The Weekend Route - Minnesota

Next up in our Adventurer Club gear blogs - Fall Backcountry Gear!

Featuring the best Adventurer Club-tested gear to take on your wilderness hikes and overnight adventures. When it comes to being out in nature, it is always best to be as well prepared (and comfortable!) as possible.

We encourage you to email us to let us know what you think of our work or to make suggestions. We like to think of the TWR Adventurer Club as belonging to our readers, so we want your opinions and would love to hear about the minimalist gear you can't live without.

In the meantime, check out our latest blog, 'Liv's Must Haves - Fall Backcountry Gear' to see our newest set of gear we have personally approved - link in bio.

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🎶…..the cold never bothered me anyway💁🏼‍♀️❄️🎶

Another unique find along

📍 New Brighton, MN

❄️Ice Castles is an awe-inspiring, must see winter phenomenon that brings fairytales to life. Each castle is hand built by professional ice artists, which takes thousands of man hours to create. Anywhere from 5,000-12,000 icicles are grown, harvested, and individually sculpted into existing ice formations!

❄️Each castle is approximately 1 acre in size and consists of more than 25 million pounds of ice!😱 As an added bonus, all ice castles are strategically positioned by natural water sources so that the water returns to the environment to be used again by wildlife, people and plants.💙

❄️The experience features frozen towers, caverns, ice slides, crawl spaces, ice-carved thrones, and tunnels. LED lights are also frozen inside the ice and light up/change colour at night to provide an even more magical experience! ✨

❤️MN

📍 1500 Old Hwy 8, New Brighton, MN 55112, United States

The Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about.

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🎸🎶Paisley Park🎶🎸

Another unique find along the

📍Chanhassen, MN

🎸 Paisley Park is a place where art, music, fashion, and culture are celebrated, energized, and inspired by the visionary creative spirit of Prince. Known as his home and studio, Paisley Park now draws people from around the world to attend tours, concerts and events and feel the love, awe, and wonder that are expressed in Prince’s emotional words: “Paisley Park is in your heart.”

📍7801 Audubon Rd, Chanhassen, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🌊Broken Down Dam🌊

Another unique find along the

📍Otter Tail County, MN

🌊 Broken Down Dam was a concrete hydroelectric gravity dam on the Otter Tail River in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Constructed in 1908 to supply power to the nearby town of Fergus Falls, the dam suddenly failed on September 24, 1909. Collapse of the dam caused the failure of four others downstream as well as significant property damage

🌊City officials left the damaged structure in place and today its ruins lie along the recreational Otter Tail River State Water Trail at Broken Down Dam Park. The only flood recorded in the history of Fergus Falls was due to this disaster

📍Broken Down Dam Park, Fergus Falls, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🎅🎄Bentleyville Light Tours🎄🎅

Another unique find along the

📍Duluth, MN

🎅 Bentleyville "Tour of Lights" is one of America's largest free walk-through lighting displays. It is located in Duluth, Minnesota and runs from November 20 through December 27, 2021, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on weekdays, and 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is FREE and the cost to park is $10 per vehicle

🎅 The event is a walk-through display where visitors can walk through different light tunnels and other illuminated paths to view the large scenes of lights depicting various holiday figures and local attractions around the Duluth area

📍704 Railroad st, Duluth, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🏔Wabasa Street Caves🏔

Another unique find along the

📍St. Paul, MN

🏔The Wabasha Street Caves is an event hall built into the sandstone caves located on the south shore of the Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. The caves have been home to mobsters, speakeasies, and for the past 30 years have hosted Swing Night every Thursday night with professional live Big Bands and vocalists

🏔 The Wabasha Street Caves also provide historical tours and Murder Mystery Tours in these sandstone caves in Saint Paul, Minnesota near the Mississippi River

📍215, Wabasha Street, St. Paul, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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⛪️Cathedral of Saint Paul⛪️

Another unique find along the

📍Saint Paul, MN

⛪️ The Cathedral of Saint Paul is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of St. Paul, Minnesota. One of the most distinctive cathedrals in the United States, it sits on Cathedral Hill overlooking downtown St. Paul and features a distinctive copper-clad dome

⛪️ Warm-colored paint and gold leaf were added during a major renovation of the dome in the 1950s. The exterior walls of the cathedral are Rockville granite from St. Cloud, Minnesota. The interior is illuminated by twenty-four stained glass windows featuring angelic choirs

📍239 Shelby ave, Saint Paul, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🧟‍♂️👻First Avenue👻🧟‍♂️

Another unique find along the

📍Minneapolis, MN

🧟‍♂️Long before all the sparks and glitters at First Avenue, it used to be a greyhound depot.

🧟‍♂️ Legend has it that one of the bathrooms in the 1,550-capacity concert hall is haunted by the ghost of a woman who hung herself in the bus station after her lover, a World War II soldier didn’t return home

🧟‍♂️ Workers have reported screams and cries emanating from the fifth stall; others claim to have seen a full-body apparition with a noose hanging around its neck, and warn one another not to enter the restroom with the lights off

📍701 N 1st Avenue, Minneapolis, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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👻The Historic Mounds Theatre👻🧟‍♂️

Another unique find along the

📍St. Paul, MN

🧟‍♂️This historic theatre is called Mounds theatre for a reason. the theater is allegedly haunted by a trio of ghosts: a happy little girl who bounces a ball onstage, a cursed old man that lurks in the shadowy corners of the projection booth and a crestfallen usher who lists up and down the aisles in search of his lost love

🧟‍♂️Immersive ghost hinting tours are held here every October; people visiting this building have described flickering lights, strange smells and inexplicable cold spots

📍1029 Hudson Rd, St. Paul, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🧟‍♂️👻Palmer House Hotel👻🧟‍♂️

Another unique find along the

📍Sauk Centre, MN

🧟‍♂️ This haunted hotel has been visited by paranormal enthusiasts from across the country for its notorious ghost stories

🧟‍♂️ Room 17 is supposed to be the scariest, inhabited by a phantom pr******te named Lucy who, rumor has it, was murdered at Sauk Centre House, a brothel that burned to the ground more than 120 years ago. Room 22, meanwhile, is haunted by Raymond, Lucy’s mean-spirited pimp

📍Sauk Centre, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🎃Minnesota Landscape Arboretum🎃

Another unique find along the

📍Chaska, MN

🎃Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is part of the University of Minnesota; it features more than 1200 acres of magnificent gardens, model landscapes and natural areas-from woodlands and wetlands to prairie-with extensive collections of northern-hardy plants

🎃 Tour the Arboretum on 12.5 miles of garden paths and hiking trails. Walk the close gardens and bike or drive Three-Mile Drive to see more gardens and collections. Three-Mile Walk is for walking only - and takes visitors through many gardens and collections

📍3675 Arboretum Dr, Chaska, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🏰🏠Naniboujou Lodge🏠🏰

Another unique find along the

📍Grand Marais, MN

🏰The Naniboujou Club Lodge is a resort and restaurant built as part of a private club on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Cook County, Minnesota. It is named after Naniboujou, a character from the Cree, and the lodge's décor has both Native American and Art Deco influences. Commenced in the twilight of the Jazz Age, the club's grandiose plans succumbed to the economic realities of the Great Depression, and only the clubhouse was built

🏰 Step back in time and escape to the quietness of Minnesota’s north shore for a getaway to remember. Naniboujou can be your homebase while you explore the hiking trails and the many natural wonders the area has to offer

📍20 Naniboujou Trail, Grand Marais, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🏰🏠Two Harbours Light🏠🏰

Another unique find along the

📍Two Harbors, MN

🏰The Two Harbors Light is the oldest operating lighthouse in the US state of Minnesota. Overlooking Lake Superior’s Agate Bay, the lighthouse is located in Two Harbors, Minnesota.

🏰The construction of the lighthouse began in 1891 and was completed the following year, with the light being lit for the first time on April 14, 1892. The first Two Harbors keeper was Charles Lederle and there were normally three keepers assigned to make sure the light was lit every day

🏰The Lighthouse was built to provide safe passage into the Agate Bay Harbor during the early 20th century, as Two Harbors was a major shipping point for the iron ore of the Mesabi Range

📍1 Lighthouse Point, Two Harbors, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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📕📚Eat My Words Bookstore📚📕

Another unique find along the

📍Minneapolis, MN

📚 Eat My Words Bookstore began on a life long dream and a vast personal collection of books. Scott VanKoughnett, owner and proprietor, opened his doors in 2014. The carefully curated selection of books ranges from the classics to the contemporary, the cult favorite to the unimaginable

📚 Besides used and vintage books, they also carry local publications and new books by local authors. Eat My Words! Bookstore is a cozy little used bookstore in Northeast Minneapolis. The staff is welcoming and laid back

📍214 13th Avenue Southeast, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🌊👻Mysterious Devil’s Kettle👻🌊

Another unique find along the

📍Grand Marais, MN

🌊 Minnesota’s Devil’s Kettle Falls has been puzzling hikers and geologists for generations. At the falls, along Lake Superior’s north shore, a river forks at a rock outcropping. While one side tumbles down a two-step stone embankment and continues on like a normal waterfall, the other side vanishes into a deep hole and disappears

🌊The Brule River flows through Minnesota’s Judge C. R. Magney State Park, where it drops 800 feet in an 8-mile span, creating several waterfalls. A mile and a half north of the shore of Lake Superior, a thick knuckle of rhyolite rock juts out, dividing the river dramatically at the crest of the falls

🌊To the east, a traditional waterfall carves a downward path, but to the west, a geological conundrum awaits visitors. A giant pothole, the Devil’s Kettle, swallows half of the Brule

📍Superior Hiking Trail, Grand Marais, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🏠⚾️House of Balls⚾️🏠

Another unique find along the

📍Minneapolis , MN

🏠House of balls is the studio and gallery of wildly imaginative sculptor Allen Christian. ⁣Back in the 1930s, this building was a gas station; it has also done time as a flop house and goth nightclub. Christian took over the space in 2014 and has been a staple near the Cedar Riverside LRT stop ever since

🏠 Though he first gained attention for sculpting faces out of resin-stripped bowling balls, Christian now specializes in plasma cutting. His creations are big and strange, usually incorporating found or salvaged objects: shovels, saws, wrenches, rakes, grandfather clocks, toilet seats, turtle shells, typewriter keys, piano guts, air ducts, frying pans, and even lumbar supports from disused office chairs

📍1504 7th St S, Minneapolis, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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⛰🍃Oberg Mountain🍃⛰

Another unique find along the

📍Duluth, MN

⛰This wonderful and easy hike of about 3 miles will give you some spectacular views of Lake Superior, Oberg Lake and Moose Mountain

⛰ The Oberg Mountain Loop is one of the best day hike sections of the 310-mile-long Superior Hiking Trail. This trail begins from the trailhead with a short half-mile hike where you climb about 200 feet along a couple of switchbacks

⛰Although it’s a beautiful hike to do all year round, the colours in fall are breathtaking and the cooler weather makes hiking even easier

📍Tofte Township, Cook County, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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⛪️✝️Cathedral of Saint Paul✝️⛪️

Another unique find along the

📍Saint Paul, MN

⛪️ The Cathedral of Saint Paul is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of St. Paul, Minnesota. It is the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis; the Co-Cathedral is the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis

⛪️ The Cathedral dominates the Saint Paul skyline and is situated on the highest point in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. For the wider community, as well as for our parishioners, the Cathedral provides opportunities to enhance our appreciation for the arts

⛪️ The parish hosts a regular organ concert series showcasing the Cathedral's two Skinner organs. The Minnesota Orchestra and Vocal Essence are some of the groups that present concerts at the Cathedral each year

📍 239 Shelby Av, St Paul, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🐒🪴Como Park and Conservatory🪴🐒

Another unique find along the

📍Saint Paul, MN

🐻Como Park and Conservatory is about half the size of NYC's Central Park, but it has more to see, with a zoo, conservatory, amusement park, golf course, and beautiful lakeside trails

🐨 It is a city gem through all seasons: in winter, it’s a snowy playground for cross-country skiers; in spring and fall, joggers and bikers fill the trails surrounding Como Lake; and in summer, people rent paddleboats or bring a lawn chair and take in a local concert or play at the Lakeside Pavilion

🐒 Most impressive is the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, a lush haven of six indoor garden spaces with distinct ecosystems under one acre of glass

📍1225 Estabrook Dr, St Paul, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🏛🎨Weisman Art Museum🎨🏛

Another unique find along the

📍Minneapolis, MN

🎨 The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum is an art museum located at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The museum was founded in 1934 and is named in honor of art collector Frederick R. Weisman. Frederick R. Weisman was a Minneapolis native who became well known as an art collector in Los Angles

🎨 The current museum building was designed by world-renowned architect Frqnk Gehry with MSR Design as architect of record and completed in November 1993. It is one of the major landmarks on the University of Minnesota campus, situated on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River at the east end of the Washington Avenue Bridge. The abstract structure is considered highly significant because it was built prior to the widespread use of computer aided design in architecture

📍333 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🌊Minnehaha Falls🌊

Another unique find along the

📍Minneapolis, MN

🌊 Minnehaha Falls is located located in Minneapolis Minnesota. The falls is in Minnehaha Park, a large city park on the shores of the Mississipi River. The park includes picnic areas, trails, sculpture and the 53 foot falls

🌊 There is a bridge just above the falls, and trails that go down into the gorge on both sides, and another bridge below the falls. The trails continue along the creek. You can follow the trail all the way to the Mississipi, which is less than 1/2 mile away from the falls

📍Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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🍭🍬 Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store🍬🍭

Another unique find along the

📍Jordan, MN

🍭 Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store, also known as Jim’s Apple Farm, is located near Shakopee in Jordan, MN. This can’t miss yellow barn and fence, located along Highway 169, is one of Minnesota’s most unique attractions

🍭 Come to this seasonal business, open mid-May through November, for hard-to-find sweets, wonderful and fresh baked goods, the world’s largest selection of soda’s, a large variety of popcorn, pastas, and meats and other products raised or made locally by surrounding farms. This unique and nostalgic place is the perfect spot for people of all ages!

📍20430 Johnson Memorial Dr, Jordan, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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⚔️Washburn Park Water Tower⚔️🤺

Another unique find along the

📍Minneapolis, MN

⚔️ The Washburn Park Water Tower poses as a landmark of early 20th-Century architectural achievement within the Tangletown neighborhood in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has been doing so for nearly 75 years

⚔️ Perched on top of one of the highest points in south Minneapolis, the tower is given the privilege to boast its unique location and role as an unofficial "beacon" for incoming planes landing at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport

⚔️ The Washburn Park Water Tower is one of three stone water towers built in Minneapolis during the early 20th-Century

📍 401 Prospect Ave, Minneapolis, MN

Weekend Route Minnesota is dedicated to finding off-the-beaten-track places to visit that only locals know about

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