Summer is such a great time to pack up the family for a day trip. We have such a beautiful state with so many beautiful lakes. Minnesota is a midwestern U.S. state that borders Canada and Lake Superior which is the largest of the Great Lakes. Our state contains more than 10,000 other lakes, including Lake Itasca which is the the Mississippi River’s primary source.
I have put the destinations in alphabetical order. I used the Galaxie Library as the location to map the drive time to each destination.
Alexandria, Minnesota (about a 2 hour and 25 minute drive)
Alexandria has many destinations to boast about including Lake Carlos State Park / Inspiration Peak. Inspiration Peak is a quarter mile hike to the peak. Lake Carlos offers camping, hiking trails, horseback trails, swimming, paddle boat and canoe rental, and so much more. Don't forget to check out the 28-foot-tall fiberglass sculpture Viking named "Big Ole", Central Lakes Trail which was built on the abandoned Burlington Northern Railroad and it spans 55 miles from Fergus Falls to Osakis where it connects to the Wobegon Trail. Both trails combine a total of 117 miles of paved trail where you can bike, walk, run, longboard, or rollerblade. There are 300 lakes in Alexandria which is in Douglas County which is called the "Chain of Lakes". Beauty surrounds you as you enjoy the outdoors. Click here to see a list of museums and historical sites.
Brainerd, Minnesota (about a 2 hour and 25 minute drive)
Brainerd is known has so many outdoor activities. You can hike, boat, fish, golf, ride your ATV, swim, ride a zip line, camp, sightsee, horseback riding, and much more. Brainerd is a great time to enjoy the Northwoods.
Carlton, Minnesota (about a 2 hour and 25 minute drive)
Carlton is the gateway to Jay Cooke State Park where you can camp, hike, horseback ride, visit the Swinging Bridge which goes across the St. Louis River, and explore the Thomson Dam, Pioneer Cemetery and Oldenburg Point. The DNR Park is located on the William Munger Bike Trail in Carlton where the kids can play at the Little Caboose Playground. Click here to learn more about the recreation facilities here.
Duluth, Minnesota (about a 2 hour and 40 minute drive)
Duluth is always a fun destination with beautiful sites and a variety of things to do. You can golf, hike, bike, fish, swim, sight see, watch the ships, walk the boardwalk and watch the lift bridge in action as ships pass in and out of the harbor. Check out the Virtual 360 degree views of attractions in Duluth. Spirit Mountain has always been a favorite of mine with both summer and winter activities. Check here for updates during the COVID-19.
Lake City, Minnesota (about an hour and 15 minutes away)
Come and visit Lake City which is located next to Lake Pepin. Lake Pepin is located at the widest part of the Mississippi River. Lake Pepin runs between Minnesota and Wisconsin with a variety of things to do on your day trip. Visit Hok-Si-La City Park and Campground, which is Lake City's largest park and located on the Minnesota side of Lake Pepin to see the beautiful view of Lake Pepin. You can camp in tents, rent a cabin, boat, fish, swim, birdwatch, while enjoying the beautiful landscapes. The kids can have fun at the park, play volleyball or basketball. You can also pack a picnic while on your visit. Here is a list of all the other parks in Lake City, MN.
Lanesboro, MInnesota (a little over an hour and 51 minutes away)
Come and hike, bike, or rollerblade the 42 mile Root River State Trail that connects to the 18 mile Harmony Preston Valley State Trail. You will find lots of wildlife like wild turkeys, turkey vultures, hawks, deer and some have spotted rattlesnakes.
Mantorville, Minnesota (about a 1 hour and 10 minute drive)
Manorville is a town located in southern Minnesota along the South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River. The 12 block town was placed on the National Historic registry in 1975 because the Mantor brothers and the community wanted to maintain its small town charm and preserve the historic architecture and small town atmosphere.
New Ulm, Minnesota (about a 1 hour and 35 minutes away)
New Ulm is known for its German heritage. You can click here to learn more about New Ulm's history. New Ulm has a lot of attractions and some include: The Hermann Monument, 45-foot tall Glockenspiel, the August Schell Brewery, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, Brown County Historical Site Museum, Brown County Veterans Memorial, the Defenders Monument and much more. You can find more detailed information here. Click here to read a great article about Social-Distance-Approved Activities.
Owatonna, Minnesota (about an hour drive)
The city of Owatonna has over 33 parks and 17 trails for you to enjoy in Owatonna and is known as "The City of Friendliness and Beautiful Parks".
Preston, Minnesota (about a 1 hour and 45 minute drive)
This city is located along the Root River and it also known as "Minnesota's Trout Capital".You will find a variety of activities that include: hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, camping, sightseeing, and much more. You can visit the National Trout Center, hike The Root River State Trail and the Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail, explore the Eagle Bluff and the the Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park where you can tour bat caves, camp, see a trout stream, and is great for hiking. Click here to learn more about visiting Preston, Minnesota.
Red Wing, Minnesota, (about a 45 minute drive)
A great place to visit along the Mississippi River. Visit He Mni Can-Barn Bluff where it is known for the geology of prehistoric and native people. The Cannon Valley Trail is a great place to hike and explore the beautiful views.Memorial Park is another place to explore, hike, and bike. There is also a 9 hole frisbee golf course.
Redwood Falls, Minnesota (about a 2 hour drive)
If you decide on Redwood Falls, Minnesota for your day trip you may want to stop at Ramsey Park which is the largest municipal park in the State of Minnesota. This park is termed as the “Little Yellowstone of Minnesota”. The park has hiking trails, camping facilities, a DNR Trout stream, scenic overlooks, and even a zoo.
St. Cloud, Minnesota ( an hour and 30 minutes drive)
There are many fun places to visit in St. Cloud. Visit Quarry Park and Nature Preserve where the swimming has been canceled for the season due to COVID-19 but there are so many other activities such as geocaching, hiking, trout fishing, rock climbing, sightseeing, mountain bike paths, and more. You can view all the parks in St. Cloud here. Stearns County Parks has their own Facebook page so check out the latest news here. The Munsinger/Clemons Gardens is a great stop to view the beautiful gardens located on the Mississippi River across the Bridge from St. Cloud State University. There are plenty of trails for hiking, biking and rollerblading.
Stillwater, Minnesota (about a 40 minute drive)
Stillwater is the 1848 birthplace of Minnesota and is located on the St. Croix River. Right now instead of the guided walking tours, they have put together virtual videos of the walking tours that include the historic downtown walking tour, and the South Hill Walking Tour. Stillwater is a beautiful area with a lot of parks and camping for the outdoor enthusiasts, biking and hiking trails. Fun awaits with many water options as well. Downtown Stillwater is full of excitement and lots of quaint shops and restaurants that are offering outdoor eating at this time. The Teddy Bear Park and Pioneer Park have reopened but check the website for the most updated information with COVID-19.
Superior, Wisconsin (about 2 hours and 40 minute drive)
While in Superior, Wisconsin be sure to visit Pattison State Park is a beautiful destination with the highest falls in Wisconsin. This 1,436-acre park is a great place to camp, hike with a 9 mile hiking trail, visit the nature center and enjoy the beauty of the lake. Wisconsin Point is one of the largest freshwater sandbars in the world. This is a great place to hike, bird watch, swim, and walk the beach, and visit the Wisconsin Point Lighthouse.
Taylor's Falls, Minnesota (about an hour and 10 minute drive)
Here you can visit the Interstate State Park where you can hike, swim, kayak, canoe and rock climb with scenic river views, and when available you can camp there too.
Wabasha-Kellogg, Minnesota (about one hour and 30 minute drive)
This destination has something for everyone from watching eagles at the National Eagle Center, hiking the bluffs, fishing the Mississippi River, enjoy a tour of the Anderson Gardens, camping, and so much more. Here is a great map of the area. Here is a list of the top 10 things to do in Wabasha-Kellogg.
Winona, Minnesota (about a 2 hour drive)
Winona is filled with outdoor adventure from canoeing and kayaking on the Mississippi backwaters or Lake Winona, hiking and biking on the many trails. Read more about the scenic trails here. You can rock climb on Sugar Loaf Bluff while viewing the amazing landscape. Do you own a boat and love to fish? Click here to learn more about the boat landings and marinas and here to learn about fishing in Winona and hunting information here. If you like to camp you can read more about the campgrounds here. As you can see Winona would be a great place to visit to explore the outdoors.
I found a great site with information on Ghost Towns in Minnesota. Click here to read more about the possibility of visiting them.
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