Explore Minnesota Travel Guide - 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide

WELCOME

Looking back at 2024, I’d like to share a few only-in-Minnesota (#OnlyinMN) experiences I’ve had:

• I caught a walleye on Lake Pepin in Lake City — the largest lake on the mighty Mississippi and where waterskiing was invented!

• I brought my a** to downtown Minneapolis (as star player Anthony Edwards urged Charles Barkley to do) to see the Timberwolves in the NBA Western Conference fi nals.

• I experienced all Rochester, Minnesota has to offer in terms of dining, entertainment and fi rst-class hospitality. The city is home to the Mayo Clinic and a hub for innovation.

• I traveled to the Lower Sioux Indian Community to connect with Tribal partners during the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council meeting.

• I celebrated Thai New Year at the Songkran Festival in St. Paul, where a sunny day was the perfect backdrop for food, music and cultural immersion.

With the 50th anniversary of Voyageurs National Park, the upcoming debut of the "Purple Rain" musical in Minneapolis and so many other notable live events, hot dining spots and outdoor recreation opportunities to explore, I’m already planning my 2025 adventures in Minnesota. Look at what our team has put together in the following pages to plan yours.

Whether you’ve never been or are a repeat visitor — and even if you LIVE here — I invite you to explore this great state and discover your own reasons why Minnesota is the Star of the North.

Happy Travels,

Lauren Bennett McGinty
Executive Director, Explore Minnesota

THIS TRAVEL GUIDE BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

The official publication of
Explore Minnesota, an office
of the State of Minnesota

121 Seventh Place E, Suite 360
St. Paul, MN 55101

888-VISITMN

Director
Lauren Bennett McGinty

Deputy Directors
Melodie Bahan
Randolph Briley
Beth Helle
Kathryn Sutton

Editors
Karina Hill
Jared Laabs
Andrew Parks
Cathy Pinske

Photo Editor
Melanie Graves

Contributors
Amy Barrett
Dawn Blanchard
Baya Clare
Devon Cox
Karina Hill
Caitlin Hannah
Keith Harris
Lisa Havelka
Michael Hernandez
Jared Laabs
Nicole Lalum
Lisa Meyers McClintick
Cody Nelson
Andrew Parks
Cathy Pinske

On the Cover:
Voyageurs National Park,
photo by Paul Vincent

All photos without attribution are
credited to Paul Vincent