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St. Paul Facts
Population: 382,618
County: Hennepin
Land area: 54.9 square miles
Time Zone: Minneapolis is in the Central Time Zone and observes daylight saving time from late April-late October. When it is 12:00 noon in Minneapolis, it is 1:00 PM in New York City.
Weather
The Twin Cities enjoy fairly warm temperatures and low humidity in the summer. Summer thunderstorms are occasionally severe. July tends to be the sunniest month. Winter is long and hard with snow is a distinct possibility anytime between November and April. Winter-sports enthusiasts can expect nearly 40 inches of snow to fall during the season.
Major Holidays:
New Year's Day Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.
President's Day 3rd Mon. in Feb.
Memorial Day last Mon. in May
Independence Day July 4
Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept.
Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25
New Year's Eve Dec. 31
Voltage Requirements: 110 volts.
Telephone Codes: 612, area code for Minneapolis; 763 and 952, area codes for Minneapolis suburbs.
Transportation
Driving is probably the best way to see all the major sights in Minneapolis and St. Paul: Both cities are laid out in easy-to-navigate patterns. Traffic can be a problem, although the cities suffer from traffic slowdowns rather than traffic jams. The only trouble spot might be the juncture of I-35W and I-94, just south of downtown Minneapolis and I-494, where you might encounter delays any time of day.
Even in the dead of winter, walking through downtown in both cities is comfortable, thanks to a compact and ingenious system of 60 skyways: enclosed, climate-controlled elevated walkways. They connect more than 45 blocks (4.7 miles) in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Air
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is clean, efficient and easy-to-navigate. The airport recently underwent major renovations and now offers more shopping and dining options. Located just 10 mi/16 km southeast of downtown Minneapolis, bordering the cities of Bloomington, Richfield and Minneapolis. Under normal driving conditions, the airport is a 20- to 30-minute drive from both downtown areas and five minutes from the Mall of America.
Connecting Transportation
Super Shuttle Minnesota runs from the airport to the downtown areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul. There are departures every half-hour 6 am-11 pm. Door-to-door residential service is also available.
Public buses run from the airport to both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. Catch Bus 7 for Minneapolis, Bus 54 for St. Paul.
Taxi stands are located on the lower level. Major rental car companies have branches at the airport.
Bus
Greyhound Bus Terminal
St. Paul's Greyhound terminal. 166 West University Ave., St. Paul. Phone 651-222-0507. Toll-free 800-229-9424. http://www.greyhound.com.
Minneapolis Bus Terminal
This new terminal in downtown Minneapolis serves both Jefferson Lines, which provides service to Rochester, and Greyhound. 950 Hawthorne Ave., Minneapolis. Phone 612-371-3325.
Car
Two interstate highways, I-94 and I-35, serve the Twin Cities: I-35W runs north-south through Minneapolis, I-35E runs north-south through St. Paul. I-94 is the major east-west artery that connects the two downtowns. A beltway that circles Minneapolis and St. Paul is known as I-494 in the south and I-694 in the north. I-394 runs from Minneapolis to the western suburbs.
Garage parking is abundant in both downtown areas.
Public Transportation
Metropolitan Council Transit Commission
560 Sixth Ave. N., Minneapolis. Phone 612-349-7000.
The MCTC runs the local bus system in both cities. Especially useful are the express buses (Routes 94B, 94C and 94D) that connect the two downtown areas in a quick 20-minute trip. Buses operate 24 hours, but not all routes run all night. Be sure to consult a schedule.
Taxi
It's best to order a taxi by phone or to find one at a hotel. Taxis can be hailed, but drivers are not accustomed to it.
Airport Taxi
Phone 952-928-0000.
Yellow Cab
Phone 612-824-4444.
Train
Amtrak
The depot is in the St. Paul Midway area. 730 Transfer Road (about 15 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and 10 minutes from downtown St. Paul), St. Paul. Toll-free 800-872-7245.
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