Boating – Minnesota's waterways are an exciting destination for boaters from all over North America, and for good reason. Whether you want to paddle your canoe down a lazy stream, guide your kayak through a raging torrent, pull the kids on an inner tube behind your boat on an inland lake, or even troll for Coho salmon on the mighty Lake Superior, you can do it all in Minnesota.
Water access is closer than you might think! Check out the many resorts and campgrounds on our site to find the perfect vacation and the right place to bring your boat.
With nearly 900,000 registered boats, Minnesota is number one in boats per capita in the US. In fact, there is about one boat for every six people in the state. For more information about boating in Minnesota, visit the DNR’s website at
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/boating/index.html
Bicycling – The benefits of riding a bicycle—whether for utilitarian or recreational purposes—can be expressed in terms of improved environmental and personal health, reduced traffic congestion, enhanced quality of life, economic rewards, as well as others.
And Minnesota is a great place to ride. We have well over 100 trails in our area from the most basic to the most challenging. With more than 700 miles of asphalt-paved bikeways—more than any other state—Minnesota’s secluded, scenic trails are a cyclist’s dream. If you want a pleasant afternoon ride, hop on. If you want the challenge of rugged bike trails, we've got you covered. Get your bicycle trail maps right here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/index.html and get more information about biking in Minnesota here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/biking/index.html
Birding – With a field guide, binoculars and an idea of what to expect, you can truly enjoy the thrill of bird watching in Minnesota. We’ve got the
National Eagle Center in Wabasha. We’ve got multiple national wildlife refuges. We have great opportunities to spot the common and the rare in Minnesota. Here’s a great birding site with more information:
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/usminnesota.htm
Canoeing and Kayaking – Enjoy canoeing and kayaking opportunities on one of 30 water trails that flow through more than 4000 river miles of Minnesota. Fantastic scenery awaits along 155 miles of the Lake Superior Water Trail, which hugs the shores of the world's largest freshwater lake.
Also, the U.S. Forest Service manages the 1 million acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota. Find more about canoeing and kayaking here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/watertrails/index.html
Culture – You know about the Guthrie Theatre, right? It’s world class. But
you’ll also find fantastic museums, symphony and jazz concerts; dance; opera;
musicals and Broadway touring shows. The Twin Cities is one of the most vibrant
performing arts communities outside of New York City. Minnesota is second only
to New York City in theatre seats per capita. Theatre is big in Minnesota. Find more about Minnesota’s rich cultural opportunities here:
http://www.exploreminnesota.com/experiences/arts_culture/index.aspx
Cross Country Skiing – Step outside, strap on your boards, and discover Minnesota's public cross-country ski trails. You'll find a variety of terrains that are sure to appeal to every age and skill level. All cross-country skiers on ski trails in State Parks or Forests, on State or Grant-In-Aid Trails, who are 16 or older must carry a signed Minnesota Ski Pass. You can purchase your pass here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html. You’ll find snow conditions here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html and trails here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/skiing/index.html
Downhill Skiing – It might surprise you that Minnesota has some great
downhill skiing to offer. And we can lay claim to one of the world’s best skiers today, Lindsay Vonn and
also Kristina Koznik, a world class slalom racer. For great downhill skiing information, click here:
http://news.exploreminnesota.com/category/downhill-ski-report/
Festivals and Events – We’ve got the greatest celebrations here in Minnesota. Check out a calendar of festivals here:
http://www.exploreminnesota.com/experiences/festivals/index.aspx#end. Or check out the Minnesota Festivals and Events website at
http://www.mfea.net/eventsearch.php.
Fishing – Minnesota is first nationally in the sales of fishing licenses per capita. We have 158 species of fish and 3,800,000 acres of fishing waters. We have 5,493 fishable lakes - it's a paradise for fishermen. For more information on fishing in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota DNR website at
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/index.html.
Golf – When it comes to golf variety, Minnesota is tops. If you're interested in a fun day of golf and camaraderie at a great course or a more competitive outing, you will find it here in Minnesota. You’ll find a great deal more about golf in Minnesota here:
http://www.exploreminnesotagolf.com/
Hiking – From long treks along the rugged coast of Lake Superior, to wandering the open spaces of the Minnesota River Prairie, you'll find plenty of hiking opportunities in Minnesota's state forests, parks, SNAs, WMAs, and trails. Find hiking trails here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hiking/index.html
Off-Highway Vehicles – Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and off-road vehicles (ORVs), such as 4x4 trucks or Jeeps. Ride in the Chippewa National Forest or the Superior National Forest.
Shopping – Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes and of many more opportunities to shop. From quaint small town main street to the many indoor malls, including of course the Mall of America, Minnesota has it all when it comes to shopping. And, there’s no sales tax on clothing. Beat that. Here is a nice site to get you started shopping:
http://www.minnesotashoppingguide.com/ You can get all the details about the Mall of America here:
http://www.mallofamerica.com/
Snowmobiling – Minnesota offers over 20,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Local snowmobile club volunteers maintain over 18,000 miles. You can find snow conditions here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html. And you can find snowmobile trail maps here:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snowmobiling/maps.html. If you would like to know about snowmobile club events, check here:
http://www.mnsnowmobiler.org/index.php?pageid=93