It’s tradition to take a paddle-boat cruise when visiting any city on the Mississippi River — and Minneapolis is no exception. Embark on a leisurely sailing through St. Anthony Falls, the largest lock on the Mississippi and enjoy lovely passing views of downtown Minneapolis. Listen to guides talk about Minneapolis history while you munch on hot dogs and ice cream. Paradise Charter Cruises, the company that operates the Minneapolis Queen, offers a variety of tours for both kids and adults, including happy hour pizza cruises, sunset wine tasting cruises and sightseeing lock cruises (the latter, which usually takes place during the day, is best suited for young travelers).