Special churches
Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis
The Christ Church Lutheran is a church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is considered an architecturally extremely interesting church building in Minneapolis. The church was built from 1948 to 1949. Since 2009 the church bay has been on the list of National Historic Landmarks.
| Contact | 3244 34th Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406 |
Cathedral of Saint Paul
The Cathedral of Saint Paul in the capital Saint Paul was built from 1907 to 1915. The Cathedral of Saint Paul has been a national shrine since 2009. The Cathedral of Saint Paul was built from granite and travertine. The architectural style can be attributed to the Beaux-Arts architecture and in principle one can say that it is a neo-Romanesque-neo-Byzantine cross-domed church. But not only the exterior of the church is worth seeing, the interior also offers a lot. The view will linger longest on the high altar, and anyone who has been to Rome will be reminded. The Cathedral of Saint Paul has been on the list of Historic Places since 1974.
| Contact | 239 Selby Avenue Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102 www.cathedralsaintpaul.org |
Cathedral of Saint Mary in St. Cloud
The Cathedral of Saint Mary in the city of St. Cloud dates from 1931. It was built from 1922 to 1931 after a Gothic-style church burned down in 1920 in the same place. The Cathedral of Saint Mary was built in brick in the Italianate style.
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| Contact | 25 8th Ave S St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301 www.stmarystcloud.org |
Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Ulm
The Holy Trinity Cathedral in the city of New Ulm is a Roman Catholic cathedral from 1893. The baroque-style cathedral was built of bricks and therefore looks less pompous than the cathedrals of Saint Paul or Minneapolis, but in no way less worth seeing.
| Contact | 605 North State Street New Ulm, Minnesota 56073 |
Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapoli
The Basilica of Saint Mary in the city of Minneapolis dates from 1914. The basilica was built from 1907 to 1914. With the visit of Pope Pius XI. in 1926 the Basilica of Saint Mary became the first cathedral in the United States to receive the title of Basilica Minor. A special element is the very beautiful baroque influence. The Basilica of Saint Mary has been on the list of Historic Places since 1975.
| Contact | 88 N 17th St Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 www.mary.org |
Zoos, parks and amusement parks
Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley
The Minnesota Zoo in the city of Apple Valley, a suburb of Saint Paul, opened in 1978 and is considered one of the best zoos in terms of animal husbandry. Overall, the zoo covers an area of approximately 2 km² on which over 2,300 animals from over 440 species live. The zoo is thematically divided into 6 areas according to the origin of the animals.
- The Minnesota Trail section is home to native wildlife.
- The Northern Trail section is home to animal species that live north of the 45th parallel.
- The Tropical Trail section is home to species from tropical areas.
- The Discovery Bay, consisting of several aquariums, is home to the water residents.
- The section of Russia’s Grizzly Coast is partly outside and partly inside and replicates the landscape of the Kamchatka Peninsula and is home to the wildlife of eastern Russia.
The highlights of the zoo certainly include grizzly bears, tree kangaroos, bisons, moose, beavers, camels, tigers and wolves. Nowadays the zoo has over 1 million visitors annually.
| Contact | 13000 Zoo Boulevard Apple Valley, Minnesota 55124 www.mnzoo.org |
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in Saint Paul
The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in the capital Saint Paul is a mixture of park, zoo and conservatory. History goes back to 1873, when the park was opened. The zoo dates from 1897 and the conservatory opened in 1915. The Como Park covers an area of approximately 1.55 km² and offers visitors a golf course, a lake, a small amusement park, a mini golf course and several sculptures. The zoo, whose history goes back to 1897, was the first zoo in Minnesota, but at that time only a deer was the zoo’s residents. The zoo has been in an Art Decó building since 1936 and was massively expanded in the 1980s. Today over 1,700 animals from over 60 species live here on an area of approx. 70,000 m².
| Contact | 1225 Estabrook Drive Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103 |
Valleyfair in Shakopee
The Valleyfair amusement park is located in the city of Shakopee in southeastern Minnesota. With an area of 510,000 m², the Valleyfair is the largest amusement park in the northern part of the Midwest. The park was opened in 1976. Today the amusement park offers a total of 75 attractions, including 48 rides. The amusement park offers a total of 8 roller coasters.
| Contact | 1 Valleyfair Drive Shakopee, Minnesota 55379 www.valleyfair.com |
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in the city of Chaska dates from 1958 and now covers an area of approximately 4.6 km², making the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum the largest public garden in the entire region of the Midwest. It belongs to the University of Minnesota, but is open to the public. Visitors will find over 5,000 different types of plants here.
| Contact | 3675 Arboretum Drive Chaska, Minnesota 55318 |
Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth
The Great Lakes Aquarium in the city of Duluth was opened in 2000 and is located directly on Lake Superior, making it a freshwater aquarium. The residents of the aquarium come from the Great Lakes region and the Amazon. However, it is not only fish that live here, but also birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, a total of over 200 different species.
| Contact | 353 Harbor Drive Duluth, Minnesota 55802 www.glaquarium.org |
Munsinger Gardens and Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud
Munsinger Gardens and Clemens Gardens are two adjacent gardens in the city of St. Cloud. The Munsinger Gardens and Clemens Gardens are located on the banks of the Mississippi and cover a total area of approximately 210,000 m². Approx. 140,000 of these are located in Munsinger Gardens and approximately 70,000 in Clemens Gardens. Both gardens can rightly be called flower gardens. The development of Munsinger Gardens dates back to the 1930s and the development of Clemens Gardens to the 1990s. If you are in St. Cloud and want to enjoy good weather in a relaxed atmosphere, this is the place for you.
| Contact | 1515 Riverside Dr SE St Cloud, M innesota 56304 www.munsingerclemens.com |
Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth
The Lake Superior Zoo in the city of Duluth has a long history that goes back to 1923, with a larger-scale zoo from the 1930s. Nowadays, the zoo covers an area of almost 65,000 m² on which native as well as exotic animals live. Highlights of the zoo include grizzly bears, kangaroos, lions, cougars, snow leopards, tigers and wolves.
| Contact | 7210 Fremont Street Duluth, Minnesota 55807 www.lszoo.org |
National parks
Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park is located in northern Minnesota, near the city of International Falls, and is the only national park in the state. Voyageurs National Park was founded in 1975 and today covers an area of approximately 882 km². The name of the national park is said to recall the former French-Canadian fur traders (the so-called “voyageurs”), who were the first Europeans to “travel” to the region. The Voyageurs National Park is best known for its numerous lakes and their bays, which are an excellent habitat for all kinds of birds. For example, bald eagles can be found here. The national park is therefore particularly popular with canoeists, kayakers and anglers. The Kabetogama peninsula, which lies entirely in the national park and makes up the largest part of the park’s landmass, is ideal for hiking. In total there are over 80 km of hiking trails in the Voyageurs National Park. The Kabetogama peninsula can only be reached by boat. To the east of the Voyageurs National Park is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. And best of all, the national park has not yet been overcrowded and attracts fewer than 200,000 visitors annually. Ideally suited for everyone who wants to experience the tranquility of nature. To the east of the Voyageurs National Park is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. And best of all, the national park has not yet been overcrowded and attracts fewer than 200,000 visitors annually. Ideally suited for everyone who wants to experience the tranquility of nature. To the east of the Voyageurs National Park is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. And best of all, the national park has not yet been overcrowded and attracts fewer than 200,000 visitors annually. Ideally suited for everyone who wants to experience the tranquility of nature.
| Contact | www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm |
Nature reserves
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a nature reserve in northeastern Minnesota. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is located in the Superior National Forest and is a top address for canoeists and anglers. The reserve was established in 1964 and today the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness covers an area of approximately 4,400 km². Hikers will also find something in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This is how parts of the Border Route Trail run through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Circular hiking trails within the protected area are also recommended.
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a nature reserve that protects the Mississippi and its banks over a total length of approx. 116 km. The main part of this reserve is located on the river section between Dayton and Ramsey, but smaller parts in Minneapolis and St. Paul also belong to the reserve. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area covers a total area of approximately 217 km² and was established in 1988.
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is not only for the protection of natural attractions, but also cultural and historical sights are included. The most important are certainly the Mill City Museum, the Guthrie Theater, the Stone Arch Bridge, the Fort Snelling and the Minnehaha Falls.
| Contact | www.nps.gov/miss/index.htm |
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is located in the central part of Minnesota and covers an area of approximately 44 km². The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge consists of eight individual units that are located at different locations on the Minnesota River. This makes the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge one of only 4 National Wildlife Refuges in a more or less urban setting.
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is a conservation area that stretches along the banks of several rivers in northwestern Minnesota, including the famous Saint Croix River. A total of 406 km of shorelines are under protection, which corresponds to an area of approx. 375 km². The reserve was established in 1968. In addition to numerous hiking trails, the area is also highly recommended for canoeists. Although it is a protected area, fishing is allowed here and the area is known nationwide for the presence of black bass.
| Contact | www.nps.gov/sacn/index.htm |
Superior National Forest
The Superior National Forest Nature Reserve is located in northeastern Minnesota along the border with Canada and Lake Superiors. The National Forest was established in 1909 and now covers an area of approximately 16,000 km². There are campsites in the Superior National Forest that make it possible to go on long hikes in the huge area.
| Contact | www.fs.usda.gov/main/superior/home |
Hiking trails
North Country National Scenic Trail
The North Country Trail is a long distance hiking trail approximately 7,400 km in the northern part of the United States. This makes the North Country Trail the longest of the 11 National Scenic Trails in the United States. The North Country Trail was inaugurated in 1980 and to date around 3,400 have been certified as a paved and managed hiking trail. The North Country Trail runs from the small town of Crown Point in northeastern New York to Lake Sakakawea State Park in central North Dakota. On this course, the North Country Trail passes a total of 7 states. From east to west, these are: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota.
When the trail begins in northeastern New York, it initially runs westward, then crosses northwest Pennsylvania. In Ohio, he joins the Buckeye Trail and makes a circular motion that swings him north-west in Ohio. In Michigan, the trail also runs from south to north until after crossing the “Straits of Mackinac” (Mackinac Strait, connects Michigan and Lake Huron) it turns west again, along the southern coast of Lake Superior (Upper Lake) respectively.
After crossing Northern Wisconsin, the North Country Trail divides into two sections. One runs north along the coast of Lake Superior and represents a huge “detour”. The other part basically continues west and both reunite northeast of Minnesota. Finally, the trail runs through North Dakota where it ends in the central part of the state.
On this trip, 10 National Forests (Finger Lakes, Allegheny, Wayne, Manistee, Hiawatha, Ottawa, Chequamegon, Superior, Chippewa and Sheyenne National Grassland) are hiked. Other highlights include the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Wisconsin’s St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, New York’s Fort Stanwix National Monument and Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Tamarac Wildlife Refugee, Audubon Wildlife Refugee. In total, the North Country Trail runs through 57 state parks and 47 state forests. So the trail should offer something for everyone who has enough time.
A connection between North Country Trail and Appalachian Trail in Vermont is currently underway.
| Contact | www.nps.gov/noco/index.htm |
Superior Hiking Trail at Duluth
The Superior Hiking Trail is an approximately 442 km long hiking trail in the northeastern part of Minnesota. The Superior Hiking Trail follows the elevated ridge line of Lake Superior and thus often offers good views of the lake. The path runs through forests and the region of the Sawtooth Mountains.
| Contact | www.shta.org |
Other natural beauties
Itasca State Park
Itasca State Park was established in 1891, making it the oldest state park in the state. The Itasca State Park covers approximately 132 km² and thus covers the area that forms the watershed between rivers flowing north and those that flow to the Gulf of Mexico. The most important river that has its origin here in Lake Itasca is without a doubt the Mississippi. Itasca State Park has also been a National Natural Landmark since 1965. The Itasca State Park attracts up to 500,000 visitors annually.
Tettegouche State Park
Tettegouche State Park is located in northeastern Minnesota on the shores of Lake Superior. The State Park was established in 1979 and today the State Park covers an area of approximately 37.8 km². In the area of the state park there are 6 lakes and four waterfalls as well as a beach. One of the waterfalls, the so-called High Falls, is the largest waterfalls in all of Minnesota with a drop height of about 21 m. There are also 35 km of hiking trails in the State Park and 19 km of cross-country trails for winter holidaymakers. The coast at Lake Superior is also highly recommended, with some steep cliffs and unusual rock formations.
Frontenac State Park near Rochester
The Frontenac State Park near the city of Rochester is located on the banks of the Mississippi and offers visitors excellent views of the same. This is ensured by an approx. 130 m high and approx. 4.8 km long limestone cliff. Bird watchers also get their money’s worth here.
Flandrau State Park
Flandrau State Park in southern Minnesota near the city of New Ulm on the banks of the Cottonwood River. The park, which was officially opened in 1937, was created in the 1930s as a job creation measure.
Today, the State Park covers approximately 4 km². In addition to its scenic qualities, the Flandrau State Park also offers a historic camp in which German prisoners of war were imprisoned during the Second World War. The Flandrau State Park also offers around 13 km of hiking trails.
Saint Anthony Falls in Minneapolis
The Saint Anthony Falls in the city of Minneapolis are located in the middle of the city center. These unusual waterfalls are, apart from the Little Falls, the only waterfalls on the upper reaches of the Mississippi. These waterfalls are breathtaking because they don’t really want to fit into the center of a big city. Since 1971, the waterfalls and their surroundings have been on the list of National Historic Places as the Saint Anthony Falls Historic District.
