Minnesota Recreation & Entertainment

From fishing to football to fine art, Minnesota offers something for everyone. With its four distinct seasons, Minnesota is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. For winter enthusiasts, Minnesota offers a plethera of cross-country ski trails and 17,000 miles (27,359 km) of snowmobile trails. Other winter outdoor activities include ice skating, hockey, ice fishing, dogsledding or downhill skiing at one of Minnesota’s 21 ski areas.

Summer enthusiasts will enjoy biking on one of Minnesota’s many trails, such as the 69-mile (111 km) Munger Trail. Hiking, boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing can be found in one of Minnesota’s 68 state parks, or at Voyageurs National Park. Golf is another popular activity in Minnesota, with over 450 courses set amongst lush backdrops of lakes, forests and hills.

For professional sports enthusiasts, Minnesota offers several perennial contenders: the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, MLB’s Minnesota Twins, the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx all call this great northern state home. Minnesota offers a full range of exceptional college sports, and also hosts several annual amateur sports events, such as the USA International Hockey Cup.

Art and music enthusiasts will find numerous activities in the urban areas of Minnesota. Dozens of galleries and museums thrive in Minnesota, such as the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Minnesota Museum of American Art and the Walker Art Center. Minnesota boasts many theaters, including the renowned Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, and Broadway shows often visit the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul. Classical music performances can be found at the Minnesota Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Minnesota Opera. Those with more contemporary tastes may enjoy the country-music WE Fest or the Bayfront Blues Festival.

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