8 Offbeat Minnesota Towns To Visit In 2025
The state of Minnesota has an extremely diverse population of citizens, with German and Swedish being two of the most dominant heritages in the state. And that persona is reflected in the small towns. But “Little Sweden”, and Bavarian themed town are not the only thing making these places unique. The memorable landscapes, or the random notoriety make them desirable to visit. Venture out to one of these eight offbeat towns for an unusually entertaining getaway.
Moorhead
Known for its Scandinavian heritage, Moorhead embraces its roots in its attractions. Within the Hjemkomst Center lives the Hjemkomst Viking Ship. Although it is only a replica, it is built to scale after the Gokstad burial ship that sailed from Minnesota to Norway. Another replicated artifact found at the cultural center is the Hopperstad Stave Church, built to model the same one in Vik, Norway. The Stave Church was built using extensive log columns as its central support system. Learn about the town’s Scandinavian roots while touring the massive ship and church. To learn more about Moorhead’s history, visit the Comstock House. The structure dates back to 1882 and was the family home of pioneers of the railroad and academia. The Comstock family was crucial in supporting the small settlement that would become Moorhead and turn it into a thriving town. To get out in nature, plan a stop at the M.B. Johnson Park. The park provides miles of wooded hiking trails and access to the Red River, which is located within the park.
New Ulm
Embrace all things German in the “Most German Town in America.” Start your visit to New Ulm by stopping at German Park. The park can be used for recreational use or booked for special events. The angel fountain, flower garden, and pergola provide beautiful scenery for a special day. Continuing with the German theme, make your next visit to the New Ulm Glockenspiel. Located in downtown New Ulm, this historical landmark chimes on the hour with its 37 bells, totaling over two tons! The Glockenspiel itself is 45 feet tall and has 12 rotating figurines that tell the story of the city’s history. Some of those figurines include a Dakota Native American, a brick mason, a beer drinker, and a pioneer family. Make sure to catch the bells as they’re going off so you don’t miss the show. If you’re planning on spending the night in New Ulm, visit the Old Hauenstein Brewery. No longer in operation, the brewery now serves as a rental for visitors. Sleep in the brewery that was built in 1891 and has been renovated to be a 2-bedroom overnight hotel.
Lanesboro
Small towns like to be recognized for something. A gimmick that keeps people coming back. And what better recognition for tourists than visiting the Bed & Breakfast Capital of Minnesota? Lanesboro takes that title on account of their charming and eclectic B & Bs. Book a weekend at one of their plenty of lodging options and enjoy the sites in town. Plan a trip with Bluffscape Amish Tours and witness the lifestyle of the Old Order Amish. Meet the people who uphold the values of family, faith, and community. You’ll also get to visit their farms and shops and have the opportunity to purchase their crafted quilts, baskets, and furniture, as well as pastries, breads, and other treats. Continue exploring Lanesboro’s history at the Lanesboro History Museum and enjoy three floors of ancient relics. The features include items ranging from arts and crafts, fashion, music, toys, military, and Buffalo Bill collectibles. For some outdoor adventure, visit the Root River Outfitters and experience an afternoon of kayaking, canoeing, or tubing down the Root River. Pick a short or long trip and plan to spend as much time as you want soaking in the sun, lounging on the water, and enjoying time with friends.
Lindstrom
Enjoy some outdoor time at Allemansratt Park in Lindstrom. A wilderness and Swedish heritage park, this recreation area has accessibility to participate in multiple Swedish-based activities. The undeveloped 125-acre park provides trails, benches, restrooms, parking lots, and campgrounds for its visitors. Allemansratt translates to “every man’s right,” and this park operates according to that philosophy of allowing everyone to enjoy this land. The park welcomes you to hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, or forage for berries, mushrooms, or asparagus. Lindstrom is considered “America’s Little Sweden,” and you can learn even more about that heritage by visiting the Karl and Kristina Monument. Based on fictional characters from a famous Swedish novelist, Karl and Kristina were emigrants who left Sweden for a new life in Minnesota. The love of these characters prompted the city to build a monument in their honor. If you time your visit right, you can find yourself in Lindstrom during their annual festival, Karl Oskar Days. A final stop in this small town should be a walk on the Swedish Immigrant Trail. It runs through six cities and connects to other trails for opportunities to view waterfalls and prairies.
Biwabik
Start your visit to this small-themed Bavarian town with a trip to the Honk the Moose Statue. Honk is replicated from an actual moose who caused some mischief in Biwabik in 1915. Some years later, award-winning children’s novels were written about Honk’s misadventures. For an unforgettable outdoor experience, visit Giant’s Ridge and partake in skiing, golfing, or biking. The park is open year-round for activities of every season. End your trip in Biwabik by picking up a souvenir from the Pine Grove Gallery. They sell handmade glass and art gifts, as well as Yooperlites. Yooperlites are naturally made rocks that contain fluorescent sodalite and glow under UV light. The ones sold at Pine Grove Gallery were gathered from the shores of Lake Superior.
Bemidji
Although not proven, Bemidji is one of the few towns that claim to be the birthplace of Paul Bunyon. Even though the claim has not been verified, the town still commemorates him and his ox, Babe, with a larger-than-life statue. Visit Paul Bunyon and Babe on the shore of Lake Bemidji. Stop by for a photo with the pair, who stands tall outside the Minnesota Tourist Information Center. After taking some time with the statue, stick around to see all Lake Bemidji has to offer at Lake Bemidji State Park. The park highlights camping, fishing, hiking, eagle and bird viewing, and water activities. For a more expansive outdoor visit, head to the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest. Although not located entirely within the Bemidji boundaries, a portion of this 8,500-acre park is found within the town limits. The park has 95 lakes and ponds and is open for public use. Enjoy boating and fishing or hiking and snowmobiling on the water or on the trails.
Ely
The town on the edge of Boundary Waters, Ely, provides ample amounts of outdoor adventure for tourists and locals. Start your visit at the Trezona Trail Trailhead. The trail is rated as easy, so most people can enjoy it, and it is 3.8 miles of a loop. This trail is intended not only for hiking but also for the longer Minnesota winter months when many people enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on this trail. Another trail to traverse while in Ely is the Kawishiwi Falls Trail. The trail is less than a mile, so you won’t want to skip this opportunity to visit the scenic waterfall and lake along the loop. If you’re looking for a grander adventure, the trail forks off to access Fall Lake and continues on to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. A final stop you shouldn’t miss in Ely is the International Wolf Center. The center offers visits and different tours depending on what you want to see. Want to see these wild creatures feed? Opt for the What’s for Dinner? package. Want to marvel at these beautiful animals under the moonlight? Join the Howling Safari tour group. Enjoy the wolves as close as you safely can at the International Wolf Center.
Two Harbors
Enjoy a beautiful tour of the Two Harbors Lighthouse Museum. The lighthouse has guided ships into Agate Bay since 1892 and, in 1984, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Tours of the lighthouse began in 1988, and in 1999, the Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast opened as a means of financial support for the preservation of the building and grounds. But the Two Harbors Lighthouse isn’t the only one in this idyllic town. The Split Rock Lighthouse is only available for private tours, but the historic grounds are open to the public for self-guided tours. This lighthouse is one of the most photographed and visited spots in Minnesota. Climb the tower and capture the breathtaking views of Lake Superior. For a unique, final stop in Two Harbors, check out the 3M Birthplace Museum. The museum is located in the Dwan Law Office Building, which was later purchased by The Lake County Historical Society and has since been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum displays the beginning of the 3M company.
Minnesota captures multiple heritages and their pastimes in its activities and historical places. Come and learn about these cultures and partake in the past events that they did in the same towns and on the same trails that they did. Snowshoe like the Vikings did, explore giant ships like the emigrants did, tour lighthouses to see what the sailors see. Become a part of this state by visiting one of these eight offbeat towns and exploring all they have to offer.
