9 Must-Visit Small Towns in Minnesota

Minnesota is famous for its natural beauty as the "Land of Ten Thousand Lakes." Likewise, the state's culture and history give its locals much to be proud of, and its traditions continue today. Beyond the Twin Cities — the name given to the joint urban concentration of Minneapolis and St. Paul — some of Minnesota's finest features stand out in its small towns. Whether for Victorian and other historic architecture, natural beauty like the Boundary Waters near Canada, or the blink-and-you'll-miss-them charms of life far from Minnesota's cities, these parts of the state will inspire visitors to keep coming back.

Little Canada

With a name that indicates proximity to the United States' northern neighbor, Little Canada is, in fact, a northeast suburb of Minneapolis. The town was founded in 1858 tith 10,300 inhabitants. The town's historical society keeps the past alive through programs like the local "History Walk" guided itinerary. Similarly, the town's Victorian Village is a historic, well-preserved area with art galleries and restaurants. Every August, the city holds the annual celebration called "Canadian Days" in coordination with its twin city, Thunder Bay, in Canada's province of Ontario. 

Pipestone

With a relatively few 4,200 inhabitants, Pipestone sits in Minnesota's southwest corner, close to South Dakota. The town takes its name from a local stone, which, in former days, Native American tribes used for making pipes and other implements. Tourists can learn more about this Indigenous history at the Pipestone National Monument. For a town so small, Pipestone offers an abundance of parks and gardens: local spots include Leon Moore Park, Westview Park, and the Pipestone Family Campground. For some light exercise, the Pipestone Country Club beckons with nine holes of bliss for golfers of all skill levels. 

Grand Marais

Grand Marais, with a mere 1,400 inhabitants, invites the traveler to a small but welcoming village in the state's northeast corner by Lake Superior. The town, whose name means "Great Marsh" in the language of the French Canadians who came here long ago, offers an artistic and free-spirited vibe, as shown in its art festival held each July. The town also offers a busy social calendar: it marks each year's summer and winter solstices, and every October, puts on a "Moose Fest" to celebrate the beloved beast that lives in Canada and the United States. 

For nature lovers, Grand Marais has five lake beaches, not to mention the Devil Track River, an 8.7-mile river flowing into Lake Superior. Grand Marais can serve as a visitor's base for the Superior National Forest, the largest national forest east of the Mississippi River. These bodies of water make for excellent fly fishing and, in winter, ice climbing. 

Hanover

Hanover, with 3,600 inhabitants, is considered the gateway to the Twin Cities, given its place northwest of that urban agglomeration. Settled in 1877, the town's roots are on vibrant display at the preserved Dutch settlement known as Verenigde Oost-Indische Maatschappij, or VOI. Visitors can explore the site's late-nineteenth-century Dutch architecture. With its green spaces, stone buildings, and tree-lined streets, Hanover is a quaint town for a visit of any timeframe. For culture, visitors should head to Hanover in August, when the town puts on its Harvest Festival. Activities include a 5K run, parades, and fireworks. Hanover's vantage point along the Crow River gives the traveler a dose of nature just outside the town center. 

Mankato

Mankato, population 44,700, sits in Minnesota's south-central region. Settled in 1852, some of the town's early inhabitants counted homesteaders from New England, who later left their tastes and traces in the local homes. Mankato may be the birthplace of Minnesota's "hotdish," also called Minnesota tater tot hotdish. This state culinary favorite combines ground beef, a layer of tater tots, and cream of mushroom sauce, among other ingredients. For a brick-and-mortar place to visit, architecture fans should seek out the R.D. Hubbard House and the Betsy-Tacy House, both sites of Mankato's illustrious past families. Outdoors enthusiasts will enjoy Mankato's four-season mix of green spaces, with city and state parks — and the standout Red Jacket Valley Park, converted from a former gravel pit — offering ample choice to the visitor. 

Chanhassen

Chanhassen, with 26,200 residents, is a southwestern outer suburb of Minneapolis. Music and pop-culture fans may be familiar with the town as the home of R&B legend Prince, who lived and ran his music studio at the Paisley Park complex. For something more outdoorsy, Chanhassen has five public beaches, including Lake Ann and Lake Minnewashta. Other natural outings include Chanhassen's lakes, which offer abundant variety for those who like walking, swimming, biking, or fishing, especially for the large local trophy fish, northern pike. 

Winona

Winona, a Mississippi River town with 25,900 residents, calls itself "the Midwest's best autumn playground" and offers various charms during the fall season. A proper college town, Winona is home to Winona State University and St. Mary's University of Minnesota. Nature lovers will enjoy the town's Prairie Island Campground, an ideal camping space on the Mississippi, and activities like yoga, rock climbing, and canoeing. Winona's indoor offerings include the Polish Cultural Institute and Museum the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Lake Winona gives some natural respite from the grid-style urban core. 

Ely

Ely, with a population of 3,200, lies in northeast Minnesota near the Canadian border. Pronounced "EE-lee," the town once attracted miners and industrialists hoping to strike it rich, or at least find steady work, in the Iron Range mining industries. Today, Ely is a common jumping-off point for canoeists, campers, and other nature lovers hoping to explore the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, or the Boundary Waters, which offers over one million acres of natural lakes, forests, and other wonderlands.

Ely also invites the traveler to its charming downtown area, with numerous outdoor outfitters and historic buildings along its main drag, Sheridan Street. The Ely-Winton History Museum portrays local history and artifacts, emphasizing mining and local Ojibe tribal activity, all of which made Ely the town it is today. 

Owatonna

Owatonna, with 26,500 inhabitants, sits on the Straight River in the state's southeast. Starting from its incorporation in the 1860s, the town developed an urban center whose architecture remains visible and beautiful today. For fresh air and a Native American legend, head to Mineral Springs Park, where the legend of Owatonna, a Native American princess, was healed by the area's natural springs.

Owatonna serves as the seat of Steele County, and the Steele County Historical Society, founded in 1949, runs the Village of Yesteryear, a pioneer village near the Steele County History Center. These facilities showcase local history and points of interest so travelers can learn about the state's earlier times, featuring an authentic early twentieth-century school, railroad station, and other attractions. 

For a taste of real Minnesota, head to its small towns

Minnesota's small towns highlight a unique state culture's best and brightest aspects. Starting with a taste of hotdish, the traveler will move on to Canada-inspired cultural gems like Grand Marais and Little Canada. Pipestone and Owatonna honor the rich Native American histories of past centuries. At the same time, domestic and foreign settlers in Mankato and Hanover show the diverse roots of modern Minnesotans across the state. Given the vast array of attractions in Minnesota's small towns, the visitors will surely like what they find, whether on a repeat visit or for the first time.