Who says you have to travel far to have a great trip? There are plenty of wonderful daycation destinations all across the state that will give you your travel fix without taking up too much time. The North Shore is a popular spot for many Minnesota travelers, but there are plenty of other places to discover. In south-central Minnesota, Sibley State Park stands out as a wonderful place to visit thanks to its natural beauty and recreation opportunities. Instead of taking the usual long trip up north, instead consider heading to this gorgeous park. Here’s what you’ll find when you get there:

Sibley State Park is a lovely park in the south-central Minnesota town of New London. It's about 110 miles northwest of Minneapolis, making it a nice day trip destination for most Minnesotans.
Greg Gjerdingen/Flickr
The park has plenty to offer. While you're there, you may encounter many different types of wildlife. Birds, rodents, and insects are abundant. You may even get lucky enough to see some larger animals, especially white-tailed deer.
Greg Gjerdingen/Flickr
One common place to spot wildlife is along the park's trails. Sibley State Park has more than 18 miles of hiking trails that lead through oak savannah, forest, and along beautiful bodies of water.
Keith Ewing/Flickr

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Perhaps the most popular trail is the one that leads to the top of Mount Tom. It's a 3-mile loop to the top of a high hill. From start to finish, the trail rises 200 feet in elevation.
Keith Ewing/Flickr
Once you arrive at the top, climb to the top of the observation tower. Here, you'll have an outstanding view of the surrounding landscape. You'll see over the tops of the trees in every direction. It's absolutely goregeous.
Greg Gjerdingen/Flickr
Once you've had your fill of hiking, be sure to spend some time at Lake Andrew. Its sandy beach offers plenty of room to spread out a towel and take a dip into the water. Kayaking and canoeing are also popular Lake Andrew activities!
Tony Webster/Flickr
Between the beautiful lake and the hilly, tree-filled landscape around it, Sibley State Park has a lot to offer to visitors. It's a great place to drive for a fun day trip. After you visit once, it'll quickly become one of your favorite spots!
Sibley State Park/Google

Have you ever been to Sibley State Park? What are your other favorite Minnesota day trips? Let us know in the comments — and be sure to check out our past list of 12 Minnesota day trip ideas.

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Sibley State Park, Sibley Park Road Northeast, New London, MN, USA