#63 best destination in the world

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Best time to travel: June-Aug
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Art museum located in Minneapolis, and home to more than 90,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history,
  • Mia is one of the largest art museums in the United States
  • The museum has seven curatorial areas: Arts of Africa & the Americas; Contemporary Art; Decorative Arts, Textiles & Sculpture; Asian Art; Paintings; Photography and New Media; and Prints and Drawings

Nickelodeon Universe, Bloomington

Best time to travel: May-Sept
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Indoor amusement park located at Mall of America in Bloomington, consisting of attractions and rides based on Nickelodeon’s popular franchises

Ellsworth Rock Gardens, Voyageurs National Park

Best time to travel: Sept-mid Oct
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • The Gardens was an enchanting sculpture once filled with flowers
  • Mr. Ellsworth created his garden as a part of the families summer home
  • Boat tours from Kabetogama Visitor Center visit this site on the northern shore of Kabetogama Lake

Science Museum of Minnesota, Saint Paul

Best time to travel: June-Aug
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Museum focused on topics in technology, natural history, physical science, and mathematics; founded in 1907 and located in Saint Paul
  • While offerings change frequently, there are a number of exhibits that are always in the museum, including: Dinosaurs & Fossils, The Human Body Gallery, and The Mississippi River Gallery

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

Best time to travel: June-Aug
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Multidisciplinary contemporary art center in Minneapolis, The Walker is one of the most-visited modern and contemporary art museums in the United States
  • The museum’s permanent collection includes over 13,000 modern and contemporary art pieces including books, costumes, drawings, media works, paintings, photography, prints, and sculpture

Valleyfair, Shakopee

Best time to travel: mid May-early Sept
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Amusement park in Shakopee, opened in 1976, and now features over 75 rides and attractions including eight roller coasters
  • Valleyfair also has a water park called Soak City

Mall of America, Bloomington

Best time to travel: May-Sept
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $$

  • Shopping mall located in Bloomington, opened in 1992, and is the ninth largest shopping mall in the world, and the largest in the western hemisphere
  • In addition to the Mall, outside of the mall are additional hotels, restaurants, and stores