Unfortunately, this hotel has closed and there is no further information about the property.
Along with my dear husband, I bounce on more than my share of hotel beds in order to find the very best for couples like us who are in love and value privacy, luxury, and service. Frankly, I wasn't expecting to be bowled over when I was booked into the Hyatt Whitney in Minneapolis.
What I found when I opened the door to room 801 on the top floor of this hotel on the historic Minneapolis riverfront impressed even this jaded traveler. The king-size four-poster bed was topped with a luxurious woven tapestry and velvet pillow rolls. Underneath, soft linens provided a welcome resting spot.
Yet that paled in comparison to the pleasure of discovering the oversize Jacuzzi at the far end of this capacious room. More than big enough to fit at least four people, this watery haven was also extra deep for enhanced comfort and pleasure.
Awaiting our arrival on the spa surround were a bottle of champagne with two glasses, a plate of strawberries dipped in chocolate, and an ample collection of fluffy towels to augment the complimentary robes hanging in the closet.
As if that wasn't enough to delight, the room also boasts a flower-bedecked terrace overlooking the Mississippi River and the uncrowded parkland where couples wander hand in hand, go inline skating, or hop a shore-hugging trolley.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Mouth-watering strawberries excepted, the only disappointment at the Hyatt Whitney was the hotel food. Its Whitney Grille serves a weekend brunch, where I had the misfortune to confront congealed scrambled eggs and mucilaginous meat sharing the same sorry plate.
Since the area around the Whitney is still developing, unfortunately there aren't other dining choices to walk to nearby. If you have access to a car, instead make your way to picturesque Nicollet Island, where the romantic Sunday brunch at the Nicollet Island Inn comes highly recommended. For dinner you may want to try Goodfellow's restaurant, which specializes in regional Midwestern items such as wall-eye and wild rice in an elegant room.
Afterwards, the starry-eyed can get their fill at the Minneapolis Planetarium. Popular with couples, the "Romancing the Stars" show provides the romantic history behind the creation of the constellations and is set to music.
Culture-lovers ought to check out the offerings at the Guthrie Theater, a rich artistic resource that mounts both traditional plays and new works from diverse cultures and traditions.
AN ALL-SEASON CITY
What time of year should you visit Minneapolis? If you appreciate cold weather, I recommend visiting even during the city's legendary cold and snowy winters. When the temperature plummets you can still explore downtown Minneapolis via more than 72 glass-enclosed skyways that connect some seven miles in climate-controlled comfort.
Intrepid souls who come in winter are advised to make their way to St. Paul's annual Winter Carnival, the oldest and largest such festival in the nation, with over 75 events and a palace made of ice. One winter when I visited the temperature was -50 degrees, creating an otherworldly chill not ever forgotten.
Summer lovers will want to visit during the annual Minnesota State Fair. Twelve days long, it's an extravaganza of parades, agricultural attractions, superstar performances, and dozens of foods you can eat on a stick. To name just a few:
- Alligator
- Bacon-wrapped turkey tenderloin
- Chocolate-covered bananas
- Cheese
- Fudge puppies
- Corn dogs
- Ice cream
- Macaroni & cheese
- Pickles
- Pork chops
- Scotch eggs
- Teriyaki ostrich
One curious attraction when I visited in the summer of 2002 was seeing the "butter heads," local beauty-pageant winners whose likenesses are carved from 80 pound blocks of butter. I also loved visiting the Miracle of Birth Center, where expecting lambs, calves, and litters of pigs are cared for by young veterinarians.
Those with other interests may find the fair's High Diving Team, Nascar races, Agriolympics, Budweiser Clydesdale appearances, talent contest, dog trials, and wealth of other attractions more than enough to renew their passion for Americana.
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