There is a definite buzz about Minneapolis-Saint Paul - and they've got it right. The host cities are ready for their close-up in 2008.

• Travel + Leisure magazine recently named Minneapolis, "one of five up-and-coming destinations to visit."
• Kiplinger's dubbed the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, "a cosmopolitan gem."
• Minneapolis is one of Trip Advisor's "cities on the rise" in 2007 - the only U.S. city on the list.
• "Minneapolis and Saint Paul have finally snagged a share of the spotlight," celebrates the Lonely Planet guide.

Arts & Entertainment

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul area offers a truly astounding array of cultural treasures and entertainment options. There are world-renowned museums, many of which were the recipients of recent cutting edge architectural expansions; a theater district which trails only Broadway in terms of volume and accolades; the fourth most active jazz scene in the country; and an energy that can't be duplicated. Things to put on your calendar:

• Enjoy a show at one of the host cities' legendary theaters. Minneapolis-Saint Paul has more theater seats per capita than any other U.S. city outside New York. There are more than 30 local theater venues and nearly 100 theater groups. Minneapolis is one of two U.S. cities to have three Tony-Award winning theaters.
• Take in a performance by the critically acclaimed orchestra or opera company. The Minnesota Orchestra is one of the top symphonies in the country, and the Minnesota Opera is staging five operas this year at Saint Paul's Ordway Center with an annual budget of nearly $7 million.
• Visit at least a few of the area's 57 museums - only Chicago and Washington, D.C. have more.
• Over the past two years, the following five new endeavors have put the Minneapolis-Saint Paul arts scene on the map in a whole new way:
• Walker Art Center - Completed in 2005, a 130,000-square foot, $70-million expansion by renowned Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron doubled the size of the contemporary arts center.
• Children's Theatre Company - Famed architect Michael Graves expanded facilities for this Tony Award-winning theater in 2005.
• The Minneapolis Institute of Arts - A second local project for Michael Graves, the Institute added a new wing in 2006 to showcase the permanent collection.
• Guthrie Theater - Legendary French architect Jean Nouvel designed the new home for this Tony Award-winning theater, which was completed in 2006. The project encompasses three performance venues and is Nouvel's first in the U.S.
• Minneapolis Central Library - A new addition to Minneapolis in 2006, the dynamic downtown space was designed by Argentinean architect Cesar Pelli. Now a popular gathering place, the building also houses one of the largest public library collections in the country.
• See more spectacular Minneapolis-Saint Paul architecture with a tour of Frank Gehry's masterpiece along the Mississippi River, the Weisman Art Museum. The Weisman is located on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus. Admission is free.

The New York Times Travel section recently lauded Minneapolis', "crop of hot new hotels and buzz-worthy restaurants." Visitors traveling to the Republican National Convention will find no shortage of award-winning eateries, one-of-a-kind shopping destinations, or hotel options throughout the host cities:

• There are 35,000 hotel rooms available in the metro area, ranging from four-star luxury to boutique chic to family friendly.
• Minneapolis boasts several Beard Foundation Award-nominated chefs, numerous local outposts of prominent hot spots, and every type of ethnic cuisine imaginable.
• With more than 520 stores, 60 restaurants, and an indoor theme park, the Mall of America - the country's largest shopping and entertainment complex - attracts more visitors than Disney World, Graceland, and the Grand Canyon combined.

Sports fans and exercise buffs will feel at home in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. The cities boast ten professional sports teams, physically fit residents, and abundant opportunities to work up a sweat. Some of the area's claims to fitness fame include:

• Minnesota has more than 170 golf courses and boasts more golfers per capita than anywhere in the country.
• Men's Fitness magazine rated Minneapolis the nation's "most athletic city" and Runner's World voted it the "second-best city in the country for running."
• The host cities are among a select few that can brag of having all five major sports teams. Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center, home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the NLL's Minnesota Swarm and one of the best venues worldwide for sporting events, will house official convention proceedings.

Minnesotans enjoy an active lifestyle and a deep appreciation for their state's natural wonders. Minneapolis-Saint Paul residents are no exception, and the Minneapolis park system is a popular network of nearly 6,400 acres of land and water, including over 170 park properties throughout the city.

• Minnesota earns its nickname as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" with 11,842 lakes that are 10 acres or more throughout the state. There are 22 lakes within the Minneapolis city limits alone.
• Saint Paul has more city shoreline on the Mississippi River than any other city.
• Every home in Minneapolis is within 6 blocks of a park. The city is home to more than 237 acres of park land.