Wild Beauty, Waterfront Escapes and the Quiet Luxury of Minnesota
Minnesota does luxury a little differently: less velvet rope, more private dock. Known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes—though it actually has more than 11,000—the state pairs sophisticated city stays with pristine wilderness, grand historic estates and some of the Midwest’s most beautiful waterfront escapes. In Minneapolis, spend an afternoon at the Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, dine your way through the city’s acclaimed culinary scene, then retreat to a polished downtown hotel. Nearby Lake Minnetonka offers another side of Minnesota living, with boating, waterfront dining and elegant communities lining its shores.
For something wilder, head north to Lake Superior and Minnesota’s North Shore, where the scenery shifts to rocky cliffs, waterfalls and vast stretches of forest. Follow Highway 61 toward Grand Marais, stopping at Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse, one of the state’s most recognizable landmarks. Farther north, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness encompasses more than a million acres of lakes and forest—a spectacular setting for privately guided paddling, fishing and quiet nights beneath remarkably dark skies.
For something wilder, head north to Lake Superior and Minnesota’s North Shore, where the scenery shifts to rocky cliffs, waterfalls and vast stretches of forest. Follow Highway 61 toward Grand Marais, stopping at Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse, one of the state’s most recognizable landmarks. Farther north, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness encompasses more than a million acres of lakes and forest—a spectacular setting for privately guided paddling, fishing and quiet nights beneath remarkably dark skies.