Explore Minnesota Travel Guide • 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide • Soak up the Art Scene & North Shore

On a trip to the vast and spectacular Lake Superior, a crafty Colorado couple discovered glass blowing classes, art crawls, glamping, Insta-worthy vegan ice cream and sublime sailing.

Between their backgrounds in textile weaving and craft beer, Chereen Leong Schwarz and her husband Rob Schwarz know how creativity intersects with a sense of community. Or as Chereen said towards the end of the couple’s first Minnesota trip: “We have found our people.” Follow this itinerary that draws inspiration from art collectives, scenic shorelines and beyond.

Designing fresh threads for Target and shaking up the golf scene are just two of many projects Houston White has tackled over the past decade. The entrepreneur is also behind Camdentown, the vibrant north Minneapolis neighborhood.

A focal point is the flagship café of The Get Down Coffee Co, a collaboration with Dogwood Coffee Co., the music-loving local roaster. (Dogwood is known for playing “Eye of the Tiger” and Run-DMC on repeat in its bathrooms.) The stacked menu features nods to the Wu-Tang Clan (the Sweet Potato C.R.E.A.M. Latte), Fugees (the Ready or Not Cortado) and Solange (the strawberry-tinged Cranes in the Sky), plus fresh pastries from Quince Mpls Mkt.

About 15 minutes from Camdentown is a hub of burgeoning small businesses and art studios in Northeast Minneapolis. The latter spring to life during the family-friendly annual festival Art-A-Whirl ®, held in May each year. Aside from being the country’s largest self-guided studio tour, the event is one big party that spills onto the streets and into local breweries like Bauhaus, Indeed Brewing Company and Sociable Cider Werks.

Nearby, explore the sprawling Northrup King Building, whose tenants include the abstract muralist/painter Ashley Mary, artisan candle maker Heidi Mueller and painter Matthew Rucker, known for surreal animal portraits that lean into the limitations of his colorblindness. Northrup also hosts Open Studio Saturdays every week.

In summer, don’t miss the Insta-worthy creations of MN Nice Cream, featuring vegan flavors like Panna Cotta and Door County Cherry along with flashy toppings like toasted marshmallows, cake pops, gummy worms and edible glitter.

On Quincy Street in Northeast Minneapolis, stop by Centro for stiff margs, barrel-aged tequila negronis and either an exceptional Taco Bell tribute (the Centro Crunch) or a plate of fresh tortillas pelted with nopales, braised lamb, shredded pork shoulder and some of the best salsa in town. Its neighbors include Vivir, an all-day Mexican café/market and Bina’s, which rides the line between elevated dive bar and diner.

The nearly 100,000 objects at Minneapolis Institute of Art (a.k.a. Mia) span 5,000 years of world history, reflecting many movements and mediums. Admission is free outside of special ticketed exhibits. Mia’s collection includes pieces from Raffaelo Monti (“Veiled Lady”), Rembrandt van Rijn (“Lucretia”), Vincent van Gogh (“Olive Trees”), Claude Monet (“Grainstack”) and many other makers with their own takes on the story of civilization.

For a closer look at the creativity of artists from Roy Lichtenstein to Andy Warhol, check out the art museum course at Puttery in downtown Minneapolis. The Walker Art Center also sports its own artist-designed Skyline Mini Golf course during the summer.

As Chereen said during her visit, “I can’t believe how much art this city has; it’s everywhere.”

Visitors never forget their first drive up to Duluth, the lakeside city that serves as the stunning gateway to such North Shore essentials as Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse and Tettegouche State Park. Swing by Northern Waters Smokehaus for a Guy Fieri-approved Cajun Finn sandwich (house-smoked salmon, green onion cream cheese, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini and lettuce, stuffed into a sturdy stirato roll).

Just down the road, visit Vikre Distillery, another Duluth favorite in the lakefront Canal Park neighborhood. Its cocktails feature hand-foraged botanicals and experimental takes on gin, whiskey and aquavit. The Broken Arrow begins with toasty Øvrevann Aquavit, then slips in some maple syrup, bitters and a birch bark pretzel garnish. Similar in spirit is Spill the Tea Leaves, which spotlights Vikre’s dragonfruit-infused Spruce Gin, Herbal Liqueur and jasmine bitters.

For craft beer, Bent Paddle Brewing is a standby of Duluth’s Craft District, a.k.a. Lincoln Park. There’s something in the water of Lake Superior that keeps their brews crisp and consistent, whether it’s their Bent Hop IPA, Cold Press Black coffee ale or seasonal releases.

Also in Duluth, Lake Superior Art Glass is a studio/gallery that showcases the radiant work of more than 60 Midwest glassblowers. Since the studio’s furnace is cranked up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it hosts a wide range of classes. Start by making something as simple as a pendant necklace, icicle ornament or prismatic paperweight, then move onto more complex pieces like multicolored vases, gorgeous wine goblets or avant-garde flower arrangements.

As Chereen and Rob found out, it’s the perfect cross-section of craft and science, a way of making the earth’s natural materials come alive through an entirely new lens.

Before checking into your tricked-out glamping tent, stop in at the secluded, storybook-y Cedar Coffee Company. Hidden in the hushed backwoods of Two Harbors, it offers light bites and craft drinks next door to sister businesses (Spokengear, Cedaero) that revolve around bike rentals, repairs and gear.

Speaking of supplies, beloved “glampground” North Shore Camping Co. in Beaver Bay takes care of all your grilling and chilling needs, from rechargeable lanterns and solar power stations to firewood bundles and enamel dishware. You also get 24-hour access to a base lodge complete with clean restrooms and showers. It’s glamping at its best — a prime spot for listening to bird calls and soaking up natural beauty.

After spending the night under a blanket of blinking stars, and the morning hiking a trail or two, continue north along Lake Superior to Grand Marais, one of “the most charming small towns” in America. If arriving around lunchtime, head straight for The Fisherman’s Daughter, a café that serves the smoked and fried catch(es) of the day on display at its own Dockside First Market.

Across the street, Voyageur Brewing Company offers a full menu ranging from Reuben egg rolls and charcuterie platters to perch tacos and vegetarian ph. Their beer flights feature six five-ounce pours of local staples such as a wild rice brown ale, two different IPAs, and at least one lip-puckering sour.

Hundreds of people escape to Grand Marais’ North House Folk School every season to learn basketry, woodworking, yurt building, baking and more. It’s a great way to appreciate the crafts of the Scandinavians and Native Americans who call Minnesota home. For the perfect end to your trip, North House also offers sunbaked sailing trips from Grand Marais Harbor on its signature Hjørdis schooner.

• Distance from MSP Airport to Grand Marais: 269 miles (one way, approximate mileage)

• Scenic Stops: Admire gorgeous Lake Superior views at popular stops like Split Rock Lighthouse, Black Beach Park, Palisade Head, Tettegouche State Park and Gooseberry Falls State Park.

• Alternate Ways to Travel: Prefer less driving and more hiking or biking? Check out long-distance trails along the North Shore: The Superior Hiking Trail runs from just south of Duluth to Grand Marais and beyond, while the North Star Route (U.S. Bicycle Route 41) runs from St. Paul to Grand Portage State Park.

• Campfire Rules: Check local burning restrictions before lighting a fire. Keep campfires under control and attended at all times, and don’t burn trash or plastic. At some locations, including North Shore Camping Co., firewood can’t be carried in from off-site due to the potential spread of harmful insects.

Explore Minnesota Travel Guide - 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide

Soak up the Art Scene & North Shore

What to See, Do and Eat on a Road Trip from Minneapolis to the North Shore

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