Minnesota Car Rental

Things to Do in Minnesota

Delve into local history

The petroglyphs (rock paintings) at the Pipestone National Monument record the ancient history of Minnesota’s native inhabitants, the Dakota and Ojibwe nations. You can learn more about these First Peoples by visiting indigenous museums such as the Mille Lacs Indian Museum in Onamia. For a more broad overview of Minnesota’s history, go to the Minnesota History Centre in St. Paul.

Enjoy some art and theatre

The Twin Cities have the second-highest number of theatre companies in the USA after New York City. Of the 400+ theatres in the state, two of the best are Plymouth Grand and the Guthrie Theater. Connoisseurs of art should head over to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, which showcases diverse global styles and forms. If traveling with kids, consider a visit to the Minnesota Children’s Museum – they hold fossil uncovering- and dinosaur-themed workshops!

Spend some time in nature

Go boating on Lake Superior and admire the nighttime displays of the Northern Lights. Sail a canoe through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. At the Itasca State Park, learn about the history and lore surrounding the Mississippi River – and plan a couple of bike tours if possible. If traveling with kids, pack a picnic and take a day trip to Minnehaha Falls and High Falls, the highest waterfalls in the state.

Shop at the largest mall in America

Drive down to Bloomington to find the Mall of America, a mammoth shopping complex spread over 5.6 million square feet. You could easily spend a whole day at this retail paradise and still not be able to cover everything.

Eating Out in Minnesota

Mason Jar Kitchen in Eagan is a great place for local delicacies. Try the buttermilk fried chicken and lime pie, for instance. Their tater tot hotdish goes very well with cupcakes at the Cupcake Bakery (just down the road). For a taste of Minneapolis’ contribution to American food culture, feast on The 5-8 Club’s famous Juicy Lucy burgers! These are finger-licking delicious. For lunch, drop by Hell’s Kitchen, where you can have wild rice porridge or ricotta hotcakes. The Nordic waffles and lefse at Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace make for great evening snacks paired with tea or wine.

Minnesota Transport

Flying to Minnesota

The largest airport in Minnesota is the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, which happens to be the 17th busiest airport in the USA. The state also has a number of smaller airports.

Public transport

The Twin Cities have great bus and metro train systems to help you get around quickly at any time of day.

Driving in Minnesota

As Minnesota is an expansive state with limited public transportation beyond the Twin Cities, hire a car to explore the other parts of the state. Take special precautions when driving in the winter as roads can sometimes accumulate black ice, which is transparent and highly slippery. If you rent a car, do make sure that your tires are suitable for the weather. Most reliable car rental agencies - like National, Enterprise, and Budget - automatically check this for you when you pre book.