Top Things to do in Minnesota
Top Hotels in Minnesota
- 1. South Pier Inn on the Canal
- 2. La Quinta Inn & Suites By Wyndham Duluth
- 3. TownePlace Suites by Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
- 4. Celeste St Paul
- 5. Radisson Blu Mall of America
- 6. Hampton Inn & Suites Minneapolis/Downtown
- 7. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Bloomington at Mall of America, MN
- 8. The Marquette Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
- 9. Best Western Plus Superior Inn
- 10. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Minneapolis Bloomington W
10 Free Things to do in Minnesota That You Shouldn't Miss
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have the famous Mall of America and Walker Art Institute. Bluff Country to the south has water sports and cross country skiing. The Prairielands abound with lake recreations.
Restaurants in Minnesota
1. Minneapolis Institute of Art
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,356 reviews
Travel through 4,000 years of world history as you view more than 80,000 works of sculpture, photography, paintings, drawings and prints.
Reviewed By RedYoga - Benicia, United States
I was visiting Minneapolis for a conference, and saw an ad for the special exhibit of Native American women's art at MIA. Kudos to MIA for putting together such an amazing exhibit--it is fantastic! I walked through the special exhibit twice to better take it all in. I would encourage everyone to go see it! Not to be missed.
2. Garvin Heights City Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 271 reviews
A scenic overlook where visitors can see from Lake Pepin to Mount Trempealeau.
Reviewed By fgut13 - Salt Lake City, United States
If you're in Winona, take a quick drive up to the Garvin Heights City Park. It offers such gorgeous views of Winona. The parking lot and trail is paved, making it great for families and everyone!
3. Grand Portage State Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 261 reviews
Located northwest of Lake Superior, this area offers camping, hiking, cross-country skiing and dogsledding.
Reviewed By BCSunflower777 - Chanhassen, United States
The short walk to High Falls is lovely--and the view at the end is spectacular. After driving to the top of Minnesota, why wouldn't you stop to see this? As the highest waterfall in Minnesota, it is a magnificent natural beauty and mesmerizing as most waterfalls are. The visitor center is clean and well maintained, too, with a nice gift shop and interpretive displays about Ojibwe culture. The 1/2 mile trail is paved and has very little elevation gain, making it accessible to nearly everyone.
4. Chain of Lakes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 402 reviews
Three separate lakes (Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet) all surrounded by pedestrian paths.
Reviewed By jesseMN - Savannah, United States
Walk, jog, swim, hear a concert, rent bikes, roller skates, canoes...the chain of lakes is one of the many attractions of the excellent Park system - connected by trail and water to other parks - that attacts year 'round visitors. A cherished resource that is actually three interconnected lakes in the City. Accessable by public transit.
5. Minnesota's North Shore Scenic Drive
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,952 reviews
Reviewed By Rwhite1129 - Kenosha, United States
First of all let me say that driving this road is a must when visiting Duluth. I spent the entire day driving this path and pulling off to see waterfalls and hike various trails. The lakefront views and small towns along the way have so much charm to offer. Plan your trip beforehand- GPS is great to navigate along the way. Some waterfalls along the way are off the beaten path and require more time and strenous hiking to get to. Today my husband and I hiked the following- Gooseberry Falls (Gooseberry Falls State Park), Illgen Falls, Caribou Falls, Cross River Falls (right off 61), Hidden Falls, and Cascade Falls (Cascade River State Park). The views are amazing and some of the trails were a little icy but it was so beautiful.
6. Munsinger Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 404 reviews
Located along the scenic Mississippi River, these gardens are known for their shade-loving plants including numerous hostas and ferns.
Reviewed By cmsr1128
This is a beautiful area to visit just to walk through and enjoy the many different plants and wonderful walkways along side of the Mississippi River. The fall colors are so beautiful all around the fountains and gorgeous scenic views. I love coming here to just walk and visit with friends and go to the little gift shop. I recommend it for anyone who has time to soak in this totally awesome place.
7. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,754 reviews
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is closed for renovation, and will reopen in June 2017. One of the crown jewels of the city’s park system, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden unites two of Minnesota’s most cherished resources—its greenspace and its cultural life. A partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, the Garden is a top destination for tourists to enjoy art like the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry in an outdoor park setting.
Reviewed By victoriavZ5721AB - Rochester, United States
Had to check out the Minneapolis sculpture garden to see the famous spoon and cherry. We parked in the $4 parking lot and enjoyed strolling through the walkways to see some interesting sculptures. The native landscape and wildflowers only added to the beauty of the art and the location in the city. Got some cool pics as well which I'm sure we'll cherish for a long time!
8. Aerial Lift Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,668 reviews
Originally constructed in 1905 as an aerial lift, this unusual elevator bridge is 386 feet long and spans the canal entrance to Duluth Harbor.
Reviewed By lindakimberley - Virginia, United States
We stayed by the iconic Duluth Aerial Bridge and enjoyed seeing it in operation, fun to watch as the big freighters head in and out of the Duluth area. If you are in Duluth, definitely make time to check this out especially if you enjoy seeing the big freighters.
9. Canal Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,429 reviews
Watch seagulls soaring while you stroll around this popular spot, part of the revived Duluth waterfront. Nearby are a sculpture garden, jazz clubs, coffee shops, motels and restaurants. If you like ships, stand on the pier and watch huge boats and ships, some from around the world, come and go daily.
Reviewed By Iowa_is_my_home
Canal Park is a "must" for anyone visiting the North Shore. The Maritime Visitor Center is well done and interesting for all ages, and the high-quality galleries and shops are more than just the typical tourist t-shirt shops (though there a a couple of those, too.) Though I'd suggest Duluth Grill over the Canal Park restaurants, their convenience, quality and variety makes them a good choice for anyone whose time is limited.
10. Mall of America
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,855 reviews
Mall of America(R) is one of the top tourist destinations in the country! The Mall welcomes more than 40 million visitors a year from across the country and around the world to enjoy over 520 retail and specialty stores including Nordstrom and Macy's. Experience unique dining and entertainment at over 50 restaurants plus enjoy leading attractions like the nation's largest indoor theme park, Nickelodeon Universe(R) indoor theme park, SEA LIFE(R) Aquarium, LEGO(R), A.C.E.S. Flight Simulator, Moose Mountain Adventure Golf and more! By hosting more than 400 events each year, the Mall has become the place where fans can meet and greet their favorite celebrities or take part in interactive, one-of-a-kind events.
Reviewed By kevinhC5722CY - Mold, United Kingdom
Visited Mall of America for a second time and left just as impressed as my first visit several years ago. Great range of unique stores over a number of levels, clean and well maintained and enjoys a great food offer too. The centre piece though has to be the fun fair in the middle of what is a vast shopping centre. And car parking is easy with lots of space available. Also loved the many electronic find-what-you-are-looking for electronic stands that are easy to operate and guide you to any store, restaurant, fast food outlet or just the nearest rest room you may need to find. All in all a great shopping experience.
