Minnesota is amazing. No matter what your interests, you never have to worry about what to do in Minnesota; if you are into art and music, you can’t throw a stone downtown without hitting a unique venue. If you are a sports enthusiast, you will be busy the next few years as Minnesota prepares for and hosts several major sporting events. And of course, the nature in Minnesota is outstanding.

WHAT TO DO IN MINNESOTA: BEST NATURE SPOTS

From the cities to up north, nature is everywhere in Minnesota.

URBAN PARKS

You don’t even have to leave the city to find nature in Minnesota. If you have visited the ever-popular Walker Sculpture Garden or Minnehaha Falls too many times, check out one of these hidden gems suggested by Nice Ride Minnesota:

• Sumner Field Creek Restoration (8th Ave N and Bryant Ave N)

• Heron Rookery (NW of Marshall Terrace Park)

• Nokomis Naturescape Gardens (E Lake Nokomis Pkwy and E 50th St)

• Seven Oaks Oval (Corner of E 34th St and 47th Ave S)

• Spring Lake Floating Islands (N of Parade Ice Arena)

• Bird Sanctuary and Peace Garden (Near Lake Harriet Bandshell)

• The Elf Tree (on Lake Harriet walking path odd Russell Ave S)

To top it all off, American Forests voted Minneapolis as one of the best cities for urban forests!

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EAGLE MOUNTAIN

Yes, Minnesota has a mountain! Eagle Mountain is the highest point in point in Minnesota and the 7-mile round trip hike offers breathtaking views. Eagle Mountain is in the Boundary Waters, so make sure to visit the other legendary nature spots in that area while you are there.

FORESTVILLE/MYSTERY CAVE STATE PARK

If you are looking for somewhere closer to sea level, head underground to explore Mystery Cave. You will encounter stalactites, stalagmites and underground pools and you will beat the summer heat – it is always about 48 degrees in the cave.

IRON RANGE SCENIC VIEWS

The iron ore mines were a fundamental part of creating the Minnesota we know today and while it these scenic views may be man made, they are spectacular. There are several great spots to take in the man-made orange mountains and lakes, including the Leonidas Overlook, the Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine and the Mineview in the Sky.

MINNEOPA STATE PARK

Mankato is much more than college kids. Minneopa State Park is known best for its magnificent waterfalls, but there are prairies hikes to enjoy, too. If you are there, watch for one of the wild bison herds that the DNR and Minnesota Zoo have been working hard to reintroduce to the park.

Whether you are visiting Minnesota or a native, use this National Tourism Week to explore all that Minnesota has to offer; you will be happy you did!