I was looking at our upcoming drive (less than two months away!) from here to Ottawa in September and it wouldn't be that much of a detour to get to the city of Minneapolis. Has anybody been there who would like to offer their opinion?
We are going to take the American route which will bring us through parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Our approximate route to Ottawa.
2,976 kms (1,845 miles).
Yes, we're going to go through Killarney, Manitoba, Kathy and CJ...looking forward to meeting you if the offer still stands! And if any of our other readers live close to this route, we would happily make an effort to meet up!
Taking in Killarney, Manitoba and Minneapolis, would add about 300 kms (180 miles) to the trip.
But would it be worth it? In the little blue car that's less than $25 worth of fuel. So it's not the cost of gas that we're thinking of, it's the extra day's drive.
Of course we love to visit different cities. But while we were thrilled with Chicago and Pittsburgh, we were not as impressed with Oklahoma City or Albuquerque. So what do you think? Is Minneapolis worth a detour?
I've been to Minneapolis and can't think of anything there worth going out of your way. It's a nice city, but just another big city. In my opinion, your northern route takes you near Duluth which was a cool city and the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin which are worth a visit. Also, Porcupine Mountains State Park in the UP of Michigan was a great place to visit.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your opinion Kevin and Evelyn. We won't have lots of time for our drive back to Ottawa so we would definitely rather spend it in places like Duluth and along the shore of Lake Superior, certainly seems to sound better than the big city.
DeleteMinneapolis has much to offer. Google the city and check it out. We love the twin cities area.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned above, the northern route is also a beautiful route to take. Duluth is beautiful but has much road construction now. Apostle Islands are awesome. The nothern route along the lake is a very nice drive.
A day trip to the pennisula of Wisconsin is also beautiful.
Enjoy your trip.
We have "Googled" it but we were sort of looking for suggestions that could lean us more that way than through Duluth. From reading the comments everyone seems to think we would prefer Duluth which is fine with us. We won't have lots of time so maybe another year when we have more time we will make our way into Minneapolis. Thank you Paula for your suggestions.
DeleteDon't know squat about Minneapolis but Michigan is my home state and the Upper Peninsula is beautiful! I think you'll enjoy the scenery in that part of your trip. Grace (in Tucson)
ReplyDeleteThank you Grace, we have been that way before and loved it but again we didn't have lots of time to explore, not that we will have a lot of time this trip either but we will try to take it a little slower.
DeleteWe are no help...so sorry. But, it is going to be fun riding along. We want to get up that way...one of these years.
ReplyDeleteMaybe our trip through there will entice you to visit the area sooner. :)
DeleteWhat are your expectations of coming to Minneapolis / St. Paul? You will be traveling through a beautiful part of our state already, so what are you looking for? Duluth is right on your path and is a cool place, for sure. Just need to know a little bit more about what you want to see (in a city) before I could tell you if the detour is worth it.
ReplyDeleteFor scenic views, fishing, sailing, boating, and hiking, you can't beat the area you will be going through. If nature is your goal, head up Hwy 61 north-east out of Duluth up the arrowhead. North coast of Lake Superior is beautiful with MANY cool places to visit. More scenic than the cities, for sure.
Two harbors, Gooseberry Falls SP, Tettegouche SP, Temperance River, Lutsen are all nice places to visit.
Thank you for your comment Monica and Kent, sorry I am a little delayed in answering it. I don't think we really had any expectations but wondered if it was just an interesting city to explore. We love architecture, so looking at neat or old buildings is interesting, we love walking/hiking through parks or along a lake/riverfront. The commenters all seems to think that we are better of going to Duluth instead so I think that will be our route. Maybe another trip where we have more time we will take the time to visit Minneapolis.
DeleteWe will try to take in some of your suggestions for that area thank you so much.
Though we love Minneapolis and have been there many times, I think you would enjoy Northern Minnesota more. International Falls and Voyeurs National park is great and then like Evelyn said Duluth and along the shore of Lake Superior is just amazing. I think the Lake Superior route is one of our favorite trips so far. When you are in Duluth you can drive up the North Shore, there are State parks about every 20 miles with amazing hiking and shore line. Minneapolis is a nice city and there is much to do there but northern Minnesota has our heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks as well Janie and John. Love all these suggestions and everyone seems to think that this upper route is better suited for us so that's what we will do. I am sure that once we are in that area we will wish we had a lot more time. We will save Minneapolis for another time.
DeleteCan't offer any advice on this one. So I'll just go wherever you decide we're going.
ReplyDeleteSo happy that you are willing to follow us anywhere, we'll try not to disappoint you! :)
DeleteI lived in Edina outside of Minneapolis many years ago. I loved Minnesota - even moving there from the Bay Area of San Francisco. The people are incredibly friendly and it's a beautiful state. However, I agree with others who think traveling in northern Minnesota seems to fit more with your outdoor interests. The Boundary Canoe Waters, Eli, Duluth, all great without snow!
ReplyDeleteWhen the family was en route to our new home in Edina, the airline stewardess told my 7 year old son that when she first saw Minnesota (in Winter) she thought it "looked like a Christmas card." But, after being there for a while, she realized that, "Christmas cards look like Minnesota!!!"
Ok, you and everyone else has us sold on traveling northern Minnesota. We are looking forward to getting on the move again. I think that I agree with the airline stewardess!!
DeleteWe visited Minneapolis-St Paul in 2011 on our trip along the Great River Road - following the Mississippi from Lake Itasca MN to the Gulf of Mississippi. Quite the cultural adventure! We enjoyed camping at Lake Itasca State Park and did spend two nights in Minneapolis. We enjoyed the city for 2 days but that was long enough....you might enjoy cheese curds if you have not had them and try a pastie. They were both new foods to us from TN. You can check our blog entries in late Sept and early Oct in 2011 if you want more details. http://travelingwhenwecan.blogspot.com/ I am sure you will enjoy your trip whichever route you select!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Traveling When We Can and I think that we will give Minneapolis a miss this time around. We have had cheese curds before and we love them, Kevin will have a pastie too but I will have to give it a miss unless they have gluten free ones. We will certainly check out your blog and see where you went and what you did for some ideas.
DeleteI grew up on the west side of Mpls. on a lake and it was the BEST!!
ReplyDeleteLive in the desert now and I don't miss the snow at all.
We will just have to come back through that area on another trip and make Minneapolis a stop then, as everyone seems to think we should take the northern route. We don't blame you for not missing the snow!
DeleteGo thru Deluth and that area, Mineapolis is just another city unless you have plenty of time to explore. You are outdoor people choose the north, you'll love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Wendy, we will and no we won't have a lot of time to explore so I think we will enjoy the north with the hiking and the scenery.
DeleteEspecially the Mall of America but don't miss Duluth and Upper (Yooper)Michigan is FABULOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like Mall of America will have to wait for another visit. We will head to Duluth and looking forward to it.
DeleteI recommend Ontonagon community park in the Michigan's UP. We stayed here for two nights last summer and I would LOVE to go back for at least a week. Many locals were there but also several traveling class A's. The lake and the shore was beautiful!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/Michigan/Ontonagon.html And there is a copper mine close by where you can mine a 3 ton pile of rocks for treasure!
Unfortunately for this trip back to Ottawa we will only be driving in our little blue car so there won't be any campgrounds this time around but we will keep that in mind if we are through that area again with our motorhome. We could possibly be interested in the copper mine though.
DeleteWe live in Duluth, so I guess we're biased, but I agree that Mpls is just another city while and the drive along the BIG lake is unbeatable. Email us and let us know when you're planning to go through and we'll show you around. We've been reading your blog for years and would love to meet you. [email protected] Rebecca and Steve
ReplyDeleteThanks for your email address, Kevin will be in touch with you if he hasn't already been. We would love to meet you and have you as our local tour guides.
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