Minneapolis in Jan. (restaurant, places to eat, deal)

[gweilo845]

The light rail doesn't run to Mendota Heights. It basically runs from downtown Minneapolis going south, eventually ending at the Mall of America in Bloomington.

Depending where you are staying in Mendota Heights, using the bus to get to the Dome on a Sunday might not be possible, and even if it is, it could easily take several transfers and 1-2 hours each way. If you're not going to have access to a car, and are primarily coming to see a Vikings game, I'd suggest staying at a hotel in downtown Minneapolis.

More info about the light rail/bus can be found here. If you have the address where you are staying, you can use the "trip planner" (on the right side of the page) to see if it's possible to get to the Dome, and if so, what routes you would need to get on and how long it would take.

Metro Transit

[PalmBch]

Winters are very cold & snowy in Minnesota. Bring heavy winter jacket, gloves and hat.

[veranga]

Is there any hotel in particular you recommend ? also do the downtown hotels provide shuttle service to the airport? And also what would be the best way to get to the metrodome from there ?

[veranga]

Originally Posted by PalmBch

Winters are very cold & snowy in Minnesota. Bring heavy winter jacket, gloves and hat.

I was looking at this jacket... would it be warm enough ? The North Face Toben Insulated Jacket - Men's from Backcountryoutlet.com I will be in layers.
I will also have a rabbit fur hat, and insulated mittens. just wanted an opinion thanks

[MplsTodd]

There are several hotels which are close to the metrodome and the LRT. The LRT provides a direct connection from the airport to downtown, so you can pay $1.75 - $2.50 rather than the $20+ cab fare.

Some hotels include:

Normandy Hotel (or may be known as Downtown Inn): on 5th Avenue between 7th & 8th Streets
Hotel Minneapolis: corner of 4th Street and 2nd Avenue S.
Comfort Suites at Centre Village: 5th Avenue at 7th Street
aloft Hotel: Washington Avenue at 9th Avenue S.
Rennaisance/Residence Inn at the Milwaukee Road Depot: Washington Avenue at 3rd Avenue South

These are all within 4-6 blocks of the Metrodome and within 2-3 blocks of the LRT (Hotel Mpls and Comfort Suites are less than 2 blocks from the Govt Ctr Station)

There are lots of other hotels too, many are more expensive (eg W, Westin, Marquette, Mpls Grand)

[PalmBch]

Originally Posted by veranga

I was looking at this jacket... would it be warm enough ? The North Face Toben Insulated Jacket - Men's from Backcountryoutlet.com I will be in layers.
I will also have a rabbit fur hat, and insulated mittens. just wanted an opinion thanks

Yes, that's fine. But also bring hat and gloves and extra socks.

[demtion35]

Wonder why no one has mentioned Northern MN. staples in warm clothing, comfort...
Long Johns both uppers and lowers.
Winter in Jan. can be warm in the upper thirtys, to thirty below F. There could be an negative -40F windchill to almost tee shirt weather. It could even be raining and thunder and lighting.
Id suggest staying in downtown area and more than likely you will be in walking distance of the dome anyway.
Wear jeans long johns heavier wool socks and a good pair of hiking boots. For the upper body scarf upper long johns tee shirt and several thick flannel shirts and stocking cap.
Hands choppers or gloves
This way if its warm outside when you are here it is much easier to dress down than having to wear an big bulky coat when it might not be needed.
Thanks

[Haver]

Ears, nose, hands. Those are the most vulnerable to frostbite. January can vary - if you're lucky you're in the "January Thaw" with temps in the 30's or even 40's. We usually get 2 or 3 shots of arctic air every winter, most commonly in January and lasting for 3 to 10 days, with highs below zero. Also, make sure your feet never get wet or you'll be totally miserable. You probably won't need boots unless you like tramping around in snow. Just be real careful around ice, that could land you a serious injury. If there's much of it about, you'll be shuffling a lot.

If you don't plan to be outside much, an undershirt, shirt, and sweater (and a hearty meal if you like) can form a good enough base where just about any winter jacket will do. What you have linked to looks nice, and you might even be able to get by with that faux leather parka that's $50 cheaper in the related items section for a one-shot jacket (a bit apprehensive because its not listed as "insulated" like the other jacket is). Buying less jacket then you need just makes you miserable, it won't harm you so don't fret if you're buying too much or too little warmth. Even in subzero weather, if its a mile or less on a plowed surface you won't do too badly.

Bulk does not necessarily mean warmth. Make sure you have good wind protection - loose fringy knit mittens would be useless if the wind cuts through them. Fortunately there's a Target downtown and a Marshall's at the Megamal..er, Mall of America, if you want to "upgrade in place" affordably.

I'd stay downtown so you'll be closer to any kind of entertainment you'd like to get involved with besides the game. Bloomington may have some cheaper hotels that still give you good access to the game but you'd spend more time on the commute.

[veranga]

Ok I see what you mean about ears nose and hands. But how do I protect my nose ?

[veranga]

Also what are some good restaurants downtown that have good hearty food ?