To many people Minnesota doesn’t always jump off the map when you are planning your family vacations. With so many more high profile cities and states most people don’t even consider Minnesota. The land of lakes up north may not have a Disneyland, sunny beaches or a lot of people that can properly pronounce the word “bag”, but it does have its own special charm. Minnesota is the frozen version of Utah. It’s an outdoorsman’s paradise.
- MinnesotaJim’s outside photos / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
With several historic areas in the region, there are a lot of options for family vacations. Minnesota is home to one national recreation area, three national scenic and historic trails, national monuments and a national park. This is in addition to numerous state parks and lakes make Minnesota an ideal destination for a family vacation.
One of the most impressive areas in Minnesota is Voyageurs National Park in Northern Minnesota. The park was established in 1975 and hosts almost 200,000 people a year. Compare this to several other National Parks like Zion or Yellowstone and Voyageur is the place where you can be alone. The majority of the park is only accessible by boat. The lack of road access encourages summer activities such as camping, fishing, boating and hiking. A popular family activity is to rent a house boat and spend a week away.
In the winter Voyageurs National Park attracts snowmobilers, skiers, fisherman and snowshoers. There are several different snowmobiling trails ranging from just a few miles to 28 miles. The 50 miles of hiking trails may be explored by snowshoe or ski. With cold temperatures ice fishing is a local favorite in this area.
Minnesota is also home to three national scenic and historic trails. One of the most popular of these trails is the Gunflint Trail. The Gunflint Trail is a 57 mile stretch of paved road that winds its way near the border of Canada. It features plenty of adventure and lots of cool unique places to stay. National Geographic has even named it one of the worlds “50 Places of a lifetime”. Not very far from Voyageur National Park this in an excellent addition to your summer vacation.
The Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota is another great place to visit in Minnesota. It was originally established in 1937. The monument received its name from the catlinite that Native Americans have quarried from there. For centuries Native Americans have been harvesting the rock to make ceremonial pipes. Visitors to this park can follow a self guided trail to one of the quarries and a waterfall. At the visitors center a visitor can find a petroglyph display and view several exhibits about the natural and cultural history of the site.
One of the most impressive parts of your vacation in this area is the amount of unique lodging opportunities. No matter where you choose to go or what you choose to do, you can take your pick from cabins, resorts to lodges that have their own special charm. A vacation to a lakeside resort is great opportunity for any family.
Don’t want to be so far from civilization? Minneapolis St. Paul boasts the Mall of America, the biggest indoor shopping center in America. It is also home to the Mississippi National River and Recreation area. With both of these readily accessible from Minneapolis St Paul, this may be a destination for the entire family.
The Mall of America has the biggest collection of indoor fun that can be found under one roof. No matter how picky your family is, there is something for everyone here. They have everything from an amusement park, to a marine aquarium and a hands-on LEGO store. The current plans by the malls owners will have it doubling in size in the next several years. It’s only going to get bigger and better.
Minneapolis also has the opportunity for outdoor recreation. The Mississippi National River and recreation area protects a 72 mile stretch along the Mississippi River, including the section that runs through Minneapolis and St. Paul. The park features chances for Kayaking and fishing as well as dozens of Parks, waterfalls, bridges and historic districts.
When planning this summer’s family vacation, be different, give your family a chance to experience an off the wall location. The best vacations are the ones that provide you with a better experience than you were expecting. A vacation to Minnesota may not be the most exciting choice but it isn’t a bad one either and don’t forget in Minnesota “bag” is pronounced “beig”.
