Residents of Minnesota get outdoors regardless of the season, taking advantage of the state's pristine lakes, unspoiled forests and manicured golf courses. In warm-weather months, choose from fishing, boating, hiking, camping, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking and swimming. The state boasts 450 courses for golfers, including several at luxury resorts. In winter, there's snowshoeing, snowmobiling, downhill and cross-country skiing and ice fishing.
Even if you don't consider yourself outdoorsy, try to spend at least part of your visit in some of the state's many parks and preserves. Many of the state parks have campgrounds, and some provide cabins, guesthouses and lodges. A number of areas restrict activities or close during winter months. The state's Department of Natural Resources can provide additional information. Phone 651-296-6157. Toll-free 888-646-6367. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us.
Boating & Sailing
Itasca State Park (Park Rapids) boasts one lake within its boundaries, but there are almost 160 lakes in the area, as well as dense, virgin pine forests. Trivia buffs should note that Lake Itasca is the source of the Mississippi River. (The river begins as a trickle over rocks, shallow enough to wade across.)
Wild River State Park preserves a portion of the St. Croix National Wild and Scenic River.
Hiking & Walking
Minnesota offers a plethora of places for hikers to enjoy. Regardless of whether you want a casual afternoon stroll or a strenuous overnight hike, one of the many state parks can fulfill your wish.
At Interstate State Park near Taylors Falls, you can see enormous holes, cliffs and other formations created by prehistoric glacial flows. Guides at the Interpretive Center lead hikes, winter and summer. Lake Bemidji State Park offers a boardwalk stroll through a primeval bog, where you'll find orchids and carnivorous plants.
Hikers—and cyclists—will be interested in the state's numerous dedicated trails, including the Root River Trail, a 30-mi/40-km route between Fountain and Rutherford with forests, a valley and limestone bluffs along the way.
Shopping
Minnesota boasts local crafts that are authentic and well-made. These include jewelry, pottery and blankets, many of them made by Native American artisans. We recommend picking up any item carved of rock from the famous red-stone quarry at Pipestone National Monument. Crafts made by artisans of Norwegian, Polish, Swedish and German origin also are a great value. Locally made cold-weather garb and hunting and fishing gear is excellent (but don't necessarily believe everyone who tells you that what they sell is locally made—or that their lure will catch that big fish). For authentic Scandinavian treats, heritage and goods such as imported glass and pewter items, check out Chisago City, Center City, Lindstrom, Scandia and Taylors Falls (known as the "Swedish Circle"—self-touring driving maps are available in many stores). Chisago City is just 45 mi/72 km from the Twin Cities, and the little towns and shops are well worth the time.
Amish furniture and crafts can be found in stores and farms around Lanesboro and Harmony. Other towns, such as Stillwater, and Twin Cities neighborhoods such as St. Paul's Grand Avenue also boast many shops packed with the wares of local artists and artisans.
At the other extreme is the Mall of America in Bloomington (part of the Twin Cities metropolis). The largest fully enclosed shopping and entertainment complex in the U.S., the mall has more than 400 specialty shops, department stores, restaurants and nightclubs, as well as an amusement park, aquarium and wedding chapel. On busy weekends it becomes the third-largest city in the state.
Day By Day
Minnesota is a large state, and many of the most popular attractions are spread over some distance. For that reason, we recommend that first-time visitors stay a minimum of 10 days. Our suggested itinerary concentrates on the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and the northeastern quadrant of the state. The other regions can be seen on subsequent visits or on short trips out of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Days 1-3—Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Day 4—Leave for Duluth, heading north on Interstate 35 (plan for about a three-hour drive). Spend the remainder of the day touring the city.
Day 5—Continue touring the Duluth area in the morning before heading north on Highway 61, a scenic drive hugging the shore of Lake Superior. Overnight in Lutsen, Two Harbors or Grand Marais.
Day 6—Visit Grand Portage National Monument. Head back on Highway 61 to Highway 1, then go northwest to Ely. Overnight there.
Day 7—Spend the morning in Ely (be sure to visit the International Wolf Center), then paddle into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Camp in the park or return to Ely and overnight there.
Day 8—Spend another day (and night, if you're camping) in the wilderness area.
Day 9—Head south on Highway 1 to Highway 169 to Chisholm to see the Ironworld Discovery Center. Head south on Highway 73 to Highway 2 East to Duluth and overnight there. Drop by Canal Park and see the famous Aerial Lift Bridge in action
Day 10—Take I-35 south to Minneapolis and St. Paul and depart Minnesota.
