By Contributing Writer
Minnesota has a wide array of attractions in addition to its lakes.
Minnesota is more than just the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." It may not be the trendiest vacation spot, but there are plenty of fun things to do in the state for travlers who are looking for something new, and for natives of the state.
Mall of America
The Mall of America is perhaps the most well-known of all of Minnesota's attractions. It is conveniently located next to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, making it easily accessible to travelers who choose to fly in. Many nice hotels are in the area.
Inside, the mall is more than just a collection of stores. The center of the mall houses one of the world's largest indoor amusement parks. Nickelodeon recently purchased the rights to the park and created Nickelodeon Universe, which features roller coasters and rides from many favorite Nickelodeon cartoons like Spongebob Squarepants.
The basement of the mall houses the Underwater Adventures Aquarium, featuring an amazing collection of fish from around the world.
The food at the Mall of America also goes well beyond the typical mall food court. The mall has 18 full-service restaurants, ranging from upscale restaurants such as the Napa Valley Grill to family favorites like Ruby Tuesday's.
Mall of America
60 East Broadway
Bloomington, MN 55425
952-883-8800
mallofamerica.com
Valleyfair and Soak City
Valleyfair is one of the upper Midwest's premier amusement parks. It features a wide range of attractions and rides. There are rides such as the Bumble Bees and Convoy for small children, family favorites like the Tilt-a-Whirl and Ferris Wheel, and for the serious roller coaster fanatic, they have big coasters like the Looping Starship and High Roller. The park also has a number of water rides.
In addition to all of the amusement rides, Valleyfair also has the Soak City Waterpark. The waterpark has thrills like the Panic Falls and Hurricane Falls, and Raging Rapids waterslide, as well as smaller splash pools for young children.
Valleyfair
1 Valleyfair Drive
Shakopee, MN 55379
952-445-6500
valleyfair.com/
Canal Park
The north shore of Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota is one of the state's most beautiful areas. The crown jewel of that area can be found in the city of Duluth. The Canal Park area of Duluth combines the beauty of the North Shore with the amenities of downtown Duluth.
Canal Park features the Duluth Lakewalk along the rocky shore of scenic Lake Superior. It also has a pier where tourists love to congregate and watch large freighters bring iron ore and taconite in and out of Duluth Harbor and under the city's historic aerial-lift bridge.
The Canal Park area has numerous restaurants and hotels to accommodate the large number of tourists it receives every year.
Resources
About the Author:
Photo Credits:
green lake - minnesota image by Brenton W Cooper from
Fotolia.com
