3 Iconic Places in Minnesota That Look Way Cooler on Instagram

Minnesota has been my home for four decades now, and as much as I love to travel, I really love it here and don't think I would be happy living anywhere else (maybe Hawaii, though). As a destination that has been growing in popularity among tourists over recent years, Minnesota has been increasingly featured in images across social media and other online platforms. Generally speaking, the Land of 10,000 Lakes is as beautiful in real life as it is in photos. I have, however, seen some images of places in Minnesota that've made me raise an eyebrow, images of places that I've visited that don't quite jibe with my personal experiences. I'm not saying they're altogether wrong. It's just that when you visit some of these spots, there is no guarantee that they will look the way they do in photos. Here's a trio of examples.

1. Black Beach - Silver Bay

Black Beach is located in a small, 31-acre, municipal park of the same name in Silver Bay, Minnesota. The park opened in 2015 after the city reached an agreement with the mining company that owns the 3,800 feet of Lake Superior shoreline where the beach is located, making Black Beach and two other pebble beaches publicly accessible for the first time in decades. I think this is wonderful, as I am all for increased public access to Minnesota's beautiful natural areas, and Black Beach definitely counts among these.

That said, I also think Black Beach is a tad overhyped as being particularly "unique." The reason the beach's sand and pebbles tend to be more darkly colored than those of other Lake Superior strands is related to their origin: tailings from iron ore processing were dumped directly into Lake Superior, which discolored the rocks and sand near the facility. Although the water and sand have been deemed safe for recreation, the discoloration is still the result of industrial pollution, rather than a unique natural process like the volcanic black sand beaches found in places like Hawaii.

Moreover, the beach, like most on Lake Superior's North Shore, is not particularly sandy—nor is it particularly black. At least, it's not as black as it often appears in social media images. In fact, on the occasions I've visited, it's been a washed-out grayish color. I suspect it only takes on the black sheen you see in photos after heavy wave action or rain. So, definitely go—it is a beautiful spot—but don't expect to see a truly black beach. And if you do happen to visit at the right time, be sure to post your pictures.

2. Minnehaha Falls in Winter - Minneapolis

Minneahaha Falls in the wintertime is another spot in Minnesota that can feel like a letdown. If you've seen all the photos out there of a curtain of frozen blue water shading the bowl of the falls, along with images of people walking behind them in otherworldly light, you know what I mean. Because on most winter days when you visit the falls, that is not what you're going to get. Instead, you may see running water (because it's too warm) or just a few paltry icicles dangling from the precipice (because there's not enough water in the creek). Of course, this Minneapolis waterfall is still beautiful, but those aren't the photos you'll see plastered all over social media—at least not the ones that captured my attention.

The walk-behind-the-frozen-curtain-of-blue-ice phenomenon only happens with the right combination of stream flow in Minnehaha Creek and an extended period of extreme cold. Some winters, it may only last a short time, and in other years, the waterfall may not freeze at all. If you head out this winter, bundle up, and bring a steaming mug of managed expectations with you.

3. Mall of America - Bloomington

I am not much of a mall shopper, but I'm not here to slag on the Mall of America. Rather, the online images you see of the mall—typically smiling people doing exciting things against a vibrant, action-packed background—are a bit of an oversell. As big and occasionally unbelievable as it may be (there is an indoor amusement park, after all), MOA is still just a mall that can be depressingly loud, poorly lit, annoyingly overcrowded, or undercrowded and sad—and images just don't depict this. You also won't see images of jockeying for a parking spot, trying to remember where you parked from inside the mall, or the sticker shock of prices that aren't just mall prices but destination mall prices. So, go to MOA, have fun, but remember it's still just a mall, a very large one, but a mall nonetheless.

Again, I'm not saying you shouldn't visit these places, I just don't think you can trust online images to give you the full picture. So, definitely go, but don't expect to see exactly what you see on social media, and enjoy the visit on your own terms. Create your own memories and take your own photos. What are some other overhyped destinations in Minnesota that don't live up to their online images? We'd love to hear your picks over on our Nomination page.

Are you ready to plan your next adventure in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? Check out Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner for some extra travel inspiration.