Hotels in the city’s vibrant core are comfortable, convenient and friendly. State parks within and around the metro get visitors back to nature quickly. and Canada and offers 1,200 miles of canoe routes, some 2,000 campsites and hundreds of lakes and rivers. This unique landscape creates a scenic border between the U.S. The 200-mile Superior Hiking Trail offers lodge-to-lodge hiking and cross-country skiing.įurther north, the historic Gunflint Trail leads to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), one of the largest and most heavily used wilderness areas in the country. Mountain biking and downhill skiing make Lutsen Mountain an all-season attraction, while fishing, sailing and kayaking are Lake Superior favorites.

Minnesota’s rugged North Shore region follows the western edge of Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake and an unparalleled source of outdoor recreation and scenic beauty. All three cities offer historic and contemporary attractions ranging from river cruises to hot air balloon rides.

Sixty miles south of Minneapolis, Red Wing (of Red Wing Shoes fame) bustles along the Mississippi River, offering measurable charm and Victorian ambiance, as well as unique shopping.

Further upstream, the quaint city of Taylors Falls overlooks a steep gorge of bedrock, around which an idyllic state park and downhill ski area create a recreation haven.

Croix River, one of America’s wild and scenic waterways, Stillwater has a charming Main Street lined with antique shops, art galleries and romantic bed-and-breakfast inns. Three historic river towns offer memorable shopping, dining and recreation within an hour of Minneapolis:

From pristine wilderness to picturesque river towns, some of the region's most intriguing place are an easy drive from Minneapolis.

Mystic lake casino bus routes