Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes, green cities and rolling prairie. But what should you do on a visit to Minnesota? We’ve put together this list of our favorite things to do in Minnesota to inspire your next Minnesota travel plans. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend, a week or something in between, this list of things to do in Minnesota will have something for you to include in your Minnesota travel plans.
Paddle The Boundary Waters
This is the ultimate Minnesota adventure and a right of passage for all Minnesota natives. Northern Minnesota is a remote wilderness dotted with lakes and small rivers. This area is known as the Boundary Waters. Visitors can do a mixture of backpacking and canoeing while you camp your days away in backcountry sites. If this rustic visit isn’t something that interests you, there are tons of remote “resorts” that put the glam in glamping. Whatever way you choose to experience the Boundary waters, you’ll see plenty of natural beauty, including loons, bears, eagles and moose.
North Shore Road Trip
Drive along the north shore of Lake Superior to see the best State Parks in Minnesota. This is one of our favorite things to do in Minnesota! The beautiful waterfalls, the beautiful lakeshore, the rolling hills and lush forests. It’s the best! We’ve been to the North Shore several times and it is one of our most repeated Midwest vacations. If you do one thing in Minnesota, do this.
Mississippi Road Trip
Driving along the mighty Mississippi is one of the most glorious road trips in the United States. And the Minnesota section is beautiful. This is a winding road trip perfect for the fall color change. Along the river, you’ll wind over high bluffs, stopping at breweries, farms, parks, and wineries along the way. This is one of our favorite things to do in Minnesota and we try to do it every fall or spring when eagles are nesting and migratory birds are everywhere.
Local Wineries
Don’t underestimate the power of Midwest wines. The University of Minnesota has done an excellent job developing cold weather grapes. And these grapes make unique wines. You’ll find wineries scattered throughout the state with wines like Frontenac and Marquette. If you plan on visiting a few, consider getting yourself a Minnesota wineries passport for cost savings at any of the participating wineries.
Duluth
The lakeside city of Duluth is one of the coolest cities in Minnesota and that’s why it’s one of our favorite places to visit in the state. First, there is a really cool harbor with giant ships coming and going under a lift-bridge. There is an amazing park with a Japanese garden and great views of the city. The downtown is so cute and has amazing shops. Additionally, there are tons of breweries and great hiking trails nearby – two of our favorite things.
Minneapolis & St. Paul
Minneapolis is one of our favorite cities in the United States. It is so green and there are so many outdoor activities to participate in while in the Twin Cities. Whether you’re interested in art, history, hiking, shopping or fine dining, you can find something to interest you in the Twin Cities. And because Minneapolis has the biggest airport in the state, the convenience makes a visit to the Twin Cities is one of the most popular things to do in Minnesota.
Shopping
While we don’t love the idea of shopping on vacation, the lack of sales tax on clothing in Minnesota makes it an appealing state to do some serious shopping in. Combine that with the massive mall, The Mall of America, and you’ll have plenty of opportunity. Additionally, we think a visit to The Mall of America is an event in itself. There’s an indoor roller coaster, an aquarium and more!
We hope this has helped you plan a visit to Minnesota. It’s a state we’ve lived in and loved and we hope you’ll love it too. Check out our Minnesota posts here for more traveling planning advice.
