Adobe
Leave it to a Minnesotan to write, “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” Though speaking through “The Great Gatsby” narrator Nick Carraway, St. Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald knew this sentiment as well as anyone. Summer in Minnesota does feel like a new lease on life, one that would be a shame to waste.
The calendar might say summer doesn’t begin until June 21. But in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, summer starts as soon as the ice melts. As soon as you can slip a canoe into the water, or your bike tires find fresh dirt, or you can enjoy an outdoor meal, summer is on. However you choose to enjoy it, the whole state is waiting for you.
Summer By Land, Air, and Sea
Speed up the pace of your summer with a plethora of fun outdoor excursions. Climb aboard a mountain bike and hit the famous red-dirt trails in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, a 5,000-acre haven east of Brainerd. Or, if paved trails are more your speed, the Paul Bunyan State Trail is one of the longest in the state, stretching 115 miles between Brainerd and Bemidji State Park. Consider a stop to refuel with freshly smoked meats at The Piggy BBQ in Walker or snap a selfie with the Paul Bunyan statue outside A-Pine Family Restaurant in Pequot Lakes.
Take a leisurely paddle on one of Minnesota’s ample waterways or choose something a bit less leisurely with a thrilling whitewater rafting trip down the St. Louis River near Duluth. Swiftwater Adventures offers fun and exciting excursions for all ages with no prior rafting experience necessary. Expert guides will teach you everything you need to know.
Adobe | Rob Schultz
If you prefer your summer activities at a bit of a slower pace, how about a little stargazing? Away from the lights of the Twin Cities, you can experience certified International Dark Sky places like Voyageurs National Park and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Camping is always a great choice for a summer activity, but it’s even better beneath a blanket of stars.
Live It Up
Minnesota summers are a hit with live music lovers. Warm weather means outdoor venues, which means more places to play for national and international artists—plus, the summer of 2026 brings a new venue to the Twin Cities music scene. Mystic Lake Amphitheater—near Canterbury Park in Shakopee—is a 19,000-seat outdoor venue with a season planned from June through September. Already on the books are John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews Band, Chris Stapleton, and Guns & Roses, among many others.
Minnesota Yacht Club Festival | Ashley Osborn
Summer is also festival season, and there is plenty of variety to be found on this year’s lineups. The Minnesota Yacht Club Festival returns July 17-19 to Harriet Island for a third year, featuring headliners The Lumineers, Matchbox Twenty, and The Strokes. New this year from the same organizers is Minnesota Country Club, held the weekend prior on the same site and offering an eclectic mix of Americana and alternative country artists. And if it’s country you’re after, the iconic WE Fest, one of the largest country music and camping festivals in the country, returns to Detroit Lakes in August for its 43rd edition.
One of the largest sporting events in the country comes to the Twin Cities June 20-26 as the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games take place at the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus and at the National Sports Center in Blaine. More than 3,000 athletes will take part in 16 team and individual sports, with 75,000 fans expected to attend. Add in the Twin Cities summer sports scene—baseball’s Minnesota Twins and St. Paul Saints, soccer’s Minnesota United, and others—and you’ll be sure to find something to make you cheer.
Summer Meals With a View
You could also call summer “patio season,” as it’s the time when restaurants all around the state dust off their umbrellas and throw open their doors to invite guests for outdoor dining. In the Twin Cities metro, don’t miss grabbing a table near iconic Lake Minnetonka, where some restaurants even offer boat parking. Maynard’s in Excelsior is an institution, serving a menu of classic American favorites on its large patio seating hundreds of guests. Lord Fletcher’s, acclaimed for its walleye platters and sandwiches, and 6Smith, offering up premium chops and fine seafood, are other top choices.
When you think of farm-fresh dining, you might not think of pizza, but that’s exactly the experience you’ll find at one of the pizza farms scattered around Minnesota. The experience is just what it sounds like: delicious pizza enjoyed in a pastoral setting. Pizza farms are low on frills—you may have to bring your own plates and pack out your own garbage—but offer a unique and casual way to enjoy a meal together on a beautiful summer evening. Locations are typically outside of the cities; check out Red Barn Farm in Northfield or Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm in Waseca.
May We Also Suggest…
If your Upper Midwest adventures take you into South Dakota, consider a stop in Sully County in the central part of the state along the Missouri River. It’s here you’ll find seemingly endless fields of vibrant yellow sunflowers, peaking from late July through early August. South Dakota is one of the top sunflower producers in the world, and visits to the fields are a beloved pastime of late summer. The state capital of Pierre is located roughly 35 miles to the south, making an excellent home base for exploring.
Adobe | Chad Coppess
