Some of my friends from out of state have been surprised to hear its not all cows and corn here. You may ask yourself, “Is Minnesota worth visiting?” and to that, I’d have to say, “If you don’t visit Minnesota, you’re missing out!”

I have been living in Minnesota my entire life. After a couple brief summer weeks in both New York and LA and even the south, via visiting North Carolina in the late spring, I can say with certainty that Minnesota summer is the best summer across the US, and if anyone is capable of hyping up the state of Minnesota, and the whole season of summer, it’s me!

Here’s some reasons Minnesota summer is the best:

No matter where you are there’s always a lake to jump into.
Who doesn’t love a summer fair with fried food and a ferris wheel?! Here, we have the iconic Minnesota State Fair, aka: “The Great Minnesota Get Together”
Minnesota has 3 environmental biomes: prairie grasslands, deciduous forests, and coniferous forests (aka: deep forest, similar to the pacific northwest) so the wildlife is diverse, and you can drive to the woods, to a prairie, to a forest for those Twilight vibes.
There are plenty of places to simply enjoy our overflowing green scenery, whether that be hiking, viewpoints, bike rides, or bored explorations with friends in your small town.

Today I’ll delve into 3 places to go on a summer day in Minnesota. The list is local friendly, and it’s also great for first time travelers to the Land of 10,000 lakes! If you enjoy live music, patios, waterfalls, and antiques, this list is for you. So if you’ve got a full day to explore Minnesota and you’re looking for a day trip from Minneapolis, read ahead!

Hastings, MN

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I don’t leave to go on day trips out of Minneapolis often, but when I do, I make my way to Hastings, because it charmed me so dang good on my first visit.

Hastings is a small suburb about 35 minutes from the Twin Cities (depending on which Twin City you’re in), and it’s known most notably for its waterfall, the Vermillion Falls. It’s a pleasant view, and there’s a park surrounding the river there, meaning you can walk down for quite some ways. In the hot summer months, people climb down the edge of a small cliff to swim in the river while their towels lay on flat beds of rock. Others explore along the old mill ruins nestled and crumbling on the edge of the river.

After a sunny walk around the river, you’ll need to refresh! There’s plenty of restaurants and shops in the old-timey downtown of the city. If you’re not from the US, this is one of those little mainstreets you always see in the movies, so if you want to feel like you’re in America in a movie, check out downtown! I personally really enjoyed the Spiral Brewery and their little patio situation, because they’re a Minnesota local brewery that brews beers, and my personal favorite drink–hard seltzers!

At night, the bridge on the edge of Hastings lights up, and you can see ships in the dark with only their lights. Many dates end sitting in the grass watching boats float by the bridge, and I understand why! It’s a pretty sight that never gets old.

Taylors Falls, MN

I have done the 1 hour trip to Taylors Falls many times, but recently I have figured out the best day trip recipe to make the trip all worth it. You gotta start by stopping before you get to Taylors Falls… I know, it seems random, but I promise it's worth it. The first place to check out is the iconic and photogenic Franconia Sculpture Park. This is a large park with many artistic sculptures, so prepare to spend a couple hours walking around a field of Minnesota wildflowers feeding the local pollinators, and of course, beautiful modern art.

After that, drive to get lunch at The Drive In Restaurant in Taylors Falls. I heard a little rumor recently that Joe Keery, AKA: Steve of Stranger Things was spotted shooting a movie in this little town, and they used the drive-in restaurant for the film. I almost asked the waitress what Djo ordered, but I figured it was too invasive and annoying. Regardless, this place has a variety of fried foods, but there are also vegetarian options like cheese curds and veggie burgers!

Anyway, after that head to Coffee Talk down the road for an iced coffee with oatmilk! Its a coffee shop in a house with a wooded yard patio area. Is there anything more cottagecore than a coffeeshop house with a garden patio in the woods? I don’t think so! The house itself is old and adorable, with a little witches tower in the corner.

Once you’ve gotten yourself caffeinated in a cute house, head to the Taylors Falls hiking trail. This is an easy-to-moderate hike called the Walter Mondale river trail, and its about 1 mile one way, I believe. It starts at the state park entrance, and it ends at the famous potholes that were carved by glaciers into stone. Honestly, this is enough adventure to take an entire day, so remember to bring a nalgene and a good pair of hiking shoes! I’m not super outdoorsy, but I love footwear, so I have a pair of Teva sandals for sunny days, and a pair of Timberland White Ledge hiking boots for the rainy days. The ground is very rocky! As it should be, since it was literally ripped up by a glacier!

Stillwater, MN

Is there any place cuter than Stillwater, Minnesota?! This town is on the edge of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and it's a massive hub for those who love antiquing, patio restaurants, and boat rides. I had actually never been to Stillwater until the pandemic. Looking for antique glassware became a hobby of mine, and I was desperate to antique in their big shops, so I asked my friends Alex and Roxanne if they wanted to explore the antiquing capital of the midwest, and they agreed. It is so infamous, it actually gets a shoutout in the movie Juno.

“Mac, you know that nice urn by the front door that I got up in Stillwater? Well I found some blue sh-... gunk stuff… in my urn”
-Juno’s Stepmom, Brenda (a movie based in Minnesota! ayeee)

Anyway, there’s a stairway to heaven in this random little town, and I mean that literally. This set of stairs on the edge of their little downtown mainstreet is so large, it would make the priest from The Exorcist shudder with fear. I personally felt myself ascending to the next plane of existence while slugging up the steps about half way. Thankfully, its chock full of benches to rest. But the view?! Absolutely worth it. Once you get to the top of the steep cliff stairs, you’re greeted by many historically protected Stillwater homes and a postcard-worthy view of the iconic walking bridge.

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The restaurants are perfect for a night near the river. We as a group ate at Lolito Cantina in their alleyway patio. It was scenic, and spaced out nicely with fairy lights and a brewery neighboring with axe-throwing as a nightly activity. The restaurants all have their own appeals! Another spot on my list of restaurants to go is a tiki bar called The Tilted Tiki. I didn’t get a chance to try it yet, simply due to already having a drink with dinner, and being too full, but I know I have to make it back to Stillwater to try a tiki drink while admiring my antique glassware someday soon.

My friends and I walked along the river watching the fishers catch the occasional bite, and the sun was setting low as the city lights lit the river a hue of yellow. I’ll be back in Stillwater soon, and I hope the light is glowing when I get there.

thanks for reading! If you have any spots you love to go to in the midwest, I would love to hear them! Subscribe, comment, and follow me on my socials!
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