It’s summer in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.—home to Target’s corporate headquarters and dozens of stores, where thousands of team members work across 22 business areas, from product design to technology, helping to transform our guest experience from every angle. It’s also the home of Twins baseball under blue skies at Target Field, 10,000 lakes (actually a lot more!), rooftop bars and restaurants, and a vibrant arts scene.
But wait, doesn’t Minnesota have blizzards year-round? No way—we have four distinct seasons, and some of the most beautiful summers in the country. Ready to bust open some more Minnesota myths? Meet four team members who recently moved to the Twin Cities, and hear about some of their favorite places to go and things to do here in the summer.
Corey Twitty
Lead Recruiter, Human Resources
Why Target? I came from the East Coast, so Target and Minneapolis weren’t originally on my radar. But I was pulled in by the chance to do impactful work alongside people who really love the brand and the jobs they do. Target is innovative, and not afraid to take risks, even when we fail. That atmosphere is tangible, something you can feel, and it’s contagious.
Minnesota myth, busted: Not only is it not cold all year, it actually gets hot! We definitely get into 90-degrees-and-higher days.
Favorite summer activity: Boating on one of the many lakes. There’s nothing better than being on the water on a hot day with a cold beverage. A big shout-out to all of my friends who’ve let me on their boats!
Best eats: Got to be The Tin Fish. It’s right on Lake Calhoun and they have delicious fish tacos. The sights are beautiful and it’s fun to watch all of the activity on the lake, and sometimes join in.
Go-to for family fun: Valley Fair—a big amusement park that’s just a short drive southwest of the Twin Cities. There’s a water park and awesome roller coasters for the adrenaline junkie.
Kristin Schroeder,
Creative Digital Lead, Media Production, Marketing
Why Target? I felt that the Target team's philosophy and values line up nicely with my own, and was especially excited to see that Target appreciates design and creative thinking.
Minnesota myth, busted: That life here would be really different and it would take a long time to get accustomed to the culture. I just moved here from Milwaukee about two months ago, so I’m still exploring the full range of events and activities around the cities.
Favorite summer activity: I love that as soon as the weather warms up, the city comes alive with outdoor activities, concerts, festivals and more. I recently went to Art-a-Whirl, the annual art festival in Northeast Minneapolis where you can tour artists’ private studios and galleries.
Best eats: Psycho Suzi’s is a fun, casual place to go for happy hour, or dinner and cocktails. The menu is Polynesian-themed and there are great patios with lots of seating overlooking the Mississippi River.
Brian Seecharan,
Senior Recruiter, Human Resources
Why Target? Several years ago, when I started as an intern, I was excited by the level of trust Target has in college-level hires—we got to make our mark on some pretty major projects! I got to make a real impact on the business, and that’s what made me accept a full time offer.
Minnesota myth, busted: That there’d be nothing to do. I came from Chicago, and was happy to find all the things I loved there—like great restaurants, lakefronts, live music—here in the Twin Cities too. Bonus, a lot of it is less expensive to do, and since the cities are smaller, it’s far easier to get around here too.
Favorite summer activities: Outdoor concerts, golfing one of the cities’ many courses, water sports and boating out on the lakes, and eating at bars and restaurants with great patios.
Best eats: Maynard’s on Lake Minnetonka is one of my favorites. The food is delicious, and the restaurant has a large patio that also serves as a dock. Boats come and go and you have a great view of the water.
Go-to for family fun: Minnehaha Falls. You can rent 4-seater bikes, hike near the falls, play yard games and picnic or barbecue. Try Sea Salt Eatery, a restaurant in the middle of the park with great seafood, live music and a huge deck near the main waterfall. There’s also a massive off-leash dog park right on the Mississippi river.
Adam Wadzinski
Executive Team Leader, Food at our Lino Lakes, Minn. store
Why Target? I wanted to start down a path that would allow for a great career with growth opportunities. Many of my friends and family in the Twin Cities recommended Target as a great place to work. And after reading that BusinessWeek had named Target on a list of great places to launch a career, it felt like a no-brainer and I put in my application.
Minnesota myth, busted: Someone told me that if you cheer for the Green Bay Packers too hard in the state of Minnesota, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox will come looking for you and convert you to a Vikings fan. I’ve steered clear of the woods, just in case.
Favorite summer activity: Getting out on the lakes. Tubing, skiing, picnicking on the water, and being in the sun make for a perfect afternoon. Even if you don’t have a boat handy, there are plenty of other ways to have fun and be outside, like parks and lakes with trails for sightseeing.
Best eats: I like the Uptown area, which has a variety of restaurants, many with rooftop seating. My favorites are Chino Latino and Crave. Both serve food family-style—great for big groups—and plenty of options to eat with chopsticks. (I think it’s fun to be out of my element sometimes.)
Go-to for family fun: There are lots of options for groups. Check out the horse races at Canterbury Park, attend a show at a comedy club, or pack a picnic and go see an outdoor movie at Father Hennepin Park.
Want to see more of what the Twin Cities have to offer? Check out Explore Minnesota for the latest upcoming events and activities. Interested in learning more about what life is like at Target? Explore our Careers pages and meet more of our team members on The Pulse blog.
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