These 10 Towns In Minnesota Were Ranked Among US Favorites In 2024
Minnesota, which means the “sky-tinted water” as an allusion to the over 11,842 lakes that riddle the entire state, is a land that has remained eternally wild and untamed for many generations. Be that as it may, there are a number of towns in Minnesota that were ranked among US favorites in 2024—towns in the Land of 10,000 Lakes that you can certainly explore and will fall in love with. Whether you are immersing in the Scandinavian countries' culture in Lindström or German attitudes in New Ulm, or big and small lakes in vacation spots like Ely and Grand Marais, you will find numerous locations as attractive as the Mall of American and the Sculpture Garden of Minneapolis in Minnesota. This year, seek out the top-ranked small towns in Minnesota.
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, situated along the Mississippi River, is one of the grandest destinations you can journey towards when escaping the turmoil of the big cities and seeking refuge in the deep wilderness of Minnesota. Whether you are undertaking perilous boat rides down the three-and-a-half-miles-long stretch of the Grand Rapids River impasse or fishing and kayaking leisurely on one of the thousands of lakes surrounding Grand Rapids, you will undoubtedly be astounded by all the sceneries and rural regions devoid of the concrete constructions of humanity.
Learn all about what to expect and prepare for when trekking through the Chippewa National Forest near Lake Winnibigoshish and the Golden Anniversary State Forest by first visiting the Forest History Center. Or learn all about Judy Garland, the actress who played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, at her former home that is now converted into the Judy Garland Museum. And if you ever get exhausted from all the exploration, settle down at either the Hotel Rapids or the Timberlake Lodge Hotel & Restaurant.
Excelsior
Excelsior, about 20 miles from the capital city of Minneapolis, is an exhilarating and excellent getaway for those wanting to vacate from the big city for a while. One can board a historic locomotive vis-à-vis the Excelsior Streetcar Line, which has a direct connection to Minneapolis. Once you are in Excelsior, a wide array of options will be available to you. For example, you can board the historic steamboat Minnehaha, which offers scenic tours of Lake Minnetonka. The vessel is a resurrected one, as it was built in 1906, sank in 1926, and was brought back from the depths and repaired between the 1980s and 1990s. Aside from Lake Minnetonka, you can also go kayaking and strolling beside the Lower Lake and Lake Minnewashta. When it comes to landscaping, Lake Minnewashta Regional Park and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum are thrilling areas where you can admire Excelsior’s surroundings. Last but not least, consider visiting Excelsior during Saint Patrick’s Day every March 16, when the townsfolk participate in a one-mile run around the many lakes of Excelsior called the Luck O’ the Lake.
Ely
With nearly 11,842 lakes and still a few undiscovered ones, it can be difficult to visit all of Minnesota’s thousandfold lakes. Fortunately for tourists, the small town of Ely is a convenient resting stop and gateway to some of the nearest lakes in Minnesota and even those sharing the territory of Canada. Should you ever get tired in the middle of a forested area, you can always head to one of the Turkish yurts in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) near Shagawa Lake to keep shelter and warm and dry.
However, you should be mindful of the folkloric “Root Beer Lady,” a lady who once gave homemade root beer to persons visiting the BWCAW; much of her folkloric legends, real-world inspirations, and origins can be reviewed at the Dorothy Molter Museum, which was named after her. For more exploration, you can always journey to either the Superior National Forest or the Kawishiwi Falls Trail. If you want to be respectful and wary of wolves and bears, then consider listening to the lectures at both the International Wolf Center and the North American Bear Center. Finally, should night close in, tuck yourself cozy and safe at either the Grand Ely Lodge Resort & Event Center, Adventure Inn, or Northwoods Inn & Suites.
Red Wing
Travelers will be blushing in merriment and a little bit of exhaustion when seeing all the wonders that the small town of Red Wing promises. With its close proximity to the state border of Wisconsin, as marked by the Mississippi River, you can stand atop Barn Bluff in order to appreciate the different lands and areas of two different states. Take the Cannon Valley Trail if you are traveling from the city of Cannon Falls.
If you are a hunter, then seek out game at the Pierce County Islands State Public Hunting Grounds. If you are a lover of the outdoors, then fall in love with the Spring Creek Prairie Scientific & Natural Area (SNA) and Anderson Center Sculpture Garden at Tower View, as well as the many animals at the Cannon River Turtle Preserve Scientific and Natural Area. And if you like skiing and snowboarding, then go to the Welch Village Ski & Snowboard Area for your recreational needs. Red Wing will tuck you nice and warm with its many fine lodgings like the Moondance Inn.
Grand Marais
Have a grand and merry experience beside Lake Superior by visiting the small town of Grand Marais. With the Sawtooth Mountains ever present in your tours through Grand Marais, you can see all that the oldest art colony in Minnesota has to offer. From inspirational viewpoints of Lake Superior from Artist's Point to several more scenic vantages such as the Grand Marais Marina Vista Point and Grand Marais Lighthouse, the small town of Grand Marais does not disappoint with its dynamic and ever-changing features that have inspired many an artist old and young. Within the Sawtooth Mountains themselves, travelers can journey to angelic destinations such as Devil's Kettle, Devil’s Track Lake, and Cascade River State Park. You will also be mesmerized by other remarkable landmarks near Grand Marais, like Fall River Waterfall, George Washington Pines, the Five Mile Rock, and the Highest Point in Minnesota. No need to worry about accommodations because Timberlund’s Resort and more have you covered.
New Ulm
Basing its name on a city in the European nation of Bavaria, the small town of New Ulm strengthens its ties to Germany with its presentation of the Hermann Monument. This monument is a homage to an ancient Germanic chief named Arminius, the same man who united the once feuding Germanic tribes against the Roman Empire. Aside from the Hermann Monument, travelers will come across Schell’s Brewery, which continues to practice America’s oldest brewing techniques. There is also the Glockenspiel, a 45-foot-tall clocktower for everyone to see. For outdoor activities, one can follow the Cottonwood River or Minnesota River towards sublime areas like Flandrau State Park and Swan Lake. You might also want to attend one of the many festivities in New Ulm. For example, the Bavarian Blast from July 18 to 21, the Bacchus Fest in May, the HermannFest on September 7, or Oktoberfest. For those of you seeking lodgings, seek out accommodations in places like the Innis House Bed & Breakfast.
Lanesboro
Lanesboro, approximately 40 miles from the city of Rochester, will have you looking about for trinkets and tidbits of the past. Quite literally, there are over 20 or more medallions dispersed throughout Lanesboro, each medallion showing a different period and epoch in Lanesboro’s history and the history of the Root River Valley, which you can seek out during the Discover Sculpture Explore Lanesboro Medallion Walking Tour. Travelers might be invested in the fact that Lanesboro is the Rhubarb Capital of Minnesota, and you can participate in the much-beloved Rhubarb Festival every month of June. Everywhere else in the Root River Valley is replete with several noteworthy destinations, such as Mill Pond Overlook, the South Branch of the Root River, and Sylvan Park. More surprises and delights are in store in Lanesboro, so consider booking a room in the many beautiful establishments there, like the Historic Scanlan House B & B, the Stone Mill Hotel and Suites, or Root River Inn & Suites.
Stillwater
Stillwater, located about 34 minutes from the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, is a welcoming small town with a number of attractions for you to cherish. Being so close to the state of Wisconsin, which the Saint Croix River separates, travelers can journey to several notable parks like Lowell Park, the Otto Berg Memorial Park, Afton State Park, Brekke Park, Pioneer Park, Pine Point Regional Park and many more. Head over to the Historic Stillwater Lift Bridge that connects Stillwater to one of Wisconsin’s towns, and once in Stillwater, you can see dozens of monuments and statues during the River City Sculpture Tour to learn all about the different moments in Stillwater’s past. Should you ever need a place to stay a bit longer in Stillwater, look no further than the Hotel Crosby, the Ann Bean Mansion Bed & Breakfast, or the Aurora Staples Inn.
Lindström
Want to experience all the amenities of a Scandinavian nation? Then head to “America’s Little Sweden” in the form of Lindström, only about 35 miles from the Twin Cities. This small town is notable for inspiring a local writer named Vilhelm Moberg, whose seminal work The Emigrants was based on the personal journals of Erik Norelius, one of Lindström’s founding members. In a poetic turn of events, Lindström’s most remarkable festival in the middle of July, The Karl Oskar Days, was named after Karl Oskar, who was the protagonist of the aforementioned novel. If you are eager to see more of what the town has in store, then you ought to go to one or all of the numerous lakes that constitute less than ten percent of all the lakes in Minnesota. For instance, South Center Lake, North Center Lake, South Lindstrom Lake, North Lindstrom Lake, Chisago Lake, Sunrise Lake, and several more.
Biwabik
Biwabik, its name originating from the Ojibwe word biiwaabik, which translates to “iron,” is a small Bavarian-style town located on the East Range of the Mesabi Iron Range. Travelers will not feel ashamed or embarrassed when they are strolling around Embarrass Lake. Most importantly, you can also cherish swimming and resting close to Sabin Lake and Wynne Lake. When it comes to camping, the best place you can pitch a tent in Biwabik is definitely at the Biwabik Campground on Vermilion Trail. Vermilion Trail also leads newcomers to the majestic alpine ski resorts and golf courses at the Giants Ridge Recreation Area. Naturally, you need not feel unsafe and unsound when you are spending your lovely evenings at the Green Gate Guest Houses or Lodge at Giants Ridge.
The Hockey State of Minnesota, sharing its love of ice-skating extreme sports with its close neighbor of Canada, contains some of the best small towns ranked among US favorites this 2024. Between the heights of the Sawtooth Mountains all the way down vales and woodlands surrounded by over 10,000 and more lakes, the many diverse and dynamic small towns in Minnesota are as pleasant as the sky-blue waters of Minnesota’s lakes. There a list of reasons why these small towns—Biwabik, Stillwater, Red Wing, Excelsior, and more—have been ranked among US favorites in 2024, and for travelers near and far, they ought to discover for themselves these reasons why. Prepare extra clothes if you intend to wade through the Land of 10,000 Lakes and into Minnesota’s favorite and high-ranked small towns this 2024.
