Love lakes, forests, and Midwestern charm? Head to Minnesota! Known for its stunning wilderness, vibrant Twin Cities, and Scandinavian heritage, Minnesota blends outdoor adventure with cultural sophistication. Whether you’re hiking the North Shore or exploring Minneapolis museums, this northern state offers something for every season.
Minnesota Highlights:
- For Outdoor Enthusiasts: Canoe in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness – Paddle through untouched lakes and forests near the Canadian border.
- For City Explorers: Discover the Twin Cities – Minneapolis and Saint Paul offer world-class art, dining, theater, and parks.
- For Waterfall Chasers: Visit Gooseberry Falls – A stunning state park along the North Shore with falls, hiking trails, and Lake Superior views.
- For Shoppers: Experience Mall of America – The largest mall in the U.S. with 500+ stores, an indoor amusement park, and an aquarium.
- For History Buffs: Tour Historic Fort Snelling – Learn about early Minnesota history at this 19th-century military post.
Best Time to Visit Minnesota
The best time to visit Minnesota is in the summer (June–August) for festivals, lake activities, and hiking. Fall (September–October) brings brilliant foliage and crisp air. Winter (December–February) is ideal for snow sports and cozy lodges, while spring (April–May) sees nature bloom and crowds thin out.
How to Get to Minnesota
- By Air: Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is the state’s main hub, with flights across the U.S. and internationally.
- By Car: Interstates I-35 and I-94 connect Minnesota to neighboring states and cities like Chicago, Fargo, and Milwaukee.
- By Train: Amtrak’s Empire Builder route stops in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and other northern Minnesota towns.
Where to Stay in Minnesota
- For Nature Lovers: Gunflint Lodge – A lakeside wilderness lodge near the Boundary Waters with cozy cabins and guided activities.
- For City Comfort: The Hewing Hotel (Minneapolis) – Stylish boutique hotel in the North Loop district with a rooftop spa.
- For Families: Great Wolf Lodge Bloomington – Waterpark resort just steps from the Mall of America.
Best Things to Do in Minnesota
1. Minnesota's North Shore Scenic Drive
Rating: ★★★★★
Minnesota's North Shore Scenic Driveis a beautiful, 142-mile wilderness journey from Duluth to Grand Portage. Bordered on one side by Lake Superior and on the other by the Sawtooth Mountains, sights include breathtaking cliffs, beaches and thousands of acres of forest. Lighthouses and waterfalls dot the landscape and there seems to be no end to the recreational opportunities.
Many adventures await along the route, including golfing, tent and RV camping, canoeing, hunting, rock climbing, dogsledding, and more. Eight of Minnesota's State Parks are accessible along the way. It takes about three hours to make the journey if you drive straight through, but you could easily stretch the journey to several days by stopping along the way.
2. Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Minneapolis Institute of Art is a fine art museum in Minneapolis. Free to the public, it is one of the largest art museums in the United States. The collections cover more than 5,000 years of history and contain more than 80,000 objects, including paintings, photographs, textiles, drawings, prints and decorative arts.
The museum includes objects from several regions of the world and is quite comprehensive. In addition to their regular collections, the museum features a variety of traveling collections from other museums. A number of tours are available, ranging from free public guided tours to school tours and private group tours.
2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404, Phone: 888-642-2787
3. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is a park, zoo and conservatory located in St. Paul. The park is very popular and receives more than 1.9 million visitors each year. The zoo is home to many species of animals that are exhibited for the visiting public. In addition to the zoo and conservatory, recreational facilities at Como Park include an amusement park, carousel, golf course, swimming pool and the 68-acre Lake Como.
The park is expertly landscaped and includes many artistic features such as fountains and sculptures. Como Park hosts many events throughout the year and offers cafes, food carts and gift shops to make your visit both comfortable and enjoyable.
1225 Estabrook Drive, Saint Paul, MN 55103, Phone: 651-487-8200
4. Quarry Hill Nature Center
Quarry Hill Nature Center is an educational center located in Rochester. It sits amidst a 329-acre park that offers a variety of outdoors activities. There are paved and unpaved trails as well as a historical cave. During winter, cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals are available to enhance enjoyment of the park.
The Harry L. Buck Children's Pond provides aquatic learning experiences for children of all ages. Ducks nest in a box on an island in the pond and a variety of other wildlife can be seen. The center hosts a variety of classes, day camps, trips and activities throughout the year.
701 Silver Creek Road NE, Rochester, MN 55906, Phone: 507-328-3950
5. Minnesota Marine Art Museum
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is an art museum in Winona that is located in a unique historical building on the banks of the Mississippi River. It houses five different galleries of art and artifacts which include marine art, folk sculptures, impressionism, Hudson River School paintings, as well as space for traveling exhibits. The museum's primary focus is marine and maritime art.
One of the most famous pieces in their collection is one of the two surviving copies of "Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Emanuel Leutze, which was on display at the White House prior to becoming a part of the Marine Art Museum.
800 Riverview Drive, Winona, MN 55987, Phone: 507-474-6626
If you are a photographer, don't miss:
6. Minnehaha Park, Minnesota
Minnehaha Park is undeniably one of Minneapolis’ most popular parks. It is also one of the city’s oldest and is best known for the 53-foot waterfall that can be found within its limestone bluffs. At Minnehaha Park, guests can enjoy a number of beautiful features. For example, there are three gardens to be explored: the Longfellow Gardens, Minnehaha Falls Pergola Garden, Song of Hiawatha Garden. There are also a handful of historical sites at the park that can be visited such as the Longfellow House, the Princess Depot, and the John H. Stevens House. Wandering the park's trails will also bring visitors across several sculptures found within the park, all of which make great photo opportunities and are sure to be enjoyed by art lovers.
4801 S Minnehaha Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417, Phone: 612-230-6400
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
7. Leif Erickson Park & Rose Garden
The Leif Erickson Park & Rose Gardenk in Duluth is a traditional English style garden located on the banks of Lake Superior. Its beautiful flowers and stunning location make the park a relaxing and beautiful place to visit at any time of the year. The 2.5-acre park contains over 3,000 rose bushes and many other plants and trees.
It is connected to Duluth's Lakewalk, which is a walking and biking trail running about three miles along the lakeshore. In addition to stunning flora, the gardens include some beautiful architectural structures, fountains and statues. The marble gazebo in Leif Erickson Park is a popular place for weddings and other events.
S 13th Ave E & London Road, Duluth, MN 55802, Phone: 218-730-4300
8. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is an arboretum and horticultural garden that is part of the University of Minnesota. It is the largest public garden in the upper Midwest and comprises more than 1,100 acres. Over 5,000 plant varieties can be found in the park.
The arboretum features gardens displaying plants developed for northern climates as well as educational exhibits, demonstration gardens and a unique Japanese garden area. The property features natural areas, including miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails. There is a horticulture library and conservatory on site. Guided tours are available as well as a three-mile driving route that passes many of the park's highlights.
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chanhassen, MN 55317, Phone: 952-443-1400
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
9. National Eagle Center
The National Eagle Center is a non-profit organization, aviary and educational center which is dedicated to conserving and protecting eagles as well as to educating the public. Five eagles are housed at the center. These were all rescued and are now used in outreach programs and ceremonies across the state and country.
Visitors can visit the eagles in the viewing room, where you can see them at close range as they are tethered rather than in a cage or behind glass. There are volunteers to answer questions during viewing hours as well as thrice daily 45-minute educational feeding programs that include a question and answer session, giving visitors another chance to learn about eagles.
50 Pembroke Avenue, Wabasha, MN 55981, Phone: 651-565-4989
10. 7 Vines Vineyard
Go wine tasting at 7 Vines Vineyard.
101 MN-96, Dellwood, MN 55110, Phone: 651-478-6300
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