Minnesota Attractions Guide

Minneapolis

• Walker Art Center & Minneapolis Sculpture Garden — the contemporary art museum anchors an 11-acre garden with the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture.
• Minnehaha Falls — a 53-foot waterfall on Minnehaha Creek, minutes from downtown via the light rail, with limestone bluffs and a sea-salt cave behind the falls in winter.
• Stone Arch Bridge — the 1883 former railroad bridge turned pedestrian crossing, with the best views of St. Anthony Falls and the downtown skyline.
• Mill City Museum — built into the ruins of a flour mill that exploded in 1878, telling how Minneapolis became the world's flour-milling capital.
• Mall of America (Bloomington) — technically in the suburb of Bloomington, this is the largest mall in the U.S.: 520+ stores, an indoor amusement park, and an aquarium.

St. Paul

• Minnesota State Capitol — Cass Gilbert's 1905 Beaux-Arts masterpiece with the second-largest self-supported marble dome in the world, open for free tours.
• Cathedral of Saint Paul — the hilltop Roman Catholic cathedral modeled on St. Peter's, with a 186-foot dome visible across the city.
• Como Park Zoo & Conservatory — free admission to the zoo and the 1915 Marjorie McNeely Conservatory's tropical gardens.
• Summit Avenue — the country's longest stretch of Victorian homes (373 preserved), including F. Scott Fitzgerald's former residence.
• Science Museum of Minnesota — Mississippi riverfront museum with dinosaur fossils, a Mississippi River gallery, and an omnitheater.

North Shore

• Split Rock Lighthouse State Park — the 1910 lighthouse on a 130-foot cliff, Minnesota's most photographed landmark, with a museum in the keeper's house.
• Gooseberry Falls State Park — five waterfalls on the Gooseberry River along Highway 61, with easy trails from the visitor center.
• Grand Marais — the artsy harbor town at the end of the Gunflint Trail, gateway to the Boundary Waters and home of the famous World's Best Donuts.
• Tettegouche State Park — waterfalls (High Falls is 60 feet), sea caves, and the Palisade Head cliffs rising 300 feet over the lake.

Boundary Waters

• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — 1,090,000 acres of interconnected lakes and portages with no motors allowed; the classic multi-day canoe wilderness trip.
• Ely — the main outfitting town, where dozens of outfitters rent canoes and arrange permits, plus the International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center.
• Permit system — overnight entry requires a quota permit (May–September) reserved in advance; day trips are simpler but still need a self-issued permit.
• Kawishiwi Falls — a 70-foot waterfall on the edge of the wilderness, reachable by an accessible 1.7-mile trail from the Lake One area.

Practical Tips

• Best season to visit: June through September for the North Shore and Boundary Waters (black flies fade by July); September–October for fall color along Highway 61. The Twin Cities are year-round, with winter festivals like the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
• Getting around: The Twin Cities have light rail and buses, but a car is essential for the North Shore (a 2.5-hour drive to Duluth, then Highway 61 north). Boundary Waters trips start from Ely or Grand Marais, both 3–4 hours from the Twin Cities.

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