The Ultimate And Definitive Bucket List For Everyone In Minnesota
By Jo Magliocco|Updated on May 02, 2024(Originally published March 29, 2016)
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Jo Magliocco
Author
Minnesota staff writer for Only in Your State and owner of Minnesota blog NorthGuide.co, I'm a Minneapolis transplant who loves my cats, camera, and local coffee. On the weekends I'm usually exploring the North Shore or making my way through the list of Minnesota's State Parks. Want to talk about MN or ask me a question? Tweet me @sotafiedjo!
If you’re looking for places to go in Minnesota, the best way to start is with a Minnesota bucket list of some of the state’s most popular and beautiful attractions. And if you live here long enough, these 31 places will be just the tip of the iceberg. From waterfalls to historic houses, here are the places that nobody can afford to miss in Minnesota. Let’s explore!
The most visited historic home in Minnesota, Glensheen Mansion sits on gorgeous Lake Superior, surrounded by amazing gardens. Though it may be beautiful, it has a dark past; the home was the site of double homicide in 1977.
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3. Gooseberry Falls - Two Harbors
Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota 61, Two Harbors, MN, USA
Minnesota's most mysterious natural wonder, Devil's Kettle is where half of the Brule River disappears, and never shows up again where we can see it. It astonishes visitors time and time again, and is one of MN's most beautiful falls to boot.
5. Itasca State Park - Park Rapids
Itasca State Park, 36750 Main Pk Dr, Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA
Voyageurs National Park is unlike any other in that its campsites and interior are accessible only by water. This park provides one of the only remaining true wilderness experiences, where you can enjoy the beauty of America’s land without human interference.
10. Superior Hiking Trail - Northeastern Minnesota
The St. Croix River is where you'll find some of the most spectacular geological features in MN, from glacial potholes to the scenic cliffs where we can count the lava flows and prove that Minnesota was, indeed, once an ocean state.
12. Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden - Minneapolis
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, 1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55405, USA
The most expansive canoeing area full of phenomenal lakes and streams, the BWCAW is one of the most calming places in the country, and a famous United States destination for true adventurers.
15. Marjorie McNeely Conservatory - St. Paul
Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, Estabrook Drive, Saint Paul, MN, USA
One of Minnesota's most fascinating places, the mine on northern Minnesota's Vermilion Range is the oldest and deepest in MN. The mine's lowest level, the 27th, is 2,341 feet below ground.
18. Niagara Cave - Harmony
Niagara Cave, 29842 Co Rd 30, Harmony, MN 55939, USA
Near Harmony, discover the depths of Niagara Cave, one the Midwest's largest caves, with fossils, a waterfall, and even a wedding chapel. The beautiful water-sculpted passageways make for a truly one-of-a-kind walk.
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19. Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden - Minneapolis
Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA
The views of downtown Minneapolis and the Stone Arch Bridge are some of the most photographed in MN and highlight the beautiful historic and modern sides of the Twin Cities.
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29. Hermann Heights Monument - New Ulm
The Hermann Monument Society, 10 Monument St, New Ulm, MN 56073, USA
Designed by Dr. Charles H. Mayo of the Mayo Clinic, this amazing mansion and the surrounding gardens are full of historic charm.
Minnesota's Gunflint Trail is another wonderful adventure in Northern Minnesota. Learn more about it in this video:
Have you visited any of these places in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? What would you add to your own Minnesota bucket list? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
One of the best ways to check these places off your list may be a road trip. Just pack up the car and spend a weekend exploring the best that the state has to offer.
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Minnesota Bucket List
Trent Jonas|December 17, 2023
What are some of the best things to do in Minnesota?
There are so many things to see and do in the Land of 10,000 Lakes that it’s almost impossible to put together a Minnesota bucket list of the things that you absolutely need to see in the North Star State. Some things that stand out though are the natural wonders that our state is blessed with. Take a look at these Minnesota bucket list suggestions!
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness - If there’s one Minnesota natural wonder that folks from across the United States know about, it’s probably the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. At more than 1 million acres, the Boundary Waters is one of the largest wilderness areas in the Lower 48. Part of the Superior National Forest along the Canadian border, the BWCAW is home to clean air and dark skies, making it a premier destination for stargazing and northern lights viewing, as well as just getting away from civilization for a few days.
Voyageurs National Park - Voyageurs National Park shares the same geography that makes up that makes up the Boundary Waters, including the dark skies, moose, bears, and wolves. But, as a national park, it’s more accessible - and doesn’t require a permit to visit. One of the least visited national parks, Voyageurs is an awesome place to enjoy a national park experience without the national park crowds.
Pipestone National Monument and Blue Mounds State Park - Located in the extreme southwest corner of the state, Pipestone National Monument and Blue Mounds State Park are characterized by the same geological feature: a miles-long upwelling of Sioux quartzite that sets these places apart from the surrounding tallgrass prairie. Instead of rolling prairie, you’ll find sudden, pink cliffs, and even a waterfall when visiting these parks. You’ll also learn about the area’s incredible Native history.