Warm weather in Minnesota means it's time to find some things to do outdoors. Few have ever complained about lounging by the lake for a few hours, but it's good to have a backup plan for when those situations arise. Luckily for Minnesotans, there are plenty of alternatives. One of the best, most family-friendly? Tamarack Nature Center in White Bear Township.
Tamarack Nature Center is full of nature-filled activities - perfect for a family day trip.
All in all, Tamarack Nature Center is an incredible day trip destination for nature-loving families. You can visit at 5287 Otter Lake Road in White Bear Township.
If you're a lover of books and Minnesota, then you're going to love this little road trip in the Land of 10,000 Lakes that we've got planned for you. It's going to take you to some spots that touch on our state's literary legacy, as well as some of the best bookstores in the Twin Cities. The initial part of this trip is short, and how much time it will take you to complete will depend on how much time you spend browsing. At the end, I've included a stretch goal if you'd like to turn your afternoon adventure into a weekend getaway.
You'll kick off your literary road trip in downtown St. Paul's Rice Park, where you'll find a statue of Minnesota's arguably most famous literary figure, F. Scott Fitzgerald. A St. Paul native, Fitzgerald's best known work is his novel, The Great Gatsby, which features some references to his home state.
Just across Rice Park from the statue, you'll find the George Latimer Central Library, the crown jewel of the St. Paul Public Library system. Completed in 1917, Fitzgerald may well have witnessed its construction. Be sure to pop in and have a look around this historic repository of words and knowledge.
From Rice Park, you'll head out of downtown and up the hill to swank and historic Summit Avenue. There, you'll find one of the homes associated with Fitzgerald in the Twin Cities.
Drop down a block to Grand Avenue, and pay a visit to Red Balloon Bookshop. It's a whimsical spot that's also one of the best local bookstores in St. Paul for children's literature. I used to visit when my kids were little, and I still love to pop in from time to time. Just look for the friendly bear holding the red balloon.
If you're wondering where to buy books in St. Paul that isn't so kid lit-centric, head a few minutes west on Grand Avenue to its intersection with Snelling. There, you'll find Next Chapter Booksellers, which is easily one of my favorite bookstores in St. Paul. You're pretty likely to find something from award-winning author Marlon James there, as well.
James, winner of the Man Booker Prize and American Book Award, as well as many others, teaches at Macalester College, which is right across the street from Next Chapter. Take a moment to stroll around the beautiful campus and soak up some of the creative vibes that emanate from it.
Your next stop will take you to Dinkytown, the Minneapolis neighborhood where Bob Dylan lived when he attended the University of Minnesota. Legend has it, he lived in the building that was once home to Gray's Campus Drug, at the corner of 4th Street SE (positively!) and 14th Avenue SE. Now a vacant former restaurant, you can imagine him in one of the second-floor windows looking out at the hustle and bustle of Dinkytown as he noodled song lyrics with his guitar in hand.
Half a block away from the former Gray's, you'll find the Book House. A Dinkytown institution, Book House has long been my favorite used bookstore in Minnesota. Every visit is like a successful treasure hunt - you never know what you'll find, but there's always something.
Next, you'll head to the massive mural of Bob Dylan on 5th Street in downtown Minneapolis. By this point, you may be asking why Bob Dylan is on our literary road trip. Well, if you most know, this favorite son of Minnesota was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016. So, his feet are firmly planted in the worlds of both music and literature.
It's owned by renowned author and longtime Minneapolis resident, Louise Erdrich. Her work has won the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and countless other honors. Her bookstore is a wonderful place to get to know Erdrich's work while discovering other works by Native and non-Native writers, alike. If you don't have time to linger, be sure to check out Birchbark's offerings on the shop's website.
Birchbark is the end of the Twin Cities day trip portion of this adventure. You can finish here, or you can extend your adventure by visiting the boyhood stomping grounds of Minnesota's two Nobel laureates for literature. If you're game, tap or click on the map above to continue your literary journey in Minnesota.
You're first stop is Sauk Centre, a little over an hour northwest of Minneapolis. It's where Nobel Prize-winning author Sinclair Lews grew up. Famous for books like Babbitt, Main Street, and Elmer Gantry, Lewis incorporated his years in Minnesota into much of his literature. He became the first United States writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature when it was awarded to him in 1930. You can still visit his home in Sauk Centre.
12. Sauk Centre Sinclair Lewis Library - Sauk Centre
The Hibbing Public Library houses a Bob Dylan collection that's fascinating to explore. It's definitely worth a visit if you're a Dylan admirer like I am.
Whether you just make a couple stops on this itinerary or spend a weekend doing the whole trip plus the stretch goal, I'm sure you'll learn some interesting stuff along the way or, at the very least, learn about some of the best bookstores in the Twin Cities. If you do choose to do the stretch goal, I recommend staying at the Hampton Inn Hibbing - it's clean, modern, well-appointed, and conveniently located to all the Dylan sites, as well as some other local attractions.
Have you visited any of these places? Let us know in the comments - and be sure to shout out your own favorite bookstores and literary sites in Minnesota.
One state park near the Iowa border is home to both the longest cave in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and a ghost town that’s open to exploration. Forestville/Mystery Cave in Minnesota is a state park that's a bit off the beaten path, so it doesn’t receive as much attention as some of its more popular counterparts. But folks who love caves will love the park and its karst geology, as well as a couple of stops afterward on one of the best day trips in Minnesota.
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Mystery Cave was added to the park in 1987 and is a popular destination in itself.
To explore the cave, you must go with a tour guide. Several tour types are available, focusing on different aspects of cave exploration, like geology, scenery, and photography.
When you get to the charming small town of Fountain - the "Sink Hole Capital of the U.S.A." - stop in at Karst Brewing for one of its rotating brews. Named for the geology that permeates these bluffs and creates the caves, the brewery is a local favorite and a popular watering hole on the Root River State Trail.
Cap off the day with a classic supper club dinner in atop one of these karst bluffs in Preston, less than five minutes south of Karst Brewing.
The Branding Iron has been a regional dining destination for more than half a century. You'll enjoy all the classics you'd expect from a Minnesota supper club - with views of Preston and the Root River valley - and you will not leave hungry.
There aren’t many parks that can claim both a cave and a ghost town, so we in the Bold North must count ourselves lucky. Don't want this day trip to end, just book a night a Preston, and keep it going the next day! Have you had a chance to explore Mystery Cave or visit Forestville? While you’re exploring Minnesota’s driftless area, don’t forget to explore its other geological highlights, like Niagara Cave and its stunning underground waterfall near Harmony. For further inspiration, check out more of our best day trips in Minnesota.
