10 Best Things to Do in Minnesota

Minnesota's Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness present nearly endless recreational opportunities for camping, hiking, wilderness exploration, swimming in clean lakes, winter adventures, and canoeing. There's no shortage of fresh air and natural beauty in this boreal forest ecosystem. You can get away from the stress of everyday work and life to find a healthy amount of relaxation and fun in the great outdoors of Superior National Forest. Within the forest, you'll find the ecologically preserved Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The gentle hills, rugged cliffs, lakes, sandy beaches, and rocky shores make it the ultimate destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

North Shore Scenic Drive is 148 miles of all-American beauty stretching from Duluth to the Canadian border on Minnesota State Highway 61. The views are exquisite as you wind your way up the western shore of Lake Superior through expansive coniferous and deciduous forests that jut through the rocky hillside. On the drive, you'll pass 7 state parks and the historic Split Rock Lighthouse that was built in 1910. The drive is a scenic paradise no matter what time of year you visit, but it's especially beautiful in autumn when you can feel the cool breeze while being surrounded by every shade of fall colour.

The historic Cathedral of St. Paul is a must-see destination when you visit Minnesota. With the exterior being completed in 1915, the work spanned many decades from 1907 until the interior of the cathedral was finished as it exists today. You can see the dome of the cathedral from almost anywhere in city centre St. Paul because it is strategically positioned on the highest point in the city. The Cathedral of St. Paul is an architectural wonder as well, built from solid granite with a look that can be described as modern but without holding itself to one particular style.

You can escape to Voyageurs National Park for an outdoor retreat through the vast northern Minnesota wilderness, experiencing the swath of forest intermixed with waterways and dotted with lakes and secluded islands. A unique and beautiful part of Voyageurs National Park is in the Ellsworth Rock Gardens, where you'll find a terraced outcropping with a series of abstract sculptures carved from the nearby rock. Fishing is a popular activity here, and the outdoor recreation is only limited by your time to enjoy being immersed in nature and your spirit of adventure.

The International Wolf Centre is one of the most unique and amazing places to visit in Minnesota. This research and educational centre is designed to help wolf populations survive by teaching people about the proper interaction between wolves and humans, and conservation is also a key component of the centre. You can come by and experience one of the many programmes that teach about the various species of wolves and their fascinating existence, and you can see rescue wolves in nature-mimicking habitats.

The Minnesota State Capitol building is a remarkably classic-looking structure that projects an aura of politicking and statesmanship. Located on a manicured campus, the Capitol building is made of glistening white stone that is brightly and tastefully lit up at dusk. The interior is as eye-catching as the exterior, with a massive rotunda and stone columns. You have to get an up-close look at the front of the Capitol to notice one of the most remarkable features, a glistening gold statue called the "Progress of the State" that's reminiscent of a Greco-Roman conqueror on a 4-horse chariot.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park offers a gorgeous and tranquil setting and is what a picturesque visit to the north shore of Lake Superior should be about. The lighthouse sits on a cliff that juts out into Lake Superior on 3 of its 4 sides and has been the inspiration for countless paintings and photographs. While Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is ideal to hike around to enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty, you can also visit the state park to camp or experience acres of adventure and recreation.

The Wabasha Street Caves are home to one of the most unique event halls you'll ever experience and are carved into sandstone on the shore of the Mississippi. You can tour the caves in an immersive gangster-themed event that shrouds you in history and hilarity. From the Wabasha Street Caves, you can also head out on a gangster tour throughout St. Paul, reliving the prohibition days and romantic side of the speakeasy era. Every Thursday, the Wabasha Street Caves put on a themed swing night featuring a live big band.

St. Cloud Clemens Gardens and its sister garden of Munsinger sit adjacent to one another on the banks of the Mississippi as it runs through St. Cloud and are a tranquil and scenic place to visit to experience the perfectly manicured botanical life that surrounds you. The botanical gardens here are made up of multiple smaller gardens. The Virginia Clemens Rose Garden is a visual delight of all types of roses encircling a fountain that represents the vibrancy of the area. The White Garden is another unique spot that is inspired by a famous English castle.