Minnesota’s Rising Star: This Underrated City Is Ideal for Any Traveler

The Land of 10,000 Lakes is blessed with many wonderful and fascinating cities offering all varieties of culture and entertainment for intrepid and curious travelers alike. But if I had to pick one city that is somewhat overlooked - it is, admittedly, a bit off the beaten path - it would be Bemidji. Located in the heart of the great Northwoods, Bemidji is a Minnesota city ideal for any traveler, especially for those seeking a classic, Up North experience.

You'll find the charming city of Bemidji in northern (and slightly western) Minnesota not far from the headwaters of the Mississippi River, which flows through eponymous Lake Bemidji. A community of almost 16,000, it's the largest city in Minnesota between Duluth and the North Dakota border and home to Bemidji State University. It's also home to the most famous Paul Bunyan statute in Minnesota - there are a few - if not the entire country.

In Bemidji's downtown district, you'll find all sorts locally-owned shops and businesses to explore. There are also plenty of excellent eateries, like Tutto Bene, an intimate Italian restaurant with amazing food.

Lake Bemidji State Park is located just outside of the city proper, on the lake's opposite shore, but it feels a world away. If you love beaches, biking, or bogs Lake Bemidji is the park for you. Hikers and camping enthusiasts will enjoy it, too. Come winter, bust out the fat tires, and trade the beach towel for snowshoes or cross-country skis, and hang with the locals.

Bemidji is also a perfect jumping off point for iconic Lake Itasca State Park, which is located just over 30 minutes south of town and is famously home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It's also the oldest and second-largest Minnesota state park. With incredible old-growth pine groves, lakes, restaurants, a fire tower, and a historic lodge, Itasca is unique among our state parks, and any visitor to Bemidji should certainly add it to the itinerary. It is more remote, so you'll want to download trail maps from AllTrails Plus before you set out on the parks many wonderful trails.

As you can see, Bemidji is an excellent Minnesota city for travelers who want to get out and explore all that northern Minnesota has to offer without forgoing some of the conveniences of a more urbanized area. In fact, I encourage to visit just about any time of year - it's one of my favorite Christmas towns in Minnesota. What are some other underrated Minnesota cities that travelers should visit? Tell us about your favorites!