Like the many smaller rivers and streams that run together to form the mighty Mississippi, the Minnesota Heartland is an impressive confluence of elements. Its where the hardwoods meet the prairie, home to many of our 10,000 lakes, and where the world-famous Mississippi River begins its long trip south. And linking it all together, scenic bike trails weave around crystal lakes and over wooded hills, providing many miles of paved and off-road adventures. Plan your next trip to the Minnesota Heart

The sparkle of the chrome bumper, the rumble of the souped-up motor, custom steel wheels, pinstripes and fender skirts find their way to car shows, roll-ins and cruises across Minnesota. Here are just a few you can catch this summer, no matter what part of the state you’re in. Minneapolis-St. Paul Area Cruise the Great River Road Scenic Byway to Hastings for the Historic Saturday Night Cruise-Ins. Head down to historic

SPAM, the most famous brand produced by Austin, Minn.-based Hormel Foods, is a household name around the world. Learn about the beloved products history and SPAMple it for yourself at the namesake museum in this charming southern Minnesota town. Visiting the SPAM Museum Located in charming downtown Austin, the first thing you notice about the SPAM Museum is its tasteful, old-meets-new exterior. On one

There isn’t really a direct comparison to ice climbing, says Sarah Wiesner, a Duluth climber who’s been chasing ice since being introduced to the sport in 2009. “You can compare it to rock climbing, but that’s a little like comparing running to figure skating,” she says. “It’s more peaceful, and I feel like it’s a greater puzzle…Ice climbing is very meditative in my opinion.” If this is your introduction to ice climbing, meditative may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think abou

Whether you’re looking for the perfect novel to curl up with in front of the fireplace, or seeking a short story collection to take to the lake, you’ll find every kind of bookstore in Minnesota. And while we live in the age of quick online ordering, it seems that Minnesotans still find great pleasure in browsing a brick-and-mortar bookshop, in the conversations they have, and in the connections they make with fellow book lovers and passionate booksellers. So whether you’re visiting for the weeke

If any sport epitomizes the saying, “Life is about the journey, not the destination,” its snowmobiling. While some people certainly hit the trail intending only to get from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible, many others squeeze the throttle simply to feel their sled sail over the snow; breathe in crisp, clean air; and take in the majesty of a winter’s day. Thanks to Minnesota’s unmatched snowmobile trail system, which primarily is maintained by volunteers from local snowmobile clubs, sno

Perhaps it’s the exhilarating feeling of sitting just above the ground and sailing down a snow-covered slope. Or maybe it’s the nostalgia adults experience as they give their kids a push or watch them trek up a hill, sled in tow. There’s something magical about riding down a hill on a sled or tube, and while Minnesota’s landscape is different from north to south and east to west, opportunities to ride sleds and tubes down snowy hills can be found in all regions of the state. Many of the state’s

From leisurely bike strolls to epic mountain bike adventures, there are enough summer bicycling events in Minnesota to cure even the strongest case of wanderlust.  Push your legs to the limit on the grueling Lutsen 99er, or enjoy a family-friendly ride around Lake Bemidji during the Loop the Lake Festival – however you like to ride, theres always something happening in Minnesota. The only thing you wont find in Minnesota this summer is a dull moment. Gear up for your next summer bicycling advent

Minnesota museums and sculpture parks boast amazing collections of art from thousands of years ago to today. From renowned Twin Cities museums to lesser-known gems in greater Minnesota, art shines. Plan your next getaway around these must-see museums. Art Museums in Minneapolis-St. Paul In south Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is the Twin Cities’ encyclopedic museum, housing more than 80,000 objects spanni

Spring is an exciting time for nature in Minnesota. As the weather warms up, our once-icy waterways thaw and open, flowers and trees sprout their hopeful buds of spring and a fresh new batch of adorable baby animals is welcomed to the world at zoos in Minnesota. Bask in the springtime vibes with a day at the zoo. Soak in the sun while mozying through the freshly reopened outdoor areas, fawning over the fuzzy newborn animals and kicking off the season with a special event or two.

If theres one thing thats synonymous with winter in Minnesota, its snow. And if theres one thing Minnesotans love to do when it snows, its ski. With more miles of cross-country ski trails than a trek from St. Paul to Los Angeles has, Minnesota is a destination for novice and pro skiers alike. Just ask Jessie Diggins, the Stillwater native who, along with teammate Kikkan Randall, became the first American woman to medal in cross-country skiing at the 2018 Winter Olympics. But you dont need to be

Whether you want to practice your Flying V or polish your toe pick, Minnesota’s outdoor ice skating rinks are the perfect surface for winter fun. Found in every corner of the state, ice rinks form on frozen lakes, ponds and even rivers as soon as the ice is thick enough, with refrigerated rinks popping up around Thanksgiving or even earlier. In addition to skating, most of the rinks on this list have skates available for rent, as well as warming houses and/or other perks like concessions and spe

Serena Ryder and The Trews will headline Canadian Pacifics Holiday Train at Home concert in lieu of the trains annual ride through the northern U.S. Most Decembers, you can see the CP Holiday Train as it visits more than two-dozen Minnesota towns on its annual ride to spread Christmas cheer in exchange for donations to local food banks. Due to the pandemic, this year CP will host a virtual Holiday Train at Home concert to keep spreading the holiday spirit while drawing attention to food security

Snowshoeing is easy to learn and an inexpensive way to get the whole family outdoors in the snowy winter months. And you may not be the only ones making tracks: You’ll likely discover animal tracks in the snow that you wont see any other time of year. Where to Go For novice snowshoers, shorter, well-marked trails with gentle slopes make for a great first experience. Many state parks and local recreation areas offer desi

Here in northeast Minnesota, you’ll find outdoor adventure no matter what time of year you visit. In winter, one of the many popular sports is snowmobiling. Want exhilaration? Try roaring down a winter trail with crisp air expanding your lungs, anticipating a bull moose or gray wolf just around the next corner. Haul through a sweeping wilderness turn as you master the 140-horsepower snowmobile engine underneath you. And dont fret about the cold: With advancements in sled heating systems and clot

As recently as 5 years ago, seeing a fat bike—an off-road style two-wheeler with wide wheels ranging from 3 to 5 inches—would’ve prompted double takes almost anywhere in the Upper Midwest. That’s changed seemingly overnight as the responsiveness, smoothness and off-road capabilities of these bikes, especially in snow, has gone from little known to legendary. Brian Peterson, former editor of Northland Outdoors, proudly s

The iron ore mines at Cuyuna closed for business over 30 years ago, but in the past 10 years theyve been reborn as one of Minnesotas best mountain biking destinations. Cuyuna is now home to more than 50 miles of flowing, mixed-difficulty singletrack trails, and has gained a reputation as one of the best mountain bike trail centers in the entire country. Several loops of singletrack were carved into the rocky, post-industrial terrain, circling the pit mines-turned-lakes, winding through woods and

Whether its a cooking workshop, night sky photography course or multiday naturalist camp, blending learning with leisure is a surefire way to get an A+ on your next vacation. Your alarm goes off at 4 a.m. You get dressed, eat a quick breakfast, and head out the door before the sun rises. After an action-packed day, going to bed early isn’t on the agenda. You’re out and about at sunset and later still, venturing to one of the darkest places you’ll ever see, so dark the stars cast shadows on the g

Running and walking are the purest—and most portable—forms of exercise. Just pack your shoes and you’re ready to go, whether you’re headed to the North Shore of Lake Superior or southeast Minnesota’s beautiful Bluff Country. Throughout Minnesota, countless trails wind beneath towering pines, past rolling farmland and around glistening lakes, making running one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to experience Minnesota’s great outdoors.

Geocaching is like a global scavenger hunt thats optimized for the modern era. Its a great way to explore the outdoors with your kids, and you can do it almost anywhere in Minnesota. Finding activities that everyone in your family deems fun is a challenge. It certainly is in my household, which balances the interests of two boys under 5, an introverted writer mom and a nature-loving archeologist dad. And because one of our sons is on the autism spectrum, crowded spaces and new experiences pose a