Minnesota Bucket List

A bucket list: a list of all the things, experiences, places and moments you want to create in your lifetime. I maintain a few bucket lists; professional, travel, etc and a couple years back decided to create one for my home state. A Minnesota Bucket List.

Often, we look to far off and unfamiliar places to set our sights but there are so many wonderful places in our backyards worth exploring. My Minnesota Bucket List is not a ranked list of places to explore but rather a bunch of destinations and experiences I’d like to venture to or have in the great state of Minnesota.

Can you even say you’re a Minnesotan if you haven’t attended the “Great Minnesota Get Together?” The Minnesota State Fair draws an average of 2 million people each year and is hands down one of the most truly Minnesotan experiences.

The Great Minnesota Stuff Our Faces Together

One of the reasons the State Fair is such a popular attraction is because of all the great food options (most of them on a stick). My Minnesota Bucket List serves up a few places for great food and drinks.

Food for Thought

Ice cream, burgers and pizza are on the menu’s of these iconic Minnesota food establishments. I’ve tried all of them and was not disappointed. Castle Danger made my list for beer, not because it’s better than any other of Minnesota’s roughly 150 breweries, but because after hiking on the North Shore it’s a great spot to toast your adventure.

Scarf down a slice at Betty’s Pies-July 7, 2013
Eat on the patio at Zorbaz-July 28, 2014
Order a slice or a whole pie at Sven and Ole’s in Grand Marais-August 7, 2017
Don’t burn your mouth on a Juicy Lucy-June 1, 2013
Order an Old Fashioned Soda at Minnesoda Fountain-Park Rapids, MN-July 27, 2013
Sample a flight at Castle Danger Brewing-August 2019

Splendid and Near the Cities

Minnesota is known for its food and beer as well as for opportunities to get outdoors. Warm weather and sunny days don’t go to waste in our state. Minnesotan’s take advantage of the brief summer months. My Minnesota Bucket list is full of outdoor exploration near the Twin Cities area. From Minnehaha Falls to a paddle down the St. Croix, outdoor adventure is very close to even the most metropolitan areas.

See spring flowers in full bloom at the MN Landscape Arboretum-June 1, 2013
Feel the spray at Minnehaha Falls-June 1, 2013
See the famous Cherry and Spoon Bridge at the Sculpture Garden-July 15, 2017
Stroll along a few of the lakes at Chain of Lakes Regional Park-June 29, 2013
Paddle on the St. Croix River-June 2019
Walk the St. Anthony Bridge-June 29, 2013
Play mini golf at Big Stone-August 3, 2019
Enjoy an afternoon at Como Zoo-May 12, 2013
Visit the animals at the MN Zoo-July 20, 2013

Up North and The North Shore

If you’re willing to drive a few hours, our state offers up splendid scenery, gorgeous waterfalls and well more than 10,000 lakes “Up North.” Up North is lakes country and is loaded with opportunities to venture into the forest, dip a paddle into the water or simply sit by a crackling campfire and devourer a s’mores. The North Shore is another destination for outdoor enthusiasts with bountiful trails and waterways to explore.

Hike at Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse-July 7, 2013
Keep the rubber side down on the Gitchi Gammi Trail-July 10, 2016
Rough it in Minnesota’s only National Park; Voyageurs
Explore the Gunflint Trail
Ride the gondola at Lutsen Mountain to see the fall colors
Cross the headwaters of the Mississippi at Itasca State Park-June 27, 2020
Take a picture with Paul and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji-August 15, 2020

Hardy Minnesota Winter Fun

Minnesota offers adventure for every season, you just need to dress for it. When the mercury dips, Minnesotan’s layer up and turn up the heat for all sorts of frigid fun.

Attend the Holidazzle Parade-December 14, 2013 (there’s no longer a parade, but there are festivities)
Be surrounded by 5 million lights at Bentleyville-December 2014
Test your winter survival skills while Yurt Camping-January 29, 2016
Attend the St. Paul Winter Carnival
Mush a team on a dog sled adventure
Strap on some skates at Central Park Ice Skating Trail-January 18, 2021

Be a Good Sport

Minnesotan’s take great pride in our sports teams, even when they don’t have the best season. My bucket list includes seeing all of Minnesota’s athletes in action. Watch the puck drop at a MN Gopher and MN Wild hockey game, cheer on the MN Timberwolves and Lynx, do the Skol chant at a Vikings game, cheer on the bomba squad at Target Field, Row the Boat at a MN Gohpers football game and go scarves up at Allianz Field.

Cheer on the MN Twins at Target Field-June 13, 2013
Skol! See a Vikings football game at US Bank Stadium-August 28, 2016
Howl at a MN Wild hockey game-February 6, 2014
Watch a puck drop at a MN Gopher hockey game
Row the Boat at a MN Gopher football game-September 16, 2017
Scarves Up for the Loons at Allianz Field-September 7, 2019
Cheer on the Timberwolves and the Lynx at Target Center

Venues and Other Attractions

Lastly, there are a few other places all Minnesotan’s need to experience. My favorite is a night at the Drive In Movie theater. Admission is usually cheap because you pay by the carload and if you can stay awake, you see two movies for the price of one.

Bet on the ponies at Canterbury Racetrack-September 14, 2013
Visit historic Stillwater- September 20, 2014
Try not to fall asleep at a Drive in Movie Theater-Long Drive In-July 11, 2015
Watch a performance at the Guthrie Theater-November 21, 2021

Minnesota has so many wonderful places, sights and experiences to behold. If you have a beloved place or adventure you’ve been on in Minnesota, I’d love to hear about it. Share it in the comments section below. I’m always looking to add something new to the Minnesota Bucket List.

Happy Adventuring, Rochelle

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