Away from the Crowds in Minnesota

Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but in fact the state has 11,843 lakes. It is located in the northern region of the US and is a Midwestern state.

The Birthplace of F. Scott Fitzgerald is located in Saint Paul and is the home of the author of such American classics as “This Side of Paradise” and “The Great Gatsby,” among others. Fitzgerald was born on the second floor of this multi-storied Victorian apartment at 481 Laurel Avenue.

Devil’s Kettle is located in Grand Marais. It is on the west stream of the Brule River in Judge C.R. Magney State Park. It is a magical kind of spot since the water flows to the east and falls 50 feet down a cliff heading to meet up with Lake Superior, but then the stream that heads toward the west enters a hole in the cliff and disappears.

Hidden Beach is located east of Cedar Lake. The beach derives its name from the winding pathways that lead to the unknown beach and attracts mixed crowds and is a favorite among adults, kids, and dogs.

Niagara Caves in the town of Harmony is a geological formation. These caves are home to a 60-foot underground waterfall. These are the largest of their kind in the Midwest. The caves were found by a farmer looking for his three pigs which were found 75 feet underground. About ten years later they were opened to the public.

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox were created by Jim Payton and Cyril Dickinson in 1937 to serve as mascots for a lumberjack-themed winter festival. They are the inspiration of the legendary folk hero, Paul Bunyan, a lumberjack of some North American tales. These figures stand on the shores of Bemidji Lake. They have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988.

The Sidewalk Harp is the creation of architect Jen Lewin, known for her interactive installations. This artistic creation is found outside the Be the Match building in Minneapolis. The Sidewalk Harp is a 40-foot harp-like structure built out of stainless steel in a wave with motion-sensor LED lights beneath it. If someone waves their hand, the light glows and the installation makes music.

Visitors can either choose to pluck the strings individually or strum so they can all play together. Additionally, the LED lights change color (red, blue, purple, green, and white), each of which produces a distinct tone.

The Spam Museum belongs to Hormel Foods, who first created the ham product Spam in 1937. It is located in Austin and displays a collection of memorabilia from WWII and features different items that have been made out of old Spam tins and boxes.

The Split Rock Lighthouse was built in 1910 on a 130-foot wall on a cliffside overlooking Lake Superior. It is no longer functional but saved a lot of ships that sailed the surrounding waters. To commemorate the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, Split Rock Lighthouse is lit for a day and night every year on November 10th. Attendees to the event can climb up the structure after dark and experience the nostalgia.

The Wabash Street Caves are located opposite downtown Saint Paul beneath a large plateau. These are natural caves that have been around since the early 1800s. Before settlers came, they were used by native tribes, and in the 1840s miners used them.

In the early 1900s a French family started a mushroom farm here and put them to use during the Prohibition. This brought in the mob and illegal business dealings. In the 1970s the Wabash Street Caves became a popular disco but now are an event spot.

If you’re into the unusual, see the world’s largest crow in Belgrade at Centennial Memorial Park. The sculpture was built to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the state. The bird statue is located near the Crow River, which submerges in the Crow Lake, and all of these sites derive their name from Chief Little Crow, a Sioux warrior. The base beneath the structure’s pedestal houses a tiny museum for visitors who would be interested to know more about the celebration that took place on the state’s anniversary.