Minnesota is a gorgeous state and we hold a surprising number of amazing secrets within our boundaries. From amazing views and epic camping spots to awesome museums and hidden bars, here are some of MN’s best secrets.
- You can tap trees and make maple syrup for the whole family in our state parks!
Flickr/Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources At Wild River State Park, Whitewater State Park, Fort Snelling State Park, and more, you can bring the family and make delicious sweet syrup.
- There’s an amazing and unique bar hidden below The Bachelor Farmer in Minneapolis.
Facebook/Marvel Bar Marvel Bar is one the best secrets you’ll ever visit. You will enjoy the unique cocktails and cozy vibe.
- There’s an epic museum that’s just a massive collection of one man’s life possessions and junk.
Google Maps Hidden in a small town, you’ll find the most interesting museum in the entire state. Upon his death, Edwin Julius Krueger, proprietor of the store, left the store and the mess he had been accumulating for years to the city for the purpose of creating a museum. Ed kept EVERYTHING, including his dead cat, and the Wykoff Progress Club made this into the strange museum it is today; full of 50 years of interesting (and not so interesting) junk. You’ll probably have to make an appointment to get in, but it’s completely worth it.
- There is a magnificent public garden on Lake Minnetonka.
Flickr/Norenberg Gardens Noerenberg Memorial Gardens on the shores of Crystal Bay on Lake Minnetonka are as tranquil as they come.
- You can go 27 stories below the ground in one Minnesota mine.
Flickr/Roy Luck One of Minnesota’s most fascinating places, Soudan Mine on northern Minnesota’s Vermilion Range is the oldest and deepest in MN. The mine’s lowest level, the 27th, is 2,341 feet below ground.
- You can actually stay in historic cabins in the heart of Tettegouche State Park.
Flickr/Aaron Fulkerson Camp Tettegouche has 4 cabins on Mic Mac Lake that are only accessible by foot, mountain bike, cross-country skis, or snowshoes. They’re the perfect place to fish, canoe, and relax.
- The most amazing views can be found with a quick walk in one MN State park.
Flickr/Greg Gjerdingen The Mt. Tom observation tower in Sibley State Park provides unreal views of central MN. The park also provides fishing, a swimming beach, a sledding hill, and some of the best picnic areas around.
- There’s a quiet SNA on the North Shore where the pebbles make magical noises and you can stare at the beautiful reefs under the lake’s surface.
Flickr/Justin Meissen Iona’s Beach SNA between Gooseberry Falls State Park and Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is the perfect place to enjoy peaceful Superior views.
- In the northwestern part of the state, we have a gorgeous state park with an adorable log cabin and a steam-powered flour mill.
Flickr/Justin Meissen Old Mill State Park on the Middle River is scenic, and usually empty, although they actually start up the old mill once a year!
- We have the (2nd) quietest place on Earth!
Orfield Laboratories In Orfield Laboratories there is an Anechoic Chamber that is quiet enough to hear every noise your body makes, and to make you go crazy within minutes.
- We have our very own Salt Lake, and it’s a really cool place to visit.
Google Maps You can experience some of the best bird watching in MN at this Lac Qui Parle County lake.
Which one of these are you going to visit next?
Flickr/Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
At Wild River State Park, Whitewater State Park, Fort Snelling State Park, and more, you can bring the family and make delicious sweet syrup.
Facebook/Marvel Bar
Marvel Bar is one the best secrets you’ll ever visit. You will enjoy the unique cocktails and cozy vibe.
Google Maps
Hidden in a small town, you’ll find the most interesting museum in the entire state. Upon his death, Edwin Julius Krueger, proprietor of the store, left the store and the mess he had been accumulating for years to the city for the purpose of creating a museum. Ed kept EVERYTHING, including his dead cat, and the Wykoff Progress Club made this into the strange museum it is today; full of 50 years of interesting (and not so interesting) junk. You’ll probably have to make an appointment to get in, but it’s completely worth it.
Flickr/Norenberg Gardens
Noerenberg Memorial Gardens on the shores of Crystal Bay on Lake Minnetonka are as tranquil as they come.
Flickr/Roy Luck
One of Minnesota’s most fascinating places, Soudan Mine on northern Minnesota’s Vermilion Range is the oldest and deepest in MN. The mine’s lowest level, the 27th, is 2,341 feet below ground.
Flickr/Aaron Fulkerson
Camp Tettegouche has 4 cabins on Mic Mac Lake that are only accessible by foot, mountain bike, cross-country skis, or snowshoes. They’re the perfect place to fish, canoe, and relax.
Flickr/Greg Gjerdingen
The Mt. Tom observation tower in Sibley State Park provides unreal views of central MN. The park also provides fishing, a swimming beach, a sledding hill, and some of the best picnic areas around.
Flickr/Justin Meissen
Iona’s Beach SNA between Gooseberry Falls State Park and Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is the perfect place to enjoy peaceful Superior views.
Old Mill State Park on the Middle River is scenic, and usually empty, although they actually start up the old mill once a year!
Orfield Laboratories
In Orfield Laboratories there is an Anechoic Chamber that is quiet enough to hear every noise your body makes, and to make you go crazy within minutes.
You can experience some of the best bird watching in MN at this Lac Qui Parle County lake.
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