11 Best Small Towns To Visit In Minnesota
Dubbed "The Land of 10,000 Lakes," for good reason, Minnesota's moniker highlights this state's abundant supply of freshwater lakes, 11,842 according to state records. Around these lakes and along their 44,926 miles of lakeshore, some of the most beautiful and historic towns in America have arisen. From Minnesota's oldest town, Wabasha, which sits on Robinson Lake, to Minnesota's newest town, Empire Township, which sits on the shore of Lake Empire, a summer visit to any Minnesota town is sure to involve sun, sand, and a refreshing dip in a gorgeous lake. Or, if you are planning a winter vacation, make sure you do not miss out on the many winter activities that make a winter visit to Minnesota so appealing. Winter visitors have the opportunity to try their hand at ice fishing, learn to ice skate and play hockey on a frozen lake, and even, if brave enough, take the polar bear plunge into an icy lake. While the changing of the seasons may bring with them a change in local events, the one thing that remains unchanged is no matter the season, a visit to a lakeside Minnesota town will always be the highlight of your vacation.
Albert Lea
Located in south-central Minnesota, Albert Lea sits on the shores of the clear, calm waters of Albert Lea Lake and Fountain Lake. Sitting on Albert Lea's town line is Myre-Big Island State Park, making it a less than ten-minute car ride to the park's gates. With many hiking trails, a visitor's center, canoe, kayak, and standup paddle-boarding rentals, and in-park camping sites, a visit to Myre-Big Island State Park via Albert Lea, is a must-do, especially during the summer when you will be able to see the local pelicans nesting with their hatchlings. If you are looking for a lazy day in town, then visiting the downtown farmers market is just the thing. Or spend some time window shopping in Albert Lea's historic downtown district. With 36 festivals and events taking place in downtown Albert Lea every year, visitors are likely to find themselves amid some local cultural event that you will remember for years to come.
Crosslake
The town of Crosslake, Minnesota, per its name, sits on the east bank of Cross Lake, one of Minnesota's largest lakes. The town is a three-hour drive northwest of St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota. Crosslake is the perfect town to visit during an autumn road trip, especially when the leaves of the local boreal forests that surround and populate Crosslake change into a spectacular display of colors reminiscent of a summer sunset. Visiting Crosslake between the end of August and the end of September offers a taste of the wonderful local culture, with Crosslake Days Fall Festival, an annual event, kicking off in late September. This festival includes a Chili Cook-off, a street dance, the annual Columbus Corn-Hole Tournament, and, as the pièce de résistance of this festival, the Lost Chili Pepper Hunt.
Bemidji
Settled in 1888, Bemidji, Minnesota, is one of the oldest-founded towns along the northern portion of the Mississippi River. Sitting between Lake Irving and Stump Lake, Bemidji has the unique distinction of not only being surrounded by, or sitting on the shores of, multiple freshwater lakes but also encompassing more than ten lakes within its town boundary. A popular destination for road-trippers, Bemidji's self-designated tagline "Where Winter Adventures Begin" highlights all of the popular winter activities that can be experienced in this town. From ice fishing, lake hockey, and a lovely local ski hill called Buena Vista Ski Area, Bemidji offers everything visitors need to have an enjoyable vacation, no matter the season of the year.
Minnetrista
Founded in 1859, Minnetrista, Minnesota, sits between Lake Waconia to the southwest and multiple bays of Lake Minnetonka to the east. Its name comes from the Dakota words minne, meaning water, and trista, meaning twisted. Throughout its history, Minnetrista has been known as the Village of Minnetrista, the Township of Minnetrista, and, as of 1970, the incorporated town of Minnetrista. Within the border of this town, there are over ten large lakes, a rarity in the United States, even when considering large cities. Today, tourists visit Minnetrista primarily during the summer months, with many metropolitan dwellers owning cottages in the vicinity. In the summer months, there is a great deal of boating, as well as other water recreation activities such as kayaking, wakeboarding, and dock fishing for freshwater species. Must-see tourist destinations in Minnetrista include the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Schram Vineyards Winery and Brewery, and Lucerne Orchard, which is especially kid friendly. Minnetrista is a great place to visit for an entire summer or as a single-day excursion, being less than a 50-minute car ride from downtown St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota.
Prior Lake
Located a convenient half-hour drive south of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the town of Prior Lake encompasses both Upper Prior Lake and Lower Prior Lake within its border and is within a short distance of many other lakes that make up the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed. The northeast boundary of Prior Lake sits adjacent to Lakefront Park, a popular recreation area amongst locals and tourists. This park is the location of many outdoor summer events, including craft markets and open-air concerts. One of the most popular tourist activities in Prior Lake is to take a boat out for the day; this is easily done as there are many rental options in town. But remember, you will need to show a valid boating license, so make sure you do not forget it at home.
Waconia
Calling all wine lovers and beer fanatics, this town is the perfect destination for you! Waconia, Minnesota, named after Lake Waconia, the freshwater lake this town sits beside, was founded in 1880. Known today as the "Paradise of the Northwest," Waconia has been a tourist destination for more than 140 years. Today, Waconia still draws many tourists every summer, offering many entertainments, from water sports, nature hikes and delectable beverages. In fact, Waconia has three large wineries just outside of town and innumerable beer brewing companies within the town line. Both local wineries and brewing companies offer tours and tastings on a daily basis, all year round, but they fill up fast, so make sure to book ahead of time.
Shorewood
On the shores of Lake Minnetonka and some half-hour drive west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, sits the town of Shorewood. A young town in terms of its incorporation in 1956, Shorewood was previously a part of the Excelsior Township since the region was settled in 1853. Due to its proximity to the tourist popular Lake Minnetonka, this community sees an influx of visitors during the summer months, some taking day trips from cottages around Lake Minnetonka and others renting cottages for the entire summer season in Shorewood itself. If you are spending time in town, make sure to check out Freeman Park, where you will often find some manner of free live music, or, in the evening, a community movie night during which a big screen is set up and everyone is welcome to enjoy a film together. Shorewood also has a wonderful historic district with lovely shops that should not be missed.
Willmar
Located in central Minnesota, Willmar is directly adjacent to Willmar Lake on one side and Foot Lake on the other. Willmar is situated in the heart of Minnesota's abundant lake region and is a short commute from no less than 300 other freshwater lakes. For families visiting Willmar with younger children, Robbins Island Regional Park is the perfect place to spend a day. With hiking trails, a disc golf course, shore fishing, and an impressive playground that your children will never want to leave, this park is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors. If you are looking to explore the town site itself, there are rent-per-hour bicycles available, this being a great way to visit the many historical homes and buildings throughout Willmar.
Wayzata
On the shores of the famous Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata, Minnesota, has been a vacation destination for over a century and a half. Due to the popularity of vacationing at and around Lake Minnetonka in the late 1800s, the young town of Wayzata began construction of hotels and boarding houses to accommodate the tourist boom. During the latter half of the nineteenth century, from 1860 to the end of the 1880s, tourism helped Wayzata grow into a town of a reasonable size. However, in the 1890s, tourism dwindled, and a new form of vacationing became the norm for this town. Rather than visiting different locations on every vacation, the cottage lifestyle became popular in both Wayzata as well as the entire country. In Wayzata, it was primarily those of the upper classes who built their summer homes in town, some of which remain as historical sites that can be visited. Other top attractions in Wayzata include Wayzata Brew Works, Wayzata Depot Museum, and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Brainerd
With six lakes within the town limits alone, Brainerd is notable not only for its many lakes but because the Mississippi River runs through it. With its origins tied to the creation of the cross-continental railway, Brainerd was chosen to be the location of the regional rail crossing over the Mississippi. Initially a settlement for railroad crews, by 1873, Brainerd had become a bustling community. With this rail-crossing came a far easier method of traveling to Brainerd, encouraging more tourism to the town. Today, Brainerd is popular with sightseers planning a visit to Crow Wing State Forest, which is less than thirty minutes north of Brainerd. Other attractions popular with visitors include Brainerd International Raceway and, if your trip is timed perfectly, the local Crow Wing County Fair, which is a highlight for locals and tourists every year. If you visit Brainerd between the end of May and the beginning of September, make sure to visit Paul Bunyan Land, where the Pioneer Village Museum is a great way to get kids into American history.
Ely
Located beside Shagawa Lake, Ely, Minnesota, is the perfect lake town to visit if you are an avid hiker and outdoors person. With Bear Head Lake State Park, Purvis Ober State Natural Area, and a variety of other preserves and hiking trails, summer in Ely is a nature lover's best friend. If you prefer your winter sports, there is also a ski park approximately twenty minutes north of Ely. If you are looking for some local culture, a trip to Ely at the beginning of September, when the Harvest Moon Festival is held, is just the ticket. Or visit in the winter, when many of the local lakes are groomed for ice skating, a popular activity for locals and tourists alike.
While the summer months may be the tourist high season for the lake towns of Minnesota, there are year-round entertainments and activities offered that are well worth a visit to these towns even in the off-season. From seasonal lake activities such as ice-skating in the winter, and boating and swimming in the summer to the many summer and fall festivals held annually at a variety of Minnesotan lake towns, taking a trip to any of these off-the-beaten-track locals will be well worth your while.
