Summit Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota

Following a suggestion in a visitors guide to the twin cities area, Dan and I took a walking tour of the magnificent, longest remaining stretch of Victorian homes in the country along Summit Avenue in St. Paul. Named one of ten "Great Streets" nationally by the American Planning Association in 2008, Summit Avenue is known for having a number of historic houses, churches, synagogues, and schools. The street starts just west of downtown St. Paul and continues 4 ½ miles west to the Mississippi River where St. Paul meets Minneapolis. Although guided tours are provided for those wishing to learn more about the history and architecture of the area, this is actually a residential neighborhood, with a mix of single family dwellings and some houses that have been divided into apartments. The beautiful homes are lined with large, old trees, cobblestone side streets, and historic stone curbs, making this a favorite walking or jogging route for both visitors and the locals. Here are some pictures of some of the houses we saw the day we were there.

The Cathedral of St. Paul (St. Paul, Minnesota)

As first time visitors to St. Paul and with limited time to see all the highlights, a trip to The Cathedral of St. Paul (an active and fully functioning catholic church) was high on our list of "must see's" . After visiting the capitol, we took a short drive down the street and stepped into a world of architectural grandeur rife with stained glass windows, depictions of angelic choirs, a bronze baldachin of Saint Paul, a rose window, and so much more, that to try to take everything in during one visit was nigh impossible. Along with statues of the four evangelists in the four corners of its main pier, the cathedral also has six chapels dedicated to the patron saints of the European ethnic groups that settled the area around the city. There are also chapels dedicated to the Sacred Heart, St. Mary, and St. Joseph. The city name of St. Paul is actually derived from the title of this great building, and it isn't hard to see why. One of the most distinctive cathedrals in the United States, it sits on Cathedral Hill overlooking downtown St. Paul and features a distinctive copper-clad dome. It is the third largest completed church in the United States, and the fourth tallest. On March 25, 2009 it was designated as the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Vatican. Our earnest attempt to capture this treasure in photographs doesn't do it justice, but here are the highlights just the same.

St. Paul, Minnesota

St. Paul, Minnesota is the 41st State Capital we've been lucky enough to visit. The capitol building itself was undergoing some sort of construction work the day we toured (on the outside only), but not enough to detract from enjoying the classically styled building that boasts 23 different types of stone and marble from around the world including Minnesotan granite and limestone. Set near the crest of a hill, one is treated to sweeping views of downtown St. Paul, including the breathtaking sight of The Cathedral of St. Paul. At the base of the dome is a quadriga statuary (a chariot drawn by four horses abreast) of copper and steel covered in gold leaf called Progress of the State. The four horses represent the classical elements of earth, air, fire, and water. There are two women in the arrangement representing industry and agriculture, while the male charioteer represents prosperity; collectively they represent civilization. The inside is very ornate with many styles of staircases, majestic columns, and panoramic paintings spreading across high arched ceilings. The legislature was in session during our visit, so we weren't able to visit some of the areas we normally do; however, here are some pictures from what we were able to get to during our tour.

Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota

We must have picked the coldest day of our stay in Minneapolis to attend the baseball game at Target Field between the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox. Baseball weather is supposed to be warm and pleasant, and conducive to shorts and t-shirts, not the 4 layers, ski socks, boots, gloves, hat and scarf I donned to keep warm on this more frigid night at the Ball Park. Did I mention the hand warmers? Brrrr! Still, we had a good time, and the game was exciting up until the very end with the Twins finally bringing it home at the bottom of the 9th inning with a final score of Twins 8, Sox 6. The Ball Park is set right in the middle of downtown Minneapolis, and the skyline made for some interesting pictures, as well as the full moon coming up between the skyscrapers that night. This is the 17th Major League Baseball Park we've visited, and we hope to pick up at least a couple more before the season is over.