?? the minnesota you won't want to miss -





explore minnesota | minnesota understood the assignment | lighthouse on a orange & rich brown cliff, brilliant blue lake surrounding [ [link removed] ]





iconic minnesota experiences

must-dos for your bucket list

This is Minnesota at its most legendary. Think big water, bold concerts, and one-of-a-kind experiences (largest ball of twine, anyone?). Start checking off these "can't get this anywhere else" experiences now, because you miss 100% of the trips you don't take.

 

*EXPLORE THE ICONS* [ [link removed] ]






A large statue of Paul Bunyan in a red and black plaid shirt next to an equally tall Babe the Blue Ox statue, towers over two people in the summer. [ [link removed] ]





it's not about the destination, it's about the journey

Silly platitudes aside, Minnesota is bursting with quirky, larger-than-life roadside attractions. Snap a selfie with a variety of enormous and iconic landmarks like the Jolly Green Giant, the Largest Ball of Twine, and Kanabec the Serpent. Our guide breaks up these photo-ops by region, making it easy to plot your next road trip.

 

*LIFE IS A HIGHWAY* [ [link removed] ]






Two people admire items behind a glass display. An employee wearing a beaded necklace smiles. Beaded accessories can be seen hanging on a wall. [ [link removed] ]





celebrate minnesota’s native american communities

Minnesotans owe many of the things we love about our state — from its rich multicultural makeup to its beautiful, well-preserved nature areas — to the Native American communities that have long resided here. That’s not hyperbole; these Indigenous peoples have stewarded this place for millennia.

 

*LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES* [ [link removed] ]






one person in a black shirt and one person in a white button up eat two ears of freshly roasted corn on the cob, the husks still attached. [ [link removed] ]





minnesota's most iconic food dishes

What makes an iconic dish iconic? History? Popularity? From the legacy of the mill city to the molten cheese inside a Juicy Lucy, we’ve broken down some of Minnesota’s most essential bites and where you can get them.

 

*TRY THEM ALL* [ [link removed] ]






the purple one

ENJOY A PRINCE-THEMED TOUR

Prince was a born-and-bred Minnesotan who spent most of his 57 years here — someone who once told Oprah he "will always live in Minneapolis" because winter "keeps the bad people out."

 

Here is how you can take a self-guided tour of the spots that shaped Prince, from his iconic recording studio/residence to the nightclub immortalized in "Purple Rain".

 

two adults smile for the camera while pointing to Prince's gold star on the wall at the music venue, First Avenue. [ [link removed] ]

first avenue

This ex-Greyhound depot has been the center of Minneapolis’ live music scene for more than 50 years. Featuring more than 500 stars on its facade — the names of acts who have performed there — First Avenue was one of Prince’s main stages to try out his new eccentric sounds.

 

In 1983, the album version of the song "Purple Rain" was recorded here live. One year later, the venue set the backdrop for the concert footage in the movie of the same name. Prince's star was painted gold after his death, and thousands gathered to celebrate his life there when he passed away at 57 on April 21, 2016.

 

Prince's motorcycle is shown under blue and green lights at Paisley Park. The room then splits into black and white checkered floor with amps. [ [link removed] ]

paisley park

Paisley Park, Prince's recording studio/residence/performance venue in the western suburb of Chanhassen, has become a destination for his fans to pay tribute to the late star. Public tours are available throughout the week and include access to Prince's recording and mixing studios, rehearsal rooms, sound stage and private music club. Not to mention a closer look at his iconic outfits, awards, instruments and other memorabilia.

 

Self-guided and VIP options are available, as well as special events throughout the year, including the annual Celebration festival that features exclusive panel discussions, concerts, and Paisley Park experiences. 

 

A woman in a pink hat gives the peace sign up in the air while singing. The Prince mural by Hiero Veiga near the Target Center is in the background. [ [link removed] ]

public murals

Artist Rock "Cyfi" Martinez painted a mural of Prince a few days after his passing as "a present to the city of Minneapolis." You can find this mural at 26th and Hennepin in the Uptown neighborhood, behind the Sencha Tea building.

 

There is also a Prince mural in Minneapolis' North Loop that Floyd's 99 Barbershop commissioned, and a towering piece near the Target Center by street artist Hiero Veiga, which was unveiled as part of a weekend celebrating what would have been Prince's 64th birthday.

 

The town of Henderson was featured in "Purple Rain" when a scene was filmed along the Minnesota River. There's now a mural downtown featuring Prince, First Avenue and 7th Street Entry and a little red Corvette. Fans can also pay their respects at a memorial bench surrounded by purple flowers.

 

*EXPERIENCE MORE PRINCE* [ [link removed] ]











minnesota on the silver screen

QUACK QUACK QUACK





a video still of D2 Mighty Ducks rollerblading through the Mall of America. The hockey player in the foreground wears a green Mighty Ducks jersey. [ [link removed] ]



mighty ducks and 11 other most notable minnesota movies





*GRAB POPCORN & ENJOY THE ROUNDUP* [ [link removed] ]











The Great River Road carves along the shoreline of the deep blue Mississippi River water. Greenery on a bluff towers over the winding road. [ [link removed] ]





travel inspiration

YOUR BLUFF COUNTRY WEEKEND TRIP

 


* Shop and enjoy patio season in Stillwater


* Lace up your boots in Red Wing 


* Start a stained glass crawl in Winona 

 

*PLAN NOW* [ [link removed] ]











fun fact corner

FOR THE MINNESOTA TRIVIA FANATIC

 

Gif of three women in 80's clothes singing, "Let's Go to the Mall!" in a 90's strip mall. [ [link removed] ]

the mall of america contains 30,000+ live plants and 400+ trees. they use a "very" natural pesticide that you can help release every year.

SPOT SOMETHING SPECIAL >> [ [link removed] ]










our partners

CLICK-WORTHY SPONSORED CONTENT

 

2025 Minnesota Renaissance Festival - Your Adventure Begins Here! Open Weekends Aug. 16–Sept. 28 + Sept. 1 & Sept. 26. Image: 2 kids in crowns [ [link removed] ]










related content

MORE MINNESOTA ICONS & DESTINATIONS

 

?? *Where to see the man, the myth, the legend >> [ [link removed] ]*

 

?? *Don't miss one of NatGeo’s "50 Places of a Lifetime" >> [ [link removed] ]*

 

?? *Spend a day at the state’s most Googled waterfall >> [ [link removed] ]*

 

?? *Experience an International Dark Sky Park in Minnesota >> [ [link removed] ]*

 






"from top to bottom: Split Rock Lighthouse State Park in Two Harbors, photo by Paul Vincent  |  Paul and Babe in Bemidji, photo by Paul Vincent  |  Woodland Crafts Gift Shop at Minneapolis American Indian Center in Minneapolis, photo by Lisa A. Lardy  |  Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, photo by Paul Vincent  |  First Avenue in Minneapolis, photo by Paul Vincent  |  Paisley Park in Chanhassen, photo by Leslie Anderson  |  Prince mural by Hiero Veiga in Minneapolis, photo by Paul Vincent  |  D2 Mighty Ducks at the Mall of America in Bloomington, video still by Walt Disney Pictures  |  Great River Road in Lake City, photo by Visit Lake City  |  How I Met Your Mother mall gif"






*YOUR TEN MUST-DO THINGS THIS SUMMER IN MINNESOTA >> [ [link removed] ]*





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