In the Land of 10,000 Lakes you never run out of options for aquatic recreation in the summer. From beautiful beaches to fishing coves, our lakes offer everything you need to have a magical season. These 14 lakes are some of our favorites and among the most beautiful lakes in Minnesota to visit year-round.

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What is your favorite lake memory in Minnesota? We’d love to see your photos and hear about your experiences.

If you’re looking for more outdoor activities, you definitely need to explore some of Minneapolis’ wonderful state parks.

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Lakes in Minnesota

What kind of activities can you do at St. Croix State Park?

St. Croix State Park is the largest state park in Minnesota and it is a beauty! Located in the town of Hinckley a little over an hour north of Saint Paul, the park offers a wealth of recreational activities like kayaking, camping, swimming, and bird watching, just to name a few. You’ll find 34,000 acres of expanse here, so there is never a lack of things to see, do, or experience.

I’m looking for haunted places in Minnesota.

The North Star State is peppered with supernatural places and each one offers a unique perspective of the history of the destination where it is located. If you’re in the Minneapolis area you might want to test your wits at Minneapolis City Hall. The 5th floor is said to be one of the scariest spots in the building, as this is where a convicted felon was hanged in the late 1800s. I guess he’s getting the last creepy laugh when we wanders the halls at night, scaring those working the night shift! 

I’m looking for family fun in the winter in Minnesota.

It gets pretty cold, to put it mildly(??) in the winter in Minnesota and it doesn’t take long for the family to start suffering from cabin fever. So how about taking everyone out for a fun day of ice bumper cars! You will find this winter take on traditional bumper cars at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in the town of Virginia. It’s a game that everyone in the family can play and boy is it a lot of fun!

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