Day Trips from Minneapolis, Minnesota

1. Alexandria

If you want to trade the big city energy of Minneapolis for the sleepy streets of a small town, Alexandria is a wonderful choice. The charming downtown core offers plenty of antique stores, boutique shops, and local restaurants for visitors to enjoy, but if you want to get out of town for a bit, you can explore the 55-mile Central Lakes Trail.

Other attractions include the Carlos Creek Winery, the Legacy of the Lakes Museum, and the Runestone Museum. The town also hosts a number of special events throughout the year, including an Apple Fest, a Grape Stomp, and an annual marching band competition.

2. Afton State Park

Occupying a 1,600-acre property on the St. Croix River, Afton State Park is an easily accessible park that offers plenty of recreational activities. The river is home to more than 100 species of fish, including large populations of bass and crappies that draw fishermen from all over the state, and there's also a sandy swimming beach. If you want to stretch your legs, you can do so on the park's 20 miles of hiking trails. The park is most popular with visitors between May and October, but if you happen to be here in the winter, the trails are wonderful for cross-country skiing as well.

6959 Peller Ave S, Hastings, MN 55033, Phone: 651-436-5391

3. Apostle Islands

One of the most naturally beautiful sites in Wisconsin, the Apostle Islands are a chain of 21 islands scattered across Lake Superior. Madeline Island is the only inhabited island and therefore the only one with restaurants and other amenities, but the rest of the islands offer ample opportunities for hiking, picnicking, birdwatching, and exploring lighthouses. Some of the islands can be reached by joining a cruise, but if you'd rather explore at your own pace, you can charter a boat or rent a sea kayak to explore the spectacular sea caves that dot the shore of the mainland. Madeline Island Ferry offers convenient access to Madeline Island.

4. Red Wing

The scenic town of Red Wing has long been one of the most popular day trips from Minneapolis, and once you've been here, it's not hard to understand why. The quaint downtown streets are dotted with Victorian homes, elegant lampposts, and shops with brick facades, and although it's easy to spend an afternoon simply strolling around, other attractions include the Goodhue County Historical Museum, the Red Wing Shoes Museum, and the nearby Falconer Vineyards. If you want to get some exercise, you can cycle along the scenic Cannon Valley Trail or hike up to Barn Bluff for some wonderful views of the town.

5. Austin

Fondly nicknamed Spamtown USA because of its long-standing connection to the famous meat product, Austin is a welcoming Midwestern city located on the Cedar River. The best-known attraction in town is the Spam museum, which tells the story of how Spam came to be and the role it has played in American culture, but the area is known for its natural beauty as well.

There is an excellent network of cycling trails in the city, and the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center boasts more than 10 miles of trails. During the summer, visitors can also take a paddleboat ride across the city's East Side Lake.

6. Bemidji

Hugging the shore of the beautiful Lake Bemidji, Bemidji is the first city on the Mississippi River after it leaves its birthplace in the nearby Itasca State Park. The downtown core features attractions like a history museum, a local brewery, and an outdoor art collection, and a paved cycling trail runs along the lakeshore. The town is also famously home to an 18-foot-tall statue of the legendary logger Paul Bunyan and his sidekick Babe the Blue Ox, and after snapping a photo with the enormous duo, visitors can head over to the nearby Visitors' Center to see some lumberjack memorabilia.

7. Brainerd

Nestled in the heart of Minnesota's lake country, Brainerd is a beautiful outdoor paradise with something for visitors to enjoy no matter what the season. There are hundreds of lakes in the area, many of which are excellent for fishing, boating, and swimming, and there are plenty of opportunities for golfing, hiking, and cycling as well.

Other popular attractions include the Brainerd International Raceway, the Northland Arboretum, and the Roundhouse Brewery. Visitors with kids should also consider stopping by the Safari North Wildlife Park or Paul Bunyan Land, which features amusement park rides, a replica Pioneer Village, and an animated Paul Bunyan statue.

8. Duluth

Set on the westernmost tip of Lake Superior, Duluth is a charming maritime city that boasts hundreds of miles of hiking and cycling trails. Start your visit by strolling along the beautiful Lakewalk, which passes through Canal Park and offer stunning views of the city's iconic Aerial Lift Bridge, then visit the Lake Superior Railroad Museum or take a tour of the historic 1908 Glensheen mansion and its beautiful gardens.

Fittingly, another of the city's biggest highlights is the Great Lakes Aquarium, which is the only aquarium in the country to have a focus on freshwater exhibits.

9. Duluth Park Point Beach

If you're more interested in Duluth's location on Lake Superior than in its urban attractions, you should consider spending the day at Duluth Park Point Beach instead of in the city. The park consists primarily of a 7-mile-long sandbar that provides plenty of opportunities for sunbathing and swimming, but it also offers amenities like a sand volleyball court, a handful of picnic tables and pavilions, and a boat launch visitors can use if they want to get out on the water. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer, and the park hosts an art fair at the end of every July.

10. Ely

Surrounded by the mountains of the Vermilion Iron Range, Ely is a historic mining town that now serves primarily as the entry point for the spectacular Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This million-acre wilderness area encompasses some of the most beautiful terrain in America, and it offers a plethora of activities to choose from, including canoeing, fishing, and wildlife watching.

If you'd rather stay closer to town, you can learn about the area's wildlife at the North American Bear Center, get up close and personal with wolves at the International Wolf Center, or visit the Dorothy Molter Museum in Ely .