Skyway - Minneapolis, MN

Eager to compete with a new enclosed shopping mall that had just been built in Edina, developers built the first skyway in 1962. Ten years later, there were eight skyways, and now, the Skyway System provides access to over 11 miles worth of the downtown area including the IDS Center, which is the tallest skyscraper in Minnesota; the Target Center, a multipurpose arena; and the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Theater lovers enjoy the area's easy access to the historic downtown theater scene, and history buffs enjoy the area's museums. The ruins of what was once the world's largest flour mill house, the Mill City Museum, allows visitors to learn about the history of the flour industry as it relates to the river and Minneapolis. Additionally, the Wells Fargo History Museum, housed in the Skyway System, features a stagecoach, a telegraph and other treasures from the mid-to-late 1800s.

Whether you like high-end cocktail bars with views of the city, intimate restaurants with gourmet tasting menus, or pulsating clubs, you can find your niche in the nightlife scene of downtown Minneapolis.

Fine dining and great nightlife surround the skyways of downtown Minneapolis. If you want to try one of the best restaurants in Minneapolis, check out The Butcher and the Boar. Start with a small plate of wild boar smoked sausages or wood grilled oysters, and follow that with a main meal of foie gras, BBQ hog tail or lamb shank straight from the farm.

Owned by Isaac Becker, who has repeatedly been named the best chef in Minneapolis, the 112 Eatery treats its patrons to gourmet fare ranging from duck terrine to lamb scottadito and from frog legs to nori-encrusted sirloin. A perfect spot for late-night dessert, the 112 Eatery has a dessert menu featuring tres leche cake, butterscotch budino and chocolat chaud.

If you enjoy southern flavors, the frosty north offers that at Brasa Rotisserie. Order the catfish special with sides of collard greens, Andouille yams and creamed spinach, or try the fried plantains with a side of citrus and garlic yucca.

When you tire of world-class food, turn your attention to the fabulous dancing and live music happening in the Skyway area. Check out a band at First Avenue, listen to a DJ at Prohibition, watch a drag show at the iconic Gay 90s or check out the renovated Skyway Theater, one of the many historic theaters in downtown Minneapolis. Once a six-theater multiplex, this venue hosts a main stage for live theater and concerts and a swanky nightclub full of plush sofas and views of the theater district as well as several rooms for private events.

While a plentiful number of parking garages and lots exist in downtown Minneapolis around the Skyway System, most of the parking areas carry fees and can be expensive without the right permit. However, residents can affordably and easily navigate the area by bus, foot or bicycle.

Buses run frequently through the downtown area, connecting it to Uptown, North East Minneapolis and a range of neighborhoods and suburbs. The light rail connects downtown to the rest of the metro area as well. Cabs can be hailed in the streets, and bicycle lanes offer safe transit opportunities for bicycle enthusiasts. Additionally, Uber is easily accessible at the push of a button.

In the midst of urban density, a few parks give residents much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. Elliot Park, the oldest park in the downtown Minneapolis area, features sweeping views of the skyline, a bicycle rental station, a large open space for playing and a skateboarding park.

Nearby Loring Park, located between downtown and uptown, cannot be accessed on the Skyway System, but with a 10-minute walk outside, the park can be reached by a pedestrian connection that takes walkers over the freeway. Restaurants surround this green park, and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home of the iconic cherry-in-a-spoon sculpture, sits across the street from this park along with the Walker Art Center and the Guthrie Theater.

During the summer, several festivals take place within walking distance of the Skyway System, including the Basilica Block Party, the Minneapolis Beer Fest, Pride Fest and the Midwest Tomato Fest. During the winter, Holidazzle, an illuminated parade, runs through the streets of downtown several nights during November and December. Spectators avoid the cold, sip hot chocolate and watch the event from the skyways.

Living in downtown Minneapolis, along the convenient Skyway System, costs more, on average, than living in other parts of Minneapolis. While the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Minneapolis costs just over $1,000 per month, you may need to pay an extra $400 to be able to settle in downtown. However, hundreds of apartments with resort-like amenities are added to the selection almost every year, making it easy for residents to find what they want.

Gas costs about four percent less than the national average, and while parking can be expensive, public transit carries a low price. Bus rides through the downtown area cost only 50 cents, but be ready to pay from $1.75 to $3 per ride if you're traveling to other parts of the metro area. When you need a break, expect a pint of beer to run between $6 and $8, but even in downtown, happy hour brings those prices further down.

Shopping opportunities along the Skyway System are plentiful, and shoppers can find department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, small high-end boutiques such as Statement Boutique and C'est Chic Boutique, gift shops, convenience stores and art galleries.

In response to the demand created by the growing number of people who call this area home, two grocery stores exist to meet the needs of residents looking to stock up on perishables for the week. Lunds & Byerlys, a locally-owned gourmet grocery store, provides everything from an olive bar to pre-rolled sushi. Residents also shop at nearby Whole Foods, an organic chain.

The warmth of summer pushes downtown residents out of the Skyway System and onto the sidewalks, where they can browse for produce once a week at the Nicollet Mall Market, a smaller downtown version of the large Minneapolis Farmer's Market that takes place every weekend just a few blocks from downtown. Residents can also reach the Mill City Farmer's Market from this area.