How to plan the perfect trip in Minnesota

Slow it down. Linger a while. There’s no hurry here in Minnesota, where the great Mississippi River starts its journey from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico, and the city lights of Minneapolis and St. Paul call artists, musicians, and more from across the prairies.

Whether you want to dip your paddle in the land of 11,842 lakes or explore some of the world-class galleries and museum, the star of the north truly has something for every kind of traveller. It pays to spend a while, exploring fully. But if you’re short on time, even if you only have 24 hours, our trip planner will make sure you still see the best that the state has to offer. Here’s how.

Getting here is a breeze. The Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) airport is reachable direct from London Heathrow and Dublin airports in around 8 hours, putting both cities within easy reach. Explore them with ease too, using the connecting Light Rail Transit.

Be sure to don your comfiest waistband to explore both cities’ diverse food scenes, where award-winning restaurants combine influences from the Midwest, their Scandinavian heritage, alongside Indigenous culture, among many others.

In St. Paul, Minnesota’s capital city, you’ll find an incredible mix of food, from no-frills bánh mì counters to James Beard nominees. Head to the Afro Deli for lunch where Somali fusion dishes and West African staples have earned a loyal lunchtime clientele. James Beard-nominated Meritage is known for fine-dining with classic French flair by candlelight. For something more relaxed, the Buttered Tin’s homey-but-never-boring dishes offer some Midwest comfort food from biscuits to hand pies.

St. Paul’s old-world charm is best soaked up on a walking tour with an experienced guide. Hit the streets to learn about the city’s fascinating history, including its gangster past; admire the storied architecture of downtown, from neoclassical to art deco buildings; and discover more about the city’s most iconic places and experiences.

Wet your whistle in Minneapolis, at Al’s Breakfast. When a cosy diner has been offering up the same no-frills foods since 1950 – from smoked cheese omelettes to pancakes with pure Minnesota maple syrup – you know it’s doing something right. At All Saints, seasonal vegetables rule at this “veggie-forward, meat friendly” establishment. Opt for wood fired charred baby cauliflower, lemongrass tofu, and kale and cannellini bean toast et al.

And you don’t have to go far at all for a taste of nature. Round things off with a visit to Minnehaha Falls, an unexpected natural oasis in the city.

Once your appetite is sated, it’s time to explore.

Bob Dylan may have been born in the city of Duluth, but he spent his college years in Minneapolis. Visit the Dylan mural in Minneapolis, and take a nightcap at Palmer’s Bar where Dylan jammed with the popular blues group, Koerner, Ray and Glover in the early 60’s.

Self-guide yourself to some of the spots loved by Prince, starting at the iconic concert venue, First Avenue. A former Greyhound bus depot, it’s been at the heart of Minneapolis’ live music scene for more than 50 years. The album version of Purple Rain song was recorded here in 1983. Be sure to look across the street to see the 100-foot-high Crown Our Prince mural on the Target Center.

For any Prince fan, Paisley Park is a mecca. Prince’s recording studio/residence/performance venue in the western suburb of Chanhassen can be explored on a public tour.

When it comes to art, before there was the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, legendary architect Frank Gehry created the unique metal-clad turrets and geometric towers of the Weisman Art Museum. Featuring over 25,000 works by luminaries such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Marsden Hartley, Milton Avery, and Alfred Maurer, it’s known for its 20^th century American art as well as Korean furniture. Never seen a giant spoon with a cherry perched on its tip over a pond? Head to the quirky Minneapolis Sculpture Garden – one of the largest in the US – to put that right. Just across the street from the Sculpture Garden is the Walker Art Center, worth a visit for its vast collection of groundbreaking art, including visual, performing, moving image and design art displayed across an impressive campus that spans 65,000 square feet.

Sports fan? Take in a game. With a team across every major sports league from baseball to basketball, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Support the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Wild, Lynx and more on home turf. Please note, a win is not guaranteed.

After three days of cultural exploration in the Twin Cities, it’s time to see more of what this diverse state has to offer.

Follow the Great River Road to Itasca State Park, where the might Mississippi River begins. Dip your feet into its headwaters in Minnesota’s oldest state park, before it begins its 2,552-mile journey through Minnesota’s Northwoods and onwards to the Gulf of Mexico. Be sure to explore the park’s old growth pine forests, and over 100 lakes, hiking, biking, boating, and paddling among the pines. Overnight in nearby Bemidji.

Continue to International Falls and spend a day or two exploring Voyageurs National Park, where stargazers and explorers come to get away. Water makes up more than one-third of the park’s 218,000 acres, so for most of the year, the park’s interior is accessible only by boat. Rent a houseboat to island-hop and explore more than 27 miles of scenic trails, hidden waterfalls and ancient petroglyphs in style.

On your way back to the Twin Cities, overnight at the port city of Duluth, on the shore of scenic Lake Superior. There’s plenty more to explore in Dylan’s hometown, where re-purposed industrial buildings now house vibrant food and drink spots. Follow in Bob Dylan’s footsteps and travel along the namesake road from his iconic “Highway 61 Revisited” album. Stroll the 3km-long Bob Dylan Way whose arty manhole covers refer to the legendary singer-songwriter’s records and impact. It meanders from the Duluth Depot, a heritage train station and cultural space, to the Armory Arts & Music Center, where a 17-year-old Dylan attended the second-last rock-and-roll performances of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. Every May Duluth holds a dedicated Dylan Days festival.

The sheer size of Lake Superior has to be seen to be believed and as well as getting out on the water, there is plenty to do around it too. Immerse yourself in the music scene and the festive atmosphere at Canal Park, Bayfront Park and Park Point Beach, where culture and nature collide. Drive up to Two Harbors where trendy breweries await as well as shops selling smoked fish, perfect for a lake-side picnic. Prefer to explore on two wheels? 85 miles of connected off-road bike trails on the Duluth Traverse range from easy side-by-side track to slickrock climbs to city vistas.

Still have more time? There are plenty of options for extend your weeklong adventure…

In the north, the outdoors beckon. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, can truly claim to be one of America’s most beautiful and most remote places. Hear nothing but the breeze among the pines, and the gentle splash of your paddle as you navigate over 1,098,000 acres of wilderness, 1,100 lakes, and 1,500 miles of canoe routes in the peaceful knowledge that there are no motorised boats here.

Alternatively, grab your walking boots. Put in a little work to be rewarded with sweeping views of Lake Superior and the Sawtooth Mountains. Jay Cooke State Park is just south of Duluth, along the North Shore of Lake Superior to far northern Minnesota, where you can opt for a short day hike or backpack your way deeper.

Rustic Ely is home to a long and interesting lumber tradition, but also exciting wildlife including bears and wolves, with the environmentally-minded community going to great lengths to protect them.  Pause at the International Wolf Center to embark on a ‘howl hike’ with a guide. Be sure to head to the North American Bear Center and Bear Head Lake State Park to catch a glimpse and learn about their conservation work.

Heading south? Wander through waterfalls and wetlands at the Pipestone National Monument, home to historic Pipestone quarries used by American Indians for centuries, to craft ceremonial pipes. Stop by the visitor centre for pipestone carving demonstrations. Half an hour’s drive away is Blue Mounds State Park, where a quartzite cliff rises 100 feet from the plains, above the grazing herd.

A four-hour drive from Blue Mounds State Park is the historic Red Wing city where work boots are still handmade in town. Explore the city’s history of pottery production; over 6,000 vintage pieces are on display at the museum. And after all that adventuring, you’ve earned a pint. The Red Wing Brewery has a cool beer waiting for you, so rest up and relax.

At the end of your visit, make the most of tax-free shopping at the Mall of America, handily situated just next to the airport. There is much more to see and do here than just shopping, and you will soon see why it is Minnesota’s most visited destination.