This article is sponsored by Explore Edina.
If you’re long overdue for a night or weekend away with your girlfriends, start planning now for a quick getaway to Edina, Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis. Edina is one of the area’s best shopping destinations, filled with cool boutiques, great restaurants, pampering spas, and fun fashion and art events throughout the year.
Shop Happy
First things first: Edina is one of the best, if not the best shopping destination in the Minneapolis area—and most of the stores in Edina are within a three-mile radius. The most talked-about shopping area in Edina is the cozy 50th & France district, which is filled with specialty shops and restaurants in a cute, walkable downtown space. Discover the latest fashions at Bumbershute or Bluebird Boutique and for unique apparel and lifestyle items, check out Equation. Find upscale brands at reasonable prices at Fashion Avenue Consignment, or look for fine writing papers at Paper Source. Don’t miss Shop in the City for great souvenirs and gift ideas.
“There are a lot of neat dining areas, too,” says Gail McKellip, general manager for Edina’s Spalon Montage. She would know; her salon and spa is located right in the middle of it all in the shopping district. Salut Bar Americain and Edina Grill are popular choices and on the Minneapolis side, there’s the lovely Coalition or Agra Culture Kitchen, with chef-crafted, real food that is beautifully put together. Craving a burger? Check out Red Cow!
Full of well-known name brand stores, such as Ann Taylor, Lucky Brand Jeans or Macy’s, Southdale Center has been a popular destination since it opened in October 1956. Featured in the documentary “10 Buildings That Changed America,” the nation’s first completely enclosed shopping mall currently features more than 120 stores and a diverse selection of restaurants.
And with dozens of stores, the high-end Galleria could easily entertain girlfriends for hours. Split up and visit well-known retailers, including Kate Spade, Sundance and Tory Burch, or hang out together at the center’s unique coffee shops and delicious dining options. Need some pampering? Lili Salon Spa has all the services you could ever want or brand new to the Galleria is The Face Foundry where you can get an effective and efficient facial in 15-40 minutes. Walk-ins are welcome!
Artful Pursuits
Art enthusiasts may want to build a getaway around one of Edina’s great annual events. The Edina Art Fair is held each year the first weekend in June in the 50th & France neighborhood. The free event is ranked as the No. 1 fine art fair in Minnesota and 32nd nationally. With 300 artists putting some of their best works on display, visitors will find a variety of ceramics, sterling jewelry and paintings to enjoy. Celebrating its 53rd anniversary in 2019, this annual three-day festival draws approximately 200,000 people and features nightly live entertainment and craft beer gardens.
The arts are abundant here in Edina, and you can experience them year-round at the Edina Art Center which hosts curated solo and group exhibitions of local and international artists, showcasing everything from pottery, to drawings, to sculpture. You and your girlfriends can pick up some unique, handmade art or jewelry in the center’s gift shop after a visit to the gallery.
Finally, if you’re visiting as the leaves turn, browse work from hundreds of artists at the Edina Fall into the Arts Festival on the second weekend of September (Sept. 7th and 8th in 2019). Held in the gorgeous Centennial Lakes Park this benefit for the Edina Crime Prevention Fund features diverse media, from photography and ceramics to wood art, painting and jewelry, along with food vendors and sponsors.
Sleep Well
Edina offers a few great options for places to stay on a girlfriend getaway. The all-suite Residence Inn by Marriott Minneapolis Edina features separate living room areas along with free Internet service and a free, hot breakfast. A free shuttle, to and from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, is especially convenient. The brand new Homewood Suites by Hilton Edina Minneapolis is another great option.
Westin Edina Galleria is a sophisticated hotel in a beautiful area with lots of shopping. Rooms include ultra-comfortable beds and cozy robes, with separate oversized soaking tubs and showers. There’s a cafe bar and lounge on-site, offering breakfast and lunch, as well as evening cocktails.
Find packages to all three properties on ExploreEdina.com under the Packages tab!
