northeast minnesota tourism

13 Fun Things To Do In Northeast Minnesota

• Last updated May 07, 2023
• Difficulty Beginner

• Category United States

Northeast Minnesota is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, offering a wide range of activities for those who love the outdoors. From hiking and biking to fishing and canoeing, there are plenty of fun things to do in this beautiful region. Whether you're looking for an adrenaline rush on the rapids of the St. Louis River or a peaceful paddle on one of the area's many lakes and rivers, we've compiled 13 of the best activities to do in Northeast Minnesota. From exploring the area's stunning nature to discovering its vibrant history and culture, these 13 activities will make your stay in Northeast Minnesota an unforgettable experience.

What You'll Learn

Go ice fishing on lake superior, take a snowshoe tour of the north shore, visit the boundary waters canoe area wilderness, explore the superior national forest, go camping at one of the many minnesota state parks, visit the split rock lighthouse, take a tour of the soudan underground mine, go skiing or snowboarding at lutsen mountains, hit the trails at jay cooke state park, take a dip in the waters of gooseberry falls, enjoy the outdoor beauty of tettegouche state park, check out the international wolf center, enjoy the colorful foliage of grand portage state park.

Northeast Minnesota is home to many popular fishing spots, but one of the most sought-after is Lake Superior. This vast body of water is the largest of the Great Lakes, encompassing more than 31,000 square miles. It is also home to some of the best ice fishing in the Midwest.

Whether you're an experienced angler or a novice looking to try something new, ice fishing on Lake Superior is an exhilarating experience. The lake is known for its abundance of walleye, northern pike, lake trout, and whitefish, as well as its exceptional clarity. The best time to go ice fishing on Lake Superior is in the late winter and early spring months, when the lake is covered in a thick sheet of ice.

To get the most out of your ice fishing experience on Lake Superior, it's important to come prepared. A reliable ice auger, a quality fishing rod and line, and a variety of lures and bait are essential. You'll also need warm clothing, a shelter to protect yourself from the elements, and a basic understanding of the lake's fish species and regulations.

Once you've got your gear together, it's time to find the perfect spot to drop your line. Popular spots include the Apostle Islands, the North Shore, and the Duluth Harbor. You can also try your luck at one of the many ice fishing tournaments hosted on Lake Superior throughout the winter.

In addition to the thrill of the catch, ice fishing on Lake Superior offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the lake and its surroundings. As Minnesota native and fishing guide Tom Neustrom puts it, “Ice fishing on Lake Superior is like no other experience. You can catch fish, watch eagles soar through the sky, and be surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in the country.”

Whether it's your first time out on the ice or you're an experienced angler looking to try something new, ice fishing on Lake Superior is sure to be a memorable experience. With its variety of fish, breathtaking scenery, and unique atmosphere, it’s a great way to explore the beauty of northeast Minnesota.

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The North Shore of Northeast Minnesota is a winter wonderland like no other. With its crisp, white snow, breathtaking views of Lake Superior, and miles of trails, it’s a perfect destination for a snowshoe tour. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll find something to love on the North Shore.

For a unique experience, take a guided snowshoe tour with a local guide. You’ll get to explore the North Shore’s majestic landscape, learn about the area’s history and wildlife, and even try your hand at snowshoeing. Your guide will provide all the necessary gear, so all you need to do is show up ready for an adventure!

When it comes to snowshoeing on the North Shore, there are plenty of trails to choose from. From easy, flat trails to more challenging routes with steep hills, you’ll find something to suit your interests and abilities. In addition to the trails, there are plenty of places to stop and take in the view, from secluded coves to wide-open vistas.

If you’re looking for something a little different, try a night snowshoe tour. As the sun sets, you’ll get to experience the North Shore in a whole new way. With the moonlight glistening off the snow, you’ll be able to take in the beauty of the night sky and the stars above.

In addition to the scenery, a snowshoe tour of the North Shore is a great way to learn about the area’s history and culture. Your guide will be able to tell stories and provide insights into the region’s past. As you explore the trails, you’ll be able to get a better understanding of the people and communities that have called the North Shore home for generations.

No matter which trail you choose, a snowshoe tour of the North Shore is an unforgettable experience. From wildlife to winter landscapes, you’ll get to see the best of what the North Shore has to offer. So lace up your snowshoes and get ready for an adventure!

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The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northeast Minnesota is a vast, pristine wilderness area that spans over 1 million acres of pristine lakes, rivers, and forests. It is one of the largest wilderness areas in the United States and is a popular destination for canoeists, hikers, campers, and anglers alike. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a part of the Superior National Forest, located in the Arrowhead region of northern Minnesota.

This area is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including moose, bear, wolves, bald eagles, and loons. It is also home to over 1,200 species of plants, and is often referred to as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". There are over 1,500 lakes and streams, as well as hundreds of miles of canoe routes, so there is plenty of room to explore.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a popular destination for people looking to get away from it all. With no motorized vehicles allowed, the area provides a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, perfect for those looking to relax and recharge. The area is also a great spot for fishing, as it is home to a variety of fish species, including lake trout, walleye, and northern pike.

The best way to experience the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is to take a guided canoe tour. These tours provide an opportunity to explore the area in a safe and enjoyable way. The guides will provide information about the history and ecology of the area, as well as tips for navigating the waters. Many of the guides are experienced outdoorsmen and have stories to share about the area.

When planning a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, it is important to remember that the area is remote and isolated. Be sure to bring the proper supplies and equipment, including a map and compass, and to be aware of the weather. It is also important to be aware that the area is heavily regulated, and certain rules and regulations must be followed.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a special place, and it is sure to provide visitors with an unforgettable experience. Whether you are looking for a chance to relax and recharge, or a chance to explore the area and its wildlife, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a great destination for outdoor adventurers of all levels.

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The Superior National Forest of northeast Minnesota is one of the most spectacular natural areas in the state. Spanning over three million acres of pristine terrain, the forest is home to an abundance of wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities. From canoeing and fishing to camping and hiking, the Superior National Forest offers visitors a chance to explore the beauty and serenity of the North Woods.

The Superior National Forest is located in the northernmost region of Minnesota, bordering Lake Superior and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. The forest is filled with towering pines, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking vistas. Popular activities include fishing, boating, camping, and hiking. The forest also features numerous trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

The Superior National Forest is a great place to explore and experience the North Woods. It is home to a variety of wildlife, including moose, bear, deer, bald eagles, and timber wolves. There are many lakes and rivers to explore, as well as a variety of scenic trails. Visitors can spend a day or a weekend exploring the area, and there are several lodges and cabins available for rent.

The Superior National Forest is also a great place for bird-watching. The forest is home to many species of birds, including the common loon and the boreal owl. The forest also offers excellent opportunities for wildlife photography.

When visiting the Superior National Forest, it is important to be aware of the area’s unique ecosystem. Visitors should practice Leave No Trace principles and pack out all of their trash. It is also important to stay on designated trails and be aware of animals in the area.

The Superior National Forest is a great place to explore and experience the beauty and serenity of the North Woods. With its abundant wildlife, stunning scenery, and vast array of outdoor activities, the forest is a great destination for all types of travelers. Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or a longer vacation, the Superior National Forest offers something for everyone.

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Northeast Minnesota is a great place for a camping trip. With its breathtaking scenery, many state parks, and plenty of activities, it is a great place to get away and experience the outdoors.

The Minnesota state parks of northeast Minnesota offer a variety of camping options. From primitive camping to RV camping, there is something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a peaceful, secluded spot or a bustling campground with activities, there is something for you. Many of the state parks offer campsites with electricity, running water, and showers.

If you're looking for something to do while camping, there are plenty of activities to choose from. Hiking trails, boating, fishing, and swimming are all popular activities. For the more adventurous, there are also biking and rock climbing. There are also plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities, including moose, deer, and bears. There are also many historic sites and museums to explore.

When is the best time to go camping in northeast Minnesota? Generally, the best months are April through October. The weather is mild and the days are long, making it perfect for outdoor activities. The summer months are especially popular, but camping in the spring and fall can also be enjoyable.

When packing for your camping trip, it is important to bring the right supplies. Make sure to bring appropriate clothing, food, and camping equipment. Also, be sure to bring a map of the area, as some of the state parks are quite remote.

No matter what type of camping you choose to do, the Minnesota state parks of northeast Minnesota offer a unique and memorable experience. From the breathtaking scenery to the many recreational activities, it is sure to be a trip you won't forget. So, why not get out there and go camping?

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Split Rock Lighthouse is a historic landmark located in the northeast corner of Minnesota, on the north shore of Lake Superior. The lighthouse was built in 1910 to guide ships and warn them of the dangerous rocks on this stretch of the lake. The lighthouse is now a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a chance to learn about its history and explore its beautiful surroundings.

Split Rock Lighthouse is open for visitors from May to October and offers tours, a gift shop and a museum with interactive exhibits. Visitors can learn about the history of the lighthouse, the life of its keepers, and the technology used at the time. The museum also has artifacts from the early days of the lighthouse, including tools, equipment, and photographs.

The lighthouse is best known for its beautiful view of Lake Superior. Visitors can climb the tower and take in the spectacular views of the lake and the surrounding area. The lake itself is also a sight to behold, with its crystal clear waters and limestone cliffs. The lighthouse is also a great place to spot wildlife, including eagles, osprey, and loons.

Visitors to Split Rock Lighthouse can also take part in a variety of activities, such as kayaking and fishing. There are a number of trails around the lighthouse, offering visitors a chance to explore the area. The trails are suitable for all ages and abilities, so everyone can enjoy the scenery.

Split Rock Lighthouse is also home to a variety of stories and legends. Visitors can hear stories of shipwrecks and heroic rescues, as well as tales of the lighthouse keepers and their families. There are also plenty of opportunities to take photographs and capture the beauty of the lighthouse and the lake.

For a truly unique experience, visitors can take part in a guided tour of the lighthouse. During the tour, guides will tell stories about the lighthouse, its keepers, and the surrounding area. The tour also offers a chance to learn about the history of lighthouses and the technology used to build them. The tour is a great way to learn more about this historic landmark and its place in Minnesota history.

Split Rock Lighthouse is a great place to visit for anyone interested in history and nature. The lighthouse offers visitors a chance to learn about its history, explore its surroundings, and take in some spectacular views. With its stories, legends and activities, Split Rock Lighthouse is sure to provide visitors with a memorable and educational experience.

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The Soudan Underground Mine in northeast Minnesota is a unique opportunity to take a tour of an old iron ore mine. Located on the Vermilion Range, the mine opened in 1882 and operated until 1962. During the peak of its operations, the Soudan Mine employed over 400 miners and produced millions of tons of ore. Today, the Soudan Mine is a National Historic Landmark and offers visitors an exciting tour of the mine and its history.

The tour begins with a ride down a 27-story elevator shaft that takes visitors 500 feet below the surface. Once at the bottom, visitors are greeted by knowledgeable guides who explain the history of the mine and the mining process. The tour then proceeds through the mine's various chambers and passageways, giving visitors a chance to explore the mine's history and get a firsthand look at its unique features.

The highlight of the tour is the Soudan Underground Laboratory, which houses several scientific experiments. The experiments range from particle physics studies to neutrino detection and much more. Visitors can also see the original mining equipment and learn about the different techniques used to extract ore from the mine.

In addition to its educational and scientific value, the Soudan Mine is a great place to take in the sights and sounds of an old iron ore mine. The mine has a variety of interesting artifacts and stories to tell, and visitors can spend hours exploring the different chambers and passageways.

The Soudan Mine is open year round and offers a variety of tours for all ages. The mine is also a great place for a family outing. There is a picnic area and a souvenir shop where visitors can purchase a variety of items related to the mine and its history.

If you're looking for a unique and educational experience, a tour of the Soudan Underground Mine is an experience you won't soon forget. With its rich history and unique features, the Soudan Mine is an exciting place to explore and learn about the history of iron ore mining in Minnesota.

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Lutsen Mountains of northeast Minnesota is an ideal winter destination for outdoor enthusiasts who are looking for the best in skiing and snowboarding. Located on the north shore of Lake Superior, Lutsen Mountains boasts some of the most beautiful and challenging slopes in the Midwest. With over 95 runs spread across four interconnected peaks, Lutsen Mountains offers something for everyone, from the novice skier to the experienced snowboarder.

The resort at Lutsen Mountains is known for its friendly service and unrivaled amenities. Visitors will find a variety of lodging options, including luxury ski-in/ski-out condos and rustic cabins. The resort also features a restaurant, lounge, and ski shop, as well as a variety of other activities such as snowshoeing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling.

The ski and snowboard season at Lutsen Mountains typically runs from late November to late March. During this time, visitors can experience the best of Minnesota's winter with up to 30 feet of snowfall each year. The resort also offers a variety of packages, including lesson packages and ski/snowboard rentals.

When visiting Lutsen Mountains, skiers and snowboarders should be sure to dress for the conditions. The resort recommends that visitors wear multiple layers of clothing in order to stay warm and dry in the cold temperatures and snow. Furthermore, visitors should also bring appropriate safety gear such as helmets, goggles, and gloves.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Lutsen Mountains offers a variety of other activities for visitors to enjoy. The resort features a tubing hill, snowmobiling trails, and a scenic chairlift ride to the summit of Moose Mountain. Visitors can also take in the stunning views of Lake Superior from the summit of Eagle Mountain.

For an unforgettable winter adventure, Lutsen Mountains of northeast Minnesota is the perfect destination. Visitors will find a variety of activities, incredible views, and some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the Midwest. With its friendly staff, unrivaled amenities, and diverse terrain, Lutsen Mountains is the perfect place to enjoy a winter getaway.

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Nestled in the rolling hills of northeast Minnesota, Jay Cooke State Park is a hiker’s paradise. With over 35 miles of trails to explore, visitors can enjoy the beauty of the St. Louis River, the rushing waterfalls, and the unique wildlife. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, Jay Cooke State Park has something for everyone.

When visiting the park, the first thing to do is to plan your route. There are easy trails for beginners, and more challenging trails for advanced hikers. For those who want to explore the park in depth, there are backpacking trails that take you through some of the most breathtaking vistas in the state. With so many trails to choose from, it’s easy to find a route that fits your skill level and interests.

One of the most popular trails at Jay Cooke State Park is the Carlton Peak Trail. This trail takes you to the highest point in the park, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the river and the surrounding landscape. Along the way, you’ll come across several waterfalls, rivers, and meadows. This is a great trail for a beginner hiker, as it is relatively easy and has plenty of scenic views.

For those who want a more challenging hike, the Munger Trail is a great option. This is a 12-mile loop trail that will take you through some of the most remote areas of the park. Along the way, you’ll come across several rivers, meadows, and old-growth forests. This trail is a bit more difficult than the Carlton Peak Trail, but the payoff is well worth the effort.

When planning your trip, it’s important to remember that Jay Cooke State Park is a very popular destination. You should always plan ahead and make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks. You should also be aware of the park’s regulations, such as no camping or fires allowed in the park. It’s also a good idea to check the weather forecast before heading out, as the trails can become muddy and slippery after heavy rains.

No matter what type of hike you’re looking for, Jay Cooke State Park has something to offer. With its beautiful scenery, unique wildlife, and variety of trails, it’s no wonder why this park is a favorite among hikers. So if you’re looking for an adventure, be sure to hit the trails at Jay Cooke State Park. You won’t be disappointed!

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Nestled in the north shore of Lake Superior, Gooseberry Falls is a spectacular sight in northeast Minnesota. It is the centerpiece of the Gooseberry Falls State Park and a must-see destination for anyone visiting the area.

The Falls are made up of three distinct sections, the Upper, Middle and Lower, each one offering something different. The Upper Falls is the most popular, with its beautiful cascading waterfall and lush greenery. The Middle Falls is a series of smaller rapids with a deep plunge pool at the bottom. The Lower Falls is the largest and most dramatic, with a powerful drop of more than twenty feet.

The best way to experience the Falls is to take a dip in the waters. There is a designated swimming area at the Lower Falls where visitors can take a plunge into the cool and refreshing waters. The water is generally calm and clear, making it a perfect spot for swimming and soaking in the beauty of the falls.

For those who don't want to get wet, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy around the Falls. There are numerous trails that provide stunning views of the area, as well as a variety of wildlife to observe. Visitors can also explore the historic Gooseberry Falls Lodge, which was built in the early 1900s and is now open for tours.

The Falls are also a great spot for photography and storytelling. The Falls are a popular backdrop for wedding and engagement photos, and their powerful beauty makes for a great story. Visitors can also take a moment to reflect on the history of the area and the stories of the people who once lived here.

Gooseberry Falls is a must-see destination in northeast Minnesota. Whether you're looking to take a dip in the waters, explore the trails, or simply take in the breathtaking views, Gooseberry Falls has something to offer everyone.

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Tettegouche State Park in northeast Minnesota offers visitors the perfect outdoor escape. Located on the North Shore of Lake Superior, the park is home to some of the most breathtaking natural beauty in the state. From spectacular waterfalls and towering cliffs to pristine beaches and lush forests, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The park is open year-round and offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy. In the summer, visitors can go swimming, boating, fishing, or hiking. The hiking trails are well-marked and range from easy to moderate difficulty, with the most challenging being the Baptism River Trail, which features a steep climb to the top of the 600-foot bluff. For those looking for a more relaxed experience, there are also plenty of picnic areas and scenic viewpoints throughout the park.

In the winter, the park is transformed into a winter wonderland. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling are popular activities. There is also an ice skating rink located near the park entrance. For those looking for a unique experience, the park also offers a variety of ranger-led programs, such as snowshoe hikes and stargazing.

Tettegouche State Park is also home to a variety of wildlife. There are many bird species that call the park home, including bald eagles, ospreys, and owls. The park is also a great place to spot deer, beavers, and other animals. Visitors should always be aware of their surroundings and be sure to follow all park rules and regulations while exploring.

Tettegouche State Park is a great place to explore, relax, and appreciate the beauty of nature. With its spectacular views, abundance of wildlife, and variety of activities, it is the perfect place for a family getaway or a weekend away with friends. Whether you are looking for a peaceful escape or an adventure, Tettegouche State Park has something for everyone. As local folklore says, “Once you've been to Tettegouche, you'll always come back.”

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The International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota is a unique and inspiring destination for any traveler looking to learn more about the majestic wolf. Located in the heart of the pristine boreal forest, the International Wolf Center is home to a pack of ambassador wolves and a number of educational programs and activities. Here, visitors can experience the beauty of the wolves in their natural habitat, while also learning about their important role in the environment.

Those looking to learn more about the wolves can take part in a variety of educational programs, including a Wolf Howling program, Wolf Track program, and Wolf Natural History program. In the Wolf Howling program, visitors have the opportunity to listen to and interpret the various vocalizations of the wolf pack. The Wolf Track program allows visitors to follow the tracks of the wolves and learn about their behavior and ecology. The Wolf Natural History program teaches visitors about the wolf’s evolution, diet, habitat, and behavior.

Visitors can also take part in the International Wolf Center’s interactive exhibits, which feature interactive displays and activities that help to educate and inform visitors about wolves and the environment. The Center also offers a variety of educational films, lectures, and other programs to help visitors gain an even better understanding of the wolf’s behavior and ecology.

The International Wolf Center is also home to a number of special events, including the annual Wolf Festival. The Wolf Festival is a celebration of the wolf and its environment, featuring live music, educational programs, and a variety of other activities. Visitors can also take part in a variety of activities, such as wolf watching, snowshoeing, and nature photography.

The International Wolf Center is a great destination for anyone looking to learn more about the wolf and its environment. With its variety of educational programs and activities, the International Wolf Center is a great place to explore and gain a better understanding of wolves and the environment. Plus, visitors can enjoy the beauty of the boreal forest, while also learning about the important role of the wolf in the environment. As the Center’s mission statement states, “Our mission is to advance the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future.”

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Grand Portage State Park, located in the northeast corner of Minnesota, is the perfect destination to enjoy the explosion of color that autumn brings. With its remote location, it offers visitors the opportunity to explore a vast landscape of deep forests and pristine lakes.

The state park is known for its vast array of trees, ranging from white pines and red oaks to quaking aspens and paper birches. During the autumn months, these trees transform into a kaleidoscope of color, providing a stunning backdrop for outdoor activities. Hikers, campers, and nature lovers can take in the vibrant foliage while exploring the park’s many trails and attractions.

For those looking for a more relaxed experience, the park offers plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing. Birdwatchers can spot bald eagles, ospreys, and other migratory birds as they make their way south. The park is also home to a variety of mammals, including white-tailed deer, beavers, and even an occasional black bear.

The park is also a great place to experience the culture and history of the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Indians. Visitors can attend traditional Native American ceremonies and learn about the region’s rich history. The nearby Grand Portage National Monument is the perfect place to learn more about the culture and life of the tribe.

Visitors to Grand Portage State Park can enjoy a variety of activities, from camping and fishing to boating and swimming. The park also offers a range of educational programs, including nature walks and tours, as well as a variety of special events throughout the year.

No matter what time of year you visit, Grand Portage State Park is sure to provide an unforgettable experience. From its vibrant foliage to its abundance of wildlife, the park is a great destination for those looking to get away from it all and reconnect with nature.

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Frequently asked questions.

Popular destinations in northeast Minnesota include the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Gooseberry Falls State Park, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, and Voyageurs National Park.

Northeast Minnesota is known for its outdoor attractions, offering a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, and more.

Yes, northeast Minnesota has many cultural attractions including the International Wolf Center, the North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum, the Great Lakes Aquarium, and the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Visitors to northeast Minnesota can choose from a variety of accommodations including hotels, resorts, cabins, campgrounds, and lodges.

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Must-see attractions in Northern Minnesota

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Northern Minnesota

This is the most visited spot on the entire North Shore. The shiner itself is a state historic site with a separate admission fee. Guided tours are…

Chippewa National Forest

The vast Chippewa National Forest covers a large swath of the north-central part of the state. It's a protected wilderness that offers visitors the chance…

Tettegouche State Park

Like most of the parks dotting the North Shore, Tettegouche State Park offers fishing, camping, paddling and hiking trails to waterfalls and little lakes,…

Glensheen Mansion

The directors here claim this 39-room mansion, built on a 12-acre estate, is the most-visited home in the Midwest. Whether that's true or not, a visit…

Gooseberry Falls State Park

The five cascades, scenic gorge and easy trails draw carloads of visitors to Gooseberry Falls State Park. Several cool stone and log buildings, built by…

Hull Rust Mine Viewpoint

It's only from this breathtaking viewpoint about 2 miles north of central Hibbing that you begin to grasp the sheer scale of mining operations in these…

Judge CR Magney State Park

Magney State Park is a beauty. Hiking to Devil’s Kettle, the famous falls where the Brule River splits around a huge rock, is a must. Half of the flow…

Soudan Underground Mine

This is Minnesota's oldest and deepest iron ore mine. Ore was worked continuously here from 1882 to when the mine closed in 1962. The tour includes a deep…

Hill Annex Mine State Park

You'll need to take a tour to see the park. On the 1½-hour mine tour, a bus takes you around the open-pit operation where 64 million tons of iron ore were…

Itasca State Park

Itasca State Park is an area highlight. You can walk across the tiny headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, which is pretty wild. Wade in the knee…

Great Lakes Aquarium

Children will enjoy the up-close-and-personal encounter with the freshwater fish – as well as various reptiles, invertebrates and otters – of the Great…

Leif Erikson Park

This is a lakefront sweet spot with a rose garden, replica of Leif's Viking ship and free outdoor movies each Friday night in summer. Take the Lakewalk…

Temperance River State Park

The eponymous waterway at Temperance River State Park belies its moderate name and roars through a narrow, twisting gorge. The scene is easy to get to,…

Two Harbors Lighthouse

Minnesota's only operating lighthouse rises up over Agate Bay. The 1892 fog-buster sticks to a rhythm – 0.4-second flash, 4.6 seconds of darkness, 0.4…

Maritime Visitor Center

Located next to the Aerial Lift Bridge, the center has computer screens inside that tell what time the big ships will be sailing through. Cool model boats…

Aerial Lift Bridge

Duluth's main landmark raises its mighty arm to let horn-bellowing ships into port. About 1000 vessels per year glide through.

William A Irvin

Tour this mighty 610ft Great Lakes freighter and see what life was like carrying steel from port to port.

Dorothy Molter Museum

Badass Dorothy Molter lived for 56 years in a cabin in the Boundary Waters' midst, 18 miles from the nearest road. Dorothy paddled, hiked, fished, skied…

Bob Dylan's Boyhood Home

The Zimmerman family called this colorful two-story, wood-framed 'Mediterranean Modern' house, a few blocks off of central E Howard St, home after moving…

Hawk Ridge Observatory

It sits 600ft above Lake Superior and provides a grand view, especially between mid-August and November, when 94,000 raptors swing by as part of the…

North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum

The teeny town of Tofte is worth a stop to browse the North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum. The twin-gabled red building holds fishing nets, a fishing…

Greyhound Bus Museum

Fun fact: Hibbing was the birthplace of the predecessor of the iconic Greyhound bus line. The museum is housed in a classic art deco–style bus terminal…

Enger Tower

The five-story, bluestone, octagonal tower is a defining Duluth monument, located in Enger Park. Terrific views of the harbor and Lake Superior reward…

Grand Portage National Monument

Located beside the Canadian border, this is where the early voyageurs had to carry their canoes around the Pigeon River rapids. It was the center of a far…

Bob Dylan's Birthplace

The duplex is up a hill a few blocks northeast of downtown. Dylan lived on the top floor until age six, when his family moved inland to Hibbing. It's a…

Hibbing Public Library

The library has well-done displays on local boy Bob Dylan and a free walking-tour map (available online, too) that takes you past various sites, like the…

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Welcome to the Heart of the Continent!

Explore the Region

Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Ontario offer epic outdoor adventures and authentic cultural experiences in a region steeped in natural beauty and rich history. This online travel guide provides you a comprehensive local guide to the best of the region, documented by the people who call this place home.

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A hiker pauses along the craggy North Shore of Lake Superior.

Road Trip: Northern Minnesota

From the August/September 2012 issue of National Geographic Traveler

The roar of America’s Jazz Age echoed in the Minnesota wilderness. At a time when anything seemed possible, why not an exclusive club for the nation’s elite, up where the rugged North Woods and mammoth Lake Superior collide?

A group of Minnesota businessmen put plans in place for such a resort, which they named Naniboujou for the Cree Indian god of the woods. Some 600 potential members, including heavyweight boxing champ Jack Dempsey and slugger Babe Ruth, signed on, seduced by visions of an opulent lodge, bathhouse, golf course, and tennis courts on 3,000 acres blessed with “birches like Greek columns and cedars like Gothic pillars.” The Great Depression quashed this outdoorsman’s dream, and only the lodge was built. Still, 85 years after its conception, the inn survives, its riches unchanged from the doomed club’s prospectus: “the rustle of the pines, the brawling and babbling of the stream, the muffled murmur of the breakers on the beach.” Extreme nature dominates northeastern Minnesota, setting the scene for a drive combining coast and forest, small-town character and deep-woods seclusion.

Road trips up the Minnesota shore of Lake Superior begin in Duluth, an industrial harbor town at the southern end of a wooded triangle called the Arrowhead and two-lane Highway 61. Also called North Shore Scenic Drive, the paved boundary between woods and waters delivers views of the ancient volcanic basalt cliffs that plunge into Lake Superior, so vast it merges with the sky on the horizon. At the turn of the 20th century, outbound ships loaded with northern Minnesota’s prized iron ore ranked Duluth among the U.S.’s busiest ports.

Life here is still trained on the water. “One of the many pleasures of living in Duluth is that you have to look at the lake a lot,” writes author and resident Barton Sutter in his book Cold Comfort: Life at the Top of the Map. “You might only mean to get some groceries, but on your way you see something so grand, so terrible and beautiful, that you absorb your daily requirement of humility just by driving down the street.”

Canal Park, a onetime warehouse district, is now filled with lakeside restaurants, shops, hotels, and historical attractions. On board the S.S. William A. Irvin, a 610-foot retired ore and coal ship, tour-goers explore everything from the engine room’s brass controls to the sophisticated wood-trimmed visitors quarters. Working ships still dock here, too (about a thousand vessels annually, more than any other Great Lakes port), lending authenticity with their massive, slow-moving presence as they request passage under the 1905 Aerial Lift Bridge, on occasion still letting out deep, vibrating honks— long-short-long-short. Interaction between boats and bridge complements the Lake Superior Maritime Visitors Center near the bridge’s foot.

About 30 miles up the road, on the east edge of Two Harbors, a faux-log cabin beckons from the side of the road, as it has for the past four decades. One of a handful of smoked fish purveyors along the shore, Lou’s Fish House expertly prepares Lake Superior trout—brined in teriyaki, cured in brown sugar, or worked into a spread. Then it’s on to Gooseberry Falls State Park, the first of eight state parks that line the 150-mile-long stretch between Duluth and Canada. More than half a million annual visitors stop to absorb the thunderous, misting cascades along Gooseberry’s namesake river, one of many that tumble out of the forest and into Lake Superior.

A few more minutes on the road brings drivers to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, 2,200 acres edged with steep shoreline trails. Among them stands the black-capped Split Rock Lighthouse, a beautiful beacon born of tragedy. In 1910, Congress commissioned the lighthouse atop a 13-story hunk of gray cliff after one of the notorious November gales damaged 29 ships, two of which crashed onto the rocky shore. Navigational tools rendered Split Rock obsolete decades ago, but visitors poke around the keepers’ quarters and climb the lighthouse tower, both outfitted as if operating during their 1920s glory days.

About 40 miles shy of Canada is Grand Marais, which was once an 1800s trading post and fishing village. Current residents of the one-stoplight town of 1,400 tend to be creative types and outdoor enthusiasts, some who lead dog mushing and canoeing trips. “Living at the end of the road helps you take every day for what it’s worth. Nature’s at your doorstep,” says Kelly Dupre, who works as an artist, author, and volunteer coordinator at North House Folk School, which gives classes on northern skills and crafts, from wild rice harvesting to sweetgrass basketmaking.

During fall in Grand Marais’s three-block downtown, jewel-toned paintings of local landscapes fill galleries, pub microbrews turn dark, and seasonal wild rice and mushrooms take over restaurant menus. Painters, writers, and tourists follow a half-mile ancient lava flow to Artists’ Point to visit the squat white lighthouse or find a moment of peace within the jumble of rock.

• Nat Geo Expeditions

Grand Marais is the lakeside end point for the Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway, which cuts a 57-mile corridor through the three-million-acre Superior National Forest. This remote region grabbed national headlines last August when high winds shifted a small, naturally occurring fire into a voracious blaze, producing smoke that traveled as far away as Russia. The largest the forest had weathered in more than a century, the fire burned into October and scorched a 100,000-acre scar into the Arrowhead. One year later the episode is just another chapter in the land’s rough-and-tumble tale. “Fires are part of life up here,” says Sue Kerfoot, who has lived in the area since the 1960s and runs Gunflint Lodge with her husband.

The Arrowhead’s Canadian edge is laced with the daisy-chained lakes and lanky pines of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, over a million motor-free acres that look as they did when American Indians and French fur traders paddled them in the 18th and 19th centuries. A footpath trampled by native Ojibwe thousands of years ago, today the Gunflint Trail passes moose-crossing signs, sapphire lakes, a sprinkling of resorts and lodges, and hiking trails that offer close encounters with wildlife, from foxes and loons to the occasional black bear. The attractions here are the natural ones that lured VIPs to Naniboujou in the late ’20s: the “breath of balsam, the scent of pine … Deer will pose at the edge of the woods to stare at you.”

St. Paul–based Berit Thorkelson is the author of Only in Minnesota.

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11 Destinations Way Up North In Minnesota That Are So Worth The Drive

Betsy Rathburn

Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at [email protected] or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.

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North to south, east to west, Minnesota is an astonishingly gorgeous place. We have just about every kind of landscape you can imagine: prairies, forests, rivers, and – of course – our famous lakes. While there is beauty in every region, there’s one particular part of Minnesota that has captured the hearts of many locals and out-of-towners alike. Northern Minnesota has endless that everyone should try to see at least once. Here are our 11 favorite destinations way up north in Minnesota that are so worth the drive.

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NORTHEAST MINNESOTA ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

Experience the beauty of Lake Superior and inland lakes and forests as you travel on highways with scenic views at every turn. Visit Duluth and its seaport vibe and big city options or explore small towns with delightful downtowns.

Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm

Enjoy These Great Northeast Minnesota Attractions and More:

• History is on full display at the St. Louis County Depot
• Tour the historic Glensheen Mansion
• Visit the World’s Largest Floating Loon
• Explore the Minnesota Discovery Center
• The Judy Garland Museum is full of great exhibits

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Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota

NORTHEAST MINNESOTA DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: minnesota state parks, animal centers and more.

Fuel up for outdoor attractions in Minnesotawith breakfast and begin at  Canal Park Lakewalk  with stunning views of Lake Superior and the city. A centerpiece of the fully accessible four-mile paved trail is the Aerial Lift Bridge.

Tour the historic  Glensheen Mansion,  which depicts the life of the Congdon family in the early 20th century. The family’s collection is intact, from furnishings to books on the bookshelf. Outside, the 12-acre estate offers magnificent views of Lake Superior. Depart for the 40-minute drive to Two Harbors.

Anchored on the rocky shore of Lake Superior,  Split Rock Lighthouse  is Minnesota’s oldest still-operating lighthouse and one of the state’s most photographed icons. Visitors can take guided tours of the tower, Assistant Keeper’s House and Pilot House. Just north is  Gooseberry Falls State Park  in Minnesota and its spectacular waterfalls. Continue on scenic Hwy. 61, 15 minutes north to  Tettegouche State Park  and Minnesota’slargest waterfall. Depart on scenic Hwy. 1 through Finland State Forest for the 90-minute drive to Ely.

Arrive at the  International Wolf Center  in Ely, Minnesota for an introduction to the facts and fictions of domestic and international wolves. Next is the  American Bear Center , the only black bear educational facility of its kind. You might prefer the  Grand Ely Lodge Resort Event Center  for dinner and overnight, or take the 20-minute drive to Tower and the  Fortune Bay Resort Casino  for dinner, live gaming action and overnight.

Extend your Minnesota trip to five days by continuing on Hwy. 61 for an hour to Grand Marais and visits to  North House Folk School  and  Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery . Depart on day two for the 40-minute drive to Grand Portage and the  Grand Portage National Monument . Have lunch and depart for the 4-hour drive to International Falls. Check into the  Cantilever  +  Distillery  for a high-quality hotel, dining and sampling experience. Begin the day at  Rainy Lake VisitorCenter  with stunning views across the water to Kabetogama Peninsula.

Gondola heading up a mountain

DAY 2: MORE FUN THINGS TO DO IN MINNESOTA

For more fun things to do in Minnesota, the first stop is Virginia and the  World’s Largest Floating Loon . Now, that’s a photo op. Sharpen your sweet tooth at  Canelake’s Candies  for a demonstration and shopping. Allow time for a windshield tour of  Virginia’s Building Murals . In Eveleth, visit the  U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum , a shrine to the players and the game.

In Chisholm, enjoy lunch at  Snickers  or  Choppy’s . Begin your afternoon at the  Minnesota Discovery Center  for an introduction to the area’s minesand the work of miners. The scene has been set for the  Hull-Rust Mineview,  a sweeping view overlooking an active iron ore mine. In Hibbing, take a guided  Bob Dylan Walking Tour , including the singer/songwriter’s childhood home and hangouts. On the way to dinner and overnight at  The Lodge at Giants Ridge , stop at  Irma’s Finland House , a gift shopping experience.

North American Bear Center in St. Louis County, Minnesota

  DAY 3: FINAL MUST-SEE MINNESOTA ATTRACTIONS

Arrive in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and visit the  Itasca County Historical Society.  Next, go to the  Forest History Center  to learn how we depend on forests for food, shelter, building materials and recreation. There’s plenty to see and do there, from paddling adventures to the logging camp, but it all starts at the visitor center.

Head to historic downtown Grand Rapids for lunch, shopping and a visit to the  Judy Garland Museum  in her childhood home. Exhibits of Judy Garland and the Wizard of Oz collection honor the talent of the 20th-century artist.

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Northeastern Minnesota

• 3 Other destinations
• 4 Understand
• 7 Get around
• 12 Stay safe

The Northeastern region of Minnesota is marked by countless rivers, lakes, and the shore of one Great Lake. It includes Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Pine, and St. Louis counties.

Regions [ edit ]

• Gunflint Trail
• North Shore

Cities [ edit ]

• 46.533056 -93.710278 1 Aitkin
• 46.72161 -92.459357 2 Cloquet
• 46.786944 -92.098056 3 Duluth
• 47.902222 -91.855833 4 Ely
• 47.237222 -93.530278 5 Grand Rapids
• 46.806944 -92.238333 6 Hermantown
• 47.417222 -92.938333 7 Hibbing
• 46.011389 -92.944444 8 Hinckley
• 48.601669 -93.403681 9 International Falls
• 47.07188 -92.73242 10 Meadowlands
• 46.454167 -92.761944 11 Moose Lake
• 45.826111 -92.968611 12 Pine City
• 45.57 -93.581667 13 Princeton
• 46.131111 -92.8675 14 Sandstone
• 47.025278 -91.673889 15 Two Harbors
• 47.523333 -92.536667 16 Virginia

Other destinations [ edit ]

• Bear Head Lake
• 47.8167 -91.2 1 Boundary Waters Canoe Area
• Cascade River
• Cuyuna Country Rec. Area
• Father Hennepin
• Franz Jevne
• George H. Crosby Manitou
• Gooseberry Falls
• Grand Portage
• Hill Annex Mine
• Judge C.R. Magney
• McCarthy Beach
• 45.93 -93.63 2 Mille Lacs
• Savanna Portage
• Schoolcraft
• Soudan Underground Mine
• Split Rock Lighthouse
• Temperance River
• Tettegouche
• Lake Shetek
• Monson Lake
• Nerstrand Big Woods
• Sakatah Lake
• Split Rock Creek
• Upper Sioux Agency
• 48.5 -92.883333 3 Voyageurs National Park

Understand [ edit ]

The economy of the northern part of this region seems to be almost perpetually on a down cycle, and while there is considerable pessimism in those areas due to that, locals also have much pride about their homeland. Northeastern Minnesotans are unfailingly helpful and honest, if occasionally gruff. The residents enjoy their outdoor activities, in all seasons. There is a connection between the people and the land here, and many citizens hold hunting and fishing at least on par with God and country. Visitors would be wise to recognize this fact.

The Iron Range (Hibbing-Chisholm area) is culturally similar to the U.P. with many of Finnish ancestry, some Russians, and is economically centered around mining. Most of the rest of the area is centered around tourism, farming and logging, and is dominated by Norwegians, Swedes and Germans, with a few Poles and American Indians. There are several Indian Reservations in the area.

Despite its rural nature, most Minnesotans are actually quite progressive politically and environmentally. The area is socially more conservative, and less tolerant of diverse views than Minneapolis. Honesty and integrity are always appreciated here, and good deeds never go unnoticed. People tend to avoid using absolutes and superlatives when talking.

Talk [ edit ]

Finnish is still spoken by some residents in the far Northeast. Many locals speak with a pronounced Scandinavian accent (think of the movie "Fargo"), and quite rapidly! However they are usually happy to oblige and speak slower if asked, nicely.

When ordering food in a restaurant, some tips: 'pop' is served here, asking for a 'soda' might get you a cream soda. You can probably find a pasty (meat stew in bread) in the Iron Range (and no shortage of bars). A glass of beer is referred to as a 'tap' or a 'glass' but usually not a 'draw' or a 'draft'. There are no dry counties.

Asking for Polish, or 'Polacker', will get you a spicy sausage, and 'Smelt' a fried fish. 'Hotdish' is a casserole, and it should be present at every family reunion or church potluck. Hotdish is such a fixture that since 2011, the state's congressional representatives have held a competition in Washington, DC to see who can make the best one. 'Boughten' means store-bought, as opposed to home-made, as in "...all I have is boughten bread". And even the locals will usually avoid 'Lutefisk', no matter what you may have heard elsewhere.

Going to the 'show' means seeing a movie at the cinema. A 'snow machine' is a snowmobile (both terms are used, but sometimes spark a discussion between proponents of one term vs. the other). A 'block heater' is a device to warm car engines on cold winter nights (marked by the electric plug-ins dangling from the grills of many local cars and trucks). 'The Cities' always refers to the Twin Cities: Minneapolis-Saint Paul and suburbs. A "sow-na" is in reality a steam bath (sauna), but a 'sarma' is a stuffed cabbage roll. 'Choppers' are thick mittens for the really cold weather – generally a wool insert and leather outer parts. A common tree is the quaking aspen, which is a type of poplar, but is called a 'popple' here.

Any word ending in 'ag', like 'flag' or 'bag' has a long a sound, it rhymes with 'flake' or 'bake'. A preposition is commonly used to end a sentence, particularly in the phrase "Are you coming with?"

Acceptable affirmative responses to questions here include, 'oh yah', 'you betcha', and 'no doubt'. 'No way' is a common negatory. Derision is not advised. And of course, "uff da" is a common expression, similar to "oh my gosh".

Get in [ edit ]

Flights are available into Duluth International Airport and Hibbing Municipal Airport via Delta Air Lines. Greyhound Bus Lines serve Duluth. Major highways serving the area are Interstate 35 from Minneapolis, US 53 from Eau Claire and northwestern Wisconsin, US 2 from the upper peninsula of Michigan, and MN 61 from Ontario, Canada.

Get around [ edit ]

Most regional highways are well-maintained if aged. Summer brings road construction, winter brings snow, and spring may bring road weight limits as the ground thaws. MN-DOT provides helpful information about conditions and road work.

Almost all of the local communities use some version of the grid system for their streets, with extensive use of numbered (2nd, 3rd, 4th Avenues West) streets for easy direction-finding. Inquire locally, most residents are happy to help provide directions.

See [ edit ]

• The International Wolf Center in Ely, educating outdoor enthusiasts about the timber wolf.
• Several sites in the Iron Range , including mine tours and Bob Dylan's boyhood home.
• Judy Garland's Birthplace, in Grand Rapids.
• The Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, an outdoor interactive facility engaging visitors in the life of early loggers.
• Black Bear Casino in Cloquet, Fond-du-Luth gaming Casino in Duluth, Fortune Bay Casino near Tower, and Grand Casino Hinckley, in Hinckley.
• Numerous state parks.

Do [ edit ]

Enjoying the outdoors is almost a necessity to enjoy Northeastern Minnesota.

• Hunting is a big draw in the area, primarily deer hunting, but there is also a season on black bear and moose, as well as several fowl: ducks, geese, and ruffed grouse.
• Enjoy a ride pulled by sled dogs in Ely .
• View the fall leaves as the colors change in late September and early October.
• Take in the many local high school sporting events, but especially IRC hockey games in the wintertime to fully appreciate the love locals have for this sport.
• Canoe the BWCA ( Boundary Waters Canoe Area ) in the summer months.

Eat [ edit ]

Sammy's Pizza in Hibbing is a staple and has been for decades. Grandma's in Duluth's Canal Park is also highly regarded. Some of the national chains you will find across the region are Dairy Queen, Subway, Hardee's, and Pizza Hut.

Most of the food is solid, small-town fare, centered around meat and potatoes. Available spices are salt, pepper, ketchup, and butter.

Drink [ edit ]

There is more beer drinking per capita in the Iron Range than in the Twin Cities. Liquor stores are plentiful, as are local taverns. Drinking and driving, however, has serious consequences.

Beer and whiskey ('rye' is Canadian whiskey) are more likely to be enjoyed virtually everywhere than wine or those fruity drinks that come with little umbrellas. Do not expect to be surprised!

Stay safe [ edit ]

The Minnesota State Patrol has a considerable presence on local highways, and drivers would do well to obey posted speed limits.

Property crime is far more likely in this region than violent crime. Use common sense regarding valuables left in vehicles. Most locals are very approachable and helpful to out-of-towners, and will go out of their ways to provide assistance.

Mosquitoes can be problematic during the summer months, up until the time of the first killing frost in August or September. Black flies, deer flies and horse flies can be bothersome in some locations. Wood ticks may find you in long grass, particularly in early summer. The good news is that there are essentially no poisonous snakes or insects, and it's too cold for cockroaches.

Do not underestimate the effect of the wintertime cold on yourself or your vehicle ! The air temperature can get to -20 °F to -30 °F (that's about -30 °C to -35 °C) at any time from mid-December into March. Occasional cold spells can get colder than that, and that's before you take the wind into account. Many local vehicles are equipped with plug-in engine block heaters, so that the car has a better chance of starting in the morning. Frozen antifreeze is actually possible during a deep cold snap, and it can ruin your day as well as your vehicle. It's usually a good idea to plug in the block heater overnight, or if you'll be parked for more than a couple of hours, whenever the temperature is predicted to be below 5 °F (-15 °C). When driving in the area, make sure you keep warm clothes and other supplies in the car in case of an accident or breakdown.

Ice fishing brings its own driving risks, as some people like to drive their trucks out onto the lake, rather than parking on the shore and walking out to where they want to fish. Do not drive on the ice unless you know the lake and know that your route is safe!! Don't assume that the guy in front of you knows what he's doing; at one 2016 event, 15 parked vehicles fell through the ice of a lake together. If your vehicle falls through the ice (and you get out alive), you will be required to pay the cost of recovering your vehicle from the lake, which can run up to $5,000. The more expensive "comprehensive" auto insurance forms usually covers this; the others don't.

Deer hunting is another popular seasonal sport. Shining deer – shining a spotlight on them at night; it's also called jacklighting or spotlighting deer – is illegal. Do not let your dogs run loose across farm fields, as farmers have been known to shoot stray dogs. Stray dogs are considered more dangerous to livestock than wolves.

Go next [ edit ]

Flights depart Duluth International Airport for Minneapolis and Detroit daily.

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Northeast Minnesota

Things to do | northeast minnesota, spirit mountain adventure park – duluth, towering pines canopy tour – gunflint trail.

An exciting 2+ hour naturalist adventure trip through the canopies of huge old growth white pine trees on a series of 8 zip lines, led by two sky guides. The views are awesome as you overlook Lonely Lake, Gunflint Lake and the Canadian shores to the north, and the entire Boreal forest basin behind Gunflint Lodge.

Great Lakes Aquarium – Duluth

Minnesota Bike Trails

Gitchi Gami Trail – North Shore

Tofte charters – tofte, department of natural resources, pokegama golf course – grand rapids, ely golf club – ely, superior national golf course – lutsen, lakeview national golf course –   two harbors.

Northeast Minnesota Hiking Trails

Superior Hiking Trail – North Shore

Minnesota Historical Society

Horseback riding – gunflint trail.

Northeastern Minnesota Mountain Bike Trails

International wolf center – ely, north american bear center – ely, minnesota discovery center – chisholm.

Minnesota Discovery Center is the largest museum complex in the state outside the Twin Cities.  It’s the one place to learn everything about the Land, the Mines, the People and the Work of the Iron Range. Nature Center Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center – Gunflint Trail Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center is open daily from Memorial Day Weekend through the third weekend of October. Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center tells the story of the Gunflint Trail. Interpretive and interactive displays in this Gunflint Trail museum present the area’s cultural and natural history from its prehistoric beginnings to the development of today’s unique, rural community. A network of nature trails crisscrosses Chik-Wauk’s 50-acre grounds. Plan to immerse yourself in the Gunflint Trail forest with Chik-Wauk’s family-focused, self guided naturalist program, which includes activity packs for use on the Chik-Wauk grounds. More Info Chippewa National Forest Visitor Center Traveling to the Chippewa National Forest means traveling “up north”. The Forest, located in the heart of northern Minnesota, is a celebration of seasons, culture, and environment. This northern hardwood forest mixes between the western prairies and the northern boreal forest to the north and east. It is a Forest with shared boundaries-red oak to white pine, wild ginger to wild rice and Canada lynx to sandhill crane. The border is also shared between governments as well, with the Chippewa National Forest working across shared borders with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center – Finland

Sawtooth outfitters – tofte, sawbill canoe outfitters – tofte.

Minnesota’s Scenic Byways

Northeastern State Parks

Grand marais playhouse – grand marais, mississippi melodie showboat – grand rapids, glensheen mansion – duluth, soudan underground mine tour – soudan, superior white water rafting – carlton, hidden view winery – cloquet.

Nordic Skiing

Lutsen mountains – lutsen, gunflint lodge dog sledding – gunflint trail, stoney creek sled dogs - tofte, chilly dogs sled dog trips – ely, white wolf sled dogs – ely, wintergreen dogsled – ely, lake superior zoo – duluth.

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• Ski & Snowboard at Lutsen
• Snowmobile Trails
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Learn everything you need to know about North Shore Minnesota so your trip is the most memorable it can possibly be! Here’s the ultimate guide to the North Shore.

Breathtaking beauty is never far away when you’re on the North Shore MN!

Even with extraordinary hiking trails, the shore of Lake Superior, and untamed nature at every turn, you still need an amazing guide!

Explore the North Shore of Minnesota with North Shore Visitor.

This is THE GUIDE to North Shore lodging, shopping, dining, activities, attractions, maps, things to do and events for Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior.

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everything you need to know about minnesota’s north shore

Whether you’re a first time visitor or a seasoned North Shore traveler, there’s always more to learn. North Shore Visitor has been the go-to source of information about this incredible region for over 20 years and has helped endless people discover everything this gem has to offer.

We’ve put together helpful guides to make sure your North Shore MN vacation is one you’ll remember forever, check them out!

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**explore each of the north shore towns, **be awed by the night sky –  northern lights and stargazing tips and forecasts, here are some wonderful places to stay . . ..

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Best Things to Do in Northeast Minneapolis

Northeast Minneapolis is My Favorite Neighborhood

Northeast Minneapolis is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Minnesota and my absolute favorite neighborhood in Minneapolis. It’s lively and vibrant and it’s one of the best places to go on a  Friday night for drinks and food or a relaxing Sunday morning for coffee and shopping. Read on for some of the most unique things to do in Northeast Minneapolis, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods.

1. Take a Walk

Two of my favorite places to walk around and explore are Boom Island , which has a cool lighthouse, and Nicollet Island , which has adorable and brightly colored homes. That area has a ton of cool bridges, including the Hennepin Ave Bridge with the  iconic Grain Belt Beer sign . A little further south, and technically a few blocks outside of Northeast Minneapolis is the Stone Arch Bridge . I love that beautiful bridge so much that my husband and I took our engagement photos there. It offers a breathtaking view of the downtown Minneapolis skyline and the Mississippi River. Check out the beautiful Minneapolis skyline in the photo above with my dog Ole.

Pro tip:  The parking in this area is really easy. It is rarely difficult to find a spot unless there is something unique happening like a Vikings game. To save yourself a little time when parking, download the MPLS Parking app ahead of time. You can get your credit card and vehicle information on file before you even leave home. Then you can pay for parking and add more time directly through the app without having to rush back to the meter to add more time.

2. Enjoy the Shops

I Like You is a cute gift shop  in Northeast Minneapolis and I Like You Too is their sister store in St. Paul. These two small shops give space to more than 200 artists. They offer jewelry, clothing, stationery, kitchen items, and more. It’s a super cute place with a strong Minnesota vibe. Plus, t he exterior of the building has awesome graffiti, which has become a hotspot for grabbing an Instagrammable photo.

A few other great Northeast Minneapolis shops are  Curiosity , for home decor; The Golden Pearl , for beautiful vintage finds; and  Hazel & Rose , for women’s fashion.

Shop some of my favorite travel items

Merrell boots, yeti rambler, toiletries bag.

3. Sip Coffee and Lattes

Who doesn’t love a good coffee shop? Honour Cafe is located in the heart of Northeast Minneapolis at 451 NE Stinson Boulevard. Honour Cafe has an awesome selection of coffee, lattes, juice, and much more. We ordered a variety of their cookies, which did not disappoint! I love the chocolate cookie with salted caramel drizzled on top. You can bring a book or your computer to work inside the cafe or grab your treats to go.

Another great coffee shop in Northeast Minneapolis is Spyhouse . This rustic cafe is located inside a restored brick and timber warehouse. It has the original wood flooring, exposed brick and large windows. The space is bright, cozy, and inviting. They also offer a great selection of coffee beverages and baked goods including donuts!

4. Get Quality Food at Surdyk’s and Kramarczuk’s

Surdyk’s and Kramarczuk’s are technically just outside Northeast Minneapolis, but only by one or two blocks, so they’re easy to include in your Northeast Minneapolis visit. My father-in-law grew up in Northeast Minneapolis so he knows all the best-kept secrets of the area. I learned about these two places from him. 

Surdyk’s first opened in 1934. They have an incredible cheese shop with high-quality cheese, meat, olive oil, chocolates, sandwiches, coffee, and more. They also have a massive selection of wine, beer, and liquor. My husband and I love to stop by and grab a variety of cheese along with their freshly baked breads so we can make our own charcuterie board at home.

Pro tip: Go early. If you wait too long in the day they will run out of bread, which we learned the hard way.

Another place with excellent food is Kramarczuk’s . My in-laws always stop there for incredible meat for the holidays. Their sausages are unreal! They also have baked goods, a delicatessen, and a restaurant. It’s a tiny little place that you might not notice if you’re just walking by, but it’s absolutely worth going inside.

5. Find Unique Dinner Options

Sonder Shaker  is a relatively new spot in Northeast that opened in 2018. Sonder Shaker is a charming, contemporary space offering a variety of American fare menu options and craft cocktails. We sat at a hightop next to the kitchen and the chef brought us a free appetizer to try! I don’t know if that always happens, but if given the choice, sit by the kitchen!

Another restaurant in Northeast Minneapolis I highly recommend is Stepchld . Here, you’ll find Ethiopian flavors, Middle Eastern spices, oysters, and a great selection of wine. The space is long and narrow with bright murals and a lot of plants hanging from the ceiling. The service was great and the food was prepared really well.

There are so many great spots to eat in Northeast! Here are a few more worth checking out:

• 1029 Bar , a seafood-centric pub with karaoke and cocktails
• Elsie’s , an American food spot with a bowling center
• Emily’s Lebanese Deli
• Gastof’s , known for their German food and beer
• Jax Cafe , an upscale spot best known for steak and seafood
• Northeast Yacht Club , a casual atmosphere with comfort food
• Sikora’s Polish Market and Deli , for polish food

6. Drink a Cocktail at Nye’s

Nye’s Bar, which originally opened in 1950 for polka dancing, is a pillar in  Northeast Minneapolis. Still today it’s a popular spot to enjoy a refreshing cocktail in a historic building. Try the lemon drop or a gimlet, two of my favorites.

7. Ride a Ferris Wheel and Play Mini Golf

One of the best places to visit in Northeast Minneapolis is Betty Dangers Country Club , which is an eccentric restaurant. Betty Danger’s has a giant Ferris wheel , which overlooks downtown Minneapolis as well as a miniature golf course. It’s also a pretty spectacular place to visit around the holidays when just about every inch of the interior space is covered in Christmas lights and ornaments. Head down the street to their sister business, Psycho Suzi  for a lively, Polynesian-themed lounge with tiki decor, bar food, and tiki-inspired drinks and decor. They also have a large and beautiful deck overlooking the Mississippi River.

8. Visit Three Gorgeous Churches

For the architecture alone, these three spots and worth looking at:

• The St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral has a stunning interior painted ceiling. My in-laws were married in this church in 1976, pictured above. Notice the crowns being placed on their heads in the left photo.
• The St. Constantine Ukrainian Catholic Church has a gorgeous blue-tiled dome.
• And the St. Maron’s Catholic Church has an impressive gold dome.

I Love Northeast Minneapolis

Northeast Minneapolis is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Minnesota. There is so much to do and if you can spend more than one day there, I highly recommend it! Looking for more Minnesota inspiration? Check out my blog posts on downtown Minneapolis , the up-and-coming region of Cuyuna and Red Wing ! 

Hiking Socks

Women’s sandals.

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Northeast Minneapolis looks like the perfect place to explore on those chilly, blue-sky days when your doggy needs some good walkies. Your Newfie is sooooo good at inner city poses!

I love really good cheese, so you are totally tempting me with Surdyk’s and Kramarczuk’s as well as the food at Spoon and Stable! Add in some tasty wine and I’d be super happy.

Kristen Glazer

Don’t be fooled! It took a lot of effort to get one good photo of him on the bridge 🙂

I admit that I’ve never been to Minneapolis, but I love reading about all the places that I will travel to when the fear of COVID-19 is behind us. My favorite thing is to leash up the dog and just walk the streets looking for fun places to explore. Looks like you and your pup do the same thing!

Yes! He’s definitely my little adventure buddy. Dogs are the best!

I really didn’t spend much time in Minneapolis when I lived in Minnesota. I was so much into being in the wilderness. But after reading this, there are definitely places I’d like to see in Minneapolis. And, btw, your dog is adorable.

You’ll have to come back and check it out some day!

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Minnesota Bucket List | 13 Absolute Best Things To Do There!

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If you’re looking to explore the U.S. state of Minnesota, our Minnesota Bucket List will guide you to the top 13 absolute best things to do here!

With water being the primary draw to this upper Midwest state, Minnesota is aptly known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” though it actually has 11,842 lakes (Wow!) .

Having been born and raised in Minnesota, and now currently raising my own family here, the experiences mentioned here are near and dear to my heart and have helped shape who I am as a person today.

This perfectly crafted Minnesota Bucket List is divided by activities found in the Northern and Southern halves of the state in order to best guide you in your travels.

Though there are so many more amazing places and attractions to visit in Minnesota, here is a look at 13 hand-picked gems!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.   For more info, see disclosure.

Table of Contents

Minnesota Bucket List: Northern Minnesota

Northern Minnesota is characterized by wild beauty, panoramic lake views, scenic rivers, and dramatic woodlands – as well as pleasant summers and frigidly cold winters!

The essence and splendor of Northern Minnesota’s rugged landscapes and glistening freshwater lakes are any outdoor enthusiast’s dream.

Fishing, boating, hiking, camping, and canoeing are king in summer, spring, and fall.

Winters consist of ice hockey, ice skating, ice fishing, skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Here are the Minnesota bucket-list-worthy experiences and attractions found in the Northernmost half of the state of Minnesota.

1. Discover Voyageur’s National Park

One of the best places to visit in Minnesota that tops our Minnesota bucket list is Voyageur’s National Park !

This solely water-based National Park is so different than its more popular counterparts (Yellowstone, Arches, Acadia, etc.) in that you absolutely must get out of your car to experience it. 

You see, Voyageurs consists of 500 islands, 655 miles of shoreline, and more than 200,000 acres of land and water, most of which are only accessible by boat.

Popular summer activities here include front and back-country camping, walleye fishing, hiking, and boating.

Winter activities in Voyageurs National Park include snowmobiling, ice fishing, winter camping, and cross-country skiing.

Voyageur’s National Park lodging options include anything from rustic resorts and cabins to distinguished hotels , gigantic houseboats, or secluded campsites.

2. Explore the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Accessible primarily by canoe, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Northern Minnesota is one of America’s most beautiful and remote adventures making it a Minnesota bucket list highlight!

BWCA is a backpacker’s paradise in that it is home to over 2,000 lakes connected by rivers and portages that are only accessible to paddlers.

In fact, one of the hardest things about planning your first  Boundary Waters trip is deciding where to go within the vast preserve’s 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 11 hiking trails, and approximately 2,000 designated campsites.

While there, Up North experiences include paddling, portaging, and cooking over an open fire.

Likewise, visitors can expect to spot moose, black bears, loons, and bald eagles, as well as experience the Superior National Forest.

Keep in mind that outfitters in getaway towns such as Ely, Crane Lake, Grand Marias, and Tofte, Minnesota can provide able guides and supplies to orchestrate your trip and help fulfill your camping checklist .

3. Visit Duluth & Canal Park

Visiting the Northeast port city of Duluth, MN is another one of the absolute best things to do in Minnesota!

Duluth sits on the north shore of Lake Superior, which is the largest of the 4 Great Lakes of North America.

Its lakeshore location offers a nautical vibe complete with plenty of activities for those seeing outdoor lakeside leisure.

Considered one of the “Best Outdoor Cities in America,” and “The Craft Beer Capital of Minnesota”, the perfect Duluth itinerary consists of experiences and attractions that appeal to a wide variety of ages and interests.

As an active port city, our favorite activity in Duluth is watching ships from around the world transporting grain, coal, and iron ore into Duluth’s harbor via the canal.

Other free things to do in Duluth include exploring Duluth’s world-famous Canal Park, the Lighthouse Pier, Lakefront Trail, and Duluth’s Aerial Life Bridge.

For these reasons and more, Duluth’s Great Lake attractions are Minnesota Bucket List must-dos!

We love visiting our home state of Minnesota so much, that we’ve written several other guides to help you plan a trip there!

• Complete 3-Day Duluth, MN Itinerary
• A Complete List of Duluth, MN Attractions
• Minnesota Wineries: 15 Must-Try Locations!
• The Best Zoos in Minnesota for Fun Animal Encounters
• The Best Indoor Waterparks in Minnesota!

4. Travel the North Shore Scenic Drive

The North Shore Scenic Drive is a 154-mile scenic “All American Roadway” that extends from Duluth to Two Harbors, MN (on Co. Rd. 61), and from Two Harbors to Grand Portage, MN (on Hwy. 61).

What makes the North Shore Scenic Driver so special is that it includes 7 state parks, as well as breathtaking views of Lake Superior and its surrounding cliffs, forests, and waterfalls.

The must-see stops on the Minnesota North Shore include Gooseberry Falls State Park, Split Rock Lighthouse, Palisade Head, and Tettegouche State Park.

The quaint towns and lakeside villages on the North Shore provide picturesque views of the pine trees, rock formations, and lakeside beauty.

In addition, be sure to discover the unforgettable things to do in Grand Marais , as this is a town that will leave a lasting impression on your heart!

The North Shore Scenic Drive is a family getaway that you simply won’t forget.

Additional planning tip: Heading up the North Shore in the winter? Be sure to stop and experience the best skiing in Minnesota at Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort located in Lutsen, MN.

*Read about our best family road trip tips in order to cruise this American roadways with ease.

5. Spend a Summer Vacation in the Brainerd Lakes Area

The Brainerd Lakes Area offers a small-town Minnesota charm set alongside the most popular lakes and resorts in Minnesota.

Located just 125 miles north of Minneapolis/St. Paul, there are dozens of things to do in Brainerd, along with its rivers and lakes that offer wildlife and recreational fun.

The Gull Lake and Whitefish chain of lakes are bustling with dining and lodging options whereas the Crow Wing or Pine Rivers offers a slower pace and more natural landscapes.

Favorite Brainerd Lakes Region resorts include Grand View Lodge, Breezy Point Resort, and Madden’s on Gull Lake.

This area is also home to a few of Minnesota’s best indoor waterparks which is definitely a draw here for families with kids!

With deluxe accommodations, watersports, kids’ activities, golf & spa options, and specialty dining experiences, add a summer vacation to the Brainder Lakes Area to your Minnesota bucket list!

Minnesota Bucket List: Southern Minnesota

Southern Minnesota is home to dozens of charming small towns with historic main streets, as well as the big cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Rochester, Minnesota.

In addition, most of the state’s cultural centers and historic architecture can be found throughout Southern Minnesota, along with wooded bluffs and winding rivers and streams.

And finally, you’ll find our favorite Minnesota zoos , and several Minnesota wineries that you absolutely don’t want to miss if you’re looking for the best things to do in Minnesota!

Here are the Minnesota bucket-list-worthy experiences and attractions found in the Southern half of the state of Minnesota.

6. Visit the Minnesota State Capitol

The free or self-guided tours offered at the Minnesota State Capitol building in St. Paul, MN are a definite ‘must’ on any Minnesota bucket list.

The Capitol recently underwent a 3-year, $310 million restoration project which brought the already stunning building back to life.

Among its most impressive features are the golden horses on the exterior of the building that can be seen from even miles away (referred to as the quadriga).

While inside, visitors have a chance to see the legislature in action in the restored House and Senate chambers via the public gallery that is located on the third floor.

Other favorite activities here include admiring the gigantic first-floor rotunda and paintings of scenes from Minnesota’s involvement in the Civil War that can be found in the Governor’s Reception Room.

Guided tours lasting 45 minutes leave at the top of each hour from the Capitol Information and Tour Center.

7. Spend a Day at the Mall of America

Your Minnesota bucket list should most definitely include spending a day or more at Bloomington, Minnesota’s  Mall of America , the largest shopping mall in the United States.

Boasting over 40 million visitors a year, you can literally spend an entire weekend here taking it all in!

Not only is Mall of America the nation’s largest retail shopping center, but it is also a mecca of dining, entertainment, and dozens of family-friendly attractions .

For families with children, the crown jewel of the Mall of America is the indoor Nickelodeon Universe theme park found in the center of the mall!

With classic theme-park rides such as rollercoasters, the Log Chute, a Ferris Wheel, and bumper cars, Nickelodeon Universe tops the list of the best things to do in Minnesota with kids!

If visiting the Mall of America ends up on your bucket list, perhaps you’d like to stay there too?

Featuring both luxury and convenience, the  Radisson Blu  and  JW Marriott Minneapolis  are attached to the mall itself. With direct access to the Mall of America, you never have to step foot outside during your visit.

*While there, be sure to experience the other top things to do in Bloomington, MN found here!

8. Stay at Great Wolf Lodge

Located adjacent to the Mall of America is another Minnesota bucket-list favorite, Great Wolf Lodge .

With over 19 locations (and counting!) in the U.S. and Canada, the Great Wolf Lodge resort brand has become a family favorite of many!

What started as a small indoor water park hotel in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Great Wolf Lodge now features a line of family resorts each complete with a water park, restaurants, arcades, spas, and children’s activities.

Part of Great Wolf’s appeal is that it offers a weatherproof getaway where visitors can swim and wear bathing suits regardless of the time of year. For this reason, this resort is hugely popular as a destination during the cold Minnesota winters.

We love Great Wolf Lodge for its rustic-themed rooms and family-friendly atmosphere.

*Read our entire review of Bloomington’s Great Wolf Lodge here!

9. Visit Minnehaha Regional Park

Overlooking the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Regional Park is one of Minneapolis Minnesota’s oldest and most popular parks – an ultimate bucket list idea for sure!

It attracts over 850,000 visitors annually.

A visit to Minnehaha Falls Regional Park , which is home to the enormous Minnehaha Falls, is a must-do recommendation on our Minnesota bucket list.

The 53-foot-tall majestic Minnehaha Falls is one of the greatest urban waterfalls in the United States.

The park also features scenic river overlooks and limestone bluffs.

Be prepared to stand in awestruck wonder at the beautiful Minnehaha Falls located in the middle of Minnesota’s biggest industrial city!

Minnehaha Park is located at the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway in a 193-acre wooded setting. 

Additional planning tip: Make it a point to visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and see the famous Spoon Bridge and Cherry sculpture that is a convenient 6 miles from Minnehaha Falls!

10. Cheer On the Home Team

Minneapolis, Minnesota happens to be home to four professional sports teams and associated sports complexes that draw enormous crowds during their prospective seasons.

The Minnesota home teams include:

• MLB’s Minnesota Twins at Target Field
• NFL’s Minnesota Vikings at the U.S. Bank Stadium
• NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Lynx at the Target Center
• NHL’s Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center

In the winter, hockey is king in Minnesota.

Attending a Minnesota Wild hockey game is by far one of the best things to do in Minneapolis !

The Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN becomes a haven to over 18,000  Minnesota Wild  spectators each and every time the puck is dropped on home ice.

Not a current fan?

There is no doubt that the activities, enthusiasm, and exciting atmosphere at Xcel Energy will get you into the game.

Likewise, there is literally not a bad seat in the house.

You will always feel at the heart of the action when attending a game here!

12. Visit Rochester and the Mayo Clinic

The historic and world-famous Mayo Clinic is located in Rochester, Minnesota, which is 75 miles south of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Rochester has long been rated as one of the best places to live in the United States by multiple publications such as  Money Magazine .

This is due in part to the presence of its world-class medical facility, Mayo Clinic.

On August 21st, 1883,  The Great Tornado  demolished much of Rochester and there was no medical facility in the immediate area at the time.

Local doctors Will and Charlie Mayo worked together to care for the wounded as well as pioneered several lifesaving medical techniques.

The Mayo practice grew tremendously and is now one of the largest and most well-respected medical facilities in the world.

Many notable people from around the world, including several former U.S. Presidents, have visited Rochester as patients of the Mayo Clinic. International patients include King Hussein of Jordan.

Along with multiple other memorable things to do in Rochester, MN , visiting or admiring the grounds of the Mayo Clinic is one of them!

Mayo Clinic offers free guided art, audio, and historical tours for patients and their guests while they are at Mayo.

The general public can tour Mayowood, Assissi Heights, the Plummer House, and W.W Mayo House, all of which are important landmarks in the history of the Mayo Clinic.

11. Visit Forestville and Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

Forestville and Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park is located in Preston, MN which is located 37 miles south of Rochester, MN.

Historic Forestville is a restored 1800s village operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. They offer guided tours that allow visitors to connect with historical figures and experience what life was like at the turn of the 20th century.

Tours begin at the Forestville visitor center and travel through the garden, kitchen, Meighen family house and offices, and general store filled with original 19th-century artifacts and merchandise.

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park  surrounds Historic Forestville. This park features tours of Mystery Cave, tent and camper cabin camping, horseback riding and a horse camp, hiking trails, and trout fishing.

As Minnesota’s longest and most popular cave, Mystery Cave tours are complete with views of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, beautiful underground pools, and a maze of interconnecting passages.

Parks naturalists lead your tour through various portions of the cave and explain its history, its features, and how it was formed. Modern lighting and walkways enhance accessible tours.

Due to its uniqueness, beauty, and overall appeal, we have included Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park on this Minnesota Bucket List! Plus, who knew that Minnesota has caves?

13. Wheel through Winona

Another one of the best places to visit in Minnesota is the city of Winona!

Located in Southeast Minnesota, Winona is nestled in the scenic bluff country located along the Mississippi River.

Known for its picturesque vistas, multiple parks, and historic sites, the city is highlighted by an extraordinary history.

Winona’s downtown features 11 monumental blocks devoted to its architectural distinction from stone and stained glass masterpieces to remarkable basilica structures.

Some of the best things to do Winona are driving, hiking, or biking to the top of Gavin Heights overlook, walking or biking around Lake Park, and hiking on the trails up the front side of Sugar Loaf bluff.

If you happen to be in the area, I also recommend visiting Wabasha, MN which is located 30 miles north of Winona.

Wabasha is a beautiful lakside community on the Mississippi River and is home to the world-famous National Eagle Center.

This concludes our Minnesota Bucket List! What is one place from this list that you are intrigued to visit? Jen

Before leaving, be sure to check our  Travel Resources Page  to find exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*

Jen Brommer is a family travel expert. She has been featured as an authority on several notable travel websites and is a member of the Family Travel Association (FTA), Midwest Travel Network, and TravMedia global media network.

A prominent content creator and influencer on Instagram, Jen has over 150K unique monthly blog readers from countries all over the world. She has spent the last 16 years planning fun, and hassle-free family vacations for her family of 5.

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12 Comments

I didn’t know there was so much to do in Minnesota! Everything looks so fun and Minnesota isn’t far from me at all.

It is a fantastic state to explore! I hope that you’re able to do some of the things on this list 🙂

I grew up in Minnesota and return annually to visit family. There were some new-to-me things on this list that I’ll have to give a try. I’ve gone camping at BWCS a few times and that’s REAL camping!

You’re so right! BWCA is backwoods camping at its finest! So cool to find out that you grew up in Minnesota!!

Split Rock is on my list of places to visit! Minnehaha Falls too! I visited Forestville when I was little and want to go back! Great post!

We love Split Rock too! One of these days I’d like to drive the entire North Shore with our kids. There are so many amazing things to see up there!

We are hoping to go to Voyageurs this summer. We love National Parks and since we also live in the Midwest, Voyageurs is high on our wishlist.

That’s awesome! Look into renting a houseboat if you can! It is an experience like no other!

I’ve actually never been to Minnesota (even though I grew up in the Midwest – Iowa). All of these are certainly reminding how much I’m missing out on exploring a new state. I’ll add these to my list!

Where did you grow up in Iowa? My husband is from Sioux Center, IA and went to college in Sioux City, IA 🙂

One of my best friend lives in Minneapolis, so I Have been to Minnesota several times. They. have a family cabin up in Mille Laccs (not sure if that is spelled right) I bet some of these outdoor venues would be a good escape during our current social distancing. MN is such a huge state, so diverse. I should write a post about my state (NY) because we have alot of stuff to do and such different areas!

Yes! I never thoughts it’d be so fun to write about my home state, being that ‘traveling’ usually finds up leaving the state. Reflecting back however, we have done a loved so much here! I’d love to hear about your home state!!

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The Best Things to Do in Minnesota

Home to more than 10,000 lakes, the north star state also offers world-class museums, historic residences, and lots of great places to drink..

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The million-acre Boundary Waters features miles and miles of canoe routes, hiking trails, and more.

Photo by Gary Hamer/Explore Minnesota Tourism

Minnesota may be known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but there’s so much more to this state than water recreation. In the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, visitors will find thriving art, music, and literary scenes as well as restaurants that garner national attention. Minneapolis was even named among the most bike-friendly cities in the world, meaning you could spend your entire time there outdoors, exploring the sights via beautiful “bikeways.”

Beyond the cities, the expansive region of Northeast Minnesota offers small towns and art colonies alongside the pristine nature of the Boundary Waters. And though Northwest Minnesota is often considered the path less traveled, it has a lot to give in the way of nature and culture, including lakes, rivers, and a popular arts center.

To help you have the perfect trip to the North Star State, we’ve rounded up the best things to do across Minnesota, from museum hopping and beer tasting to canoeing, hiking, camping, and more. Keep reading, then get busy planning your Midwest adventure.

In the Twin Cities

Visit Bde Maka Ska for ice fishing in the winter and swimming in the summer.

Courtesy of Mike Krivit Photography/Meet Minneapolis

Bde Maka Ska

A trip to the Land of 10,000 Lakes wouldn’t be complete without spending some time on, well, a lake—even if you’re only visiting the cities. In Minneapolis, everyone heads to Bde Maka Ska , the largest of five in the city’s Chain of Lakes. Located in the Uptown neighborhood, the 401-acre lake is surrounded by parkland and trails, making it a favorite of locals for ice fishing in the winter and swimming, biking, and volleyball games in the summer. Along the shore are rental options for nearly every water sport, including sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, plus lockers for stashing your stuff when you’re out on the water. For those who prefer dry land, there are also several Nice Ride stations where you can access the city’s bike-share program, and a seasonal restaurant serving sandwiches, wings, and tacos.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Located next door to the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden features more than 60 works by big names like Alexander Calder, Sol LeWitt, and Robert Indiana. At its center stands Claes Oldenburg’s iconic Spoonbridge and Cherr y, which locals regard as an unofficial symbol of the city. Perhaps the best thing about the sculpture garden, however, is that it’s free, unlike the Walker—or the surrounding parking, for that matter. It’s open 365 days a year, from 6 a.m. to midnight, and also hosts the two-day Rock the Garden musical festival in June.

One of Minneapolis’s oldest parks, Minnehaha is home to limestone bluffs, a 53-foot waterfall, and a legendary dog park.

Photo by Kurt Carlson/Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board

Minnehaha Regional Park

One of the unique things about the Twin Cities is just how much nature is part of the urban landscape. Few places exemplify this better than Minnehaha , one of Minneapolis’s oldest and most popular parks. Here, visitors will find limestone bluffs, river overlooks, and a majestic 53-foot waterfall that freezes in winter. Explore the area via various walking and biking paths, or bring your furry friend to the epic dog park. There’s also a disc golf course, picnic area, playground, volleyball court, and wading pool, making the park perfect for family outings.

Surly Brewing Co.

One of the first breweries in Minneapolis, Surly set the stage for all the places that opened in its wake by helping to pass legislation in 2011 allowing breweries and distilleries to serve alcohol on site. It’s still going strong today and offers some of the most beloved brews in the region, like the Furious (slightly dark and hoppy) and the Hell (a standard lager beloved by locals). Surly operates out of a sprawling space near the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus, where guests can sample a rotating tap list of up to 38 brews in the beer hall. Also on-site is a seasonal beer garden lined with fire pits and a pizza restaurant serving New Haven–style pies.

Bring the family to the Bell Museum for wildlife dioramas, a green roof, and a state-of-the-art planetarium.

Courtesy of The Bell Museum and University of Minnesota

Bell Museum

Minnesota’s official natural history museum, the Bell in St. Paul features a digital planetarium, high-tech exhibitions, wildlife dioramas, outdoor learning experiences, and more. Visit the state-of-the-art planetarium to explore the far reaches of the cosmos, then head to the permanent galleries to learn about the origins of the universe, the diversification of life on earth, and how University of Minnesota researchers are working to create a better future for our evolving world. Children will especially love the Touch & See Lab, where they can learn through observation and sensory engagement, while nature lovers will want to head to the green roof and observatory deck, home to native plants, a geology exploration area, and a solar station.

Fitzgerald Residence

Unknown to many is the fact that F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul and lived in various homes there. Several of the residences still stand, but perhaps the most prominent is the three-story town house at 599 Summit Avenue, where he finished the manuscript for This Side of Paradise . The building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 but remains a private home, so tours aren’t typically allowed. Simply walk by to appreciate its history, then head to nearby Grand Avenue for shopping and snacking.

In Northeast Minnesota

The more than 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail has something for every ability.

Photo by Alyssa Hei/Explore Minnesota Tourism

Superior Hiking Trail

The SHT , as it’s known to locals, is perhaps the most famous hiking trail in Minnesota—not to mention one of the most well-known in the United States. The footpath–only trail stretches for more than 310 miles from the Minnesota–Wisconsin border into Canada, offering incredible scenery and glimpses of moose and other rare wildlife. The first segment meanders 58 miles from the Wisconsin border to Duluth, with trail markers every five to 10 miles for easy day hikes, backpacking, and trail running. From Duluth, it extends along the North Shore for 255 miles, passing through charming cities like Grand Marais and Lutsen. The final, northernmost section connects with the Border Route and Kekekabic trails that take hikers through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the town of Ely, Minnesota.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness , referred to as the BWCA or simply “the Boundary Waters,” draws canoeists from around the world—and for good reason. Located on the Minnesota–Canada border, the area encompasses more than 1 million acres in the northern section of the Superior National Forest and features over 1,100 lakes, 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails, and thousands of campsites. The nature here is pristine yet rugged, with lakes cut from granite and surrounded by old pine growth. Since planes flying below 4,000 feet are prohibited in the BWCA, the area is also blissfully silent, offering a kind of solitude rarely found in the U.S.

Let the kids climb all over the art at Franconia Sculpture Park—it’s encouraged.

Courtesy of Franconia Sculpture Park

Franconia Sculpture Park

Located on 43 acres in the idyllic St. Croix River Valley, Franconia Sculpture Park is a popular day trip from the Twin Cities. Open from dawn to dusk 365 days a year, it’s completely free to explore—which may be why it sees more than 60,000 visitors a year. Unlike at most art museums, guests here are encouraged to touch and climb the more than 120 sculptures on site, making for a fun, interactive way to spend the day with family. If it’s too cold to play outdoors, consider dropping by for community arts programming like kids’ sculpture classes, live music, and artists’ talks. The park also runs an active artist residency, which helps to continually supply the grounds with new, large-scale sculptures.

Grand Marais Art Colony

Artists from all over the country come to learn from the renowned teachers at the Grand Marais Art Colony . Nestled between Lake Superior and the Superior National Forest, the center offers studio instruction in painting, printmaking, clay, and glassworks, as well as tiered classes for students of all levels. While some classes run for several days, many are just a few hours long and make for a perfect afternoon activity. Practice your color theory and drum leaf binding, or sign the kids up for youth lessons in clay sculpture, screen printing, and origami. The center also holds regular open studios, when you can drop in to see work by various artists-in-residence.

Beyond the beautiful rooms and gardens, Glensheen Mansion hides a scary secret.

Courtesy of Glensheen Mansion

Glensheen Mansion

The most popular historic home in Minnesota, the 27,000-square-foot Glensheen Mansion features 39 rooms, beautiful 20th-century craftsmanship, and 12 acres of gardens—but that’s not why people visit. People come to see where Elisabeth Congdon, the heiress to her family’s large mining fortune, was murdered along with her nurse in 1977. After being donated to the University of Minnesota, Glensheen opened as a historic house museum in 1979, with details like Chester Congdon’s top hat in a closet, his wife Clara’s letters in a desk drawer, and bedsheets organized in a linen closet by the Congdons’ second-floor maid nearly 100 years ago. Tours, which cover everything from the attic and third floor to the servants’ wing, respectfully leave out the murder scene, but guides are willing to share details afterward.

In Northwest Minnesota

Catch your own fish and then cook it for dinner all in Zippel Bay State Park.

Photo by Paul Stafford/Explore Minnesota Tourism

Zippel Bay State Park

Lake of the Woods is a must-visit county for any traveler to Northwest Minnesota, especially for Zippel Bay State Park . With 3,000 acres of nature to explore, Zippel Bay boasts pet-friendly campsites and a sandy beach as well as excellent fishing, hiking, and bird-watching. The park is also popular in the colder months, when it transforms into a winter wonderland with ice fishing, seven miles of cross-country skiing trails, and four miles of snowmobiling roads. If you’re visiting in the summer and planning on doing some fishing, know that there’s a convenient fish-cleaning station where you can easily transform your day’s catch into your evening’s dinner.

Far North Spirits

Just 25 miles from the Canadian border in the tiny town of Hallock, Far North Spirits is the northernmost distillery in the contiguous United States. While you might think the distillery’s remote location holds it back, it’s actually what inspires owners Michael Swanson and Cheri Reese, who rely on northern Minnesota’s agricultural abundance to craft their premium, heritage spirits. In fact, the husband-and-wife team are among only a handful of estate distillers nationwide who also grow their own grains. Using sustainable methods, they produce a handful of beautifully bottled gins, rums, vodkas, and whiskeys, all of which possess a uniquely Minnesota character. Try them at Far North’s stylish Cocktail Room, where you can order the spirits neat or mixed into well-crafted drinks.

At Watermark, you can tour exhibits or get your hands dirty with a variety of art classes.

Courtesy of Watermark Art Center

Watermark Art Center

A staple in Bemidji since 1982, the nonprofit, member-supported Watermark Art Center works to encourage the growth and development of visual art in northern Minnesota. Home to four galleries, it presents a variety of quality exhibitions and also hosts classes, workshops, and festivals to engage the local community. Shows have featured painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and multimedia work, while classes, which are available for children, adults, and families, focus on topics as varied as textile weaving, Saami bracelets, and garden stone art. Stop by to see what’s going on, then visit the Gallery Shop, where you can pick up ceramics, paintings, and more for unique souvenirs.

Itasca State Park

Named for its lake—which serves as the starting point for the Mississippi River— Itasca is the oldest state park in Minnesota and the second oldest in the U.S. behind Niagara Falls. During the summer, locals flock here for hiking, camping, fishing, and exploring the unique ecosystem, which features a lot of old growth. History buffs can visit the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center, which features interactive, outdoor displays about the river, while those eager for a good meal can grab a table at the Douglas Lodge, open from May to October. In the winter, it’s worth planning a visit around the park’s candlelight event, when you can snowshoe on trails illuminated by candles and warm up around a bonfire with marshmallows and hot drinks.

A popular pastime in Northwest Minnesota is tubing down the Otter Tail River.

Charlie’s Tubing

If you’re in Northwest Minnesota and the weather is warm, you’re practically obligated to tube the Otter Tail River. For help with equipment and logistics, turn to Charlie’s Tubing . The friendly outfitter is open from late May through early September and helps coordinate two-hour rides down the river for groups of up to 45 people. Simply head seven miles east of Detroit Lakes on Highway 34 and you’ll see a big pink building with a vintage truck parked out front. From there, look forward to a leisurely float down the Otter Tail with a reliable team that knows how to show visitors a good time.

Note: Though COVID-19 has stalled a lot of travel plans, we hope our stories can offer inspiration for your future adventures. Please continue to check government websites for the latest policies and restrictions.

Plan your trip to Minnesota:

>> Required Eating: 10 Meals Not to Miss in Minnesota

>> The Best Hotels and Resorts in Minnesota for a Truly Local Stay

>> The Perfect Road Trip on the King of Trails Scenic Byway

The Best Time to Visit Northeast Minnesota, the United States for Weather, Safety, & Tourism

The best times to visit Northeast Minnesota for ideal weather are

May 28th to September 9th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

Northeast Minnesota Travel Guide

Temperature.

• Perceived Temperature
• Rain and snow
• Humidity and wind
• The busiest and least popular months
• Overall travel experience by time of year

Other Northeast Minnesota Travel Info

Weather in northeast minnesota.

Average temperatures in Northeast Minnesota vary an incredible amount. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 51st percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above . If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Northeast Minnesota, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 80.1°F (26.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 55.3°F (12.9°C) at night.

Northeast Minnesota Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Northeast minnesota temperatures (celsius), “feels-like” temperatures.

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Northeast Minnesota Perceived Temperature (F)

Northeast minnesota perceived temperature (c), average northeast minnesota temperatures by month.

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Show celsius, precipitation (rain or snow).

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Northeast Minnesota are January, February, and then March. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early January. For example, on the week of January 1st there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early April with an average of 0 days of significant precipitation the week of April 2nd.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Northeast Minnesota.

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Northeast Minnesota (in).

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show inches, show centimeters, humidity and wind.

Northeast Minnesota has some very humid months, with other moderately humid months on the other side of the year. The least humid month is April (48.5% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (71.1%).

Wind in Northeast Minnesota is usually calm . The windiest month is April, followed by May and November. April’s average wind speed of around 6 knots (7 MPH or 11.2 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early to mid April where average top sustained speeds reach 14.6 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Northeast Minnesota.

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Average Wind Speeds

Show wind speeds.

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Is it safe to travel to northeast minnesota.

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories . This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Northeast Minnesota, the United States is April, followed by June and May. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Northeast Minnesota in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

Most popular months to visit, overall northeast minnesota travel experience by season, spring (march through may).

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 70.8°F (21.6°C) and 25.9°F (-3.4°C) with far warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is nonexistent with roughly 0 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with about 0 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the second busiest season for tourism in Northeast Minnesota, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 71.5°F (21.9°C) and 28°F (-2.2°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a trivial amount: approximately 0 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Northeast Minnesota to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 25.9°F (-3.4°C) and 18.3°F (-7.6°C). On average, it rains or snows a insignificant amount: consistently 0 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

Best Times to Travel › the United States › Northeast Minnesota, the United States

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09 May 2023

Your full travel guide to minnesota.

With its cultured cities, the Mississippi slicing it in two and enough outdoor adventure to shake a paddle at, there isn’t anywhere quite like Minnesota. Let’s lift the lid on the Land of 10,000 Lakes...

From kayaking on the world’s largest freshwater lake, to watching the Northern Lights dance above the prairies, or cruising on a paddle steamer along the Mississippi, the midwestern US state of Minnesota is a land of epic landscapes and unique experiences. Head out from the culturally diverse Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and you’ll discover some of America’s most spectacular national and state parks, with miles of trails for hiking and biking, or skiing and snowmobiling during the winter months. And while Minnesota may not have an ocean in sight, this “Land of 10,000 Lakes” (or 11,842 to be exact) has no end of rugged coastlines, sweeping sandy beaches and aquatic adventures to enjoy. Get ready to dive in…    

Getting there

Delta Air Lines  whizzes passengers from London Heathrow to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)  in Minnesota in just nine hours on its daily non-stop flights. The St. Paul-Minneapolis Union Depot  in Lowertown is a hub for America’s national rail operator, Amtrak, and a stop on the epic Empire Builder long-distance route, which connects Chicago to the Pacific Northwest.

Minnesota must-sees

Minneapolis skyline (Shutterstock)

The Twin Cities

Standing side-by-side on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, Minnesota’s capital, St. Paul, and its largest city, Minneapolis, are known collectively as the Twin Cities , and together they offer an exciting gateway to the state, whatever the season.

With dramatic skylines to rival Manhattan, the sibling centres are packed with world-class museums, theatres, sport and music venues, and have plenty of open spaces, too, with parks, trails and waterways including the Chain of Lakes and the Mississippi Riverfront.

Wandering the diverse neighbourhoods, you’ll discover hip food halls  and markets serving enticing dishes from South America to Sweden and Somalia, and bars serving local wines, ciders and beers. In local favourite, Northeast , you’ll find a gallery and studio-filled Arts District, while Lyndale & Lake is an eclectic mix of indie boutiques and diverse performance venues where every night is totally different to the next in this dynamic district.

The Mississippi

Minnesota is home to the headwaters of one of the world’s most iconic rivers: the Mississippi , which starts in Itasca State Park and flows 3,782km through the United States to the Gulf of Mexico.

From the early Native American inhabitants, t he  Dakota and Ojibwe, to the immigrants who arrived by steam boat in St. Paul from the mid-1800s, the river has been an essential lifeline for sustenance and trade. North America’s second-longest river remains a vital commercial waterway for the Twin Cities today, as well as a major migration route for fishes and birds.

Minnesota claims more of the Mississippi than any other US state – 1,046km. There are no end of exciting ways to access it, as it flows through valleys, iron ranges and woodlands including the Chippewa National Forest , which offers canoeing and backcountry camping along sections of the river, and the chance to say you’ve paddled the mighty Mississippi.

A riverboat along the Mississippi River (Paul Vincent/Explore Minnesota)

Voyageurs National Park is a certified International Dark Sky Park (Erik Fremstad/Explore Minnesota)

Voyageurs National Park

Water covers 40 percent of the unique Voyageurs National Park , with its interior only accessible by boat or snowmobile for much of the year, adding to its appeal for travellers seeking an off-grid adventure.

With four large lakes – Sand Point, Rainy, Kabetogama and Namakan – 26 smaller lakes, hundreds of deserted islands (some with secluded campsites) and the Ash River to discover, a houseboat , canoe, kayak or motorboat are great ways to explore the park, with guided tours available for those who prefer not to go it alone. 

This certified International Dark Sky Park is one of the best places in the United States to watch the Aurora Borealis light up the sky, and on a clear night, the limitless horizons and glassy lakes provide the perfect canvas for a dazzling display, with meteor showers and the Milky Way often visible, too. And in winter, this northerly park has some of the most exciting snowmobiling trails in Minnesota.

Where to get outdoors

Lake superior.

Split Rock Lighthouse of Lake Superior (Explore Minnesota)

One of North America’s five spectacular Great Lakes, and the world’s largest body of freshwater, covering a vast 82,103 square km (bigger than the other Great Lakes combined), Lake Superior straddles the United States and Canada, with 240km of scenic Minnesotan shoreline providing a playground for hikers, bikers and boaters.

Running from the port town of Duluth to the Canadian border, Superior’s North Shore Scenic Byway, Highway 61, is one of the country’s most iconic stretches of road, offering dazzling views of the rugged coastline, fringing pine forests and lakeside beaches and bays. On this “All-American Scenic Drive,” there are eight state parks to explore, with rivers, cascades and walking trails, which transform into frozen wonderlands in winter as temperatures fall, and mountain bikes make way for dog sleds, snow mobiles and skis. Stay at campsites, cosy cabins or elegant lodges along the way, and don’t miss High Falls: Minnesota’s tallest waterfall, which plunges from 120ft above Grand Portage State Park.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Sunrise over Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Gary Hamer/Explore Minnesota)

Look out for bald eagles soaring overhead, otters playing in the shallows and moose wandering through stands of birch and aspen, as you paddle through the pristine wilderness of  Boundary Waters ; an awe-inspiring preserve within  Superior National Forest  in northeastern Minnesota. With over 1,900km of canoe trails and more than 1,000 lakes, rivers and streams stretching along 240km of the Canadian border, Boundary Waters offers an escape from the frenetic pace of modern life and a valuable opportunity to reconnect with nature – and yourself. Whether you’re here for a one-day taster trip or a week-long wild immersion,  local outfitters  can provide canoes, camping gear and guided tours, and help you plan your perfect adventure. Leaving the city behind, you’ll encounter just a few other intrepid travellers – and if you’re very lucky, elusive timber wolves or black bears – as you explore the lakes, waterfalls and forests of this spectacular slice of the USA.

St. Croix River Valley

Overlooking Angle Rock in the St. Croix River Valley (Shutterstock)

Take a trip back to the golden age of steam, with a visit to the St. Croix River Valley . Just a 30-minute journey from the Twin Cities, this wildly beautiful region has plenty of old-town charm, and a fleet of historic paddleboats plying its waterways. At its most stunning when autumn transforms the foliage in the region’s four state parks to russet and gold, St. Croix offers year-round outdoor pursuits, from hiking and biking to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, while the historic streets of Stillwater – known as the Birthplace of Minnesota – yields treasures of the traditional craft and antique kind. Wine lovers can stop off at Alexis Bailly Vineyard for a tasting accompanied by live jazz at Minnesota’s first winery, founded in 1973, and in Scandia – the site of the first Swedish settlement in Minnesota –  the Gammelgården Museum of Scandia celebrates the diverse immigrant heritage of the United States.   

Top three activities to do

Some of the most stunning hiking trails in the USA weave through Minnesota’s forests, river valleys, parks and prairies, ranging from shorter treks like the Glacial Ridge Trail and the Pine Ridge Trail along the Mississippi River , to challenging multi-day backcountry treks, where having the right kit is essential.

One of the state’s most (literally) breathtaking treks, the Superior Hiking Trail or SHT runs for nearly 500km along Lake Superior’s rocky northern shore, passing through eight state parks, old-growth forests and the remote Split Rock Lighthouse , with over 90 free backcountry campsites to stop for the night along the route. The lake mirrors the state’s spectacular big skies, while shore walks offer time for tranquil reflection and the chance of seeing moose, lynx, bald eagles and black bears adds to the thrill of taking a walk on the wild side. Dip in for a day or hike the entire trail in two to four weeks.  

Hiking in Grand Marais (Roy Son/Explore Minnesota)

Cyclists in view of the Minneapolis skyline (Explore Minnesota)

Whether you’re getting to know the neighbourhoods or riverfront in Twin Cities, or striking out to explore a remote wilderness, Minnesota has over 6,400km of paved trails, including the Mississippi River Trail , Root River State Trail and the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway – named after the legendary giant lumberjack – that will make your cycle ride a breeze. Prefer to go off-road? The state has mountain biking trails for all ages and abilities, from the 80-plus km of single-track red dirt that lead around Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area – a former mining site for iron ore, reimagined as a world-class mountain biking region – to the 160km-long network of the Duluth Traverse (DT) , which also welcomes runners, hikers and fat-tyre winter bikers. Daredevils will love Duluth’s Spirit Mountain downhill bike park, which has routes for all rider levels, while the 14-plus km of trails in Lester Park at the end of the DT are easy-going enough for beginners, who can cool off in the river after the ride of their lives.   

On the water

Unsurprisingly, thrilling water-based activities abound in the ' Land of 10,000 Lakes' , and Minnesota has 35 state water trails , offering over 7,200km of bicep-building, shoulder-sculpting paddling through some of America’s most epic landscapes.

Lake Superior's North Shore , the Mississippi and Boundary Waters are the big draws, but Minnesota’s many other lakes, rivers and parks definitely deserve your attention, and operators offer houseboat, canoe, kayak and motorboat rentals on many waterways across the state.

In the northeast, Lake Vermilion is scattered with secluded, pine-covered islands to explore by boat and canoe, or by snowmobile in the winter; Lake Minnetonka (which featured in the Prince movie  Purple Rain ) brings sandy beaches, sailing and wakesurfing to the party, while the clear, spring-fed lakes at Cuyuna Country State Recreational Area are popular with kayakers and scuba divers , and the Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis offer outdoor adventures in the city, including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and swimming, plus ice skating and hockey in the wintertime.  

Kayaking in Minneapolis' Chain of Lakes (Paul Vincent/Explore Minnesota)

Get under the Twin Cities' skin

In the footsteps of prince.

The Prince Atrium in Paisley Park (Explore Minnesotra)

Minneapolis is synonymous with the artist formerly known as Prince, and although The Purple One sadly passed away in 2016, his legacy beats on in the city he called home. Minnesota’s own Graceland, Paisley Park was Prince’s sanctuary in Chanhassen, and the HQ for Paisley Park Records. With a recording studio, sound stage and performance space, the complex is now a museum, hosting concerts, screenings and events, and offers  guided tours which take in the singer’s incredible collections of clothing, cars and guitars. The Twin Cities celebrate Prince Day every year on 21 April, with people encouraged to wear purple and spread the Prince love. 

Wander its world-class museums

Weisman Art Museum (Shutterstock)

When it comes to culture, the Twin Cities offer a double dose, with museums and galleries which celebrate Minnesota’s fascinating past and champion the artists of tomorrow. A National Historic Landmark on the historic Mississippi Riverfront, the Mill City Museum tells the story of Minneapolis’ meteoric rise as a flour-milling centre, while the must-see Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) has a world-class collection of sculpture, paintings and photography. Explore 11 galleries of modern and contemporary art at the Walker Art Center and stroll the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden , and don’t miss the stunning stainless steel Weisman Art Museum , designed by internationally acclaimed architect, Frank Gehry.

See nature on a day trip

Minnehaha Falls (Shutterstock)

While Minneapolis-St. Paul has plenty of nature on the doorstep, including the Minnehaha Falls , take time to discover the natural attractions that abound nearby. The Great River Road National Scenic Byway follows the course of the Mississippi and yields some spectacular views. The beautiful Taylors Falls offers hiking, kayaking and swimming in summer, and skiing, snowshoeing and snow tubing on Wild Mountain in winter months, while Interstate State Park has rare glacial potholes and lava flows to explore. An hour’s drive will bring you to the riverside town of Red Wing , home to the famous Red Wing boot , indigenous heritage and adventures of the biking, hiking and kayaking kind. And a couple of hours south of Twin Cities, Jeffers Petroglyphs protects over 5,000 indigenous rock carvings, dating back 7,000 years. Tours uncover ancient images of turtles and bison, while hiking trails lead through the surrounding prairies, as songbirds swoop among the cactus and wild flowers.

Try something unique

A Juicy Lucy is a homemade rite of passage (Shutterstock)

Find your favourite 'Juicy Lucy'

Sometimes the best meals are the messiest. That's certainly the case with the Juicy Lucy an iconic Twin Cities dish where beef patties are stuffed with molten cheese. Where the first was made (as well as the best) is as hotly contested topic as you'll hear in Minneapolis-St. Paul but one thing's for sure: you won't struggle to find somewhere serving Minnesota's favourite burger. The classic filling is American cheese but varieties include a blue cheese filling or a combo of pepperjack, American and provolone cheeses; even non-meat eaters can get in on the act, with a local bar serving a vegan version. Whatever you choose, a Juicy Lucy is a messy but quintessential rite of passage in Minnesota.

Visit the Lower 48's northernmost point

Climb to the top of the 'Chimney' in Minnesota’s Northwest Angle and you’ll be as far north as you can go in the contiguous USA. Separated from the rest of the state by the vast Lake of the Woods , the 'Top of the Nation' borders Manitoba and Ontario, and can only be reached by crossing the lake by boat, or entering by road from Canada. It’s a worthwhile journey: the lake is known for its large populations of walleye or yellow pike fish, and more than 275 bird species have been recorded on the nearby Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail , including Canadian geese, great blue herons and American white pelicans.

Angle Inlet in the Northwest Angle (Shutterstock)

Spoonbridge and Cherry fountain (Greg Beckel/Explore Minnesota)

Strike a pose in Spoonbridge and Cherry

Every visitor to Minneapolis takes a photographic bite of this cherry. The super-sized Spoonbridge and Cherry fountain installation in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden – one of the country’s largest urban sculpture spaces – has become a national treasure and a global icon. Spanning a seed-shaped pond in the grounds of the Walker Art Center , this larger-than-life piece of pop art was designed by husband-and-wife team, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, and was the first piece commissioned for the garden, which opened in 1988. Crafted from aluminium and stainless steel, the sculpture stretches more than 50ft and is the Twin Cities’ cherry on the cake.

Feeling inspired?

For more inspiration, head over to the official Explore Minnesota website.

Explore now

Make it happen

Get under the skin of Minnesota with the experts at Bon Voyage on their  Minnesota  – Land of 10,000 Lakes trip. Seven days from £1,995 per person (including international flights).

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News releases

May 14, 2024

Latest news releases

Expect delays on I-35 south of Duluth during summer travel

DULUTH, Minn. – Travelers on Interstate-35 between the Twin Cities and Duluth should expect traffic delays due to several construction projects this summer, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Drivers will encounter single lane, head to head traffic near Hinckley through October and just south of Highway 210 in Carlton County until the end of August.

Additionally, in the city of Duluth, intermittent lane closures are expected for bridge repair work at 40th Avenue West, Twin Ports Interchange work, and pavement repairs between Lake Avenue and 21st Avenue East . Motorists should expect delays especially during peak weekend travel hours. Delays could be significant heading northbound on Friday afternoons and southbound on Sundays. Travelling during off-peak hours is recommended to avoid backups. Travelers are encouraged to use www.511mn.org or the 511mn mobile app to see traffic impacts in real-time and plan ahead.

When travelling through the work zones, MnDOT encourages the following:

• Use the Zipper Merge . Use both lanes until the merge point to reduce backups.
• Drive undistracted. Avoid using cell phones, mobile devices, adjusting the radio – even eating –while in work zones.
• Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Move over. Give workers room to safely complete their work.

Watch CBS News

Wildfire in Canada forces thousands to evacuate as smoke causes dangerous air quality

May 12, 2024 / 9:43 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Thousands of residents from a Canadian town are being urged to evacuate amid a fast-growing wildfire that has resulted in poor air quality and reduced visibility.

The blaze in northeastern British Columbia started Friday and almost doubled in size by the following day, reaching about 4,200 acres. BC Wildfire Service maps showed the fire burning just a few miles west of Fort Nelson's city limits. Fort Nelson is located in the far northeastern corner of British Columbia, about 995 miles from Vancouver. Fort Nelson and the Fort Nelson Indian Reserve have a combined population of about 3,000.

The wildfire smoke coming from British Columbia is causing widespread poor air quality and reduced visibility, a Sunday alert said.

Online footage shared by locals from the Fort Nelson wildfire showed thick plumes of smoke rising high into the sky, with houses in the foreground. In some photos, haze seemed to cover wide areas.

The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and Fort Nelson First Nation issued a joint statement warning people choosing to stay that "emergency medical services are not available, nor are groceries or other amenities."

The municipality mayor, Rob Fraser, said most of the residents in and around Fort Nelson have been evacuated, adding that police were going door to door to ensure everyone got out.

"In moments of uncertainty, unity becomes critical," Fraser said in the press release. "Please evacuate calmly, our collective strength will be our resilience."

Health authorities said Fort Nelson General Hospital has been safely evacuated and closed until further notice.

Authorities in Alberta also issued an alert about a wildfire 15.5 miles southwest of the oil sands city of Fort McMurray that could impact visibility on highways in some areas. No evacuation order has been given so far for the major Canadian oil city.

Fire restrictions will remain in effect in the area until conditions improve, officials said.

"Five crews of wildland firefighters, nine helicopters and air tankers worked on the southeast perimeter today. Windy conditions challenged firefighting efforts," Alberta Wildfire said Saturday, adding that an incident management team will be managing the wildfire.

The high winds pushed smoke across Alberta on Saturday, putting the city of Edmonton under an air quality advisory with hazard levels rated at 10-plus — or "very high risk" — forecast.

Meteorologists are not anticipating rain and have advised people to stay indoors.

While conditions should begin to improve Sunday night, they will likely remain poor through Monday or even Tuesday, officials said.

Canadian officials warned Sunday that people with lung diseases such as asthma, people with heart disease, older adults, children, those who are pregnant and people who work outdoors are at a higher risk of experiencing health effects from wildfire smoke. They recommended people who spend time outdoors wear a mask to reduce exposure to fire particles in the smoke.

"Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone's health even at low concentrations," officials said.

In April, Canadian officials warned the country could face another catastrophic wildfire season after last year's  historic fires . 

There were warmer-than-normal temperatures and widespread drought conditions across Canada this winter, officials disclosed. Weather outlooks indicate that Canada can expect higher-than-normal temperatures this spring and summer as well, setting the stage for wildfires. 

"With the heat and dryness across the country, we can expect that the wildfire season will start sooner and end later, and potentially be more explosive," Canada Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said at a press conference.

Canada's wildfire season  typically runs from May through October. The country is home to about 9% of the world's forests. 

In 2023, Canada witnessed a record number of wildfires that also caused choking smoke in parts of the U.S. and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate across British Columbia. That year, 19 counties in 11 states had multiple days with "very unhealthy" and "hazardous" air quality.

Smoke  billowed to the U.S., blanketing portions of the East Coast and Midwest. Last June, New York City's air quality became some of the worst in the world in June as Canada's wildfire smoke blew in.

In 2023, Canada's severe weather caused over $3.1 billion in insured damages, officials said. 

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Northern Lights Set to Return During Extreme Solar Storm’s 2nd Night

Electrical utilities said they weathered earlier conditions as persistent geomagnetic storms were expected to cause another light show in evening skies.

By Katrina Miller ,  Ivan Penn and Emmett Lindner

Night skies in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere are expected to bloom again on Saturday night with the vivid colors of the northern lights , or aurora borealis, as a powerful geomagnetic storm caused by a hyperactive sun persists through the weekend.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , which monitors space weather, said in an update on Saturday that it continued to observe solar activity that could lead to periods of “severe-extreme” geomagnetic storms . The federal agency first issued a warning on Friday as bursts of material from the sun’s surface traveled into Earth’s atmosphere, causing irregularities in power, navigation and communication systems.

Major power utilities had largely prepared their electrical grids for the solar storm, and their customers were unaffected.

For most people, the solar storm was a gift: It caused ribbons of pink, purple and green light across night skies of much of the United States, Canada and Europe . Where evening skies are clear on Saturday, the lights can be expected again.

Known as aurora, the light is caused by particles from the sun interacting with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, and is usually only observed at latitudes closer to the North or South Pole. But on Friday night, residents of lower latitudes, including those in North Carolina and Arizona, saw the dancing lights.

Jane Wong, 30, of San Francisco, drove to the Presidio overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge where conditions started out foggy. But at midnight, her wait paid off as the sky started to clear.

“It’s right here, which is really magnificent,” she said.

Benjamin Williamson, 41, of Bath, Maine, drove to the Portland Head Light, a lighthouse in the state. An aurora enthusiast, he’d seen the northern lights during another major solar event in 2003, and in Iceland in 2017. None of those events, nor the April 8 solar eclipse, prepared him for what he saw on Friday.

“The solar eclipse last month, I thought that was the coolest thing I’d ever seen,” he said. “This might have beat it.”

Solar storms are caused by violent expulsions of charged particles from the sun’s surface. When directed toward Earth the material can interact with our planet’s magnetic field, resulting in a geomagnetic storm.

NOAA categorizes geomagnetic storms on a “G” scale of 1, or “minor,” to 5, “extreme.” On Thursday, the agency issued its first watch in 19 years for a G4, or “severe,” storm, which escalated into a warning on Friday afternoon.

Activity has exceeded the agency’s prediction, and some of it is now classified as G5, making it the strongest storm to reach Earth since October 2003.

The storm is caused by a giant cluster of sunspots, or dark, cool regions on the solar surface with strong magnetic fields. (If you still have your eclipse glasses handy, you may be able to see the sunspots during the day.) According to NOAA, the cluster will continue to flare and explode, with effects on Earth through at least the weekend. In 1989, a geomagnetic disturbance disrupted power systems in Canada and the United States. Energy providers have been on guard ever since.

“The utilities have been preparing for a large storm with the required vulnerability assessments,” said Bob Arritt, a technical executive at the Electric Power Research Institute, an independent research and development organization.

Some utilities saw high temperature alarms triggered overnight on parts of the electric grid, Mr. Arritt said, but added that it was too early to know if the alarms were related to the solar storm. He said he could not disclose the locations of the alerts as of Saturday.

But while the power system faced some additional stress from the storm, he added, “We have no reason to feel that there is any imminent threat to damaging equipment.”

The solar storm prompted managers of a number of electric grids to take extra precautions to keep electricity flowing, and to issue warnings to customers about potential disruptions.

PJM, the manager of the nation’s largest grid network across 13 states from the East Coast to the Midwest, said its geomagnetic disturbance warning would continue through the end of Saturday. ISO New England, which manages the electric grid for six states in the Northeast, issued a precautionary alert, which notified participants in wholesale energy markets and owners of electrical generation equipment that abnormal conditions are present on the power system.

Katrina Miller is a science reporting fellow for The Times. She recently earned her Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Chicago. More about Katrina Miller

Ivan Penn is a reporter based in Los Angeles and covers the energy industry. His work has included reporting on clean energy, failures in the electric grid and the economics of utility services. More about Ivan Penn

Emmett Lindner writes about breaking and trending news. He has written about international protests, climate change and social media influencers. More about Emmett Lindner

What’s Up in Space and Astronomy

Keep track of things going on in our solar system and all around the universe..

Never miss an eclipse, a meteor shower, a rocket launch or any other 2024 event  that’s out of this world with  our space and astronomy calendar .

A dramatic blast from the sun  set off the highest-level geomagnetic storm in Earth’s atmosphere, making the northern lights visible around the world .

With the help of Google Cloud, scientists who hunt killer asteroids churned through hundreds of thousands of images of the night sky to reveal 27,500 overlooked space rocks in the solar system .

A celestial image, an Impressionistic swirl of color in the center of the Milky Way, represents a first step toward understanding the role of magnetic fields  in the cycle of stellar death and rebirth.

Scientists may have discovered a major flaw in their understanding of dark energy, a mysterious cosmic force . That could be good news for the fate of the universe.

Is Pluto a planet? And what is a planet, anyway? Test your knowledge here .

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By Angela Fritz, Elise Hammond and Chris Lau, CNN

Incredible lighthouse picture from Maine

From CNN's Chris Lau

Among a flurry of surreal images capturing the dazzling auroras is one taken by Benjamin Williamson of a lighthouse in Portland, Maine.

"It's one of the most incredible things I've ever seen, the awe and wonder," Williamson told CNN.

He said he used a long-exposure technique to snap the shot, but did not edit it.

Watch the full interview with Williamson here .

Things could be about to ramp up

If you still haven't seen the aurora, hold on for another 30 minutes to an hour, according to CNN meteorologist Chad Myers.

The next wave of coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, which cause the aurora, is about to arrive, he said.

"Just wait a minute because things are going to start to ramp up here," he said, adding that the increase could arrive "anytime now." "When it comes, get outside, get ready, put your coat on."

For those who are too busy to witness the phenomenon tonight, Myers said the aurora is expected to last three nights.

Why does the aurora last for a weekend?

By CNN's Chris Lau

Generally, it takes just eight minutes for light to travel 93 million miles to the Earth from the sun, but astrophysicist Janna Levin said the energized particles causing the current wave of aurora travel a lot slower, causing the phenomenon to last for the weekend.

"Some of these mass ejections are trillions of kilograms," she said. "They're slower. So they're taking longer, but still hours, maybe tens of hours."

Here's how the solar storm looks in the South and on the East Coast

The aurora was visible across the East Coast and in the South Friday.

Here's how it looked in Chester, South Carolina.

Down in Florida, waves of color swam through the sky.

Up north in New Jersey, a purple-ish haze could be seen in the sky.

Will solar storms get more intense and risky in the future?

The answer is probably not in the short term, according to astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi.

He said scientists study what is constantly happening on the surface of the sun and have found a pattern.

“Geological data shows us that in the past the sun was way more active than it is today. It has cycles where it goes very quiet ... and you have events that show that the solar activity was much, much greater,” he told CNN. “So there's no evidence that we're going to see those big maxima this cycle." 

But the astrophysicist also spoke of a caveat - the limitations of modern science.

“Even though it's predictable in the short term, we still don't quite understand what creates the magnetic fields in the sun,” he said, adding: “That's why NASA has so many satellites looking at the sun.”

In Pictures: Auroras light the sky during rare solar storm

From CNN Digital's Photo Team

A series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun are creating dazzling auroras across the globe .

The rare solar storm may also disrupt communications. The last time a solar storm of this magnitude reached Earth was in October 2003, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.

See more photos of the aurora from tonight.

Behind dazzling aurora could lie “real danger,” Bill Nye the Science Guy says

The massive solar storm could present “a real danger,” especially with the modern world relying so much on electricity, according to Bill Nye the Science Guy , a science educator and engineer.

Scientists are warning an increase in solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun have the potential to disrupt communication on Earth into the weekend. Solar flares can affect communications and GPS almost immediately because they disrupt Earth’s ionosphere, or part of the upper atmosphere. Energetic particles released by the sun can also disrupt electronics on spacecraft and affect astronauts without proper protection within 20 minutes to several hours.

In comparison to tonight's event, Nye drew comparisons with another incident in 1859, known as the Carrington Event, when telegraph communications were severely affected.

“The other thing, everybody, that is a real danger to our technological society, different from 1859, is how much we depend on electricity and our electronics and so on,” Nye said. "None of us really in the developed world could go very long without electricity."

He noted that there are systems in place to minimize the impact, but “stuff might go wrong,” stressing that not all transformers are equipped to withstand such a solar event.

“It depends on the strength of the event and it depends on how much of our infrastructures are prepared for this the sort of thing,” he said.

Bill Nye breaks down significance of the solar storm | CNN

This post has been updated with more details on solar flares' impact on electronics.

Here's where clouds will block the view of the northern lights in the US

From CNN's Angela Fritz

After an incredibly stormy week, most of the Lower 48 has clear skies to see the northern lights. But there are some areas where clouds and rainy weather are spoiling the view.

A deck of clouds is blocking the sky in the Northeast, from parts of Virginia into Maine, as an area of low pressure spins off the East Coast.

In the Midwest, the aurora will be hard to see through thick clouds in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan — including the Upper Peninsula — and Illinois.

A stripe of clouds is tracking across Texas, including Dallas-Forth Worth, and into Louisiana.

And in the Southwest, patchy clouds across the the Four Corners region could make the northern lights difficult to spot.

Aurora seen at least as far south as Georgia

Barely visible to the naked eye, the aurora can be seen in Atlanta in the 10 p.m. ET hour. 

It is easier to see through photographs using a long exposure. The photos below, taken by CNN's Eric Zerkel and Emily Smith, used 3- and 10-second exposures.

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Where you can see northern lights Sunday night from another solar storm

Sunday night could offer another opportunity to see the northern lights unusually far south, though less than earlier predicted

If you missed the recent auroras over the past two days, you may have another chance. The sun will continue to send more activity to Earth on Sunday night and early this week.

Fast eruptions from the sun are expected to slam into Earth on Sunday night and Monday morning, triggering another round of geomagnetic storms, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Sunday is predicted to offer the best chance for aurora-chasing before this round of solar activity diminishes.

After predicting geomagnetic storms of level G4 or G5 — the most intense rating — on Sunday morning, NOAA downgraded the forecast to G3, meaning less likelihood for a repeat of Friday night , when storms brought aurora sightings down to Florida and Mexico.

Activity is expected to wane by the pre-dawn hours of Monday, although storm levels are still predicted to reach moderate (G2) to strong (G3). Auroras could be spotted as far south as Iowa and Washington state with the naked eye, but cameras could capture the dancing lights farther south.

By Tuesday morning, NOAA forecasts that geomagnetic storm activity will diminish to minor levels (G1). During a minor storm, only higher latitudes such as northern Michigan or Maine typically see auroras.

Will there be clouds in my area?

In the Northeast, people may struggle to see the aurora through clouds on Sunday night, although some breaks are possible toward Monday morning. Unfortunately, clouds will blanket much of the area Monday night to Tuesday morning.

In the Mid-Atlantic, the skies will be mostly clear from Sunday night into Monday, providing promising views from West Virginia to South Carolina. Heavy cloud cover moves in over the region on Monday night into Tuesday morning.

The southern United States (from Georgia to western Texas) will be largely covered in clouds from late Sunday night to Tuesday morning.

The West Coast and northern Plains should have primarily clear skies from Sunday night to Tuesday morning.

If your region has a cloudy forecast over the next few days, don’t necessarily fret. Sometimes breaks emerge in the cloud canopy. And while clouds will make it harder to see the northern lights, sometimes they also make for interesting photos .

Will you be able to see the northern lights around D.C.?

It is unlikely that auroras will be visible Sunday night in the D.C. region, according to NOAA’s 7:15 p.m. update.

Washingtonians had a brief window during which to see auroras early Saturday morning . But there were too many clouds and the geomagnetic storm wasn’t quite strong enough for northern lights to be seen Saturday night into Sunday morning — although auroras were reported in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains at 10:30 p.m. and about 12:30 a.m., as well as in the mountains to the west.

You will improve your chances of seeing the aurora borealis significantly by finding an observing location away from city lights (this advice applies to any population center). Also, the lights — if they appear — may be rather faint and only visible through your camera lens, which is more sensitive to light than your eyes. Look to the north to try to find them.

Where has the aurora already been seen this weekend?

The geomagnetic activity over the past few days has been one for the books, producing once-in-a-lifetime or once-in-a-generation aurora displays.

The weekend began strong with an extreme (G5) storm on Friday into Saturday morning. One space weather physicist collected aurora observations on X from every state in the United States, and from much of the Northern Hemisphere — including rare places like Italy, Austria, London, Mexico and India. Auroras were even spotted in tropical locations, including Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the lights — known as the aurora australis — were photographed in Chile , Argentina , New Zealand and Australia.

Although activity decreased Saturday night, storm levels still briefly reached into strong (G3) to severe (G4) levels. At its peak, people were able to snap aurora pictures in the mountains of Virginia.

Were any satellite or power grid operations affected?

Intense geomagnetic storms can disrupt satellite, GPS and power grid operations. After Friday’s storm, NOAA received reports of issues on some power grids and high-frequency radio and GPS communications.

The last time a G5 storm hit was in 2003. That one also brought widespread auroras and some power interruptions in certain regions of the globe.

Why has there been so much auroral activity recently?

The slew of auroral activity stems from a particularly bustling area on the sun known as active region 3664. The region — measuring about 17 times the diameter of Earth — is marked with a cluster of dark splotches, known as sunspots. Sunspots are areas on the sun’s surface where its magnetic field is much higher than anywhere else on the sun. These magnetically complex regions are often the source of large, explosive bursts on the sun.

So cool. On Saturday morning, CWG reader David Abbou took this video of the giant sunspot facing Earth (which you can see with solar eclipse glasses) and which has been responsible for the solar storms and northern lights. As he was recording, an airplane photobombed the shot! pic.twitter.com/N52dCzwjn5 — Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) May 12, 2024

Last week, the sunspot group launched multiple eruptions from its surface — called coronal mass ejections — toward Earth. Coronal mass ejections are large clouds of solar energy and magnetized plasma that can temporarily disturb Earth’s magnetosphere, if aimed correctly. Some solar particles travel along Earth’s magnetic field into our upper atmosphere, exciting molecules and releasing photons of light, or the aurora.

Geomagnetic activity from this sunspot group will last until around Tuesday, then the sunspot group will rotate away from Earth’s view. If it rotates all the way around the sun and faces back to Earth in several weeks, it could send additional activity our way. However, most sunspot groups weaken on second appearance.

NOAA scientists continually monitor the sun and are tracking any potential activity from other sunspot groups.

Jason Samenow contributed to this report.

StarTribune

Running aces amends lawsuit, now claims tribal casinos violate federal law with illegal video games.

Running Aces claimed Tuesday in an amended lawsuit that federal law outright bars American Indian tribes from having exclusive rights to gambling operations and that Minnesota's tribes violate state law by offering video slots and video games of chance.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community firmly rejected the lawsuit's claims as without merit and an attempt to mislead the public.

The harness track northeast of the Twin Cities in Columbus asked the court for an injunction to stop what it views as illegal gambling. Running Aces, one of two horse tracks in the state, also seeks unspecified monetary damages from the managers and executives who run the tribal casinos.

"For decades, tribal casinos and certain politicians have been falsely perpetuating that they are entitled to an exclusive right on gaming in the state of Minnesota, including electronic video games of chance," Running Aces CEO and President Taro Ito said in a written statement. He added that federal law prohibits giving exclusive rights to the tribes and that Minnesota law prohibits electronic video games of chance.

In a statement, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux community said all gambling at Mystic Lake and Little Six Casinos complies with tribal and federal law as well as the state compact executed in 1989.

"Winning in court is not Running Aces' real purpose in filing this case," the statement said. "It is a desperate stunt to attack the good reputation of tribes and tribal gaming. This lawsuit is intended to mislead the public and influence the final stages of the Minnesota Legislature's 2024 session."

The legal move amends the federal racketeering lawsuit that Running Aces filed last month in U.S. District Court. In the initial lawsuit, Running Aces claimed that tribal casinos in three locations offered card games not authorized by state law. The track now claims the casinos also illegally offer video games.

The initial lawsuit named executives at the Grand Casinos in Hinckley and Mille Lacs, owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Treasure Island Resort & Casino, owned by the Prairie Island Indian Community. The claim was filed using the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

The initial lawsuit said the Grand Casinos and Treasure Island offered card games not authorized by the state gambling compacts. Now Running Aces says those casinos, along with Mystic Lake and Little Six, are also offering prohibited video games.

The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association did not respond to a request for comment.

Under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA), gambling activities such as video slots and casino card games are lawful on tribal lands only if the state explicitly permits them and Minnesota has not done so, the lawsuit said.

"Therefore, all these activities constitute gambling 'in violation of Minnesota criminal law and federal law,' and those violations in turn form the basis for defendants' violations of RICO," Running Aces said in a written release.

Running Aces itself offers casino card games, such as blackjack, Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em. The complaint said that by offering illegal games, the tribal casinos have an "illegal and unfair competitive advantages over Running Aces."

The latest filing will heighten tensions at the Capitol as the Legislature must adjourn by Monday's deadline. Lawmakers came into the session ready to discuss legalizing mobile sports betting , but the discussions have languished without bipartisan agreement on a bill.

The bills advanced by the DFL majority would give exclusive licensing rights to the state's American Indian tribes, allowing each to partner with one betting platform such as DraftKings or FanDuel to offer the mobile betting.

The tracks and their GOP supporters say they would be hurt — possibly put out of business — by the expansion of gambling for the tribes. With mobile betting, Minnesotans could gamble on their cellphones from any place at any time of the day. They wouldn't have to travel to a casino.

The tracks have encouraged the Legislature to allow them to offer Historical Horse Racing (HHR), which they say would draw customers and needed revenue to support live racing. The Minnesota Racing Commission voted to legalize HHR in early April with DFL leaders immediately rebuking that action.

On Monday, Sen. Matt Klein, DFL-Mendota Heights, said banning HHR is a priority for the DFL in the final days of this session.

Ito said the track wants to be treated fairly and to "take advantage of improvements within the pari-mutuel environment, and operate without fear of being eliminated."

Rochelle Olson is a reporter on the politics and government team.

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