MINNESOTA Archives - My Family Travels
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Meeting Rescued Cats at This Small Minnesota Cat Cafe Is an Experience You Won’t Forget

Coffee and cats, that is the whole concept and it works beautifully. This small Minnesota cat cafe lets you sip a latte while rescued cats wander around looking for attention or...

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Locals Say This Once Peaceful Minnesota Lake Town Is Now Ruined By Tourists

There is something sad about watching a beautiful place lose its soul to popularity. This Minnesota lake town used to be the definition of peaceful.

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These 10 Lovely Minnesota Towns Capture the Classic Norman Rockwell Vibe

Norman Rockwell painted scenes that felt almost too perfect to be real. Kids buying candy at a corner store, a family having dinner after church.

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A Minnesota General Store Frozen in Time Since the Day Its Owner Walked Away in 1910 and Never Returned

Imagine walking into a general store and finding everything exactly as it was left more than one hundred years ago. The owner walked away one day in 1910 and never came back.

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Treat Yourself to Heavenly Pancakes at This No-Frills Diner in Minnesota

A proper pancake should be golden brown, fluffy on the inside, and crispy around the edges. Most diners serve flat discs that taste like cardboard with syrup on top.

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These 10 Secret Swimming Holes In Minnesota Are Summer Perfection

Summer in Minnesota means one thing. Finding water cold enough to wake you up but clear enough to see your toes on the bottom. These...

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This Enchanting Drive-In Theater In Minnesota Will Bring Out Your Inner Child Again

There is something magical about watching a movie from the comfort of your own car. You can bring your own snacks without paying fifteen dollars for a box of candy.

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10 Minnesota Towns Losing Residents Due To Record-High Property Taxes

Moving away from a place you love is never an easy decision. But when property taxes keep climbing year after year, some families feel like they have no choice left.

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The One Minnesota Seafood Spot You Can’t Skip, According to Locals Who Know

Locals love to argue about the best burger, the best pizza, and the best breakfast spot. But when it comes to seafood in Minnesota, they all agree on one place.

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This Underrated Planetarium In Minnesota Will Take You On An Unforgettable Journey

You do not need a rocket ship to explore the universe, just a ticket to this underrated Minnesota planetarium. Most people drive right past it without knowing what awaits inside.

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10 Authentic Mexican Restaurants in Minnesota That Taste Like Home

Finding Mexican food that tastes like someone's abuela made it can be tricky in the Midwest. Too many places serve bland salsa and ground beef tacos that would make any Mexican...

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Over 1.1 Million Acres of Pristine Water Trails and 2,000 Backcountry Campsites Await in Northeastern Minnesota

Over one million acres of water trails and more than two thousand backcountry campsites sound like a dream, but this Minnesota wilderness area is very real. You leave your car...

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This Minnesota Town Is Becoming One of the Loveliest Places to Retire

Choosing a place to retire is a big decision. You want good healthcare, friendly neighbors, and enough things to do without feeling overwhelmed.

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Standing 135 Feet Tall, These Minnesota Murals Rank as America’s Most Inspiring Artwork

A 135 foot tall painting on a grain silo stops you in your tracks. You look up, tilt your head back, and suddenly feel very small in the best possible way.

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10 Minnesota Overnight Escapes Perfect for a Quick Mental Reset

A mental reset does not require a week of vacation time or a plane ticket to somewhere tropical. Sometimes just one night away from your normal routine does the trick.

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The Best Legendary Cheeseburger In Minnesota Is Found Inside This Tiny Hole-In-The-Wall Drive-In

Tiny buildings sometimes hide the biggest flavors. This Minnesota hole in the wall drive in proves that rule with every single cheeseburger they flip.

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The Quietest Place on Earth Is in Minnesota, Where Silence Drops Below -24.9 dBA

You have never experienced true silence until you step inside this Minnesota room. A special chamber here holds the Guinness World Record for the quietest place on Earth.

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This Old-Timey Diner in Minnesota Draws Burger Lovers From Every Corner of the State

Carhops used to bring your food right to your window and nobody thought that was strange. This old timey Minnesota diner still works that way and burger lovers drive from every...

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Minnesota’s Oldest, Deepest and Richest Iron Ore Mine Takes Visitors Nearly Half a Mile Underground

Riding a cage elevator nearly half a mile underground into the dark feels like something from an adventure movie. The temperature drops, the lights flicker.

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10 Authentic Minnesota Restaurants That Aren’t Tourist Traps And Locals Actually Love

Tourist traps have a certain look. Overpriced walleye, soggy tater tots, and a hostess who seems exhausted before you even sit down.

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This Historic Minnesota Wildflower Garden Is America’s Oldest And Completely Free To Enter

America's oldest wildflower garden sits quietly in Minnesota and most people have no idea it exists. No flashy entrance or admission booth, and no gift shop pushing overpriced...

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Minnesota’s Finest Ribeye Is Hidden Inside a Charming Old-School Supper Club

Old school supper clubs have a certain magic that modern steakhouses cannot fake. Dark wood paneling, soft lighting, and a relish tray that arrives before you even order drinks.

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This Massive Minnesota Waterpark Kicks Out the Kids for After-Hours Adults-Only Parties

A waterpark without screaming children sounds like a fantasy. No one splashing you in the face by accident. No line cutting disputes or parents yelling from lounge chairs.

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This Laid-Back Minnesota Spot Serves Seafood That Locals Swear Is Unmatched

Seafood in a landlocked state usually comes with a warning label. Expect frozen, expect overpriced, and expect to be disappointed.

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This Minnesota Store Is Packed With Mind-Blowing Architectural Antiques

Walking into this place feels less like shopping and more like exploring a museum where everything is somehow for sale. Old church pews line one wall while stained glass windows...

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This Unassuming Mexican Restaurant In Minnesota Has Been Run By The Same Family For Sixty Years

You would never guess what is hiding behind this plain storefront. No flashy signs, no Instagram walls, no trendy neon cactus logos.

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Minnesota’s Adults-Only Spa Resort Features Outdoor Soaking Pools and Endless Relaxation

No kids screaming in the pool. No one asking for a snack every five minutes, no cartoon characters on the towels. This Minnesota...

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9 Minnesota Factory Tours That Make for a Surprisingly Fun Day Trip

Factory tours have a reputation problem. Most people hear those words and imagine fluorescent lighting, safety videos from the 1990s, and the faint smell of industrial cleaner.

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The Minnesota Gas Station That Sells The Best Fried Chicken In Three Counties

You pull up to the pumps and the smell hits you before you even turn off the engine. Fried chicken. Not the sad, rubbery kind...

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The Minnesota Spot Where Old Churches Donate Their Best Parts

When a church closes, most of what is inside ends up in a dumpster. The stained glass. The wooden pews. The doors that have welcomed...

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$30 At These Minnesota Markets Gets You A Full Cart And A Confused Spouse

You hand over a twenty and a ten and wait for the total. Surely you misheard. But the cashier repeats the number, and your spouse...

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A Minnesota Boardwalk So Quiet, The Herons Will Ignore You Completely

Some trails are for checking a box. Get your steps in. Snap a photo. Head home. This...

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Minnesota Flea Market Where Your 30$ Feels Like 100

Inflation has made thirty dollars feel like nothing. A tank of gas. A few sandwiches. Maybe a movie ticket if you skip snacks.

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This Short Minnesota Hike Delivers A Payoff Most People Drive Hours To Find

You could drive hours into the mountains of other states to find a view like this. Or you could take this short hike in Minnesota and save yourself the gas money.

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An Entire 1800s Minnesota Town, No Admission Fee, No Crowds

You do not need a ticket to walk through this Minnesota town. No booth at the entrance. No wristband. No gift shop at the exit.

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One Boardwalk In Minnesota Feels More Like A Fairy Tale Than A Family Walk

You step onto the path and the world changes. The trees lean toward each other overhead, their branches weaving together into a tunnel of green and gold.

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This Small-Town Minnesota Coffee Shop Brews Cozy, Cabin-Themed Vibes With Every Cup

The first sip tastes like pine needles and a crackling fire. That is the feeling this cabin-themed coffee shop has been brewing since it opened in a historic Lindstrom building.

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This Massive Minnesota Warehouse Is A 40,000-Square-Foot Goldmine Of Salvaged Treasures

You have never seen old stuff like this. Forty thousand square feet of doors, sinks, stained glass, church pews, and things you cannot even name.

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The Irreverent Minnesota Bar & Grill Where The Name Says It All And The Burgers Are Legendary

Some restaurant names make you do a double-take. This one earns its smirk. A husband and wife opened this Hastings spot in 2004 as a “peanut bar,” handing out free nuts in...

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8 Minnesota Restaurants That Serve Broasted Chicken So Good It’s Famous Across The Midwest

The crackle of perfectly crisp skin gives way to impossibly juicy meat, and you finally understand why people drive across state lines for this singular Midwestern delicacy. Broasted...

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8 Minnesota Caves You Can Tour Without Any Caving Experience

You do not need a hard hat or a headlamp to explore these underground wonders. Eight Minnesota caves offer guided tours with stairs, lights, and firm footing, so you can leave...

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The Walleye Sandwich That Tastes Like Minnesota’s North Shore On A Bun

You cannot order a walleye sandwich in Minnesota without wondering if it was pulled from a lake an hour ago. At this unassuming...

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This Century-Old Minnesota Theatre Offers A Stunning Historic Movie Experience For A Fraction Of Multiplex Prices

Eight dollars. That is what a movie ticket costs at this century-old Minnesota theatre. The velvet curtain still opens by hand....

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10 Bizarre Museum Exhibits In Minnesota You Won’t Believe Are Real

You want weird? Minnesota has it. A 17,400-pound ball of twine rolled by one man over 29 years. A working phrenology machine...

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10 Minnesota Lakes With Public Beaches That Are Never Crowded, Even In July

You grew up picturing packed beaches, frantic searches for parking, and the sudden dread of sitting elbow?to?elbow with strangers on a blanket. That is not the Minnesota you are...

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Most Americans Have Never Heard Of This Minnesota National Park

Pull over. You almost missed it. This Minnesota national park hides quietly on the prairie, ignored by most road trippers who...

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This Minnesota Restaurant Serves Breakfast Classics Without The Blowtorch

That omelet comes loaded with fresh vegetables, and the pancakes arrive without a single unnecessary flourish. No blowtorches,...

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6 Minnesota Ghost Towns You Can Still Walk Through Today, No Admission Fee Required

The church has no roof, the general store has no customers, and the only sounds are the wind and your own footsteps. These are the haunting remains of Minnesota's forgotten places,...

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8 Minnesota Walleye Sandwiches That Locals Keep Secret From Tourists

Let me ask you something. When was the last time a fish sandwich made you close your eyes and just say "wow"? If you have only...

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One Minnesota Warehouse Has 40,000 Square Feet Of Other People’s Amazing Taste

You’ve probably driven right past it. Tucked behind a quiet stretch of pavement, a four-story brick fortress hides something most people will never see: a 40,000-square-foot...

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The Old-Timey Minnesota Restaurant Where The Cheese Curds Arrive Still Steaming And Squeaky

The moment you pull open the heavy wooden door, the scent of hot oil and fresh curds hits you. A basket arrives at your table, still crackling from the fryer.

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10 Minnesota Waterfalls That Require Less Than A One-Mile Hike From The Car

The rumble grows louder. Your feet hit soft pine needles. In under a mile, you are there. Ten Minnesota waterfalls. Each one...

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This Minnesota National Park Gets Zero Crowds And All The Beauty

You will probably have this Minnesota park almost entirely to yourself. That is the quiet magic of Grand Portage National Monument, a remote site on the North Shore that sees only...

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The Minnesota Library Where Immigrants Learned English From Picture Books

Imagine stepping into a warm, quiet library on a freezing Minnesota morning, clutching a children's picture book in a language you barely understand. That is the brave scene that...

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8 Minnesota Bakery Items So Good People Drive Across State Lines

Some Minnesota bakeries don't just serve pastries; they create pilgrimage routes. Locals will happily add an extra hour to a road trip, crossing state lines for a single bite of...

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The Minnesota Beach Where You Can Walk A Full Mile And Never Go Deeper Than Your Ankles

The moment you step onto the golden sand, you will do a double-take. You keep walking, and the icy, clear water of Sturgeon Lake barely tickles your ankles.

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The Spaghetti At This Minnesota Spot Is So Memorable, It Will Haunt Your Dreams All Week Long

A plate of spaghetti so good that you will wake up thinking about it days after your last bite. I sat down in a red vinyl booth and the smell of garlic and simmering sauce wrapped...

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The Most Expensive Restaurants in Minnesota and Which Locals Actually Recommend

Fancy restaurants with big price tags can be hit or miss but the locals know which ones actually deliver. I asked around and made a list of the splurge worthy spots that Minnesota...

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This Minnesota Cave Restaurant Lets You Eat Dinner Below Historic Downtown

A staircase leads down beneath the historic streets into a sandstone cave where candlelight flickers off rough stone walls. I walked into the dining room and the temperature dropped...

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10 Minnesota Spring Bucket List Experiences You Can’t Find Anywhere Else

Spring in Minnesota arrives with a burst of energy that feels like the whole state waking up from a long cozy nap. I made a list of experiences that you simply cannot find anywhere...

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