ITINERARIES Abandoned water-fi lled iron ore mine pit, Redhead Mountain Bike Park, Chisholm “The water is so clean and so clear, it’s quite magical.” Duluth & Hibbing CHANNEL BOB DYLAN’S CHILDHOOD While he was born in Duluth — one of Minnesota’s most treasured cities — the singer-songwriter once known as Bobby Zimmerman spent his formative years (1948-1959) in Hibbing . The small Iron Range town is where Dylan became obsessed with music, started his fi rst bands and graduated high school. Take a trip back in time by experiencing such landmarks as Dylan’s childhood home and the building where he learned how to play the guitar (Braman Music, now the site of a massage school). Keep those selfi es coming in nearby Chisholm by standing in front of the 85-foot “Iron Man” statue that welcomes visitors to the Minnesota Discovery Center . A nod to the mining boom that put the Iron Range on the map, it’s the country’s fi fth largest free-standing statue — a brass and copper behemoth that lives up to its solemn offi cial name, “The Emergence of Man Through Steel”. Minneapolis MAKE YOUR WAY BACK DOWN TO THE MILL DISTRICT Since most domestic and international fl ights leave from the metro area’s MSP Airport, any trip out to the Iron Range should tack on at least a few more days in downtown Minneapolis. Its riverside Mill District is the perfect homebase. Canopy by Hilton is in the heart of it all and within a short walk of local highlights like the iconic Stone Arch Bridge . The former railroad path is being repaired over the next couple years, but it’s partially open to bikers, pedestrians and anyone who can’t resist swinging by to bask in its golden hour glow or see one of Minneapolis’ best farmers markets during the summer. Hibbing MOUNTAIN BIKE ON A FORMER MINE PIT Redhead Mountain Bike Park , the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) silver-level ride center at the Minnesota Discovery Center, boasts 25 miles of world-class trails specifi cally made for mountain bikers. What was once a barren landscape is now a shining example of how to restore and reclaim our natural world, Minnesota style. If you’re not into coasting across gravity-defying peaks and valleys, the free park also offers incredible kayaking opportunities in crystal-clear water that runs as deep as 250 feet. Another otherworldly vantage point is the vast open pit at Hull Rust Mine , a historic landmark at Hibbing’s Tourist Senior Center. Minneapolis DIG INTO THE WORLD’S FIRST DE-COLONIZED MENU Chef Sean Sherman’s revelatory Mill City restaurant hasn’t stopped reinventing the rules of fi ne dining since its long-awaited 2021 opening or subsequent James Beard award for the nation’s best new eatery. With dishes that lean heavily on corn, wild rice and other hand-harvested ingredients rather than dairy, beef, pork, chicken, wheat fl our and sugar, Owamni celebrates the culinary roots of the Indigenous peoples of North America and earns its marks as one of Minneapolis’ best restaurants. 94 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 94
