Unravel the stories behind intriguing artifacts and learn more about Minnesota’s past at these 10 fascinating and fun Minnesota history museums. Minnesota History Center, St. Paul Minnesota History Center, St. Paul The Minnesota Historical Society presents the largest state history exhibit ever, Then Now Wow, at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. Visitors enco

Kids have plenty of places to play in Minnesota, from zoos to parks and playgrounds. Also high on this list are children’s museums, where rotating exhibits, special events and hands-on activities will delight kids of all ages—and even teach them something in the process. Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul & Rochester Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul & R

If you’re a parent, it’s a good bet you’ve said it: “Get outside and play, already!” But let’s be honest. It’s not just the kids who could use a little fresh air. Good thing Minnesota’s full of fun, family-style outdoor opportunities for all styles and skill levels, from river paddling to cave exploring to techno treasure hunting. Go ahead. Pick an activity. Then take your own advice, and get out and play—together. Ride

Straddling the border between Minnesota and Canada, giant Lake of the Woods is the four-season fishing destination of your dreams. Home to the Northwest Angle—the most northerly point in the continental U.S.—anglers search out its walleye, sauger, northern, smallmouth bass, muskies and even the prehistoric looking sturgeon found in the spring and fall. The Minnesota shoreline offers lakeside resorts and public access po

Bikepacking is an overnight, self-supported bike camping trip on low-maintenance forest roads, logging trails, gravel and singletrack—everything you love about backpacking, plus the extra speed, distance and thrill of a bike trip. With more than a third of Minnesota’s land area classified as forest, the countless low-maintenance forest roads and logging trails that crisscross our state forests are perfect for getting off the grid. Josh Kowaleski, avid bikepacker and sales manager at Spokengear C

Established in 1956 by the League of American Bicyclists, Bike Month has a simple premise: ride a bike more often during May, and encourage your friends to do the same. The months flagship events are National Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day, occurring respectively on the third week and third Friday of May. And in communities across Minnesota, bicycling advocacy groups host encouragement events all month to get more people bike commuting. But we all know that work isn’t everything. Often i

One of the most popular and scenic destinations in Minnesota is the North Shore of Lake Superior. Experience its grandeur by bike on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, a paved trail between Two Harbors and Grand Marais. Though it will eventually run for 88 miles, this trail is being constructed in segments as funding becomes available. Currently, 29 miles of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail have been completed and paved. The longest trail segment, 14 miles between Gooseberry Falls State Park and Beaver Bay

By Mpls.St.Paul Magazine / Inspired by Chad Greenways My North Now that beloved Minnesota Viking middle linebacker Chad Greenway is retired, he has a lot of time on his hands. While his young daughters demand a lot of it, he still manages to find plenty of free time in the winter to indulge one of his passions: snowmobiling. And because there’s no place better for it than Minnesota, here are five great places around the state to take a snowmobiling vacation this winter.

Bike touring the Mississippi River is an epic journey that draws countless cyclists to Minnesota every year. Kick off your adventure at Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota, where you can dip a back tire into the Mississippi Headwaters and embark on an unforgettable bike tour of Americas most legendary river. Mississippi River Trail Route in Minnesota Along its winding path through Minnesota, the Mississippi River Tr

Upland bird hunters should set their sights on Minnesotas abundant game. A big state—some 400 miles from top to bottom—Minnesotas forests offer some of the best ruffed grouse hunting in the nation. Similarly, its prairies provide plenty of fine pheasant hunting. Minnesota’s other upland game birds include Hungarian partridge, woodcock, sharp-tailed grouse, spruce grouse, mourning dove and prairie chicken. Minnesota: Gro

This large, beautiful lake in northeast Minnesota is rimmed with thick forest and studded with 365 pine-topped islands spread throughout its 37 miles. Largely undeveloped, Vermilion provides a wilderness escape at the peaceful resorts and campgrounds along its shores. Where to Stay on Lake Vermilion Meandering Lake Vermilion is rimmed with thick forest; most of the miles of shoreline are undeveloped,

As a young girl, getting ready for Minnesota’s Hmong New Year celebration in November was one of the most exciting times of the year. After laboring for months to make and gather my traditional Hmong clothes, my mother would wrap me in them so tightly I had to remember to breathe. Dozens of coins dangled from the outfit, clanging loudly against one another with every step; around my neck, I wore a heavy and beautiful xauv necklace as a reminder of the Hmong struggle. To be honest, most kids lik

Fly fishing is one of the most beginner-friendly ways to go fishing in Minnesota. Getting started takes a matter of 15 to 20 minutes, and most species of fish can be caught with a fly rod on Minnesota’s 10,000-plus lakes, streams and rivers. Bob Nasby, Minnesota-based fly fishing guide, teacher and Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame member, says the basics to get you on the water catching fish are surprisingly easy to learn. “You don’t need to be great at this to have fun and catch fish,” says Nas

It’s easy to teach children the magic of the arts—and make a trip super special—with groups and places such as these lighting the way. Multiple museums, theaters and performing arts groups in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area cater to the littlest ones in the family with special exhibits, performances and events created just for them. Here are six to get you started. Circus Juventas

Whether you’re seeking a serene roll or a challenging thrill, there’s no shortage of mountain bike trails to explore in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Here are three to get you started. Theodore Wirth Park For visitors looking to get rad within the city limits, you can’t do much better than Theodore Wirth Park. Located on the western edge of North Minneapolis—just outside of downtown—Theo’s rustic, wooded environment makes it ea

Biking in the Twin Cities is a bit like biting into a Juicy Lucy. It seems relatively straightforward at first (“How is this different from a cheeseburger?”), but there’s no denying the truth after your first ride. Like the Juicy Lucy, biking in the Twin Cities is more than the sum of its parts—and it’s better here than practically anywhere else in America. So hop on your pedal-powered chariot (or rent one from Wheel Fun Rentals, various bike shops, or the Nice Ride or Lime bike-sharing services

From the sound of leaves crunching under bike tires to the fireworks of fall colors bursting from branches as you pedal, it’s easy to see (and hear) why fall biking in Minnesota is so popular. With gorgeous features like tree-lined lakes and towering river bluffs, these trails are sure to make you fall for fall biking. Gitchi-Gami State Trail Gitchi-Gami State Trail

Seeking summer fun? Then go with the flow. Minnesota has thousands of miles of rivers that are perfect for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. In fact, about 4,500 miles are part of a state water trail system, making them easy to find and navigate. The Mississippi and St. Croix rivers are arguably the most well-known destinations. The latter, a national Wild and Scenic River, is especially stunning from the launch site at Interstate State Park near Taylors Falls to William O’Brien State Park, a dist

Craving the perfect summer day? Grab a paddle and your watercraft of choice to soak up the the warm weather and admire Minnesotas brilliant scenery mirrored across the surface of regional rivers. Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources maintains 32 designated water trails throughout the state for kayakers, canoeists and stand-up paddleboarders. It’s the oldest water trail system in the nation, having started more than 50 years ago and now covering more than 4,400 miles. They range from quiet

Established in 1891, Minnesota is home to the nations second-oldest state park system in the nation. Covering more than 200,000 acres spanning every corner of the state, state parks welcome visitors to explore the full diversity of Minnesotas natural environment in a majestic and historic setting.  The great heritage of Minnesota’s state park system begins at the source of America’s greatest river. Itasca State Park, home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River, was established in 1891, launc