Once covered with mountains and a shallow sea, the stretch of Northeast Minnesota known as the Iron Range evolved to serve up mining riches around the year 1890. Iron Range miners built the towns of Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Virginia, Ely and more, while the region’s deep iron ore deposits fed American industry’s hunger for steel and earned business attention from icons named Rockefeller and Carnegie. While mining interests remain, the red earth of the Iron Range keeps evolving—most recently into a

As an introvert, it’s hard to go to the Minnesota State Fair and not feel overwhelmed by the large crowds. Held annually over the 12 days leading up to Labor Day, the Minnesota State Fair covers 322 acres with rides, attractions and food (so much food). Typical daily attendance is between 100,000-200,000 people, with a record 270,426 single day visitors in 2018. That makes it the largest state fair in America—and a tall order for someone like me, who has a hard time teaching a class of 26 studen

When I was young, my family took many trips to Lanesboro to bike the Root River State Trail, but as my sister and I got older, our busy lives kept us from returning. So when my sister accepted a new job as a nurse, we decided to celebrate with a trip to our old haunts along the Root River Valley. The 42-mile trail offers some of the most stunning views in southeastern Minnesota, including wildflower fields and limestone bluffs overflowing with trees.

Winter in Minnesota is the perfect time of year to get together with loved ones, embrace old traditions, or even start some new ones. Here are just five of the many ways to make the most of this special season. Get in the Holiday Spirit A hallmark of the holiday season is sparkling lights. The Winter Lights celebration at the Minnesota Arboretum will enhance the beauty of the natural landscape with 16 outdoor light disp

Bicyclists on the lookout for high-quality experiences should take aim at central Minnesota. This region includes Minnesota’s longest paved bike trail, a nationally acclaimed mountain bike trail and trails that take riders through sweeping forests and into popular tourist towns. Several well-known central Minnesota paved trails run atop former railroad grades. These routes are remarkably flat. For young families, these safe trails mean no steep hills for kids to climb. For avid bikers, they offe

Rochester has a robust network of bike trails and enough bike-friendly restaurants, breweries, museums and public plazas to satisfy all your vacation desires. Biking here reveals a city full of world-class urban amenities without the complications, long lines and high costs of a bigger city. So grab your helmet and follow us on a whirlwind 24 hour bike-vacation in Rochester! Morning Start your biking vacation at Peace P

The Root River State Trail in southeast Minnesota is a paved, 42-mile bike route through one of the states most beautiful and unique landscapes: the Driftless Region. Whether you choose to start in Fountain, Harmony, Lanesboro, Houston, Peterson, Preston, Rushford or Whalan, you’re destined to have a good time. The Driftless Region: No Glaciers, No Problems One of the few parts of Midwest passed-over by glaciers during

Minnesota is home to an exceptional variety of mountain bike trails, many of which stay open for fat biking all winter long. From lift-served downhill trails in Duluth, to the legendary red dirt at Cuyuna, youll find outstanding mountain bike trails across Minnesota.  Duluth If you ride a mountain bike, youve probably already heard of Duluth. With four trails and the state’s only lift service, Spirit Mountain is Minneso

Each fall, intricate corn mazes crop up at Minnesota farms, wineries, apple orchards and pumpkin patches, following the centuries-old European maze tradition. Simply a-maze-ing to see from above, recent designs produced locally include geometric labyrinths, a Minnesota Timberwolves logo, a headless horseman and a Minnesota state map. Navigating a circuitous journey through 7-foot-tall stalks of corn leads to some dead e

Whether you’re curled up on a blanket, relaxing in a lawn chair or reclined in the air-conditioned comfort of your car, a trip to the drive-in is a quintessential Minnesota summer experience. Nothing else lets you get outdoors and embrace the warm weather, spend time with friends and family, and enjoy the nostalgia of watching a movie under the stars—it’s the perfect little slice of old-school Americana to cap off a summer night. So hop in your car and head to one of these Minnesota drive-in the

Theres more to celebrate this summer than ever before, and Independence Day is a favorite festivity for many. As the anticipated long weekend and out of office replies loom, you can hit the road to revel in the holiday and catch a fireworks display along the way. Here are a multitude of cities throughout the state that are planning Independence Day firework celebrations in 2021. Albert Lea Ring in the

With 75 state parks and recreation areas throughout the state, you dont need to travel far to explore Minnesotas great outdoors. As you mask up and begin to venture out for day trips again, check out some of these 21 incredible, close-to-home state parks. Central Minnesota Maplewood State Park Near Pelican Rapids, Maplewood State Park lies in a transition zone between forests and prairies, which makes for a uniquely bea

Minnesota has 75 state parks and recreation areas where youll find stunning views and hiking trails of all difficulty and mobility levels. With so many paths to tread, it can be challenging to know where to start. Here are five incredible trails to introduce you to these wild spaces. Gooseberry Falls State Park Gooseberry Falls State Park Heading north from Duluth, G

Minnesota features two official United States Bicycle Routes (USBR): USBR 41, the North Star Route (NSR), and USBR 45, the Mississippi River Trail (MRT). A combination of roads and paved trails, these routes connect some of our state’s most iconic parks, cities and natural wonders. Together they offer bike tourists in Minnesota more than 1,000 miles of easily navigated opportunities for cross-country travel, regional bicycle touring and commuting by bike. So whether you’re biking for an hour, pa

It’s not surprising that Minnesota—part of America’s corn and grain belt—has unique museums and sites devoted to food, glorious food! Here are four fascinating food history museums to visit the next time youre hungry...for knowledge! Spam Museum, Austin Spam Museum, Austin The Spam Museum celebrates the unique, canned meat product that rose to prominence as a staple

Lords, ladies, knights, fairies and everyone else (dogs, too!) are implored to journey back in time to the annual Renaissance Festival in Shakopee. What Treasures & Entertainment Willst Thou Find in The Realm Whether youre perusing the artisan marketplace, attending a live jousting show or flying through the air on the Wizards Flight School Zip Line, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival has something for everyone. Go

At its most exciting, learning about Minnesota’s history means watching the past come alive. Several of the state’s popular historic sites sponsor living history programs, where costumed historical characters introduce you firsthand to the sights, smells and sounds of the past. A number of Minnesota’s many fine historic sites incorporate this “living history” approach to learning about Minnesota’s early days, where costumed interpreters play roles and even specific historic characters. These sit

You don’t need a time machine to go back to the good old days. Just hop in the car and head down the Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway, where historic homes, churches and commercial buildings remain an integral part of modern life. Churches, Main Streets & the Jolly Green Giant The eastern end of the byway begins in Belle Plaine and travels south to Mankato. In the small township of Jessenland, the St. Thomas Chur

Located in opposite corners of the state, Minnesotas two National Monuments provide unparalleled insights to our countrys American Indian heritage and national history. Visit both for some of the richest scenery and culture Minnesota has to offer.  PIPESTONE NATIONAL MONUMENT In far southwestern, rural Minnesota, the town of Pipestone derives its name from an area on its outskirts that has been a sacred site to American

Minnesotas recorded history begins at Jeffers, where American Indians for thousands of years have traced life stories in rock carvings (petroglyphs). The Jeffers Petroglyphs site is marked by over 5,000 carved images of human figures, tools, and animals such as bison, salamanders, turtles, elk and thunderbirds. The meaning of the petroglyphs is intriguing and unknowable, but the symbols and stories suggest