As with human beings, however, beauty, outward appearances, and first impressions do not determine if a city is great or not. It’s what’s inside that counts.

And Minneapolis has it where it counts.

Going inside

My neophyte opinion of the city quickly changed while walking to breakfast the first morning. A light rain had just cleaned an already clean cross section of streets and corridors. These, along with double-wide sidewalks, are noticeably spacious and welcoming. And the distinctive skyways overhead that connect many of the buildings look like urban hanging bridges to protect residents from notoriously cold winters.

Playful floor-to-rooftop murals decorate many of the older brick buildings that bifurcate the taller structures of glass and steel. Green spaces are noticeably more present than in other cities. And I’m not sure if they only do this on weekends, but some of the city’s buildings and skyways pipe relaxing classical music onto public streets and pedestrian walkways. Who does that?

Minneapolis does. Here’s what else they do.

Staying inside

In the 1950s, Minneapolis invented a hamburger that’s grilled with American cheese inside the patty. They’re called Juicy Lucy’s, the city’s most famous culinary creation, and they’re a delightful way to experience something most of us have eaten hundreds, if not thousands, of times. My wife and I smiled and impatiently waited to bite into them at the disputed restaurant that invented them, a packed and bustling bar called Matt’s. So as not to burn our mouths, we were told to wait a few minutes before chomping into the molten delicacies.

Were they good? Yes. Better than a classic cheeseburger? No. Which explains why the latter has traveled the world, while the former has rarely (if ever) ventured beyond city boundaries. In fact, even several Minneapolitans admitted as much to me, when pressed on which they eat and enjoy more. (Every visitor should try at least one, though.)

Minneapolis is also home to the world’s quietest room, an anti-echo chamber inside Orfield Labs that blocks 99.99% of sounds. Like the city skyline, the laboratory doesn’t look like much from the outside. You certainly would know anything special is happening inside. But within minutes of sitting in that remarkable room, I could feel my ears for the first time, hear my organs like never before, and immediately miss the ambient and lively everyday noise we take for granted.

Again, it’s what inside that counts.

More than burgers

Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is a Scandinavian word describing a cozy, comfortable, and warm atmosphere that invites a sense of contentment. Thanks to its Scandinavian roots, Minnesota has embraced this word for a long time. And perhaps nowhere else is this exemplified better than inside Four Seasons Minneapolis, where my wife and I spoiled ourselves over the weekend.

We stayed on the 26th floor, lingered in the included spa, sauna, pool, and relaxation rooms way longer than planned, and enjoyed the finest food at any Afternoon Tea I’ve eaten anywhere in the world–London very much included (really). All of it was cozy, comfortable, and warm.

So was the classic Tater Tot Hot Dish we devoured at Crooked Pint Ale House, the only restaurant in town that serves all three of Minneapolis’s most famous foods in one location (namely Juicy Lucy, Walleye Sandwich, and Tater Tot Hot Dish). Manoomin wild rice pudding (or “porridge”) from Hell’s Kitchen was another rich and decadent local standout worth writing home about. And here we are.

In Minneapolis, “Minnesota nice” is alive and well. But you have to go inside to find it.

Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and seasoned travel journalist to all seven continents. He lives in Provo, Utah with his wife, five children, and one ferocious chihuahua.