Explore Things to do in Minnesota
Commonly called “the Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Minnesota known as one of America’s unspoiled great wildernesses. With lakes, shorelines, forests, parks, and open wilderness areas. While the more remote regions of the state might be tourist’s favorites.
Cities, like Minneapolis and Saint Paul, called the Twin Cities. Home to most of the state’s citizens and a wide variety of tourist attractions.
Some of the most popular attractions in Minnesota’s cities include the Como Zoo, Canal Park, and the ever-popular Mall of America. For an outdoor escape of a lifetime. Vacationers can head to Lake Superior, Itasca State Park, or the Minnehaha Falls.
Mall of America
This massive world-famous Mall of America in Bloomington receives million visitors each year. With more than 520 stores, 60 restaurants. Major department stores, fashion retailers, home goods, and local shops.
Nickelodeon Universe (a 7-acre indoor amusement park). Nickelodeon Universe the nation’s first indoor Nickelodeon theme park, is home to seven acres of unique attractions, entertainment + dining. SEA LIFE Aquarium, a comedy club, world-class gaming and entertainment centers, the LEGO Store, mini-golf and tons of other family attractions and nightlife options.
Science Museum of Minnesota
The Science Museum of Minnesota is an American museum. Focused on topics in technology, natural history, physical science, and mathematics education. There are many exhibits that are always in the museum. Dinosaurs & Fossils showcases several real and replicated dinosaur skeletons.
Human Body Gallery shows visitors the various tissues, organs, and systems that make up the human body. The Experiment Gallery allows visitors to explore concepts in physics, math. Physical and earth science with interactive displays. Also be sure to check out the Omnitheater, their phenomenal 90-foot dome screen displaying all sorts of films about animals, space and natural wonders to name a few.
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
In Saint Paul, Minnesota, the Como Zoo and Conservatory encompass a park, zoo and conservatory. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is home to a wide variety of animals, from monkeys to polar bears, giraffe’s and more. The zoo is a popular attraction. Discover exotic plants and beautiful displays in various gardens.
From a carousel to Como Town rides and so much more, there are fun attractions for the whole family in and around the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory grounds. Como Town is home to more than 20 rides and attractions, concessions and a General Store.
Split Rock Lighthouse
Nestled on a cliff of Silver Bay on the North Shore of Lakes Superior, Split Rock Lighthouse is quite possibly one of the state’s most magnificent sightseeing destinations.
Visitors can pay a nominal admissions fee to climb the century-old lighthouse that sits atop a gorgeous 130-foot cliff. Walk in the century-old footsteps of the lighthouse keepers. Built in 1910, this historical landmark is a mighty 602 feet above sea level, towers 54 feet high, and its light travels a distance of more than 20 miles.
Minnehaha Park
Minnehaha Park situated about 6 miles southeast of central Minneapolis, the 167-acre park is a popular spot all year round. One of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks features a majestic 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs, and river overlooks.
The park itself offers visitors outdoor recreation with its bike paths, gardens, volleyball courts and playground. More attractions are open during the summer, including the Wabun wading pool and the Sea Salt Eatery, but a wintertime visit is still worthwhile for a peek at the magnificent frozen falls.
Minnesota Zoo
The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley was revolutionary when it opened in 1978. Exhibits provide exciting experiences with animals and their habitats, introducing guests to species from around the globe. Organizing animals by their habitat rather than species. Today, the zoo’s organized into six themed areas with walking trails throughout.
The Zoo is open year-round and includes the Tropics indoor rainforest, Discovery Bay aquarium, Medtronic Minnesota Trail featuring indigenous animals, Russia’s Grizzly Coast, Northern Trail and in the summer the Wells Fargo Family Farm.
Minneapolis Institute of Art
The collection at Minneapolis Institute of Art features more than 89,000 artworks, and the permanent and temporary exhibits span everything from American modernism to ancient artifacts from around the world. Admire exquisite paintings by old European masters, stunning pieces by both contemporary and ancient Native American artists, exquisite jade objects from Ancient China, conceptual art, and so much more.
Visitors can check out Japanese and Korean art, decorative art and textiles, and the Doryphoros – one of four surviving Roman copies of an ancient Greek sculpture. Mia also hosts free daily public tours, family programs.
Mill City Museum
Mill City Museum focuses on the founding and growth of Minneapolis. Especially flour milling and the other industries that used waterpower from Saint Anthony Falls. The museum features exhibit about the history of Minneapolis, flour milling machinery.
The centerpiece of the exhibit is the multistory Flour Tower. Where visitors sit in the cab of a freight elevator and taken to different floors of the building. There is a baking lab and a water lab inside the museum where one can spend plenty of time.
Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center is a multidisciplinary contemporary art center. The Walker is one of the most-visited modern and contemporary art museums in the United States. Together with the adjacent Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Its multiacre campus includes 65,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, the state-of-the-art McGuire Theater and Walker Cinema, and ample green space.
Museum’s permanent collection includes over 15,000 modern and contemporary art pieces. Including books, costumes, drawings, media works, paintings, photography, prints, and sculpture.
Itasca State Park
America’s most famous river finds its headwaters in northern Minnesota at Itasca State Park which spans more than 32,000 acres. The state park is the first in the state and the second oldest in the country, established in 1891.
The park is home to a variety of plant and animal life, as well as Lake Itasca, the official source of the Mississippi River. Visitors come to Itasca State Park throughout the year for boating, riding, and hiking.
Things to Do in Minnesota
With approximately 11,843 lakes, the Land of 10,000 Lakes more than measures up to its nickname. It’s sure to be any outdoor adventurer or nature lover’s vacation paradise.