<p>Hi-
My son and I are planning to visit in the fall. We will fly in late, stay
overnight, see Mac, and he will stay overnight on the campus.
We were thinking of not renting a car, since we could
travel around the twin cities a little by public transportation, to get a
feel of what college students might see on a weekend.
Question- 1)where should we stay, if we want to be accessible by
public transportation. (or am I making this more difficult?)
2)I was planning to spend a whole day touring, interviewing, etc, then
spend the next day in St. Paul/Minn. and catch a 7pm flight. Is this too
much time?<br>
Thanks for your ideas.</p>
<p>I am the mother of a recent Mac grad, and have visited St. Paul 8 times over the last 4 years. I would suggest renting a car. Public transportation is available but not terribly convenient (in my daughter's opinion; she biked everywhere, even into downtown Minneapolis). Mac is a very short drive from the airport. I stayed at the Best Western Bandanna, which is about an 8 minute drive from campus. It's in a converted railroad terminal. They include a breakfast which is pretty good by breakfast bar standards, although Trotter's is a favorite breakfast spot for students (a moderate walk from campus). Also, Como Park is very close (easy walk from the motel), and you can take a good long walk/run around the lake if you are an exerciser. There are many things to do in the area. I always loved the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis, and perhaps you can get tickets to a performance at the Guthrie. Prairie Home Companion could be playing in St. Paul (I never made it it to a show). Mac is a very compact campus and it won't take you long to tour. To get a feel for the area, walk down Summit Ave. (beautiful homes) to the Mississippi, and walk some of the side streets (lots of houses which rent to students, not so beautiful but perfect "student housing"). Grand Ave. (toward downtown St. Paul) is an upscale shopping area, not usually frequented by Mac students but somewhat interesting for parents. The Groveland Tap is a favorite hangout (a pub which is family-friendly). There are several good coffee spots close to campus: Dunn Brothers, and Brewberry's is a bit further and would take you on a walk through the neighborhood. My daughter had a fantastic time at Mac and we were extremely happy with the value returned on our tuition dollar. I hope you have a great visit! Please feel free to contact me if you want more details.</p>
<p>You could stay at the Alumni House on campus if you call or email in advance. (There is a link on the Mac website.) The cab ride from the airport is $15. I kind of like the idea of seeing what it is like without a car, just like most students experience it. My daughter took the bus all over last year and though she said it is not a super transportation system, she easily got to both downtown areas and to the Walker Museum etc.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that, for 3-4 months of the year there is an immense system of bike-eclusive trails that connect the twin cities (you can bike to Wisconsin without leaving a bike trail)</p>
<p>For the winter months, a solid cellulose bubble forms around Macalester that insulates the campus from the cold, withstands polar bear onslaughts, with the downside of preventing students from leaving campus.</p>
<p>I very much recommend going to South Minneapolis when you visit.
Check out Lyndale Ave and Nicollet (aka "eat street"). Lyndale is heavier on organic hippy fare, while Nicollet is heavy on ethnic food with a focus on east-asian. The intersection of these streets with Lake Street, and north of there, is a good place to start for the some of the best food in Minneapolis at a reasonable price. Also, some of the best ice cream in the state is right near there at the intersection of Hennepin and Franklin ("sebastian joe's")</p>
<p>Also, check out for 500 more ideas:
<a href="http://bestof.citypages.com/%5B/url%5D">http://bestof.citypages.com/</a></p>