?? your 2026 bucket list is looking very minnesotan -





explore minnesota | on our minds | what's new, what's back, what's better | aerial view of split rock lighthouse on the edge of the north shore cliffs [ [link removed] ]





how many of these 26 minnesota experiences can you check off in 2026?

1. take a road trip

a car on a winding road around a bluff. blue water is to the left of the road, fall trees and a red bluff are to the right. [ [link removed] ]

 

Experience Minnesota's scenic, 575-mile portion of the *Great River Road [ [link removed] ]*, an All-American Road and National Scenic Byway that spans 10 states along the Mississippi River. Bucket list-worthy stops include the *Mississippi River headwaters [ [link removed] ]* at Itasca State Park, the red richness of *Cuyuna [ [link removed] ]*, the beautiful bluffs in* Winona* [ [link removed] ], and many more.






2. stroll a charming main street

gif: garland and twinkle lights hang in the frosted window of a cozy cafe at dusk. a person opens the cafe door as two kids run down main street. [ [link removed] ]

Minnesota is practically overflowing with adorable downtowns, complete with the requisite independent boutiques, *ice cream shops* [ [link removed] ], *antique stores [ [link removed] ]* and historic architecture. Explore one of the many charming main streets in towns including *Little Falls [ [link removed] ]*, *Nisswa* [ [link removed] ], *Red Wing* [ [link removed] ] and *Stillwater [ [link removed] ]* (just to name a few).






3. discover at least one of our 11,842 lakes

a multi-generational family cruising on a pontoon on a sunny afternoon [ [link removed] ]

 

Minnesota may be known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” but it's actually home to 11,842. *Spend some time* [ [link removed] ] on or near the water *fishing* [ [link removed] ], boating, *paddling* [ [link removed] ], swimming, *skating* [ [link removed] ], skiing, tubing, or walking around the lakes. Bonus points if you can make *a weekend out of it [ [link removed] ]*.

 






left double quotation mark in yellow
spend some time on or near the water all year round.
right double quotation mark in yellow









4. cheer on the home team

two professional female hockey players in purple quickly communicate on ice before the puck drops [ [link removed] ]

 

Enjoy outdoor baseball and cheer on the Minnesota Twins at *Target Field [ [link removed] ]*, visit *Target Center [ [link removed] ]* for the Minnesota Timberwolves and four-time WNBA champions, the Minnesota Lynx. Head to downtown St. Paul and be part of the "Team of 18,000" at the *Grand Casino Arena [ [link removed] ]* for a Wild game, cheer on the Minnesota Frost, or visit *Allianz Field [ [link removed] ]* for a Minnesota United FC match. The Minnesota Vikings play at *U.S. Bank Stadium [ [link removed] ]* in Minneapolis, home to Super Bowl LII and the X Games.






5. pick your own produce

a hand holds a half dozen small strawberries fresh off the bush. [ [link removed] ]

You may have gone *apple picking [ [link removed] ]* in the fall, but have you gone *strawberry picking [ [link removed] ]* in the summer? Head to a local you-pick farm to find a bounty of delicious strawberries, blueberries, peppers, beans, corn and more.






6. go for a bike ride

a person in a yellow helmet & all black bikes besides another in a colorful shirt & white helmet down a gravel path surrounded by green trees. [ [link removed] ]

Minnesota has more than 4,000 miles of *paved bike trails [ [link removed] ]* throughout the state, hundreds of miles of designated *gravel bike paths [ [link removed] ]*, plus dozens of *mountain biking areas [ [link removed] ]*. For beginners, we’ve rounded up all you need to know in our *trusty 101 [ [link removed] ]*. With this many options, you can choose to bike for a few hours of your day or make it a *long weekend [ [link removed] ]* of cycling fun.

 






*DISCOVER 20 OTHER MUST-DO THINGS FOR THIS YEAR* [ [link removed] ]











if you were a minnesota destination, based on your astrological sign

 

*We consulted the cosmos, checked the maps and the results are very Minnesotan.*

 

*DID WE GET YOURS RIGHT?  WEIGH IN >> [ [link removed] ]*





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"from top to bottom: Split Rock Lighthouse in Two Harbors, photo by Riley Hallaway  |  Outside of Taylors Falls, photo by Paul Vincent  |  Fair Hills Resort on Pelican Lake near Detroit Lakes, photo by Paul Vincent  |  Gif from inside HideAway Cafe looking at downtown in Northfield, video by B Schneider  |  PWHL Frost game at Grand Casino Arena, photo by Minnesota Frost  |  Rod's Berry Farm in North Branch, photo by Andrew Parks  |  Lanesboro gravel trail, photo by Paul Vincent"

"_
""This article has been edited for length and clarity."






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





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