Advice for trip to Minnesota?

[Twinfan603]

Hey everybody, hoping to stir up some Minnesota pride and get a lot of good recommendations.

In mid-July I'll be making my first ever trip to Minnesota. I'm a long-life Twins fan currently living abroad, but during my trip I'll definitely be seeing both Twin Cities. If you have any restaurant/activity suggestions (outside of baseball games), please let me know.

More importantly though, I'd love to make a trip somewhere in the northern part of the state to experience the nature firsthand. Are there any particularly good places to do that? Is near Duluth good? And how is the in-state transportation? Are there trains that run from the Twin cities up north regularly and efficiently, or is a car a requirement to make that kind of trip?

Thanks for any advice in advance

[glunn]

I have been there just once, and would caution you that the weather can get very hot in the summer. Much hotter than you might expect.

[Brock Beauchamp]

57 minutes ago, Twinfan603 said:

Hey everybody, hoping to stir up some Minnesota pride and get a lot of good recommendations.

In mid-July I'll be making my first ever trip to Minnesota. I'm a long-life Twins fan currently living abroad, but during my trip I'll definitely be seeing both Twin Cities. If you have any restaurant/activity suggestions (outside of baseball games), please let me know.

More importantly though, I'd love to make a trip somewhere in the northern part of the state to experience the nature firsthand. Are there any particularly good places to do that? Is near Duluth good? And how is the in-state transportation? Are there trains that run from the Twin cities up north regularly and efficiently, or is a car a requirement to make that kind of trip?

Thanks for any advice in advance

I don't have time to respond to the rest but there are so many great locations in the northwoods it's hard to pick one but you won't go wrong heading north of Duluth on highway 61.

You'll absolutely want a car to travel almost anywhere outside the cities.

[Mike Sixel]

You 100% need a car to travel MN.

Like Brock said, drive north of Duluth and visit the north shore area. It is more scenic than the lakes areas. Note that it will be REALLY busy on the weekends....

[Musk21]

Agree with the north shore recommendation. I'm a fan of the Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail, Tofte, Lutsen areas in particular. 

You'll need a car and I recommend making a reservation sooner rather than later. Rental car companies everywhere have a shortage of vehicles available. 

[Vanimal46]

Anytime I go back to the motherland I have to eat a walleye sandwich. You can’t find a better option in the Twin Cities than Gluek’s IMO. 

[jgfellows]

• Gooseberry Falls is a gorgeous place to visit
• Splitrock is also a beautiful park
• if you like smoked fish, Russ Kendalls Smokehouse is a must visit
• Grand Marais is a lovely town but loses points for me because there isn't a decent cheeseburger anywhere in town
• Duluth is beautiful along the pier Glensheen mansion is worth the visit for families. Grandmas has a great cheeseburger

The nice thing about the north shore is if something isn't working for you, head down the road a bit and you'll find another option!

[Squirrel]

In Duluth, make sure to stop at Canal Park and watch a big ship come into port. Others have mentioned other places ... Gooseberry, Split Rock ... lots of beautiful state parks nearby.

In Minneapolis, I tell everyone to visit the Mill City Museum ... very interesting, very worth it. Then head to the Mill Ruins park and walk across the Stone Arch Bridge and follow the trails around the other side. And then walk down to Nicollet Island. 

The Walker Art Center and the Sculpture Garden.

Minnehaha Falls.

Those are some of my 'go to' places in Minneapolis.