Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Welcome back to Exploring America. State by state after the dairy farms and deep forest lakes of Wisconsin, today we're heading into Minnesota, a state of 10,000 lakes, deep northern forests, and a Scandinavian influence culture unlike anywhere else in the country. Minnesota is known as the North Star State, though most people simply know it as The Land of 10,000 Lakes, a nickname that actually undersells the real number by quite a bit once you start counting. This is the state where the Mississippi river begins as a small walkable stream, where wilderness canoe country stretches along the Canadian border, and where the largest mall in the country somehow shares the map with genuine, untouched forest. Minnesota rewards travelers willing to explore both its big city energy and its quiet, water covered north. The North Shore Scenic drive along Highway 61 hugs Lake Superior's rocky shoreline and passing waterfalls, lighthouses, and dramatic overlooks for nearly the entire stretch up toward the Canadian border. The Great River Road follows the Mississippi from its humble beginning at Itasca State park, tracing the river through forest and farmland before it grows into the massive waterway most people picture. The Gunflint Trail winds deep into the Boundary Waters region, offering genuinely remote forest scenery most travelers never expect this far into the Midwest and driving through the Twin Cities itself, the parkways circling Minneapolis chain of lakes offer a surprisingly scenic urban detour worth the extra hour. Split Rock Lighthouse, perched dramatically on a cliff above Lake Superior, remains one of the most photographed spots in the entire state, especially at sunrise when the light hits the rock just right. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness protects over a million acres of interconnected lakes and forest, a genuinely rare paddling wilderness with almost no motor access at all. Jay Cook State park offers a swinging bridge above rushing river rapids, a genuinely dramatic stop most visitors never expect. Just outside Duluth and the small town of Ely, gateway to the Boundary Waters, is home to a wolf research center, offering a genuinely rare, close look at these animals in a controlled setting. The Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the entire country, houses an indoor amusement park, an aquarium, and enough retail to genuinely fill several days on its own. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area draws paddlers from across the country for genuinely unmatched wilderness solitude found almost nowhere else. Minnehaha Falls, right inside Minneapolis, offers a surprisingly dramatic waterfall in the middle of a major city park. And Itasca State park protects the actual headwaters of the Mississippi river, where you can literally walk across the river's very beginning on a shallow rock crossing. A few things worth Mall of America's parking and food court prices run higher than you'd expect for a mall, so packing snacks and checking for free parking options ahead of time saves real money. Duluth's busiest tourist shops near the waterfront sometimes charge more than similar stores just a few blocks inland. And North Shore resort towns bump prices up considerably during peak summer weekends, so a weekday visit or advance booking helps stretch your budget further. Minnesota's major interstates I35, I94 and I90 offer wide, well maintained routes connecting the Twin Cities to the rest of the state. Comfortably for larger rigs, the North Shores Highway 61 is genuinely scenic but narrows in spots, so a bit of extra caution helps on the busier summer weekends.
[00:03:45] Northern Minnesota's forest roads near the Boundary Waters are quieter and slower, so plan extra time if you're heading up that way with a larger vehicle. For paid camping. Itasca State park offers a well maintained campground close to the Mississippi headwaters and miles of forest trails. Jay Cook State park provides a scenic wooded campground near the swinging bridge and river rapids just outside Duluth. For free or low cost camping, the Superior National Forest allows dispersed camping across large sections of public land outside the more restricted Boundary Waters area, itself a genuinely generous free camping option, though specific rules and permits should be confirmed ahead of time, especially near the wilderness boundary. Hotels surrounding the Mall of America put you within walking distance of the shopping and entertainment complex itself.
[00:04:36] North Shore resorts around Lutzen combine lakeside lodging with easy access to hiking trails and waterfalls up and down the shore, and Downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul both offer a wide range of hotels within reach of the riverfront and the Lakes District. Amtrak's Empire Builder stops in St. Paul, connecting Minnesota to Chicago and destinations further west along a single scenic route. Metro Transit's light rail system covers the Twin Cities reasonably well, connecting downtown Minneapolis, St. Paul and the airport beyond the Twin Cities metro area. Minnesota is largely a car dependent state, so plan on driving between most of your northern stops. Minnesota's food identity blends hearty Midwestern comfort with genuine Scandinavian roots passed down through generations.
[00:05:26] Hotdish, a baked casserole combining meat, vegetables and a starch, remains a beloved potluck staple found at gatherings across the entire state. Walleye pulled from the state's countless lakes shows up fried at supper clubs and lakeside restaurants everywhere you go. The juicy Lucy, a cheese stuffed burger invented in Minneapolis, remains a genuinely messy, beloved local specialty worth the napkins and wild rice harvested traditionally in the state's northern lakes and shows up in soups and side dishes with real regional pride. Paddle a canoe deep into the Boundary Waters for a night or two of genuine wilderness solitude. Unlike almost anywhere else in the country. Spend a full day riding the indoor rides and exploring the aquarium at Mall of America. Chase waterfalls along the North Shore, hopping from overlook to overlook as Highway 61 winds up toward Canada, and celebrate Minnesota's Scandinavian heritage at one of the state's many summer festivals celebrating Nordic food, music and tradition. Summer brings peak lake season across the entire state, with cabins, boating and fishing running at full swing from June through August each year. The Boundary Waters requires advance permits for summer paddling trips, so booking early is essential if that's part of your plan. And the North Shore's waterfalls run strongest in early summer, before the drier stretches of late summer thin out the flow. The Twin Cities and North Shore resort towns run higher during peak summer season, especially for lodging near the water or downtown. Rural northern Minnesota is dramatically more affordable, with camping often running 20 to 35 dollars a night and hearty meals well under 15 dollars. Balancing a twin Cities or North Shore stretch with a quieter northern stretch keeps your overall Minnesota trip very manageable from start to finish.
[00:07:21] Cell coverage is strong along the interstates and throughout the Twin Cities metro area, with reliable signal for navigation and streaming in most populated areas of the state. Coverage drops significantly once you're inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, where signal is genuinely minimal to non existent by design. So download offline maps and let someone know your plans before heading into that wilderness. Specifically, that's Minnesota State, holding 10,000 lakes, wilderness, canoe country and genuine Scandinavian charm all inside one wonderfully varied set of borders. Next time we're heading into Iowa, a state of rolling farmland, covered bridges and small town charm that quietly anchors the heart of the Midwest. Pack the cooler and I'll see you there.
