Tricia Cornell - Moon Minnesota

HANDBOOKS

TRICIA CORNELL

Diversity is not usually the first word that comes to mind when you think of Minnesota, but it should be. With everything from sod houses to skyscrapers, from timeless steamboat towns on the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers to Wobegonic farm country in the west, and from Minneapoliss world-class arts scene to a record-setting ball of twine, this state will likely leave even seasoned travelers impressed.

The one thing just about everyone does know about Minnesota is that this is some beautiful country. The boreal forests of the northeast fade into the tallgrass prairie of the southwest, and in between are the lakes far more than the sloganized 10,000. Ive been around the globe but have yet to find any place more beautiful than the Boundary Waters: thousands of lakes rimmed by ancient bedrock and littered with islands. Just next door, the rocky Lake Superior shore, lined with cliffs and waterfalls, is as lovely a coast as youll ever see. In the south, towering bluffs reach high above the Mississippi River, largely unchanged since Mark Twain and Henry David Thoreau rode by in steamboats.

Other than mountain climbing, your options for getting out into this glorious wilderness are endless. With one million acres, but no roads, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness just might be the best quiet-water paddling in the world. Bikers can bypass the traffic since Minnesota is a leader in rail-to-trail conversions. Rock climbers can scale some of the best walls between Seneca and Boulder. And, of course, the fun doesnt stop when the snow falls: from snowboards to dogsleds, you can try it all.

While its easy to joke about Minnesotas Scandinavian heritage which does in fact live on in church-basement lutefisk dinners and the quiet exclamation, Uff da! that doesnt do justice to the states real ethnic diversity. Native American communities in the north work hard to maintain their traditions, and Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States and the largest urban Hmong population in the world, as well as sizable and established Mexican, Russian, Tibetan, Asian, and East African communities.

Add in the states high wages and low cost of living, and its not surprising that Minnesota regularly tops nationwide rankings in quality of life. Dont be surprised if, after your visit, you just cant bring yourself to leave: Every year thousands of people arrive as visitors and return as residents.

The bluff-lined Mississippi River, the waterfall-rich North Shore, the arts-loving Twin Cities, and the lake-filled Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness all lie on the eastern side of Minnesota, but there are superb surprises in the west, and you cant really know Minnesota without taking a turn through the prairie.

With four internationally known art museums, three Tony Award-winning theaters, and a full slate of festivals year-round, Minneapolis is one of the countrys most cultured cities, while quiet St. Paul, where the primary attractions are its historic buildings, is one of its most stately. Together the pair makes an easily navigable and satisfying urban destination.

Some people, in their rush to get Up North, drive through this region and never know what theyre missing: postcard-perfect towns like Marine on St. Croix and Stillwater, and gorgeous gorges in the state parks to the north. The St. Croix River is protected as a National Scenic Riverway and serves up some superb quiet-water paddling, while other rivers have wild white water.

Split Rock State Park, on the North Shore of Lake Superior

THREE DAYS: Visit Minneapolis and St. Paul.

FIVE DAYS: Add Stillwater, Red Wing, and Winona.

ONE WEEK: Add Duluth.

TWO WEEKS: Add Two Harbors, Grand Marais, and Ely.

The Arrowhead

The northeast corner has more than its fair share of Minnesotas best and most beautiful, starting with the port city of Duluth. Minnesotans themselves named the stunning views along the North Shore of Lake Superior among 150 iconic state treasures. And, on the other side of the region, Old World culture lives on in the mining towns of the Iron Range. Tucked in the middle are Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, arguably the best canoeing destination in the world.

Central Lakes

Minnesotas lake country, much of it covered by the 1,042-square-mile Chippewa National Forest, is the most popular family vacation destination for Minnesotans. The waters are lined with resorts, and the towns are full of gift shops and amusement parks. The Mississippi River is born in Itasca State Park (one of many lovely state parks), and this region is also the epicenter of Minnesotas giant sculpture habit, so oversized animals and Paul Bunyans welcome you to many small towns.