14 Top Attractions & Things to Do in Minnesota

From the lake-laden North Country to the marble exterior of the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota is brimming with natural and cultural beauty. Plan to explore the wilderness areas of Minnesota, including Superior National Forest and the North Shore of Lake Superior, or cultural attractions, like the Minneapolis Institute of Art or the outstanding Munsinger Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud.

Whether it's wandering down the hiking trails, paddling the waterways, gliding down the ski hills, or shopping at Mall of America, Minnesota is more than a land of 10,000 lakes, it's a state with unlimited things to do. Discover more places to visit with our list of top tourist attractions.

Superior National Forest & Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Superior National Forest, with pristine lakes and rivers, covers large areas of northeast Minnesota. The town of Ely, home to the International Wolf Center, is an excellent base from which to explore the unspoiled landscape. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which lies within the forest, is well known among paddlers in the United States and Canada.

It is located along the boundary between the two countries and is a great area for backcountry canoe and kayaking trips, as well as fishing. This area is remote and supports a great deal of wildlife, including bears, moose, and wolves. Superior National Forest covers more than three million acres, of which 445,000 acres or almost 700 square miles are made up of water.

See the Sights along the North Shore Scenic Drive

The North Shore Scenic Drive near Duluth follows the north shore of Lake Superior from Duluth to Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Along this route are many of the top state parks in Minnesota, including Split Rock Lighthouse, Tettegouche, and Grand Portage State Park. Waterfalls, rocky cliffs, and great views of the seemingly never-ending Lake Superior accompany the long drive.

Recreational activities like boating, fishing, and mountain biking are easily accessed along the route, including downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and ice-fishing throughout the long winters. For those not interested in automobile travel, the 300-plus-mile Superior Hiking Trail extends along the Minnesota shoreline and can only be traveled by foot.

Paddle Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park is a pristine wilderness area that combines natural beauty with history. This mainly backcountry park, accessed primarily by water or air, is a wonderful place for canoeing, boating, fishing, and other outdoor pursuits.

The park is remote and offers great opportunities to see wildlife, such as bears, moose, loons, and much more. Historically, this area was important during the fur trade, when the French-Canadian Voyageurs traveled these waters in huge birch bark canoes.

Adventures by boat and by land abound at Voyagers, and like the waterfront Wooden Frog Campground, some of the best campgrounds in Minnesota can be found lining the shores.

• Read More: Top Attractions in Voyageurs National Park, MN

International Wolf Center

The International Wolf Center near Ely, one of the best small towns in Minnesota, is an educational center that supports and promotes the survival of wolves. Hands-on exhibits, demonstrations of wolf tracking methods, and all kinds of information on wolves is presented.

Visitors learn about the natural history of wolves by observing the resident wolf pack. The center also offers a wide variety of programs and other visitor experiences, including Wolf Photography Workshops, Geocache Adventures, and overnight visits for groups of eight or more (call ahead to schedule).

Address: 1396 Hwy 169, Ely, Minnesota

Minnesota State Capitol Building

Constructed between 1896 and 1905, the Minnesota State Capitol building recently underwent renovations to restore this historic structure back to its original glamour. Besides repairs to the exterior marble and restored furnishings of the interior, the 2013 to 2017 renovations also added more public space and accessibility for visitors.

Guided tours are available every day of the week except Sunday, and self-guided tours of areas like the Rotunda, the second "Grand" floor, and the Governor's Reception Room are always encouraged.

On the exterior main entrance of the Capitol, The Quadriga is a golden four-horse chariot statue and always a visitor favorite. Admission and visits are free but a donation is always appreciated.

Address: 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, St. Paul, Minnesota

Go Shopping at the Mall of America

Located on the outskirts of St. Paul, in the suburb of Bloomington, is the Mall of America. When it opened in 1992, it was one of the largest malls in the United States. In addition to more than 520 shops and dozens of restaurants, the facility includes theaters, hotel accommodations, and other amusements.

More than 400 events happen at the mall each year, ranging from dance parties to Minnesota Viking fans' celebrations. Numerous "Stay and Shop" packages can be booked with nearby hotels.

Address: 60 E Broadway, Bloomington, Minnesota

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

The Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is one of the best family attractions in Minnesota. Here, you'll find everything for a complete day of fun for all ages. It's also budget-friendly; both are free to enter but donations are encouraged.

The zoo has a variety of animals from around the world, ranging from monkeys through to polar bears. One of the most enjoyable animal interactions is feeding the giraffes. Available to visitors of all ages, these gentle giants eat Romaine lettuce right out of your hand.

The zoo recently completed a 20-million-dollar expansion, with the addition of the new Como Harbor exhibit. This is the new home of seals and sea lions and features amphitheater-style seating in front of a 250,000-gallon tank complete with acrylic glass viewing windows. Two shows take place daily, and one of the star performers is Sparky the sea lion.

There is more to the park than the zoo. Be sure to swing by the conservatory to see a riot of heat-loving plants. A visit to this beautiful glass building makes you feel like you've stepped into the tropics. The Sunken Garden is a colorful area full of fragrant and beautiful plants that change throughout the seasons, and is an ideal place to snap a picture or two.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Hosting more than 700,000 visitors a year, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) has a wide range of art and attractions, all with free admission to explore. The collection at Mia features more than 89,000 artworks, and the permanent and temporary exhibits span everything from American modernism to ancient artifacts from around the world.

Among many other installations, visitors can check out Japanese and Korean art, decorative art and textiles, and the Doryphoros - one of four surviving Roman copies of an ancient Greek sculpture. Mia also hosts free daily public tours, family programs, and a four-day Art in Bloom festival each year in the spring.

Address: 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is located 20 miles northeast of Two Harbors on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It is home to Split Rock Lighthouse, which was built in 1910 to protect Lake Superior shipping. Visitors can tour the lighthouse, foghorn building, keeper's house, tower, and light.

Numerous hiking options line the park, which lead through forest, pebble beaches, and great viewpoints of the shoreline. Come winter, the trails at Split Rock become designated for fat tire biking. A cart-in campground is also available, with a few sites offering personal views of the lighthouse.

Address: 3755 Split Rock Lighthouse Road, Two Harbors, Minnesota

Stroll through Munsinger Clemens Gardens

The Munsinger Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud are some of the summertime delights of the city. The Munsinger Gardens feature approximately 80,000 annual plants within a setting of trees, benches, swings, fountains, and ponds. The Clemens Gardens are known for having more than 1,100 rose bushes and an all-white garden devoted to white flowers and flowering shrubs.

Music in the Gardens, every other Sunday in the summer, is a fun way to enhance the experience, and the annual Art Fair in the Gardens is a popular event featuring artists and musicians from across the state.

Address: 1515 Riverside Drive SE, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge

Originally constructed between 1901 and 1905 as an aerial transfer bridge with a cable car, the bridge expanded into an entire roadway in 1929 and has been a prominent icon of Duluth ever since.

The bridge allows residents of Minnesota Point to reach the mainland and it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge is operated 24 hours of the day, and watching it rise and lower for freight ships, sailboats, and tour boats is part of the spectacle.

Address: 601 S Lake Ave, Duluth, Minnesota

Read More: Top Things to Do in Duluth

Go Camping at Itasca State Park

As Minnesota's oldest state park, Itasca encompasses more than 32,000 acres of wildlands and lakes, including the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Outdoor recreation opportunities are easily found at this northern Minnesota state park, and visitor favorites include hiking trails, fire towers, and old-growth Red Pine forests.

The one-way Wilderness Drive and Bike Route makes a loop through the mainstay of the park, providing plenty of parking areas and trailheads along the way. Overnight accommodations at Itasca include developed and backpack-only campsites, various lodges, cabins, and the year-round Mississippi Headwaters Hostel.

The Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center and the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center are both good places to begin exploring.

Address: 36750 Main Park Drive, Park Rapids, Minnesota

Cathedral of St. Paul

The imposing St. Paul Cathedral in St. Paul was built in the early 1900s and is today the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul and a pilgrimage site. The design is Classical Renaissance, and the large interior can hold up to 3,000 people.

An active place of worship, the cathedral is open to the public for much of the day, though tourist visits are discouraged during Masses and other holy services. One-hour guided tours are available at 1pm, Tuesday through Friday, and are a good way to gain some historical perspective on the cathedral.

Address: 239 Selby Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota

• Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in St. Paul, MN

Minnehaha Park

No trip to Minnesota and Minneapolis in particular, would be complete without a stop in Minnehaha Park, one of the best parks in Minneapolis.

This 167-acre park is especially known for its famous waterfall, Minnehaha Falls, which plunges 53 feet off a limestone ledge. The base of the falls can be easily accessed via a walking trail or, if you prefer, they can be viewed from the top at a lookout. The falls are best viewed in the spring, when water levels in the creek are at their highest.

The park is a popular place to visit for families, especially in the summer when the wading ponds are a magnet for small children.

Other park attractions include extensive walking trails, three ornamental gardens, a dog park, and the pleasant Sea Salt restaurant (open seasonally).