Minnesota Monthly‘s Summer Weekends. When the days stretch long and the sun finally sticks around, there’s only one question: How will you spend it? From lakeside escapes to late-night patios, consider this your guide.
In the City | By the Water | In the Wild
In the Wild
In the heat of midsummer, escaping the bustle of the city and suburbs might be just what you need. Spend a perfect summer weekend camping among the pines, dining at a roadside supper club, or driving along a stretch of rustling cornfields.
Courtesy of MNHS
Take the Long Way
Sometimes, the journey really is more important than the destination. As you wind through Minnesota’s summer landscapes, make a few stops at these quirky, off-the-beaten-path sightseeing highlights.
The Jeffers Petroglyphs are 7,000- year-old sacred rock carvings made by ancient Indigenous communities in Southwestern Minnesota. Start at the visitor center to learn more about Native culture and prairie ecology. 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey; mnhs.org
Baudette, Minnesota, boasts a whimsical, musical homage to the megalithic Stonehenge—Basshenge is a grouping of 21 steel sculptures by Joseph Guastafeste, each one a model of a double bass. There’s a second layer to the work, too—when viewed from above, the spiral arrangement of the bass sculptures forms a bass clef. 9832-9940 Minnesota 11, Baudette
You might be familiar with the world’s largest ball of twine (which also lives in Minnesota), but how about the world’s largest prairie chicken? Artist Art Fosse designed the 13-foot Booming Prairie Chicken statue in Rothsay as the town’s contribution to the 1976 bicentennial. A native bird at great stature. 221 First St. NW, Rothsay
Adobe
Some giants are friendly, but only one is jolly and green. Blue Earth’s Jolly Green Giant statue is a beloved monument to the canning company that once called the area home. Neighbors estimate he wears a size 78 shoe—and a 4-foot-wide smile. 1131 Green Giant Lane, Blue Earth; blueearthchamber.com
At the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, take a peek into Minnesota’s timber-filled past. Take a horse-drawn wagon ride, check out the fire tower, and find out what it was like to live as a lumberjack. 2609 County Road 76, Grand Rapids; mnhs.org
Quintessential Summer Bites
We’d argue there’s no better time to savor the flavors of Minnesota than summer, when golden ears of corn turn plump in the fields, sun-warmed tomatoes are ready to pick, and fresh blueberries and apples get turned into pies. If you need a reason for a weekend road trip, make it a culinary one.
Wander through the prairie at Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm in Waseca, then chat with Lena the alpaca or try the Chuckeroni pizza—stuffed with Ellsworth cheese curds. Squash Blossom Farm in Oronoco makes its own mead from the local bees’ honey and serves up sourdough pizzas with a backdrop of live music and art vendors. And one of the state’s original pizza farms, Northfield’s Red Barn, makes pizzas on Wednesday and Sunday evenings all summer long.
Photo by Susan Waughtal
If table service is more your style, many of rural Minnesota’s best restaurants have an air of time travel about them—like Mantorville’s Hubbell House, which is located in an 1856 saloon building and now serves up classics like walleye sandwiches, lobster tails, and steaks.
Courtesy of Hubbell House
For a true Northwoods experience in Pequot Lakes, check out Norway Ridge Supper Club’s shrimp cocktail, filet mignon, and classic supper-club cocktails. At Avon’s Fisher’s Club, find casual fare—perfect for refueling after a day of hiking or fishing—like burgers, fish-fry dinners, and broasted chicken. Old-school diner charm abounds at Old Creamery Cafe in Viola, where you can still belly up to a salad bar or order a stack of Belgian waffles from the all-day breakfast menu.
Happy Trails to You
Get back to nature at one of Minnesota’s lesser-known parks and campgrounds—offering sweeping views and fresh air.
George H. Crosby Manitou State Park, Finley
At one of the least-developed natural areas in the state, visitors can climb the rugged, heavily wooded Humpback Trail, travel the boardwalk around sparkling Lake Benson, or relax on the rocks below a series of waterfalls.
Whitewater State Park, Altura
The rolling hills and craggy bluffs of the Driftless Region are on full display at this
park in Southeastern Minnesota, where you’ll find great trout fishing, spectacular wildflowers, and a historic fire tower.
Finland State Forest, St. Louis, Cook, and Lake counties
Deep in the woods along the North Shore, this expansive state forest offers beautiful, rugged campsites and easy access to scenic stretches of the Superior Hiking Trail.
Split Rock Creek State Park, Pipestone
Swim, boat, or fish on Split Rock Lake, or take a walk through the rolling Coteau des Prairies (prairie highlands) to spot meadowlarks and an abundance of colorful wildflowers in bloom.
Get Together
Fun and whimsical festivals dot the countryside and small towns of greater Minnesota.
Duluth-Stämman
June 12-13 | Duluth
Woodtick Races
June 13 | Cuyuna
Agate Days
July 18-19 | Moose Lake
Blueberry Art Festival
July 24-26 | Ely
Photo by Michelle Anderson
