Best of Minnesota 2015: Travel
The best camping, hotels, resorts, escapes, state parks, small towns and more.
Best state park lodging - Itasca State Park
With a blend of historic rooms at Douglas Lodge, log cabins with vintage charm, newer year-round suites and even a hostel (1-218-266-3415), this supersized state…
Best family resort - Kavanaugh's
Think Goldilocks — not too big, not too small. It’s just right with a mix of one- to three-bedroom townhouses and modern vacation cottages, indoor…
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Best B&B for an island escape - Xanadu Island B&B
You can drive to this seasonal “island” getaway on five acres almost completely surrounded by Elbow Lake and dominated by the historic summer home of…
Best B&B for classic elegance - A.G. Thomson House
Stately and homey, classy yet casual, this 1909 Dutch Colonial mansion offers a pampered escape. Join other guests for multicourse breakfasts or have it delivered…
Best lakeside hotel - Chase on the Lake
Historic and stately with 1920s charm, this hotel with condos and rooms perches on the shores of Leech Lake’s Walker Bay. Dine overlooking the marina,…
Best wilderness resort - Gunflint Lodge
A landmark at the end of the Gunflint Trail for more than 80 years, this lakeside resort takes guests on 2½-hour zip line tours through…
Best place for a family reunion in northern Minnesota - Mantrap Lodge
If you need a place to let the younger cousins roam free, with gathering spots by a pool or on the beach, this vintage small…
Best campground for forest camping - Norway Beach
Tucked beneath fragrant, towering pines and along Cass Lake, some of these roomy sites are right on the water with stellar sunset views and beaches.…
Best spot for train-lovers - Northern Rail Traincar Inn
One of Minnesota’s quirkier places stay, this inn boasts 14 comfortable guest rooms made from retired boxcars. The enclosed hall that connects two lines of…
Best place to ditch the mosquitoes - Whitewater State Park
If you can’t stand dousing with bug spray, try this park tucked into southeastern Minnesota bluff country. Spring-fed Whitewater River and Trout Run Creek stay…
Best all-inclusive resort - Lost Lake Lodge
If you don’t want to cook on vacation, this small resort with 12 old-fashioned cabins near the Gull Lake Causeway stands out for its all-inclusive…
Best small town for history buffs - New Ulm
Originally envisioned as an idyllic community of German immigrants, New Ulm shows its heritage through architecture, the chime of the downtown glockenspiel and the Schell’s…
Best place to watch ships - South Pier Inn
For anyone who loves to watch 1,000-foot “lakers” slip in and out of Duluth’s harbor, you can’t get any closer than this boutique hotel, located…
Best small town for going wild - Ely
Perfect your paddle or hone your howl in Ely on the cusp of the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area and the edge of the Iron Range.…
Best eco-friendly B&B - Baptism River Inn B&B
Revel in the classic “Up North” feel of this modern log lodge with bright textiles and green credentials. With four rooms and a location near…
Best place for family reunions in southern Minnesota - Cedar Valley Resort
This resort tucked along the Root River near Whalan caters to family reunions with new cabins built with up to six bedrooms and six baths.…
Best Lake Superior campsites - Lamb's Resort & Campground
North of Silver Bay and south of Lutsen, this resort’s old-fashioned red log cabins have anchored the tiny town of Schroeder for generations. It also…
Best small town for a creative escape - Grand Marais
Whether or not you try a class at North House Folk School or Grand Marais Art Colony, you can soak up the creative ambience with…
Best Lake Superior views - East Bay Suites
With simple modern décor and generous windows, you could pretend you’re on a houseboat with these close-to-the-shore rooms. Nice bonus: An easy stroll to Artist’s…
Best bluff country camping - Great River Bluffs State Park
Elevate your camping experience at one of 31 sites tucked into the wooded bluffs about 20 miles southeast of Winona and rising several hundred feet…