Ten spots for lake life leisure and fun in Minnesota

Filled with natural beauty and gateways to waterborne adventure, Minnesota also boasts one of the most unique national park experiences in the country. Houseboats, drifting along sparkling waters by day and docked in forested nooks by night, carry visitors through Voyageurs National Park. More than a third of the park's 218,000 acres are covered with water—no surprise in a state known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
 
Houseboat vacations are just one way to explore Voyageurs, which marks its 50th anniversary this year. Located in the northeastern part of the state about 280 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul, the park also has land-based camping. But watercraft such as tour boats, fishing boats, canoes and kayaks (and in winter, snowmobiles, snowshoes, and skis) are the main way to reach sights like the Ellsworth Rock Gardens, with its terraced flower beds and rock sculptures. 
 
Certified as an International Dark Sky Park, Voyageurs is a prime destination for stargazing and seeing northern lights against the backdrop of the park's many granite cliffs. What Florence Page Jaques wrote about canoeing in the region nearly a century ago still resonates today: "What a way to travel — no trains to catch, no traffic to annoy us, no towns to reach by evening, no appointments to remember! We wander anywhere our whims take us, through these lakes and rivers. Freedom surrounds us. We are finding more than peace here."

The start of the Mississippi River might set the scene for the beginning of your journey in Minnesota. You'll find the headwaters of the storied Mississippi—the second-longest river in North America—at Itasca State Park in northwest Minnesota. Create memories by walking across the stones that span the river's shallow, 18-foot-wide origins, the expanse of Lake Itasca opening out before you as it flows into the channel. An upright carved log introducing the "mighty Mississippi" marks the spot for posterity and picture-taking.

Established in 1891, Itasca is the oldest of Minnesota's 64 state parks and is less than an hour's drive from the towns of Bemidji to the north and Park Rapids to the south. When you've had your fill of biking, paddling, and hiking, dine or stay inside the park at Douglas Lodge, where the restaurant serves a Minnesota spin on casserole called hotdish, among other local favorites. 

Beautiful road trips in the area abound, including the park's 10-mile Wilderness Drive and the 88-mile Lake Country Scenic Byway, which connects the towns of Walker, Park Rapids, and Detroit Lakes.

At about 10 square miles, Lake Bemidji is modest in size but big on charm. The legend of lumberjack Paul Bunyan looms over the area: In the town of Bemidji—the first city on the Mississippi River—an 18-foot-statue of the mythical woodsman, flanked by Babe the Blue Ox, demands a selfie. And the paved Paul Bunyan State Trail stretches 115 miles, with one end in Lake Bemidji State Park.   
 
With ample hotels and resorts, the Bemidji area has a long history as a vacation destination, with activities including fishing, boating, golf, and birding. For over 100 years, Ruttger's Birchmont Lodge has hosted visitors on a property that today offers lodges, cabins, and cottages with lake views and a marina. Camping is also an option at Lake Bemidji State Park, which has a spacious swimming beach, an overlook with views of the lake, and a bog boardwalk through lady's slipper orchids and carnivorous pitcher plants. In summer, pontoon tours offer a chance to spot bald eagles, ospreys, and the state bird, the loon.

A surveying error in the late 1800s yielded what is now the crown jewel of Chippewa National Forest in northwestern Minnesota: a stand of old-growth red and white pine trees. Spared from logging, the "Lost 40" pines are between 300 and 400 years old and accessible via a one-mile self-guided trail. The forest's territory also includes three of Minnesota's largest lakes—Cass, Leech, and Winnibigoshish—all good places for boating and spotting bald eagles that soar and perch near the water. You won't need a boat, however, if fishing is of interest, since the forest also has several fishing piers. Swimming, cycling, and canoeing are also popular activities at Chippewa.
 
Camping is easy, with 21 developed campgrounds and 100 backcountry camping sites. Another good option is to check out lodging in the region's towns, which include Deer River, Blackduck, Marcell, Walker and Cass Lake. The Cass Lake Lodge, for example, has cabins and campsites with lake views and modern amenities.

"I will always live in Minneapolis," Prince once said of his hometown. "It's so cold, it keeps the bad people out." It's a good line—but of course, Minnesota's winters aren't necessarily what's driving the city's reputation for good vibes. More likely, it's the  surrounding natural beauty, thriving creative communities, and inclusive attitude that make it a must-visit. And for Prince fans, a self-guided tour including Paisley Park is in order.
 
Minneapolis has everything you would hope for in an urban vacation: delicious food with lots of waterfront dining options, fascinating museums (admission to the top-tier Minneapolis Institute of Art is free), and plentiful shopping (the mammoth Mall of America is 15 minutes from downtown). But as with anywhere else in Minnesota, many of the top experiences involve being outdoors. The Mississippi River runs through downtown—bike or walk along the Stone Arch Bridge for views (take note that the downtown side is closed for restoration work through fall 2025). At the heart of Minneapolis and neighboring St. Paul lies an expanse more than three times the size of Central Park: Fort Snelling State Park, with its extensive trail system and historic buildings. But perhaps the most surprising and beautiful natural feature in Minneapolis is Minnehaha Falls, a 53-foot waterfall a short walk from a railstop. 

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul offer the ultimate 2-for-1 trip. St. Paul, which is home to the largest urban Hmong population in the United States, is an excellent place to explore some of the area's immigrant cultures and cuisines. In summer, visit the Little Mekong Night Market, where some 80 Asian and BIPOC small businesses sell dishes and drinks such as banh mi and shaved ice, along with artwork and crafts. And as you make your way around town, remember: In Minnesota, you can buy clothing and shoes tax-free.
 
Directly across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Paul and the Science Museum of Minnesota—which is punctuated by a five-story giant astronaut—Harriet Island is a great place to catch an outdoor concert or public event. Major bands play the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival in summer at the Harriet Island Regional Park; other happenings at the park include the Native American Food Truck Festival and the Irish Fair. The park is just part of St. Paul's Mississippi waterfront green space—for more, check out Hidden Falls and Crosby Farm, 612 acres of regional park land connected by a paved trail system.

If the name Red Wing seems familiar, it may be because the boot brand of the same name hails from this town about an hour's drive southeast of Minneapolis. Pick up a pair (did we mention shoes are tax-free?) at the Red Wing Shoe Company's flagship store, which doubles as a fun photo-op and cultural experience: the on-site museum features the "world's largest boot," which is more than 20 feet tall. Pottery collectors also know Red Wing for its history as a stoneware factory town since the 1860s. Shops around town sell both new and antique pieces, and displays at the Pottery Museum of Red Wing has more than 6,000 vintage items on display.
 
Mississippi River cruises and boaters regularly stop at Red Wing, which in addition to its shopping and restaurants has several parks and trails. Hike to the top of the 340-foot He Mni Can-Barn Bluff for views of the town and river, and visit Frontenac State Park (about a 15-minute drive away) for more hiking, camping, and birdwatching for the multitude of species along the migration route known as the Mississippi Flyway.

Follow the Mississippi about 70 miles as it snakes southeast of Minneapolis and you will reach Lake City, a picturesque town with about 5,200 residents. The river naturally opens out here to the two-mile wide expanse of Lake Pepin, a 29,295-acre lake surrounded by bluffs that reach as high as 600 feet.
 
On these waters, an 18-year-old Ralph Samuelson invented waterskiing in 1922—a riverside statue unveiled in 2022 honors his contribution, as does the annual Water Ski Days festival in June. On any given day, you're as likely to see kayaks, canoes, sailboats, and fishing expeditions as water skiers. To enjoy the scenery from land, check out Lake City's River Walk, a paved cycling and pedestrian trail that runs along about three miles of waterfront. 

Even if you're not a birdwatcher, it's hard not to be awed by the sight of a bald eagle, an American symbol that has appeared on the Great Seal of the United States since 1782 (its status as national bird was finally made official in December 2024). Minnesota has many vantage points where you might spy an eagle, along with many other birds. But in Wabasha, such an encounter is a certainty: The National Eagle Center here has multiple resident live eagles, rescued from injuries in the wild, that you can see up close. The center also offers field trips to see wild eagles in their natural habitat from November through April.
 
Though this city on the Mississippi, which lies about 85 miles southeast of Minneapolis, is the "Bald Eagle Capital of America," it's also a place to generally enjoy riverside life, from boating and canoeing to the Riverboat Days summer festival.

Nestled between the Mississippi on one side and Lake Winona on the other, Winona regularly appears in roundups of the best small towns in the Midwest for both visiting and living. Home to several colleges and universities, such as Winona State University and St. Mary's University of Minnesota, the town has a lively spirit and a stately downtown shopping district filled with one-of-a-kind boutiques.
 
The southeastern region surrounding Winona is part of Minnesota's Driftless Area, a unique topographical region marked by caves and arches. To take in the landscape, do an hour-long roundtrip hike to the top of Sugarloaf Bluff that will reward you with views of Lake Winona and the Mississippi beyond. Those who are not big on hiking can head to Garvin Heights Park for a similar and easily accessible view. Those who are not big on hiking can head to Garvin Heights Park for a similar and easily accessible view. If going for a bike ride is more your speed, Bluffside Park and Lake Park have a myriad of tracks for both beginners and experts. After taking in the views of sandstone formations there, head to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, to be inspired by the town’s surrounding water basin.
 
Find more inspiration at ExploreMinnesota.com.