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Minnesota RegionsEach Region of Minnesota has
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We have lived for more than 20 years in the capitol city of Saint Paul. This wonderful city is known for its culture, its well preserved late-Victorian architecture,the beautiful mansions along Summit Avenue, and its early Irish and German Catholic roots.
Mark Twain visited St. Paul in 1882 on his trip up the Mississippi. He said:
"St. Paul is a wonderful town. It is put together in wonderful blocks of honest brick and stone, and has the air of intending to stay." ~Mark Twain, Life On the Mississippi
Saint Paul Visitor Information
Minneapolis, with its broad boulevards, easily navigable grid layout, and modern downtown architecture, remains more connected to its Scandinavian/Lutheran heritage. My grandfather, on my father's side, was a Minneapolis police sergeant in the 1930's and 40's. My grandmother worked for the BurmaShave company when it was uncommon for women to work full time outside the home.
Minneapolis Visitor Information
Both cities have a wealth of water: the Mississippi River, many lakes and, as well, creeks and waterfalls all lie within their borders. Many of these are connected by parkways in the Chain of Lakes and the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. All of this provides for wonderful outdoor activities without leaving the urban area. Some of the top things to see and do in the Twin Cities:
- Bell Museum of Natural History
- Historic Fort Snelling
- Historic Murphy's Landing
- Mall of America
- Minneapolis Institute of Arts
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
- Minnesota History Center
- Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
- Paddleford Packetboat Company
- Science Museum of Minnesota
- St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail
- Steamboat Minnehaha
- Summit Avenue in St. Paul
- Walker Art Center
Central Lakes
Central Minnesota is historically significant as a possible place of early American exploration by the Vikings in 1362, 130 years before Christopher Columbus. Some central Minnesota visitor attractions include:
- The Kensington Runestone, a controversial stone with words supposedly written by the Vikings, that was found in a city southwest of Alexandria.
- Unique geographic features around Lake Christina, including the Seven Sisters Prairie on the north side of the lake, which is a group of seven, glacially-produced knolls. Lake Christina is an important stop for many species of waterfowl during migration.
Arrowhead Region
The Arrowhead Region of Minnesota, so called because of its pointed shape, is located in the northeastern part of the state. The Arrowhead Region is quite rugged and dotted with hundreds of lakes. Minnesota visitors will want to explore:- Voyageurs National Park
- The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness ,
- The Superior Hiking Trail, which lies within the Superior National Forest.
- Minnesota's only mountain range, the Sawtooth Mountains.
Red River Valley
The Red River Valley region of Minnesota is named for the Red River of the north which flows up to Canada along the western border of Minnesota. On the edge of the great plains, the Red River Valley was once swathed in tall prairie grass as far as the eye could see.This is a rich agricultural region, however the hills and valleys also include wonderful recreational areas. You will enjoy visiting:
- Fergus Falls
- Detroit Lakes
- East Grand Forks offers great fishing and is noted for its catfish - 15-20 pound fish are not uncommon.
- Thief River Falls is the center of action amid a network of hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails. The machines are even manufactured here and Arctic Cat offers tours of its plant. There’s also a system of Riverwalk paths linking five parks and a "pioneer village" of shops and log houses built by early settlers of the area.
The Moorhead area adds a touch of big-city life to the Red River Valley. It is home to two colleges, a symphony orchestra, opera company, community theater and an art museum. Especially interesting is the Heritage Hjemkomst Center, home of a replica Viking ship built by a local teacher and sailed from Duluth to Norway.
Prairieland
In a state known for thousands of lakes, countless miles of streams and rivers, and thousands of acres of wetlands, this region of Minnesota presents to travelers an very unique landscape. Resembling the great open spaces of the Dakotas more than the forested hills of eastern Minnesota, it doesn't seem as if Prairieland belongs to the state. What you will see when you visit Minnesota's prairieland:- Prairieland covers southwestern and west-central Minnesota and contains the headwaters of the Minnesota River and some of the most intensively farmed land in the state.
- Panoramic views of fields of row crops stretching to all four horizons. Broken only by the occasional farm with its silos or island of trees, this vast landscape exists in an area where nature can be both cruel and kind.
- Dozens of species of prairie grasses and wild flowers.
- Minnesota Wildlife in abundance.
St. Croix Valley
Nestled between Minnesota and Wisconsin in a picturesque valley, the St. Croix River flows between bluffs of limestone and sandstone, beginning as a narrow gorge with steep vertical walls, then slowing and widening into the scenic Lake St. Some of the attractions that draw Minnesota visitors year-round to the St. Croix Valley:- Towns that allow you to go back in time, like Marine-On-St. Croix and Afton.
- Historic rivertowns like Stillwater, a treasure that time forgot.
- Spectacular scenery in some of Minnesota's most beautiful State Parks.
Bluff Country
In the southeastern corner of Minnesota, visitors will find a landscape not found anywhere else in the state. Along the Mississippi River, limestone bluffs tower above the valley floor, looking like sentinels. Much of this land resembles parts of the Appalachians or Ozarks, and it has a more southern climate than any other area in Minnesota.The western edge of Bluffland is flat to mildly rolling farm country, and as you drive east to the Mississippi River, the landscape becomes much more rugged and dramatic. This is a landscape of rolling plains and spectacular valleys. Some highlights of a visit to this part of Minnesota should include:
- The Amish Country around Harmony and Lanesboro
- Blufflands State Trail
- The Great River Road
- Eagle watching near Winona and Red Wing
- Ed's Museum in Wykoff
- Forestville Mystery Cave State Park
- Great River Bluffs State Park
- The Mayo Clinic Museum in Rochester
- The SPAM Museum in Austin
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