang out at the bar at the Grill

where Norm Coleman used to park his skinny flat ass and ogle the women when he was the mayor of St Paul. Jerk.

Any place on the west side of downtown is within walking distance to the History Center (in my experience). I used to walk to & from work even when 9 months pregnant and the History Center was about 2/3 of the way home from my place of employment (Landmark Center and Hamm Builiding - both of which are 1-2 blocks from the SP Hotel).

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. And yes, I'm sure many of us will be available to meet you

We were very hospitable to socialdemocrat 1981 when he came from Australia.

[dflprincess]

17. And maybe with your genealogical research

you'll find out you're related to one or more of us!

BTW, if you didn't know, you can search some death records on line through the Minnesota Historical Society website. It only gives you the name, date of death, county of death and record numbers but I found having the record numbers in advance saved some time when I got over to look up the actual death certificates.

[fudge stripe cookays]

18. Found it!

I've been using it for the last few days, actually. Minnesota and Illinois are both VERY hip for online searchable databases.

Since I've discovered all these new branches, I really want to find some marriage notices, obituaries and newspaper articles for these folks.

And FYI-- Lakewood Cemetery actually has a searchable database for the folks who are buried there, which also helped me a BUNCH.

If any of you guys have the last names Smith or Webster, you may be RIGHT! :D

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[fudge stripe cookays]

15. Thanks everyone!

I've still got time to plan.

And I just broke the news to the old man. He didn't freak out, so we'll see if he accompanies me or not. (That's reprehensor, for those of you that may not have seen him around)

fsc

[hermetic]

20. Let's do lunch

I work in this building: http://www.landmarkcenter.org The History Center has offices in here and their main building is about 4 blocks away so we'll be neighbors. It's always great to meet a fellow DU'er or two.

[fudge stripe cookays]

21. Cool!

Let me see when I may be planning this little jaunt. I've got some maps and such on order from the CVB. I need to get acclimated. What's the weather like in May? Has it warmed up any by then?

I was thinking July originally, but I just don't think I can wait that long. I wanna go NOW, but don't want to deal with the heavy heavy snow (we Texas drivers are bad news in bad weather- people laugh at us).

And I want to go to the Dane County Farmers Market while I'm in Madison, so I have to wait until at LEAST April.

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[hermetic]

22. May is usually quite nice

A bit rainy sometimes but no snow. All the flora should be budding and quite pretty.

[Viking12]

25. Not all Historical Archives are in the Downtown HS Building

The MN Historical Society has an archival facility several miles north
of downtown along east of Interstate 35E (IIRC, between Arlington & Larpenter). There really isn't any hotels on in that area. You may want to try and verify the location of the records before you make reservations for accomodation.

The Kelly Inn (?) at of Rice St and 94 might be a central location but you will need a car.