Minnesota - The North Star State

Minnesota Visitors Bureau

What’s New
• Target Field: New home of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball team. Features one of the closest seating bowls to the playing field in all of Major League Baseball. The 360-degree open main concourse provides an uninterrupted view of the playing field. Minneapolis.
• CanaDEALS: In 2009, Explore Minnesota Tourism launched a Canada Par Pricing initiative, offering discounts of 10-20% at lodging and attractions around the state to Canadian visitors. Despite the 1:1 exchange rate, the discounts continue, under a new promotion called CanaDEALS. More details can be found at www.ExploreMinnesota.com/CanaDEALS.

Attractions
• Wabasha Street Caves: Once housed a speakeasy during the notorious gangster era of Saint Paul. St. Paul.
• Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum: Celebrates the rich maritime heritage of Minnesota’s lakes. Alexandria.
• Minnesota Marine Art Museum: One of America’s largest private marine art collections with 2.4 hectares of gardens and grounds. Winona.
• International Wolf Center: Observe a resident wolf pack; join tours of the “Wolves and Humans” exhibit. Ely.
• Water Park of America: A huge indoor water park, including lazy river, wave pool and slides, within minutes from the Mall of America. Bloomington.
• Canterbury Park Racetrack & Card Club: Live summertime horse racing and poker, 24 hours year-round. Shakopee.

Events
• Saint Paul Winter Carnival (late January to early February), St. Paul.
• Heritagefest (July), New Ulm.  
• Bayfront Blues Festival (August), Duluth.  
• Minnesota State Fair (late August to early September), St. Paul.  
• Grand Marais Arts Fair & Festival (October), Grand Marais.

Places
• Mall of America: Offering over 520 stores; restaurants; wedding chapel; thrill-seeking flight simulator ride; Underwater Adventures Aquarium; Moose Mountain Adventure Golf; and Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, butterfly house and ropes course; all housed within the mall.
• Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post: Trace the history of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe through videos, interactive computer programs, exhibits and local Objibwe guides. Onamia.
• Duluth: Great for walks, bicycling and in-line skating. The summer of 2010 brings a tall ship regatta, featuring eight sleek vessels.

Hidden Gems
Minnesota Visitors Bureau• Split Rock Lighthouse: Minnesota’s signature lighthouse celebrates its 100th anniversary throughout 2010. Tour the lighthouse, fog-signal building and the restored keeper's dwelling. Two Harbors.
• Mississippi Bluff Country: Outstanding historic homes, Main Street settings, museums, the National Eagle Center, bicycle and hiking trails, and numerous performing arts festivals and venues. Red Wing, Wabasha, Winona and Lanesboro.

Did You Know?
State Motto: The Star of The North
State Flower: Pink and White Lady's-slipper
State Bird: Common Loon

Fast Facts
Region: GREAT LAKES
America’s Byways: Edge of the Wilderness, Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, Great River Road, Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway, Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway, North Shore Scenic Drive, Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway.
Direct Flights: Air Canada, Northwest Airlines
Sales Tools: Group Tour Planner, State Travel Guide, Minnesota Explorer newspaper Golf, Bicycling, Fishing, Wildlife and Scenic Byways guides. Custom FAM tours for group tour leaders and travel agents. Lodging deals at www.ExploreMinnesota.com/lodging/deals.
Info: Explore Minnesota Tourism
1-800-657-3700
www.ExploreMinnesota.com