9 Storybook Towns In Minnesota
Minnesota has more lakes than most states have road signs, and the towns built around them tend to take their time with things. Bemidji calls itself the First City on the Mississippi, with a 1937 statue of Paul Bunyan to back it up. Brainerd has 400-plus lakes within easy reach. Grand Marais pulls in the Northern Lights on the right kind of clear winter night. Nine towns, all worth the trip.
Bemidji
Bemidji sits on the banks of Lake Bemidji, which feeds into the Mississippi River. Founded as a lumber town in 1896 and the seat of Beltrami County, it now has a population of just under 16,000. The water defines most of what people come for. Lake Bemidji and Lake Irving are right in town, and Chippewa National Forest, Big Bog State Recreation Area, and Itasca State Park are all within reach. Swimming, boating, fishing, and camping anchor the warm months, and ice skating at Nymore and City Park takes over in winter.
The town has historic stops too. The Great Northern Depot rail station (1912) and the former Bemidji Carnegie Library (1909) are both on the National Register of Historic Places. The 1937 statues of Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox are also on the Register and remain the local photo standard. Local businesses like Fozzie's Smokin Bar BQ and McKenzies of Bemidji round out a visit.
Red Wing
Red Wing is the seat of Goodhue County in southeastern Minnesota, near the Wisconsin border. Named after a Dakota chief and established in the 1850s, it sits along the Mississippi River and has a population just under 17,000. The town's events calendar runs year-round: River City Days in summer, the Fall Hispanic Heritage Festival, the Spring Fling Antique Show, and others. The Christmas season starts with the annual Holiday Stroll, with live music, sleigh rides, parades, and the arrival of St. Nick.
The outdoor side of town is solid as well. The Mississippi runs along the town's edge, and parks like Colvill Park and Bay Point Park are good for picnicking, cycling, and jogging.
Brainerd
Brainerd sits in east-central Minnesota and serves as the seat of Crow Wing County. The town has a population near 14,000 and was founded in 1871. It is surrounded by hundreds of lakes, which is exactly what gives Minnesota its "Land of 10,000 Lakes" claim. With more than 400 lakes within an easy drive, swimming, water skiing, and fishing are easy to plan around.
The historic side of Brainerd is worth a stop. The Northern Pacific Railroad Shops Historic District (1882) and sites like the Parker Building (1909) and the Carnegie Library (1904) preserve a strong sense of the town's railroad past. The Lakes Area Music Festival pulls in symphony and classical performances each summer, and the winter Ice Fishing Extravaganza takes the cold months on its own terms.
Grand Marais
Grand Marais sits on the shore of Lake Superior and is the seat of Cook County, the easternmost county in Minnesota. The Ojibwe people have long called the area home, and French-Canadian fur traders settled formally in the 1700s. The current population is around 1,340. Warm summers and cool winters make it work as a year-round base. Skating, swimming, cycling, sailing, and golfing all happen here, and the Northern Lights occasionally appear on clear, dark nights when conditions cooperate.
The cultural calendar holds up its end too. The summer Fisherman's Picnic and the autumn Moose Madness Family Festival both bring parades, live music, and food vendors.
New Ulm
New Ulm was settled by German immigrants in the 1850s, and the town still has a strong German-American community. It sits at the confluence of the Cottonwood and Minnesota Rivers in southern Minnesota, serves as the seat of Brown County, and has a population around 14,000. The 19th-century landmarks come thick on the ground. The Hermann Heights Monument (1897) honors the area's German settlers. The Glockenspiel Clock stands 45 feet tall with 37 bells. The Wanda Gág House (1894) is also on the National Register, along with several other landmarks.
The festival calendar leans German, predictably. Oktoberfest is the headline. The summer Bavarian Blast brings live music, food, and vendors.
Winona
Winona sits on the Mississippi River near the Wisconsin border. Named after a figure in Dakota mythology and formally established in the 1850s, it has a population just under 26,000 and is the seat of Winona County. Wooded bluffs, rolling hills, and river views are the main draws. Hiking and biking around the Sugar Loaf Rock formation work well, and Garvin Heights City Park offers some of the best Mississippi panoramas in the area.
The historic side runs deep. The East Second Street Historic District includes the Savings Bank Building (1916) and the Choate Department Store (1881), both on the National Register. The Winona County History Center anchors the local museum scene with artifacts, exhibits, and educational programming. Winona Steamboat Days is the marquee community event.
Prior Lake
Prior Lake takes its name from the recreational lake at its center, which spans nearly 1,400 acres. Established in the 1870s and now home to about 28,000 residents, the Scott County town gets the basics right. Sailing, swimming, skating, fishing, and ice fishing are all on the table, and the town manages to feel removed from city pace while still being close to one.
Local businesses include the Olive Moon Boutique and the Grace + Gumption clothing store, and the dining scene covers everything from Charlie's On Prior for American to Perron's Sul Lago for Italian. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel is the entertainment anchor, with live shows and gaming.
Walker
Walker is the seat of Cass County in north-central Minnesota and sits on Leech Lake, one of Minnesota's largest lakes at more than 100,000 acres. The community traces its modern roots to the 1890s, with a population just under 1,000. Walker is known for some of Minnesota's best fishing, with walleye and northern pike both prominent. Swimming, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, and waterboarding round out the lake activities. The nearby Chippewa National Forest opens up hiking, cycling, camping, horseback riding, and wildlife watching.
In town, the Northern Lights Casino offers gaming, food, and live entertainment. The May Walleye Tournament and the Get Hooked on Walker event, which sends visitors around the town with a bingo card to find local businesses, keep the calendar busy.
Willmar
Willmar sits in an area with more than 300 lakes and other small bodies of water, just over 21,000 residents, and serves as the seat of Kandiyohi County. Established as a rail center in the 1870s, it leans into both its history and its lake-country setting. Florida Lake, Green Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Diamond Lake, and Eagle Lake are all in the area for swimming, fishing, canoeing, water skiing, and sailing.
The local-business scene includes Intuition Brewing and Giliberto's Mexican Taco Shop. Museum stops include the Kandiyohi County Historical Society Museum, the Village Children's Museum, and the Sperry House Museum (1893).
Minnesota's strength as a vacation state comes from variety. Walker and Brainerd lean into the lakes. New Ulm and Winona lean into the historic side. Grand Marais and Bemidji do both. Whatever combination of outdoors and culture you want from a Midwest trip, one of these nine towns will deliver it.
