10 Coolest Minnesota Towns For A Summer Vacation In 2025

As May begins, summer is just around the corner. The days are growing longer, the layers are becoming lighter, and that vacation itch is getting harder to ignore. If you are feeling overwhelmed by too many travel options, do not panic! These 10 Minnesota towns make it easy. Whether you are dreaming of beach days, trout ponds, or a stroll through a Swedish- or German-inspired village, there is something here with your name on it.

Grand Marais

Grand Marais has earned several accolades, including being named America’s Coolest Small Town by Budget Travel and the Next Great Adventure Town by National Geographic Adventure Magazine. Minnesota’s North Shore region offers around 400 miles of hiking trails, with many conveniently accessible from town. At the Chik-Wauk Nature Center, which opens in late May, travelers can explore a network of nature trails that wind through 50 acres of land, maybe even spotting a moose in the summer! Traveling about a half hour from town, hikers can also reach Eagle Mountain, Minnesota’s highest point at 2,301 feet above sea level. After a day of hiking, refuel at Angry Trout Cafe, a cozy restaurant along Lake Superior's north shore.

Red Wing

Sitting along the Mississippi River, Red Wing is an underrated destination in Minnesota for an outdoor vacation. Travelers wanting to get out on the river can launch their boat or rent a pontoon from Red Wing Marina. Memorial Park is another popular place to spend the afternoon, offering amenities like a disc golf course, grills, hiking and biking trails, and picnic tables. Travelers looking for a historic and cozy place to stay will love the St. James Hotel, which has been open since 1875 and offers incredible views of the river.

Excelsior

Travelers seeking a relaxing lake vacation will have a great time at Excelsior, which is situated along Lower Lake. Visitors can spend a sunny afternoon at The Excelsior Commons, which features a 13-acre recreational park with two swimming beaches, picnic sites, tennis courts, and more. In the summer, the park hosts a concert series where visitors can relax with lawn chairs and picnic blankets while enjoying live music. To explore the area’s history, stop by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum, where historic displays at the station highlight two of the town’s original streetcar lines.

Grand Rapids

For more than a century, Grand Rapids has remained a favorite getaway for vacationers. Just north of town, travelers can reach the Chippewa National Forest, which is perfect for hiking, biking, fishing, and camping. Golfers can enjoy a game at the Pokegama Golf Course, which features an 18 hole course along the shores of the scenic Pokegama Lake. If you are looking for a cozy place to spend the night, the Gilbert Mansion Bed and Breakfast is set in a home from the early 20th century and serves an elegant, homemade breakfast each morning!

Ely

With over one million acres of forest and waterways surrounding the town, Ely is a great basecamp for exploring Minnesota’s wilderness. Travelers looking for a conveniently located trail can head to the Trezona Trail Trailhead, which encircles Miner’s Lake, an old iron ore mining pit, offering views of the historic mine and mineshafts. 20 miles northeast of town, meanwhile, travelers will find the Secret/Blackstone Trail. This path loops around the scenic Blackstone Lake and passes some small waterfalls. After an action-packed day of exploration, check out one of Ely’s cozy restaurants or pubs, such as The Boathouse Brewpub, which serves craft beer and pubfare.

Lindstrom

Nicknamed “America’s Little Sweden”, Lindstrom offers travelers an international experience without needing to leave the country! Each July, the town hosts its annual Karl Oskar Days festival, which celebrates its Swedish heritage through a farmers market, free concert, vendor fair, bingo, and other activities. Year-round, visitors can take a drive along Highway 8, which features a variety of quilt square patterns along the path. To explore the area’s outdoors, spend an afternoon at Allemansrätt Park, the town’s Wilderness and Swedish Heritage Park that spans 125 acres and includes a lake, island, wetlands, and other natural features.

Lanesboro

A two-hour drive from Minneapolis, Lanesboro is a great option for those looking for a brief escape. Travelers can spend the night at the Scandinavian Inn, a late 19th-century Victorian home that includes a complete breakfast made with fresh ingredients each morning. After breakfast in the inn, well-rested travelers can make their way up the Church Hill Scenic Overlook, which provides views of Sylvan Park and Lanesboro Dam from above. In the evening, attend a play at the Commonwealth Theatre, with upcoming performances including The Half Life of Marie Curie & The Angel Next Door.

Crosby

Between its outdoor recreation areas and free concert series, Crosby truly comes to life in the summer months. Visitors can explore the town’s past at the Soo Line Depot Museum, housed in an early 20th-century train depot and featuring exhibits on mining, logging, and other key parts of the area's history. On the western edge of town, visitors will find the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, which has places to go camping, canoeing, trout fishing, mountain biking, and fat biking. Throughout the summer, travelers can attend a free concert series in the Cuyana Lakes area, which features performances from several of the town’s most beloved bands!

Northfield

Listed as one of CountryLiving.com’s “50 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America”, the riverfront town of Northfield should be on your radar. Hikers can check out the trails at the Cowling Arboretum, an 800-acre piece of land with upland forests and wildflowers. Starting on June 29th, travelers can stop by Silkey Gardens, where they can pick their own raspberries and blueberries! Each Saturday morning, the town holds the weekly Riverwalk Market Fair, an open-air market with local farmers, artisan crafters, and food producers. There is also often live music to enjoy!

New Ulm

Settled in the mid-18th century by a group of German immigrants, New Ulm continues to preserve its German heritage, sometimes referred to as the “Polka Capital” and the “Most German of German Cities.” Visitors can experience a piece of the town’s Bavarian heritage during the annual Bavarian Blast festival in July. During the festival, attendees can enjoy music from live bands, a parade, a Polka service, and more. Year-round, travelers can learn more about New Ulm at the Brown County Historical Society-Museum, which is set in a German Renaissance-style building and exhibits several eras of New Ulm’s history. If you are craving some German grub, grab a bite at Kaiserhoff New Ulm, which serves dishes like sauerkraut balls, schnitzel, and bratwurst.

Final Thoughts

While some people dream of a lazy summer by the lake and others in an air-conditioned museum, these towns offer a diversity that will please every kind of preference. Towns like Excelsior are perfect for a vacation spent outdoors, while destinations like New Ulm have plenty of culture to explore in museums and restaurants. It is never too early to start planning that trip: grab your calendar and get those reservations going!