Minnesota Vacations Idea #1:
Split Rock Lighthouse Historic Site is one of Minnesota's best known landmarks. The historic grounds of the light station are restored to their 1920s appearance, and period costumed interpreters take you back in time. In the Visitor Center you can use the exhibits and film to learn more about the history of the station.
Minnesota Vacation Ideas #2:
The
North Shore Scenic Railroad, in Duluth, offers a variety of train trips to satisfy the rail fan in everyone! Ride the train along the shores of Lake Superior, through wooded and residential areas, and over seven scenic bridges to Two Harbors. Other trips include Pizza Trains, Dinner Trains, Fall Colors Tours, and other special events. The
Lake Superior Railroad Museum displays various types of locomotives and other rail equipment.
Minnesota Vacations Idea #3:
The
Mall of America, in Bloomington, has enough shopping and entertainment to keep you occupied for a long time. This is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the country and it houses 520 specialty stores. There are over 50 restaurants, 7 nightclubs, and 14 movie theaters. Other exciting attractions include UnderWater World's 1.2 million gallon aquarium, an 18-hole miniature golf adventure, and a full-service Bodyline Mediterranean Spa to name just a few.
Vacation Ideas in Minnesota #4:
If you like to
gamble, Minnesota has a number of
casinos. Some of them are Grand Casino Hinckley, Grand Casino Mille Lacs, Mystic Lake Casino, White Oak Casino, Seven Clans Casino Thief River Falls and Treasure Island. All of Minnesota's legal casinos are located on Indian reservations. Mechanical slot machines are illegal so you will only find the electronic variety. Typically all the casinos offer video slots, video poker, video keno and blackjack.
Minnesota Vacations Idea #5:
Canadian Border Outfitters can customize a wilderness canoe trip vacation for you. They are located on Moose Lake in Ely, Minnesota. The paddling adventures and fishing trips they set up for you are in Canada's Quetico Park and the US Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This is over 2 million acres of pristine woods and waterways. Canadian Border Outfitters has been arranging these adventure vacations for years and they have generations of family members returning for their more.
Minnesota Vacations Idea #6:
Valley Fair! Amusement Park is a huge theme park in Shakopee, Minnesota. They have over 90 acres of exhilarating
rides and attractions for your entertainment on your family vacation. This includes thrilling roller coaster rides and 3.5 acres of wet and wild fun at Whitewater Country Waterpark. The waterark has another roller coaster,
The Renegade. Their
Power Tower takes you up to the top of three towers and drops you 250 feet down in a gravity defying rush of excitement. They also have plenty of rides for the smaller family members such as The Foam Ball Factory, Busy Boats and the Bumble Bee.
Vacation Ideas in Minnesota #7:
Hiking enthusiasts looking for vacation ideas in Minnesota will love the
Superior Hiking Trail. This trail is over 200 miles long, well marked and is considered one of the top hiking trails in the United States. It follows the Sawtooth Mountain ridgeline along Lake Superior, providing hikers with incredible views of forest, lake, waterfalls and rivers. Superior Hiking Trail has 30 access points, about as many campsites and seven State Parks. This makes it easy to plan a hike that suites your own individual needs. There are a variety of lodges available and lodge-to-lodge hiking trips can be arranged through
Boundary Country Trekking.
Vacation Ideas in Minnesota #8:
A great way to enjoy the beautiful Minnesota landscape is a vacation drive along the
Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway. This 287-mile scenic byway runs along the Minnesota River from Granite Falls to Manakato. The Minnesota River Valley is a fertile region of rolling hills, farmland and woodlands that plays an important role in our agricultural history and our future. In the summer the land is bursting with wildflowers. In the fall the byway is a popular way to see the blazing array of colors as the leaves change. There are many interesting stops along the trip such as the
Minnesota Machinery Museum with it's collection of antique tractors, autos and various tools.
Historic Chippewa City displays pioneer era artifacts in the 23 restored and replica buildings from that time. The
Carnegie Art Center contains a gallery of local artists' works.
Minnesota Vacations Idea #9:
It would be hard to find a more German city than Minnesota's
New Ulm. This scenic, charming and friendly city of 13,500 is located in the center of beautiful Minnesota River valley. New Ulm makes a good family vacation destination. The city has wide streets, classic architecture and plenty of Bavarian style shops and restaurants. The local German culture is everywhere and is featured in the many festivals and cultural events that the city holds throughout the year. The German-American
August Schell Brewery is open for tours of the brewery, gardens and deer park. The 1006-acre
Flandrau State Park is located in the city and is an excellent place for family vacation activities like swimming, canoeing, tubing and fishing. The
New Ulm Bike Trail follows a path through the city which is secluded and a natural habitat for deer, rabbits and a variety of birds.
