Take a long weekend in Minneapolis and St. Paul to immerse yourself in culture, theater, music and fine dining. Getting out on the towns will stimulate all of your senses. Day 1: Mill City Museum & Guthrie Theater DAY: Visit the Mill City Museum, located along the picturesque Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. The museum is built into flour mill ruins, and tells the story of the flour industry, the river and

Minnesotas annual fishing opener is a treasured tradition that celebrates our states great angling opportunities and signals the beginning of summer.  For serious or even halfway-serious anglers in Minnesota, the fishing opener is a sacred holiday and the unofficial beginning of summer—a day that roughly half a million anglers eagerly await each year.  Some think of it purely as the walleye opener, but the season opener includes a number of species that reside in Minnesota waters, such as northe

We can think of no better way to explore Minnesota than a hike along some of its fabulous trails with your four-legged BFF by your side. And after you’ve both worked up a thirst, head to the nearest dog-friendly brewery patio for some food, fun and locally made suds. Just remember the two cardinal rules of dog-friendly life: Keep your pets on a leash at all times, and always BYOPB (poop bag, that is). Now go forth to the good life, dog lovers, at these six park-and-patio combos we sniffed out fo

Anglers in boats, canoes, fishing kayaks and shoreline parks embrace the solitude and challenge of casting along the curving, scenic stretch of the Mississippi River that flows around St. Clouds Beaver Islands. “This stretch [of the Mississippi from St. Cloud to Anoka] has become one of the top river smallmouth bass fisheries in the country,” says Dan Meer, owner of Clear Waters Outfitting Co. “Smallmouth bass are known to be the best fighting fish per pound,” which makes them a fun challenge to

Much like you dont have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patricks Day, you dont have to be German to take part in Oktoberfest. This 200-year-old Bavarian tradition has grown far beyond its origins in Munich, with multiple celebrations held right here in Minnesota. So grab a stein, pull on some lederhosen and say Prost!, the German way. New Ulm Oktoberfest The biggest Oktoberfest in the state is in New Ulm, which was settled by German immigrants in 1854. Though this heritage is honored year-round, th

It’s a sunny, 20-degree morning at Theodore Wirth Park in north Minneapolis, and I’m headed to my first-ever cross-country skiing lesson. A steady stream of cross-country skiers and fat bikers rushes through the park. Everyone looks straight out of the “Star Trek” wardrobe department—thermal tights, reflective ski goggles, the lumbering moon gait of heavy winter boots. Winter activities have always felt somewhat like space exploration to me, but never more so than now. Snow-covered hills careen

No matter how it’s prepared, the flaky, thick and mild-tasting walleye is a feast fit for royalty. For people who are serious about eating walleyes, there are a variety of ways to do so in Minnesota. While some people swear by coating walleye with breadcrumbs and spices and deep-frying it, others prefer a simple approach of basic seasoning and a few minutes in the oven. Simpler yet, fishermen who prize freshness above all else may catch a few walleyes in the morning, pull their boat ashore at lu

With cooler weather, more active fish and a beautiful backdrop of changing leaves, fall is one of the best times of year to fish in Minnesota. Heres a guide to fall fishing in Minnesotas major regions. Depending on the area and the size of the lake, walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass and crappie, as well as trout in the southeast Minnesota streams, are all biting. “Everything bites better in the fall,” says Paul Nelson, a veteran fishing guide in the Bemidji area. As the fish try to

Paddling into the Boundary Waters on a canoe is a grand and classic adventure through some of the most beautiful country youll find anywhere, and a wilderness experience unlike any other. Theres just nowhere else like it in the world. The Boundary Waters is one of National Geographic Traveler magazines 50 Places of a Lifetime, their list of the worlds must-see destinations, and its not hard to see why. Situated within Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe

People from around the world come to Itasca State Park in northwest Minnesota to marvel at the serene birthplace of the mighty Mississippi River. They pose next to a large pine log carved with yellow letters that marks the beginning of the great river’s 2,552-mile route across America, from Minnesotas north woods to the Gulf of Mexico. Since the days of Native Americans exploring the region to the pageantry of the steamboat era, the story of the Father of Waters is fascinating, and it all begins

Find out where to see what remains of Minnesotas iconic tallgrass prairie. Less than two hours west or south of the Twin Cities, you can reach remnants of rolling and pancake-flat prairie, where summer winds ripple grasses and flowers like a sea. Minnesota’s pioneers persistently carved up most of the state’s prairie into 40-acre farms that have grown and merged with each generation. The original tallgrass prairie that once covered 170 million acres of North America was whittled down to less tha

Bird-watching—shortened to “birding” by those in the know—is yet another reason to get outside in Minnesota, particularly in the fall. Many birders head to northwest Minnesota, home to more than 275 species of birds thanks to the region’s diverse terrain, from tallgrass prairies to pine forests to sand dunes. Winding through it all is the aptly named Pine to Prairie Birding Trail, which stretches more than 200 miles between Fergus Falls in the south to Warroad in the north, with 51 viewing sites

Southern Minnesotas diverse landscape and unique bike trails provide unparalleled opportunities for adventure. From punchy gravel hills, to Great Plains farmland that stretches endlessly toward the horizon, to the driftless region’s rolling bluffs and valleys, bicycling in southern Minnesota is an experience unlike any other. Across the region, these four unforgettable bicycling experiences are waiting for you. Take a Ride in Rochester

Beer and bikes often go hand in hand. In Minnesota, the capital city of St. Paul is home to some of the states newest—and oldest—craft breweries. In fact, long before it was the capital, St. Paul was a settlement with a tavern at its center on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was known as “Pig’s Eye” for the area’s first inhabitant, Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant, and his tavern. Though the name was changed years later, the city’s legacy as a destination for thirsty explorers lived on. This 4.

Minnesotas most iconic murals can be found in big cities and small towns all across the state. Some are decades old, while others are new additions. Use the map below and plan a road trip to see them all. St. Paul St. Paul A selfie with the Greetings from Minnesota mural is a must for every State Fair-goer—all 2 million of them. Susan Warners glass art mosaic debuted

There’s a tree that stands atop a hill in the middle of Vicki Fossum’s 120-acre family farm on the outskirts of Northfield. When she’s not tending to the animals, working at her day job or taking care of her family, this tree is Vicki’s happy place. As she sits under it, a few of her miniature Scottish Highland cattle graze around her, while her 51 alpacas happily pronk and roll in the dirt. A couple miles down the road, Eleanor Coolidge works at her spinning wheel at Northfield Yarn, a destinat

Twin Cities Pride is the nations third-largest free pride festival and takes place every June in downtown Minneapolis. The modern Twin Cities Pride is a massive, annual, family-friendly party that celebrates the large LGBTQ community in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Like all pride celebrations, its roots can be traced back to the infamous Stonewall riots of 1969 and the ripples of unrest and protest that spread across America in response. Approximately 50 people attended Minnesota’s inaugural, proto-pri

Minnesota is full of exciting, hidden-gem museums...if you know where to look. Check out our list of 6 stellar, hidden-in-plain-sight museums. The appropriately named Smallest Museum in St. Paul would be hard to find anywhere. But here, hidden among the hustle and bustle of University Avenue, it’s practically invisible. Housed in a vintage, 3-by-2-foot fire-house cabinet mounted outside of Workhorse Coffee Bar, the micro-museum has delighted art hounds and unexpecting pedestrians alike since its

From homegrown talent like Prince and The Replacements to superstars like The Rolling Stones and Johnny Cash, the joys of Minnesota have long been set to song. A comprehensive listing is nigh impossible, but here are a few of the most significant (and varied) pieces of Minnesota culture put into song in the past half century. Rolling Stones: You Cant Always Get What You Want Its veracity is dubious, but legend has it th

America’s largest and most legendary river claims both its birthplace and its most wild and scenic stretches in Minnesota. Follow the Mississippi’s 565-mile byway across the state, and you’ll have a road trip that encompasses everything from pine-scented northern wilds to majestic southern bluffs to the states tallest skylines. Driving the Great River Road, recognized as an All-American Road and National Scenic Byway, is truly one of Minnesotas most incredible experiences (and an essential item