ITINERARIES Baxter & Brainerd PLAY IN THE SNOW Northland Arboretum in nearby Baxter offers more than two miles of marked snowshoe trails that pass through a prairie restoration area full of friendly birds and a fragrant jack pine savanna. If you’re more of a cross-country skiier, the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club keeps 12 miles of top-notch trails groomed every season, and a quarter of the course lit at night. It’s a prime example of Minnesota’s active lifestyle. Or, as Kiola put it during her family’s own snowshoe session, “Once you get going, you don’t notice how cold it is.... I’m literally sweating.” “This place is huge. There’s a whole roller coaster in here.” Bloomington SHOP ALONGSIDE SPONGEBOB “This place is huge ,” Kiola said as her family made their way through Mall of America® , just south of Minneapolis in Bloomington. “There’s a whole roller coaster in here.” Indeed, there is. And that’s not all. Nickelodeon Universe is a sprawling theme park featuring 27 rides and attractions — everything from extreme riffs on “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” to one of the country’s most iconic log chutes. As for its stores, Mall of America® is full of old favorites and spiffy fl agships that’ll appeal to outdoor rec enthusiasts (L.L. Bean, Arc’teryx), athleisure addicts (Lululemon, Vuori), trend chasers (Nordstrom, Aritzia) and nearly every other kind of shopper imaginable. Mall of America® Minneapolis SAMPLE THE LOCAL FOOD SCENE The Market at Malcolm Yards in Minneapolis is a food hall that feels like a whirlwind tour of international cuisine. Look out for tempting fast-casual takes on Detroit pizza (Wrecktangle), po’boys (Mr. Paul’s), barbecue (Revival Smoked Meats) and artisanal ice cream (Bebe Zito), as well as welcome nods to Argentina (DelSur), Mexico (Martes Tacos) and many different corners of Asia (Bagu, Momo Dosa, Abang Yoli). Drinks are served from a chef-inspired cocktail bar and a wall of pourable craft pints that’s locally sourced and includes several non-alcoholic options. Minneapolis GO CRATE DIGGING AT A RECORD SHOP Considering he’s a longtime collector, it’s no surprise that Nathaniel slipped into the stacks at Roadrunner Records for what felt like hours. The shop has stocked new and used vinyl for nearly 40 years and hosted in-store performances by such indie and avant-garde acts as The Mekons, Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Michael Hurley. Roadrunner Records 100 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 100
