Top Places to Visit in Minnesota

Minnesota's visitor attractions span the Twin Cities' world-class urban culture, the Boundary Waters wilderness, the North Shore's dramatic Lake Superior coast, and the Iron Range's mining heritage.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The most distinctive visitor experience in Minnesota — canoeing the BWCAW's interconnected lakes and rivers requires no motorized equipment, just a permit. Entry points on the Gunflint Trail (Grand Marais) or the Ely area give access to the interior. Multi-day trips through lake chains separated by short portages create an experience of genuine wilderness immersion. The fishing (walleye, northern pike, lake trout) is excellent; the night sky (minimal light pollution) is extraordinary.

Minneapolis–Saint Paul
The Twin Cities' cultural offerings are disproportionate to the metro's size: the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia — one of the top encyclopedic art museums in the US, free admission), the Walker Art Center (one of the top contemporary art museums in the US, with the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden — home of the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry), the Guthrie Theater (one of the most acclaimed regional theaters in the US, designed by Jean Nouvel), the Science Museum of Minnesota, and First Avenue (the music venue where Prince filmed "Purple Rain").

North Shore of Lake Superior (Duluth to Grand Portage)
Minnesota's most dramatic scenery — the 150-mile North Shore drive (US-61) passes Split Rock Lighthouse (1910, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the US), Gooseberry Falls State Park (five waterfalls in 1 mile), Tettegouche State Park (Shovel Point — dramatic basalt cliffs above Lake Superior), Cascade River State Park, and Grand Portage NM at the Canadian border.

Mall of America (Bloomington)
The largest mall in the US — 520+ stores, an indoor theme park (Nickelodeon Universe — 27 rides including roller coasters), an aquarium (Sea Life Minnesota), a mini-golf course, and a hotel. The mall is the most visited tourist attraction in the US (40 million visits per year).

Itasca State Park
The headwaters of the Mississippi River — visitors step across the rocky outlet of Lake Itasca on the stones that mark the river's beginning. The park's old-growth pine forest (some trees 200+ years old) and the historic Douglas Lodge are exceptional.