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Everyone In Minnesota Should Check Out These 15 Tourist Attractions, According To Locals

Published Feb 8, 2024

Written by 

Trent Jonas

The Land of 10,000 Lakes is full of wonders - natural and otherwise - for us to enjoy, but we were wondering what the absolute must-visits were. So, we put out the call on our Only In Minnesota Facebook page, and you, our readers, responded. According to the results, here are 15 attractions in Minnesota that everyone must check out.

1. Franconia Sculpture Park - Shafer

Colorful, whimsical playground structure with various shapes and designs, set against a cloudy sky and green grass.
Doug Kerr/Flickr

This quirky park near Taylors Falls features gigantic, interactive sculptures. The art rotates on a regular basis, so be sure to visit often.

2. SPAM Museum - Austin

Exterior of the Spam Museum at night, featuring a large sign and a statue of a person with pigs in front.
jpellgen/Flickr

Hawaiians eat the most of it, but it was invented right here in Minnesota. Visit the SPAM museum to learn all you need to know about this amazingly versatile meat product.

3. Pipestone National Monument - Pipestone

A cascading waterfall flows over rocky terrain, surrounded by lush greenery and moss-covered stones.
JeromeG111/Flickr

One of two national monuments in Minnesota, Pipestone is a geologic wonder - an upwelling of Sioux quartzite on the prairie with a natural waterfall - and rich in history. All Minnesotans should visit this amazing place at least once.

4. World's largest Paul Bunyan - Akeley

A large, colorful statue of a lumberjack with a beard, wearing a red and black checkered shirt, against a blue sky.
Amy Merideth/Flickr

It's not the tallest, (because he's kneeling so you can sit in his hand), but the Paul Bunyan statue in Akeley is the largest.

5. Lucette, Paul Bunyan's Sweetheart - Hackensack

A large statue of a woman in a red top and blue skirt stands by a lake, with a welcome sign nearby.
Lorie Shaull/Flickr

Speaking of Paul Bunyan, did you know he has a sweetheart? Well, he does. Her name is Lucette, and you'll find her in Hackensack.

6. Headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park - Park Rapids

Three hikers navigate a rocky shoreline by a calm lake, surrounded by trees under a cloudy sky.
Dan/Flickr

The headwaters of the Mississippi River is one of the best-known natural attractions in Minnesota. You'll find it at Itasca State Park - the oldest in Minnesota and one of the oldest state parks in the country.

7. Big Ole and the Kensington Runestone - Alexandria Museum

A large, colorful statue of a warrior holding a spear, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.
Lorie Shaull/Flickr

In western Minnesota, you'll find the statue of a Viking named Big Ole, and he holds a shield proclaiming that Alexandria is the "birthplace of America." How is this possible? You'll have to visit the nearby Kensington Runestone Museum to find out.

8. Grand Portage National Monument and Pigeon River High Falls - Grand Portage

Two people walk down a path toward historic wooden buildings surrounded by green grass and trees under a blue sky.
Sean Marshall/Flickr

Grand Portage is another two (or more!) for one attraction. You've got Minnesota's other national monument - Grand Portage - as well as Grand Portage State Park. The latter is home to the High Falls on the Pigeon River, which are the tallest in Minnesota, and the reason for all the portaging going on up here.

9. World's Largest Tiger Muskie - Nevis

A large, colorful wooden sculpture of a tiger muskie fish under a pavilion, surrounded by flower planters.
skvader/Wikimedia Commons

The world's largest tiger muskie (statue) is located in a park in Nevis. Come for the muskie, but stay for the lovely community!

10. Split Rock Lighthouse - Two Harbors

A historic lighthouse with a brick building and large horns on the roof, set against a clear blue sky.
jasperdo/Flickr

Often called the most photographed lighthouse in the country, Split Rock Lighthouse is necessary on any Minnesota bucket list.

11. World's Largest Ball of Twine - Darwin

A large, spherical sculpture made of intertwined natural fibers, displayed in a wooden structure.
Jonathan Beilin/Flickr

There are a few competitors out there now, but the world's largest ball of twine has long been in Darwin, Minnesota. Just ask anybody in Darwin.

12. Gooseberry Falls at Gooseberry Falls State Park - Two Harbors

A serene waterfall cascades over rocks, with a bridge in the background and lush trees lining the scene.
Joe Ennesser/Flickr

The most visited state park in Minnesota is home to one of the (if not the) most photographed waterfalls in Minnesota. A stop by Gooseberry Falls is a must during your time in the North Star State.

13. Big Fish Supper Club - Bena

A large, whimsical fish-shaped building serves as a restaurant, set against a cloudy sky and grassy landscape.
Lorie Shaull/Flickr

Another giant muskie? Yes, but it's not a tiger muskie - and this one gave birth to a restaurant, the aptly named Big Fish Supper Club. You may recognize it from the opening credits of National Lampoon's Vacation.

14. Minnehaha Falls - Minneapolis

A waterfall cascades into a rocky pool, surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
Melinda Young Stuart/Flickr

The other contender for most photographed waterfall in Minnesota is Minnehaha Falls, which is located in the regional park of the same name in Minneapolis. This cascade is particularly striking in the winter when it freezes.

15. Pelican Pete - Pelican Rapids

A large white sculpture of a pelican with a red beak stands near a waterfall, surrounded by a metal fence.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr

Not to be outdone by fish, lumberjacks, and Vikings, Pelican Rapids is also strong in the outsized statue game. Pelican Pete is probably the biggest concrete pelican you'll ever see.

Other popular answers included your houses, yards, and porches - but we didn't have images of those, so they weren't included. (Kidding!) You could definitely string a few of these attractions together and make a weekend road trip or two out of them.

Which of these 15 attractions in Minnesota have you visited? Which are your favorites? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments!

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