Visit Minneapolis and St Paul, US

On the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, just north of its confluence with the Minnesota River, lie the glittering twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul.

Historically important as a center for flour milling and the timber trade, modern Minneapolis is a progressive, arty town, dominated by skyscrapers and green spaces in the midst of numerous lakes and wetlands. The city has a thriving theater scene, boasting plenty of cultural highlights including the Walker Art Center, the Weisman Art Museum (housed in a distinctive Frank Gehry building), Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, and is a renowned center for ice hockey.

For those keen to be more active, the city's Lake Calhoun is a great place to hire a bike or even go rollerblading, while the surrounding ‘Chain of Lakes’ parks, all connected by paved walkways, provide an ideal spot for canoeing, fishing and windsurfing.

It's also somewhat of a retail magnet — with the Mall of America, the second largest shopping center in the US, just minutes away.