The Twin Cities are comprised of Saint Paul, the state capital, and Minneapolis, Minnesota’s largest city. This is the 16th largest metropolitan area in the United States.

The Twin Cities have a rich culture and plenty of activities. They have professional and college sports teams, top companies, and beautiful parks and recreation areas.

The Twin Cities is home to some the largest companies in the United States, including Target, General Mills, Cargill, Medtronic, and 3M.

The Twin Cities have a strong arts community. The Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis offers exceptional performances while the Minneapolis Institute of Art inspires with extraordinary exhibitions and one of the largest art collections in the country. There are two professional orchestras in the Twin Cities, the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

The Twin Cities metro area, with a population of more than three million, has many educational, cultural, and economic resources. Diversity in the Twin Cities is growing as immigrants from Southeast Asia, East Africa and Central America bring their traditions and cultures.

Day and weekend trips from the Twin Cities are easy. Northern Minnesota, full of lakes and forests, is two hours away, Lake Superior, the biggest of the Great Lakes, is four hours away, and Chicago is six hours away.

The Twin Cities have four seasons. Summers are sunny and warm and the many lakes have opportunities for all types of water sports. Fall is cool and festive. Winter is cold and snowy, yet full of activity and winter sports. In the spring, Minnesotans enjoy bike rides, outdoor markets and baseball games.