Things to do in the Midwest

Looking for interesting Places in Minnesota to visit this year?

Below it's our top three:

1. Minneapolis MN

If you are visiting Minnesota and are planning an urban-type vacation, Minneapolis MN boasts many attractions such as visiting museums, taking a segway tour of downtown Minneapolis MN and enjoying a bit of shopping at the Mall Of America, which is also a hotspot for finding nightlife in the city.

2. Duluth MN

If you are planning an affordable family vacation in Minnesota, Duluth MN is one of the most popular summer vacation spots in the Midwest for travelers looking to enjoy the outdoors.

Things to do for fun in Minnesota while on vacation

Apart from being surrounded by pristine forest scenery, Duluth MN is located by Lake Superior where you can find cabin rental opportunities and enjoy fun water activities by the Lake.

3. Rochester MN

Upper Midwest Tourist Attractions

Rochester MN is located on the southeastern part of the state near the border with Iowa and Wisconsin. Rochester MN is actually not far from Minneapolis MN, and it is a great destination if you’re looking to enjoy a city vacation in a more relaxed atmosphere. Apart from city attractions, Rochester MN has many urban parks and it is located near a couple of state parks and lakes where you can enjoy a bit of hiking and fishing.

See. Places to visit in the Twin Cities

Facts about Minnesota

These are three of the most interesting places in Minnesota this year. If you're traveling to the state for the first time, you want to check out some interesting facts about the state:

- Minnesota is commonly known as the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’ State and the ‘North Star State’

- Minnesotans is the name for residents in the state of Minnesota

- The name Minnesota comes from the Native American word ‘Mnisota’, which means ‘muddy water.’

- The highest mountain in the state is Eagle Mountain, standing at over seven hundred meters.

- Lake Superior is the largest and deepest lake in Minnesota.

- Minnesota is bordered by North Dakota and South Dakota in the west, Iowa in the south, Wisconsin in the east, and the Ontario Canada in the north.

- Minnesota is characterized by very cold winters and hot summers.

- The Mississippi River divides the cities of Minneapolis and St.Paul

- There are over seventy state parks and over fifty state forests in Minnesota

- Minnesota has a large population of German and Scandinavians outside of Europe

- Bloomington's Mall Of America is the largest shopping complex in the state

- There is no sales tax on clothing items

- The Minnesota State Fair is the second largest in the United States, after State Fair of Texas.

- Minnesota is home to the largest student-run newspaper in the US, named the Minnesota Daily.


- Minnesota has some of the most important high-tech companies in the US as well as medical facilities such as the Mayo Clinic

When to go

I hope you found these Minnesota facts interesting. I feel these facts really a good idea on what to expect when planning a vacation to the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’ State. If you are planning on doing outdoor pursuits such as hiking and biking, I would suggest traveling to Minnesota in early spring (March-April) and early fall (September-October), as weather is most pleasant.

For fishing and water pursuits, early summer is one of the best times to visit Minnesota for this, as the hot weather is not completely in full swing. There are many interesting places to visit in Minnesota but as mentioned above three of the most popular places to head for a vacation this are Minneapolis MN, Duluth MN and Rochester MN.

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Rochester Minnesota is located south of Minneapolis and west of the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. If you are traveling to Rochester Minnesota for the first time, the city is known for the Mayo Clinic, which is one of the best health care centers in the USA.

Places To Go In Minnesota

Due to the city’s conservative nature, Rochester is also known as a great family getaway destination. Apart from the many things to do in Rochester Minnesota, the city is just 60 minutes drive from fun things to do in Minneapolis, and a couple of hours drive from La Crosse WI and fun things to do in Madison WI.

Things to do for fun in Minnesota while on vacation

Things to do in Rochester Minnesota: Outdoor Activities

One of the highlights of a vacation in Rochester Minnesota it’s enjoying the natural scenery and fun outdoor activities at one of the urban parks or nearby state parks.

Urban Parks

Rochester Minnesota is home to over 20 urban parks scattered around the city so if you fancy an early morning jog or an afternoon picnic, you have plenty of parks to choose from.

Some of the biggest urban parks in Rochester Minnesota include Woodside Park, Hawthorne Hills Park and Aborglen Park, which are located north of the city center.

State Parks

Whitewater State Park

If you want to enjoy fun outdoor activities in a more natural scenario during your vacation in Rochester Minnesota, the city is just 20 miles west of Whitewater State Park (around 30 minutes along the US Route 14 East).

The state park features plenty of nature trails for hiking, camping areas and the Whitewater River where you can enjoy fishing and water activities such as canoeing and swimming.

Carley State Park

Carley State Park is a smaller than Whitewater State Park but it also offers plenty of outdoor opportunities such as hiking, fishing and camping.

This state park is also great for bird watching and if you travel here during the spring, you can catch beautiful wildflowers carpeting the state park.

Carley State Park is also nearby Rochester and can be quickly reached by car along the US Route 63.

Cycling & Fishing

If you love cycling and are looking for things to do with kids in Rochester Minnesota that doesn’t involve much driving, the city itself has over 50 miles of paved cycling and walking trails that you can ride along.

Alternatively, if you prefer to cycle along natural scenery, you can explore the Root River and Harmony-Preston Valley Trails, which run along the Root River.

For a bit of fishing, there are angling opportunities at the nearby Bamber Lake and Lake George, although Bamber Lake is privately owned so you’ll need the permission of the owners if you want fish there.

Lake George, in the other hand, is a public lake and it is perhaps the best place for angling opportunities, sport fishing and recreational activities such as boating.

Things to do in Rochester Minnesota: Places of Interest

History Center of Olmsted County

If you are a history buff, or simply want to learn more about the early beginnings of Rochester, the History Center of Olmsted County is an excellent place to visit.

This historic center features various rooms where you can marvel at 19th century old furniture, and kitchen utensils.

To reach Olmsted County, take the County Club Road South West, and drive past the Fox Valley Park.

Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial

If you are a war veteran or are interested in war history, the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial is a beautiful war memorial where you can see the names of those who lost their lives, as well as the statue of a widow and her son and the statue of a nurse treating a wounded soldier.

Rochester Ear of Corn

The Rochester Ear of Corn is, undoubtedly, one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.

The Ear of Corn is basically a big water tower shaped and painted as a giant corn, which makes for an ideal picture-taking opportunity.

Chateau Theater

Chateau Theater is a 1930’s movie house, which is included on the National Register of historic Places.

The Chateau Theater is today a bookstore, and all that remains of this historic movie house are the railings and doorways to the restrooms, as well as the film projection booth.

Things to do in Rochester Minnesota: Shopping

The shopping scene in Rochester is concentrated in the downtown area, and it is here where you’ll find many specialty and boutique shops, as well as shopping malls.

For instance, Crossroads Sopping Center and TJ Maxx Plaza Shopping Center are both located near the popular Apache Mall, while Miracle Mile Shopping Center is found between Zumbro West Park and Kutzky Park.

Things to do in Rochester Minnesota: Nightlife & Entertainment

Rochester Minnesota has a decent nightlife and you can find a variety of bars, pubs and clubs to choose from.

For instance, Whiskey Bones Inc is a small bar/ club with a vibrant atmosphere where you can socialize with friends. It features live music and night specials every week.

Aquarius Club is also a popular nightclub located near the University Center Rochester, and it is a great place if you intend to dance as it features dancing areas.

Things to do in Rochester Minnesota: Events & Festivals

Olmsted County Fair

One of the best times to visit Rochester Minnesota is during one of summer events such as the Olmsted County Fair, which happens in August.

The Olmsted County Fair is a fun and family-friendly event that features plenty of live entertainment and yummy foods.

Down By the Riverside

Down By the Riverside is a popular music event held during the summer months at Mayo Park. The event itself is free and you can catch plenty of live music performed by local acts.

Orchestras

If you travel to Rochester Minnesota during the fall or spring, you can catch the Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale performing monthly concerts.

The Southeast Minnesota Youth Orchestra is another popular orchestra that performs each week throughout the school year.

See. Places to visit in the Twin Cities
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Places To Go In Minnesota

The city of Minneapolis is the largest of Minnesota's Twin Cities and it's renowned for being home to the largest shopping mall in the entire United States, many parks and lakes where you can enjoy fun outdoor activities, and a vibrant and lively nightlife.


Another city of interest just over two hours drive from Minneapolis is the city of Duluth MN, which offers many things to do. 

Fun Things to do in Minneapolis: Outdoor Activities

Parks

* The Martin Luther King Park, located on Nicollet Avenue, is a great park where you can take a stroll and visit the Martin Luther King recreation center to explore what the park has to offer.

* Loring Park is another lovely park where you can take a stroll and admire the wonderful dandelion waterfall and the lake, which offers lovely views of the city. In the summer, Loring Park is a great place to be as it also offers free music and movies in the park at night.

* Minnehaha Park and Falls is one of the most popular parks in the city, as it is home to hiking trails, biking trails, a dog park and plenty of grass land where you can enjoy a picnic and fun activities.

Downtown Minneapolis

If you are visiting Minneapolis city in the summer time, one of the most popular fun things to do in Minneapolis for first time visitors it’s to take a segway tour of downtown Minneapolis.

If you are a history buff, and even if you are not, taking a segway tour is a fun way to learn about Minneapolis history and enjoy lovely views of the Mississippi River.

Fun Things to do in Minneapolis: Cultural Attractions

Places of Interest

* Mill Ruins Park is a lovely park home to the historic mill ruins and the Mill City museum.

* The Sculpture Garden is a popular park where you can see impressive pieces of art situated around the park.

* Como Park is another popular place amongst families, as it is home to the Como Zoo and the McNeely conservatory.

Things to do for fun in Minnesota while on vacation

* The Bell Museum of Natural History, located on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota, is a popular museum home to a wide range of mammals, birds, fish and plant specimens, as well as interesting dioramas of wildlife habitats native to Minnesota.

Also, the Bell Museum has interactive exhibits for children where kids can interact with live animals.

Fun Things to do in Minneapolis: Nightlife & Entertainment

Exploring the night scene is one of the most popular fun things to do in Minneapolis.

Mall of America is an excellent place to hang out at night as the shopping mall is also home to movie theaters, dance clubs and arcade games.

However, if you are looking to explore Minneapolis nightlife beyond the Mall of America, the First Avenue nightclub is another popular place to hang out at night.

First avenue nightclub is a vibrant place to be for dancing the night away on a Friday and Saturday night. Also, during the week, First Avenue is a great place to catch touring bands and seeing local bands.

Fun Things to do in Minneapolis: Shopping & Fun Activities

If you are visiting the city for the first time and are looking for fun things to do in Minneapolis, the Mall of America shopping mall offers both shopping and fun activities for everyone.

* The Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the United States and is home to over four hundred shops, restaurants, an indoor amusement park, nightclubs and more.

* Nicollet Mall is another popular shopping mall home to boutique shops where you can enjoy some upscale shopping.

The area around Nicollet Mall also offers many other things to do such as visiting the famous Orchestra Hall and watching street performers.

Fun Things to do in Minneapolis: Sports

If you love sports, seeing a live game of baseball, professional football or basketball is one of the most popular fun things to do in Minneapolis, when visiting the city.

If you are into basketball, you can catch a game of NBA at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.

For a game of baseball and professional football, you can see a game of NFL and MLB at the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome.

For a live a game of hockey, you can catch a game of NHL at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown Saint Paul.

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