Summer is when downtown Minneapolis really opens up. The skyways quiet down, the patios fill, and the riverfront, the ballpark, and the concert plazas are all a short walk from one another. If you’re staying with us at Oaklands on 9th — our furnished studios at 215 South 9th Street — you’re right in the middle of it, on foot. Here’s how we’d spend a warm-weather week downtown.
Catch a Twins game at Target Field
There’s no better summer ritual in Minneapolis than an afternoon or evening at Target Field, and it’s an easy walk — or a quick light-rail ride — from the Oaklands. The Minnesota Twins have a busy July at home, with series against Cleveland (July 7–9) and the Los Angeles Angels (July 10–12), then a late-month homestand against Oakland (July 24–26). Weekday day games and weekend evenings are the sweet spot for a relaxed outing. Check the official Twins schedule for first-pitch times and tickets, then stroll over with the rest of the city.
Free music, plazas, and the Fourth of July
You don’t have to spend a dime to hear great music downtown in summer. Orchestra Hall and its outdoor Peavey Plaza host free performances and open-air concerts through the season — a lovely, low-key evening just a few blocks from your door (the lineup lives on the Minnesota Orchestra site). Over the Fourth of July weekend, Taste of Minnesota brings food trucks and live music to the Nicollet Mall area, while Red, White & Boom lights up the riverfront with one of the state’s biggest fireworks shows. We rounded up the holiday details in our guide to Fourth of July in downtown Minneapolis. For everything else on the calendar, Meet Minneapolis keeps a running list of summer events.
Walk the riverfront and the Mill District
Some of the best summer hours downtown cost nothing at all. Head north toward the Stone Arch Bridge and the Mississippi riverfront, where the historic flour mills, Mill Ruins Park, and Water Works make an easy loop with skyline views the whole way. It’s one of our favorite strolls — we mapped out a longer walk to the Minneapolis riverfront if you’d like a route. Prefer to let someone else do the narrating on a hot afternoon? Minneapolis Trolley Tours is a fun, hop-on way to see the highlights.
Getting around (you won’t need a car)
From the Oaklands, most of summer is walkable, and the rest is a short hop on the METRO light rail or a downtown bus — Target Field, the riverfront, and Nicollet Mall are all close. Metro Transit makes it easy to reach Target Field Station and beyond without parking a car. If you’re weighing whether to bring one at all, our post on getting around and parking breaks it down. And when you’re hungry after a game, our downtown dining guide points you to the nearby spots we send guests to.
Your home base for the season
Every Oaklands studio is fully furnished with a real kitchen, and WiFi, all utilities, heat, and free laundry are included — no contracts, whether you stay a night, a week, or a month. It’s a calm, historic place to land between all the summer fun. Traveling with a bigger group or marking a special occasion? Our sister property, 300 Clifton, a beautifully restored Minneapolis mansion, is a lovely option too.
Ready to settle in for the season? Book your dates here or call us at (612) 314-5124, and we’ll help you make the most of summer in downtown Minneapolis.
Keep reading: In town for more than a visit? See why working remotely from a furnished downtown studio beats a hotel for a month-long stay.