Taking a sneak peek at the NACC venue in Minneapolis
When I mentioned to Jennifer Clinchy this summer that I'd soon be traveling to Minneapolis for work, her ears perked up. "Minneapolis is where we're having the NACC in November! If you have time, could you check out our hotel?" That turned out to be an easy request to fulfill, as the conference I was about to run was not only at the NACC venue, The Marquette Hotel, but in the very same room.
I have to admit my eyebrows raised a little, since I knew the Marquette was a cut above the generic suburban budget hotel where we typically gather to play our favorite game. My team at work had prioritized booking a beautiful downtown space that would make the meeting feel like a treat. In picking Minneapolis, the CoCo team managed to stay within budget while prioritizing what makes travel worthwhile - walkability, culture, and comfort.
A few takeaways after having run my own event there...
The playing room: What immediately struck me when I walked into the Lake Michigan room was the floor to ceiling windows on three sides. I've spent too many Scrabble weekends holed up in windowless ballrooms forgetting what the sun looked like or where I was. The space is surrounded by views of historic downtown architecture, with blackout curtains that allow the host to control the amount of natural light and glare.
The hotel: I usually sleep poorly on work trips, but I had three great nights in the Marquette's extremely comfortable beds. The hotel is a stylish boutique hotel set within the IDS center, Minneapolis' tallest skyscraper. There's a pool table in the lobby to blow off steam between Scrabble games. They did an excellent job staffing and catering our meeting (actually good hotel buffets!), and the restaurant's breakfast was delicious (though I did not sit at Mary Tyler Moore's special table).
The area: I'll defer to the Minnesotans of CoCo to share what makes the city special, but I found downtown Minneapolis charming. Though I didn't need it in August, the 10-mile network of enclosed pedestrian bridges connecting 80 city blocks allows people to walk the city in comfort year round. I walked to the North Loop, along the Mississippi River, and to the jam-packed Minneapolis Bouldering Project. What this gym told me was that Minneapolis loves to climb, and they are good at it. Be prepared for difficult routes!
The restaurants: If you know me, you probably know this is my most important metric for a good trip. I greatly enjoyed Giulia (fancy work dinner #1) Porzana (fancy work dinner #2), and Ono Hawaiian Plates (not-fancy solo dinner). If you bring little ones, definitely hit Ono for the outdoor seating and sandbox.
My team compiled a list of other good-looking restaurants near the Marquette:
Star Bar & Bistro
112 Eatery
In sum, however the games go, you'll eat well and enjoy a beautiful playing space, hotel and city.
Read more from Jennifer about why you shouldn't miss the NACC this year!