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Land of 10,000 Lakes -

Known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota actually has more: 11,842 to be exact. Water is fundamental to the spirit of the state, and exploring the glorious lakes, whether by kayaking or just hiking around the edges, is not to be missed.

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Voyageurs National Park -

Close to the Canadian border in northern Minnesota, this stunning park features a series of interconnected waterways. It's an enticing option for adventures in the great outdoors: visitors can kayak, hike, and camp in the wildly beautiful surroundings.

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The Devil's Kettle -

The curiously-named Devil's Kettle is a mind- bending tourist attraction located in Judge C.R. Magney State Park, on Lake Superior's North Shore. The rushing waters of the Brule River appear to disappear into a pothole halfway down.

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Gooseberry Falls State Park -

Spectacular falls abound in Minnesota's many wooded lakeside parks. Gooseberry Falls State Park, in Silver Creek Township, offers a wealth of hiking trails (from easy to adventurous)  to discover its impressive crashing waters.

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Split Rock Lighthouse -

One of the most-photographed spots in the state, Split Rock Lighthouse is an intact 1910 light station sitting on a cliff edge on the rocky coast of Lake Superior. A National Historic Landmark, it's open for guided tours and a range of educational activities.

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Boundary Waters -

If you want to get away from it all and take an active break in splendid isolation, Boundary Park is the place to do it. A vast, water-filled wilderness area in the Superior National Forest, it's awash with opportunities for hiking, canoeing, and camping.

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Cathedral of Saint Paul -

Minnesota's ruggedly beautiful landscape will thrill outdoorsy types, but the state's city life is worth exploring, too. Any cultural day out in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul should begin with a visit to the stunning Cathedral of Saint Paul. The location at the top of Cathedral Hill offers amazing city views.

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Basilica of Saint Mary -

The Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis also merits a visit. Sitting pretty in the city's downtown and built in the early 1900s, it was the first basilica to be established in the US.

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Minnehaha Falls -

You don't have to venture far to discover this wonder of nature: located in south Minneapolis, Minnehaha Falls can be reached by an easy walk along established paths, with the option to continue to Minnehaha Creek and the spot where the waters spill out into the Mississippi River.

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Como Park Zoo and Conservatory -

For over 100 years, this flower-filled attraction in Saint Paul has been wowing visitors year-round. Tropical blooms and seasonal shows provide a feast for the eyes, and there's animal entertainment courtesy of sea lion shows and the inhabitants of the well-kept zoo.

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Minnesota Landscape Arboretum -

Located just west of Chanhassen city and fondly known locally as "The Arb," this enormous expanse of colorful gardens and trees offers some 12 miles (19.3 km) of walking trails.

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Jay Cooke State Park -

Are you brave enough for the 'swinging bridge' in this scenic park? Not for the faint of heart, the swaying suspension bridge offers vertigo-inducing views over the swirling waters of the lower Saint Louis River.

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Mall of America -

Ready for some serious shopping? The Mall of America, 10 miles (16 km) south of Minneapolis, is the nation's biggest mall. With an indoor amusement park, an aquarium, and even a butterfly park, it's the ideal rainy day option for families.

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Nicollet Mall -

When the sun shines, you can combine retail therapy with sightseeing at Nicollet Mall. It's a pretty, pedestrianized thoroughfare in downtown Minneapolis, with abundant eating and drinking options as well as a foodie-pleasing farmers' market.

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Minnesota State Fair -

State fair lovers should plan to be in Minnesota during late August and early September, for the Great Minnesota Get-Together. The 12-day event is held at fairgrounds between Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and attracts enormous crowds thanks to its lively attractions and local food stands.

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Target Field -

Big-name sports venues abound in the Twin Cities. Baseball-loving families flock to Target Field, in downtown Minneapolis, to cheer on MLB's Minnesota Twins and enjoy famous treats like Polish sausages.

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Mill Ruins Park -

Visitors can cycle or stroll along across the Stone Arch Bridge at this intriguing park set among the ruins of water-powered mills. Located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, the bridge has views over the crashing Saint Anthony Falls: the only waterfall on the Mississippi.

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Mill City Museum -

A glass elevator lifts visitors from the ruins of the park into what was once the world's largest flour mill. It's now a fascinating museum, complete with vintage railroad cars and an enormous freight elevator that hoists visitors from floor to floor.

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Walker Art Center -

This slick contemporary art center in Minneapolis was the upper Midwest's first public art gallery when it opened in 1927. It moved to its current, ultra-modern, building in 2005, and hosts world-class visiting exhibitions as well as permanent displays.

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Minneapolis Sculpture Garden -

Right next to the museum, the impressive Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is one of the largest urban sculpture parks in the US. Don't miss the famous 'Spoonbridge and Cherry' sculpture fountain.

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Weisman Art Museum -

The eye-catching, Frank Gehry-designed exterior should be enough to entice you into this impressive Minneapolis gallery. Inside, visitors can ogle works including notable pieces of American modernism.

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State Capitol -

This stunning 1905  building in Saint Paul is a masterwork from Cass Gilbert, architect of the United States Supreme Court. It's impressive from near and far: get close up to admire the intricate golden horses on the exterior, and step inside for guided tours.

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Science Museum of Minnesota -

A kid-pleasing attraction that's sure to intrigue adults, too, this impressive science museum sits on the Saint Paul riverfront. Hands-on permanent exhibits and touring shows mean local families tend to return again and again.

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Minnesota History Center -

Minnesota excels at its kid-friendly approach to bringing the past to life. This fun museum in Saint Paul lets kids don a hard hat to walk through a mock-up Iron Range mine and sit inside a vintage streetcar.

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Minneapolis Institute of Art -

MIA, as it's known to locals, is another impressive figure on the Twin Cities' stellar cultural scene. One of the largest art museums in the US, it houses more than 90,000 pieces of art from over 5,000 years of history.

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Explore Minneapolis after dark -

Minneapolis has a famously lively nightlife scene, with each of its neighborhoods offering a distinctively different vibe. Whether you want to sip craft beer with a hipster crowd, sneak into a secretive speakeasy bar, or dance the night away in a club, the best way to uncover the city's nightlife scene is by taking an after-dark stroll through the brightly-lit streets.

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Minneopa State Park -

Inner party animal sated, you might want to observe some of Minnesota's splendid wild animals. Minneopa State Park, around 5 miles (8 km) west of Mankato, is one of very few places in the world to see roaming purebred bison.

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Itasca State Park -

Established in 1891, this is Minnesota's oldest state park, and the spot where the Mississippi River begins its mighty journey towards the Gulf of Mexico. There are hundreds of campsites within the park, and some sections of the river are shallow enough for paddling.

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Embrace the frozen beauty -

Wrap up warm and embrace all that Minnesota has to offer during its freezing winters. Frozen waterfalls and frozen lakes, such as this one in Duluth, are every bit as stunning in winter as they are in summer.

Sources: (Midwest Living) (Thrillist) (Practical Wanderlust)

See also: Cities that are halved by rivers

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