With summer in full swing and the 4th of July coming up, you might be thinking to yourself it’s time to get out of the Cities! There’s TONS of great places a short-ish drive from the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area, here’s a list of just a few of them!

First off is one of our favorite places ever! AtoZ Produce and Bakery is an amazing farm and restaurant near Stockholm, WI and - we can’t stress this enough - has some of THE BEST pizza you’ll ever eat. Make the scenic drive south of the cities through Hastings, Lake Pepin, and Stockholm, and stop in some of the adorable shops along the way! You’ll want to bring your own blankets, utensils, and non-alcoholic beverages along with you to the farm (and don’t forget to clean up after yourself!). Once you’ve gotten your delicious pizzas, make your way out to the farm and find a place to have a picnic. There’s no bad places to sit on this gorgeous farm!



AtoZ Produce and Bakery 
N2956 Anker Ln 
Stockholm, WI 54769



Sticking in the south-eastern part of Minnesota, we’d also suggest a day trip to the Canon River. You can tube, canoe, or kayak down the river. Stop at Welch Mill and they can hook you up with anything you need! Once you’re back in Welch you’ll probably be hungry, so head to Miesville and King’s Bar and Grill and choose from one of their over 100 (!!) burgers and other American-style food!



Welch Mill King’s Bar and Grill
26389 County Rd 7 Blvd 14460 240th St E 
Welch, MN 55089 Miesville, MN 55033



Interstate State Park

Next we’ll head north to Taylors Falls. A beautiful area of Minnesota, there’s tons of outdoor activities in the summer or winter! If you’re the hiking type, head to Interstate State Park where you’ll find miles of hiking and amazing views of the Saint Croix River. Interstate Park comprises two adjacent state parks on the Minnesota–Wisconsin border, both named Interstate State Park. They straddle the Dalles of the St. Croix River, a deep basalt gorge with glacial potholes and other rock formations. While you’re in the area, check out Franconia Sculpture Park, a kid-friendly, interactive sculpture garden with 120 sculptures! You can even bring your (leashed) pup! And a walk through the quaint town of Taylors Falls never disappoints!




Interstate State Park Franconia Sculpture Park
307 Milltown Road 29836 St. Croix Trail
Taylors Falls, MN 55084 Shafer, MN 55074




A little farther out than some of our other destinations, New Ulm is named after its German counterpart, Ulm, which also served as the inspiration for much of the culture that can be found here. Strolling through the beautiful, historic district on a summer’s afternoon, don’t be surprised to see people sitting outdoors enjoying German beer, listening to the toll of Glockenspiel chimes ringing from Bavarian-style clock towers. If you’re interested in sampling some of the local brews, head over to the reputable August Schell Brewery. Or, for a different kind of day trip, pay a visit to the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, which commemorates some of the country’s greats like Prince and Bob Dylan.




August Schell Brewery Minnesota Music Hall of Fame
1860 Schell Rd 27 N Broadway
New Ulm, MN 56073 New Ulm, MN 56073




Schell Brewing in 1879

Ok, so this one should actually be more of an overnight or weekend trip, but it’s worth the drive! Gooseberry Falls are some of the most gorgeous waterfalls in Minnesota. Situated near beautiful Lake Superior, the falls are fed by the Gooseberry River before eventually draining into the lake. Besides camping, hiking, and tons of photo ops, you can stop in Duluth or Two Harbors on your way where there’s endless things to do, including Split Rock Lighthouse. Plus, you can listen to Bob Dylan while you cruise Highway 61 up there - a true Minnesotan road trip!





Gooseberry Falls State Park Split Rock Lighthouse
3206 Highway 61 East 3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd.
Two Harbors, MN 55616 Two Harbors, MN 55616

Gooseberry Falls

Of course, we could go on and on about the wonderful and amazing places to visit in our great state. These are just a few of the places we love! Get out there and discover what makes this state great!

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