St Paul. Minnesota

Smaller and quieter than Minneapolis, the city has kept its historic character. Visitors explore F Scott Fitzgerald's old stomping grounds, hike the trails along the Mississippi River, and slurp some Lao soup.

Founded as a trading and transportation center, the city gained prominence as the capital of the Minnesota Territory in 1849. Though Minneapolis is better-known, Saint Paul houses the state government and other important institutions. It's known for having the Xcel Energy Center, being the home of the Minnesota Wild, and for the Science Museum of Minnesota.