WELCOME Lauren Bennett McGinty at the Songkran Festival in St. Paul THIS TRAVEL GUIDE BROUGHT TO YOU BY: The offi cial publication of Explore Minnesota, an offi ce 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 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR 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, 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 Produced by Miles Partnership 6751 Professional Parkway, Suite 200, Sarasota, FL 34240 Lauren Bourgoing , Vice President Charity Stewart , Account Director Krystal Woodard , Project Manager Melissa Bartalos , Content Strategist Melissa Juneau , Art Director Ally Drees , Advertising and Data Manager Sebrina Williams , Sales Executive © Explore Minnesota Tourism 2025. Reproduction without written permission is prohibited. This guide is printed at a facility dedicated to sustainability and has validated certifi cation under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody Standard (FSC-C022017). The facility recycles nearly all waste, and it is repurposed into new products. Our printer invested in advanced technologies to enhance effi ciency and reduce the environmental footprint. Lauren Bennett McGinty Executive Director, Explore Minnesota 6 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 6
