Minnesota
6 Of The Most Walkable Towns In Minnesota
Minnesota certainly has a lot going for it. Located in the Upper Midwest region of the United States with a northern border shared with the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, it’s also a part of the Great Lakes region, sharing a Lake Superior shoreline with Wisconsin. Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” it also shares another characteristic with its neighbors: an abundance of charming communities waiting to be explored.
Minnesota’s small towns not only serve as great jumping-off points to explore the state’s scenery, but they also offer no end of fun things to do in town. The best of them are easy to explore on foot, with top attractions often centrally located and accessible even to those who don’t want to walk long distances between attractions. For ideas and inspiration, we’ve pulled together this list of six of the most walkable towns in Minnesota.
Stillwater
Just 25 miles from downtown Minneapolis on the banks of the scenic St. Croix River, Stillwater is one of Minnesota’s oldest and most picturesque towns. Dubbed the “Birthplace of Minnesota, “it was here in 1848 that the process of statehood began, with the actual spot where this event took place easy to find on the corner of Main Street and Myrtle. Other historic sites to include on a walking tour are the Warden’s House Museum, set in the former home of a local prison warden, and the Washington County Historic Courthouse, built in 1870 and one of the finest municipal buildings in the Midwest.
The iconic Stillwater Lift Bridge is also easy to get to on foot and now sees only pedestrian and bike traffic. Built in 1931, this iconic structure connects Stillwater with Houlton in Wisconsin and is especially nice to view at night when it’s lit up. It also connects an extensive network of walking trails on both sides of the river.
Red Wing
Red Wing is another lovely riverside town worth exploring. Set along the Mississippi River 45 miles downstream of St. Paul, its immensely walkable downtown district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making it a fascinating place to explore on foot. Top attractions include the Red Wing Shoe Company Museum, dedicated to the history of the famous manufacturer with tours of the still-working factory, and the historic Sheldon Theatre, built in 1904 and just steps from the town’s John Rich Park with its attractive old church.
Nearby Barn Bluff to the east of town is a must-see. While only two miles away, you’ll want to drive to this prominent geological feature with its hiking trails and panoramic views of the Mississippi River and the town. The Red Wing Marina, just a short walk from the downtown area, is a great place to hop aboard a river cruise along the Mississippi and rest those weary feet.
Grand Marais
Situated on the North Shore of Lake Superior, Grand Marais’ compact size and scenic setting make for an excellent walking experience. The highlight here is Grand Marais Harbor, a large natural bay protected by man-made break walls, each topped with charming little lighthouses. Follow the shoreline from scenic Artist Point along a section of the Gitchi Gami State Trail to Grand Marais Marina Vista Point. It’s only a mile walk around the bay, with attractions like Fish House Historic Landmark Museum, North House Folk School, and the Harbor Picnic Shelter to check out along the way.
Just a few minutes walk from the harbor, the Grand Marais Art Colony is a key cultural attraction in this part of the Great Lakes and offers workshops and classes in various arts and crafts. The town’s annual Fisherman’s Picnic is a great time for a visit. Held mid-summer for over 60 years, this much-loved local festival features live music, a parade, and various family-friendly activities. The Grand Marais Arts Festival in July is another great event to experience.
Northfield
Follow the I-35 south from Minneapolis to Northfield for another walkable small-town experience. Located along the Cannon River, this charming college town boasts a quaint downtown core that’s fun to explore on foot. Highlights include the Northfield Historical Society Museum with its displays relating to the town’s founding and the infamous 1876 bank raid by the James-Younger Gang, along with the lovely Bridge Square, a pretty park that’s a great place to rest the feet for a while.
From here you’re just seconds away from Northfield’s Riverwalk. This delightful riverside trail follows the Cannon River for some distance in either direction and can be included with other walking routes such as the Carleton Arboretum Trail and the East River Trail for a multi-mile hike. Northfield is also home to Carleton College and St. Olaf College, both of boasting campuses with walking paths and gardens.
Winona
Winona is another small town along the mighty Mississippi River that’s worth putting the ol’ walking shoes on for. Handy to get to, thanks to the I-90 just a few miles to the south, this walkable town is known for its attractive downtown area. Among its many well-preserved historic buildings is the landmark Winona National Bank, a stunning surviving example of Prairie School architecture designed by George Maher in the early 1900s.
From here, it’s just a short distance to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Set overlooking the river, this state-of-the-art attraction houses an impressive collection of maritime art and exhibits, much of it related to the Mississippi. Nearby Sugar Loaf Bluff, with its hiking trails and views of the Mississippi River, offers more walking adventures.
Ely
Ely is not just a paradise for those who want to explore the town on foot but also for those who enjoy paddling. Located in the state’s northeast corner, its proximity to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness places it firmly on the radar of outdoor adventurers. Not only does Ely provide easy access to this wilderness area’s more than one million acres of stunning scenery, but it also features numerous trails and waterways of its own, enabling visitors to explore without having to venture too far afield.
Other notable attractions in Ely include the International Wolf Center and the North American Bear Center. Both provide unique opportunities to learn about and observe these magnificent animals in their natural habitats.
The Final Word
Minnesota’s small towns are worth considering if a day trip, a weekend getaway, or even a longer vacation is on the cards. These six small towns in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” offer opportunities to explore some of the state’s most exhilarating scenery and are also immensely walkable. In fact, here you may find yourself parking the car and forgetting about if or a few days.
Minnesota
Vikings Have a Dubious Connection to the Dexter Lawrence Trade
Of the many terrible roster decisions Minnesota sports teams have made over the past 30 years, the worst of the bunch may have been trading Randy Moss to the Raiders for the No. 7 pick in the draft and linebacker Napoleon Harris.
Why are we bringing up a trade that happened 21 years ago? Because the New York Giants traded defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 pick in this week’s NFL Draft. It was the first time a non-quarterback has been traded for a top-10 pick since the infamous Moss trade in 2005.
Minnesota traded Moss for the Raiders’ first-round pick, Harris, and a seventh-round pick on March 2, 2005. The Vikings used the No. 7 pick on wide receiver Troy Williamson, who never panned out in the NFL. He had 24 catches for 372 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie, 37 receptions for 457 yards and zero touchdowns in 2006, and just 18 catches for 240 yards and one touchdown in 2007.
Williams led the league with 11 dropped passes in 2006. Minnesota traded him to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick after the 2007 season, where he played in 10 games over two seasons and totaled just eight catches for 64 yards. He was cut before the start of the 2010 season, and that was a wrap on the former South Carolina speedster’s NFL career.
Moss didn’t put up jaw-dropping numbers with the Raiders for two seasons, but he set an NFL record with 23 touchdown catches in 2007 with the New England Patriots. He caught 47 touchdowns in 48 regular-season games with the Patriots from 2007 to 2009.
Whether it was trading Moss to the Raiders, the Timberwolves sending Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics — or drafting Ricky Rubio AND Johnny Flynn over Steph Curry — or the Twins cutting David Ortiz and watching him become one of the greatest players in MLB history with the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota sports teams have a long history of making terrible decisions.
The Bengals, meanwhile, gave up the 10th overall pick for one of the best defensive tackles in the league. They’ll likely get great production from Lawrence, while the Giants are now under pressure to get the 10th pick right. New York also holds the No. 5 pick in Thursday’s first round of the draft.
By the way, the Vikings had two picks in the first round of the 2005 draft. After taking Williamson, they used the No. 18 pick on defensive end Erasmus James. He was just as much of a bust as Williams, playing in 23 games in three years with the Vikings. He had four sacks as a rookie, but injuries wiped out most of his 2006 and 2007 seasons before he was traded to Washington for a conditional seventh-round pick.
James was cut by Washington in December 2009, marking the end of his NFL career.
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Minnesota
Boldy, Eriksson Ek help Wild cruise past Stars in Game 1 of Western 1st Round | NHL.com
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are the No. 3 seed in the Central Division. Wallstedt made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, and Zuccarello had three assists.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Wallstedt, a rookie. “I think it shows that it means something to you. I like a little bit of nerves. I think it’s something good. There were definitely some nerves throughout the day and then a little bit extra rolling into the game. But after the national anthem was over and the first couple pucks started coming, you’re good.
“I wanted to play and I felt like I have been going good. I was a little surprised (to get the start). But I was very excited as soon as I got the news. I just wanted to make sure I was ready today.”
Jason Robertson scored, and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 2 seed in the Central.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I think two power-play goals for them, two a little-bit bounces for them where we had guys in the right spot. Just even keel. Playoffs are like this. Sometimes you lose a game, you can feel like you’re done. But that’s the mentality you need to have, you’ve got to reset and learn from mistakes.
“First 30 minutes, we didn’t win enough battles. They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger.”
Game 2 is here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, Victory+, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360).
“We prepped for a couple days coming into this one. Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they [Dallas] lost. It’s not so much being satisfied where you’re at or that’s what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better.”
Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on the power play. He scored on a one-timer from the left hash marks to finish a tic-tac-toe passing play with Zuccarello and Boldy, who found an open Eriksson Ek with a pass from the goal line.
“I think every team in the playoffs talks about not getting too high or too low. Just enjoy every day and each game and then we will go from there,” Eriksson Ek said. “I think we played pretty good today. The next game is a new game, so we just have to do it over and over every game. We know they are probably not the happiest with that game, so I am sure it’s going to be hard next game.”
Minnesota
ICE agent assault charge marks a ‘milestone’ for Minnesota prosecutors
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault accusing him of involvement in a February road-rage incident.
Trump administration ends Minnesota immigration operation
Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of Minnesota’s immigration operation after fatal shootings heightened tension and community backlash.
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault, saying the agent was involved in a February road-rage incident during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to April 16 Hennepin County court records. He has a nationwide warrant for his arrest.
On Feb. 5, prosecutors said Morgan allegedly drove illegally on the shoulder of a congested Minnesota highway in an unmarked SUV and pointed his weapon at two people in another car.
Morgan is the first agent charged in Operation Metro Surge, the controversial Minneapolis-area federal immigration operation that resulted in two American citizens fatally shot by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The charges “reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in an April 16 video statement.
Second-degree assault with a gun has a presumptive sentence of 36 months in prison if convicted, she said.
“Mr. Morgan’s conduct was extremely dangerous,” she said, adding his actions could have led to “another disastrous incident” in the community.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to email requests for comment. A cell phone listed for Morgan, identified as a Maryland resident, didn’t immediately respond to a call or text message.
The incident came less than two weeks after two Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti would be the second American killed during Metro Surge after an ICE agent in early January fatally shot Renee Good, 37, while she drove her SUV in Minneapolis near an immigration operation.
Later in February, the Trump administration drew down Metro Surge, which officials called the largest immigration operation in modern American history.
Investigators said they interviewed Morgan, who identified himself as the driver. Morgan told investigators he and the other ICE employee were returning from a surveillance shift. Morgan said he feared for his life and others’ safety, so he pulled up alongside the vehicle and drew his Glock 19 firearm. He said he identified himself as police.
State investigators said neither Morgan nor the other ICE agent reported the incident to an ICE supervisor.
The April 16 warrant, signed by District Court Judge Paul Scoggin, said there was a “substantial likelihood” Morgan would fail to respond to a summons, and officials couldn’t locate him.
On April 18, Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the county attorney’s office, said there is no knowledge of Morgan being arrested yet.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
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