Minneapolis, MN

First-time visitors to Minneapolis may be surprised at how cosmopolitan this family-friendly Midwest city actually is. But with an expansive city parks system, convenient transportation, innovative chef-owned restaurants, and First Avenue, one of the country’s most iconic music venues, it frequently ranks among the top U.S. cities. The City of Lakes is also home to a vibrant arts scene, centered around an ever-expanding collection of murals (including homages to hometown heroes Prince and Bob Dylan) and street art, the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Walker Arts Center; an international airport, U.S. Bank Stadium and Target Field; and the HQs of corporations such as General Mills, Target, Cargill and UnitedHealthGroup.