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Minnesota Holiday - 'Northern Minnesota Lake' - courtesy jmagnusphoto - CC-BY

Tourism is a major factor in the ecomony of the North Star State because of a wide range of attractions and something for just about everybody.

You can wonder at the natural beauty, speak with friendly folks, engage in many types of outdoor recreation, or shop-till-you-drop in any part of the state. But if you are a real shopaholic, Mall of America is the largest fully-enclosed retail and entertainment complex in the United States.

The twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul offer all the amenities of any large metropolitan area with excellent restaurants, museums, shopping and night life. In Minneapolis you may stroll through 4,000 years of world history as you view more than 80,000 works of sculpture, photography, paintings, drawings and prints in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Or go international with a visit to Mercado Central, a Mexican-style market selling food, crafts, Spanish books and music.

In St. Paul, visit the James J Hill Mansion. This red sandstone mansion was the home of James J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway.  It is a fine example of the life of the super wealthy during the American Gilded Age.  And for the kids, there is the Minnesota Children’s Museum, where both learning and having fun are key at this interactive museum where kids explore their world by climbing, touching, splashing, pulling and pressing exhibits and displays.

But if you are the more outdoor type, there is prime fishing, canoeing, kyaking, cross country skiing, hiking, state and National Parks, and much more.  In fact, if you really want to get away,  consider the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. A few miles into the Boundary Waters reveal a natural paradise where you might not see anyone for days.

This only skims the surface of what there is to see and do in Minnesota.

For more information about Minnesota travel and tourism