The flat, peaceful Lake Wobegon Trail weaves a 62-mile route through central Minnesota’s charming rural towns, abundant dairy farms, lakes and streams. Lake Wobegon is based, in part, on the rural communities north of St. Cloud. Many of these little towns are now linked by the paved Lake Wobegon Trail, allowing cyclists to enjoy a peaceful ride through a quiet countryside of dairy farms, lakes and streams. In todays bustling world, where even small cities seem to have traffic jams, the towns alo

For visitors seeking the ultimate Minneapolis bike ride, point your tires to the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. This 51-mile urban bike loop gives riders a best-of tour of the city, including the Chain of Lakes, Mississippi River, Minnehaha Falls and downtown riverfront. One of the best things about Minneapolis is how seamlessly its extensive, award-winning park system blends into the cityscape. Quiet parks along the Mississippi riverfront sit next to trendy bars and restaurants in the North Loop, w

If youre looking for a fun new way to embrace the Minnesota winter, riding a fat bike will put a smile on your face thats even bigger than your tires. These days there are a ton of great places to winter fat bike in Minnesota. Whether youre a first time cyclist or an outdoor enthusiast, fat biking is a healthy hobby that anybody can enjoy. Here is a small sample of the great winter fat biking trails youll find across Minnesota.

The North Star Route, or U.S. Bicycle Route 41 (USBR 41), links together a system of bicycle trails and scenic roadways to connect St. Paul, Duluth, and Grand Portage for an epic 315 miles of riding. While exploring this lengthy segment of Minnesotas natural wonders, be sure to stop at these ten must-visit destinations along the way: CHS Field, St. Paul CHS Field, St. Paul

Hunters in search of a great experience should set their sights on northwest Minnesota. The northwest is a hunter’s paradise due to the vast amount of public hunting land and many game species, including whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, spruce grouse, woodcock, waterfowl, prairie chicken, wild turkey and more. Deer and ruffed grouse are the most hunted species in the northwest, but the region is known also for black bear, sandhill crane, Canada geese and a limited elk hunt for

From fine art to live eagles and cherished literature, museums across southern Minnesota celebrate the diversity of the region while catering to a variety of interests. These five sites offer a taste of the options available Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Winona Perched alongside the Mississippi River, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum has played a pivotal role in Winona’s emergence as an arts and cultural center. Recently

Just because the sun isnt out doesnt mean the swimsuits and beach towels have to go back into storage. Indoor water parks are a popular destination in Minnesota, and theyre open year-round. Special kiddie pools with fountains and little-kid slides, big-kid pools with super slides, inner tube rides, and big whirlpools for the grown-ups —water parks are a fun place to spend a snowy or rainy day (or longer for those with lodging attached).

America’s healthiest city. Outside Magazine’s best town. The nation’s top city parks. These accolades, along with many others, have been bestowed upon Minnesota in recent years—and for good reason. With more than 4,000 miles of paved bike trails, 11,000 lakes, 500 golf courses and one of the world’s longest rivers starting its journey here, outdoor recreation is in our DNA. But these activities aren’t just for locals. With equipment rentals, lessons, and plenty of friendly faces willing to show

When Sir Tyrone Guthrie founded Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater in 1963, he was widely recognized as a great name in the tradition of English theater. Before long, he proved that a new sort of world-class theater could thrive in the American heartland. Before that, there was the Minnesota Orchestra, founded in 1903 as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. Under the leadership of the Hungarian-born conductor Eugene Ormandy in the 1930s, it became the most recorded orchestra in the United States and st

When it comes to family fun, Minnesota is second to none. New kid-friendly attractions open every year, joining an already impressive roster of museums, amusement parks, zoos and more that cater to kids by making history, science, nature and culture fun for the whole family. So pack up the car, grab the kids and point your GPS toward Minnesota, where family fun awaits at every turn.

The Land of 10,000 Lakes may be the most popular nickname for Minnesota, but its also known as The State of Hockey—and for good reason.  Hockey is one of the most popular sports in Minnesota. Every year, more than 135,000 fans gather at the Xcel Energy Center for the Minnesota Boys State Hockey Tournament. The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team has won the NCAA National Championship eight times in the past 16 years, and the Minnesota Whitecaps joined the growing National Womens Hockey L

For a memorable and fun winter activity nearly anyone can do, strap on a pair of snowshoes and venture deep into the snow-covered Minnesota wilderness. Snowshoes are more than just another way to get around in the snow. They can take you deeper into the wilderness than you’ve probably ever been. They’re easy to learn to use (just strap them onto your shoes and start walking), relatively inexpensive and better than skis for getting into unexplored areas. And there’s simply no better way to spot w

In 1862, the Minnesota River Valley witnessed the largest conflict between American Indians and settlers in U.S. history. For modern history enthusiasts, and travelers who like to mix their leisure with some learning, the area offers a number of Dakota War-related historical sites between St. Peter and Redwood Falls. The journey combines the beauty of the Minnesota River valley with a fascinating exploration of the state’s historical and cultural past. It makes a great day trip from the Twin Cit

View Minnesota wolves, bears, birds and other wildlife at three unique destinations in Ely: The International Wolf Center, North American Bear Center and Bear Head Lake State Park. International Wolf Center Gray wolves once roamed freely across much of the United States, but due to over-hunting, deforestation and other reasons, the countrys wild wolf population has dwindled to a fraction of its former size. Today, there

One Minnesota traveler recounts her cherished family vacations to Walker in the 1970s, and how the towns incredible network of bike trails keeps her coming back today. As a kid, I always wondered why I never spotted Paul Bunyan or Babe the Blue Ox during annual up-north family vacations. They were supposed to be so darn big, how could I miss them? Back then, summer seemed endless, and packing for the yearly summer vacation was an Olympic trial. While the rest of the family packed the fishing boa

Whether anglers want to pursue bass, muskies, northern pike or walleyes in one of the state’s thousands of fishable waters, or monster catfish in the flowing water of a river, the opportunity for the average fisherman to catch a lunker is never better than at the start of autumn. The end of the fishing season for many Minnesotans coincides with the long Labor Day weekend and the start of autumn. They take out the docks, put their boats into storage, and stow away their rods and reels until the f

Take sightseeing to new heights with a hike in southeast Minnesotas bluff country.  This area is part of the driftless region, an area untouched by four major glaciers, resulting in deep valleys and steep, rocky walls undisturbed by glacial drift and erosion. Several trails offer scenic views of the Mississippi River, valleys, rugged bluffs and spectacular fall colors. Bring a pair of binoculars to spot eagles, hawks and other birds that soar along the river flyway. In fact, this portion of the

Minnesota summers may be short, but we never take a sunny day for granted. We jam-pack June-September with events celebrating the food, drink, art and music that make Minnesota an amazing place to live. You might already know that my favorite food festival on earth is the Minnesota State Fair. But there are several other culinary celebrations around the state that are worth checking out.​ Uptown Food Truck Festival, Minneapolis

Follow the trail that leads from Robert Zimmerman to Bob Dylan, from the singer’s birthplace in Duluth to his childhood home in Hibbing, and to hangouts near the University of Minnesota campus where the folk singer crafted his signature sound. Day 1: Minneapolis & St. Paul Robert Zimmermans life began in Duluth, but Bob Dylans life began in Minneapolis. Although he only lived in Minneapolis for less than a year, Dyl

Minnesota has a rich Swedish history going back hundreds of years. Follow this three-day itinerary to make your visit a smorgasbord of Swedish and other Scandinavian culture, food, historic sites and shopping. Day 1: Find Swedish Heritage in Minneapolis Theres no better place to start your Swedish heritage tour of Minnesota than the American Swedish Institute (ASI), located just south of downtown Minneapolis. Half herit