The Best of Minnesota

We wanted to know your all-time favorite spots in Minnesota. The best of the best. The bee's knees. The top dogs. The cats meow. The jim-dandys. The knockouts. The ultimate standouts.

And YOU delivered!

We're proud to present to you the best of our great state, as decided by you - the readers. Your votes were collected and tallied and we are excited to bring you the results!

These people, businesses, and communities are the risk takers; the dreamers; the dedicated. Those who embrace what they do and excel in every way. Those iconic places in Minnesota and resonate "home."

THIS IS THE BEST OF MINNESOTA

GALLERY

MacRostie Art Center | Grand Rapids

THEATER GROUP

Ballet Works, Inc. DBA James Sewell Ballet | Duluth

BAND OR PERFORMING ARTIST

Trampled by Turtles

CONCERT/THEATER VENUE

First Avenue | Minneapolis

MUSEUM (ART, HISTORY, SCIENCE, CULTURE, ETC.)

MIA | Minneapolis

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Cook County Historical Society | Grand Marais

LIBRARY

Detroit Lakes Public Library | Detroit Lakes

VISUAL ARTIST

Betsy Bowen | Grand Marais

MOVIE THEATER

Long Drive-In Theater

GIFT STORE

The Big Lake | Grand Marais

GYM/FITNESS CENTER

Center Yoga, Pilates, & Fitness Studio | Grand Rapids

BOOKSTORE

Drury Lane Books | Grand Marais

SPORTING GOODS/OUTDOOR STORE

Reed's Sporting Goods | Walker

SHOE STORE

Steger Mukluks | Ely

SPA

Glacial Waters Spa | Nisswa

CAR DEALER (USED OR NEW)

Luther Westside VW | Minneapolis

MINNESOTA BRAND

Minnesota Made | Stillwater

CANDY SHOP

The Chocolate Ox | Nisswa

BAKERY

World's Best Donuts | Grand Marais

COFFEE ROASTER OR COFFEE SHOP

Fika Coffee | Lutsen

ORCHARD/FARM

Aamodt's Apple Farm | Stillwater

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH

Naniboujou | Grand Marais

BURGER

Matt's Bar | Minneapolis

DONUT

Glam Dolls | Minneapolis

ICE CREAM

Sebastian Joe's | Minneapolis

FARMERS MARKET

St. Paul Lowertown | St. Paul

FOOD CO-OP

Cook County Whole Foods Co-op | Grand Marais

DISTILLERY

Vikre Distillery | Duluth

KOMBUCHA BAR

Snooty Fox Tea Shop | Duluth

COCKTAIL BAR

Tattersall Distilling | Minneapolis

BREWERY

Klockow Brewing Company | Grand Rapids

WINERY

Cannon River Winery & Vineyard | Cannon Falls

CIDER

Sociable Cider Werks | Minneapolis

MARKET

Midtown Global Market | Minneapolis

NEW RESTAURANT

Hub 41 | Detroit Lakes

FURNITURE STORE

The Artisan Markets Minnesota | Minneapolis

HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE

Menards

NURSERY

Bachman's | Minneapolis

HISTORIC HOUSE/LANDMARK

Glensheen | Duluth

BUILDER/GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Lands End Development | Crosslake

ARCHITECT

Wes Hanson Builders, Inc. | Crosslake

RADIO STATION

89.3 The Current | Minneapolis

NEWSPAPER

St. Paul Pioneer Press | St. Paul

PHOTOGRAPHER

Bryan Hansel | Grand Marais

VIDEOGRAPHER

Matt Jasper | Minneapolis

METEOROLOGIST

Ian Leonard | Minneapolis

TV SHOW

Ron Schara Productions/Minnesota Bound | Minneapolis

WRITER & BLOG

Aaron J. Brown/Minnesota Brown | Hibbing

AIRPORT

MSP | St. Paul

BOAT CRUISE/EXCURSION

Big Pelican Cruises | Detroit Lakes

B&B/INN

Art House B&B | Grand Marais

SKI MOUNTAIN

Lutsen Mountain | Lutsen

FESTIVAL/EVENT

MN State Fair | St. Paul

STATE PARK

Itasca State Park

LAKE

Lake Superior

TRAIL

Superior Hiking Trail

SUMMER CAMP

Camp Mishawaka

GOLF COURSE & HOTEL/RESORT

Grand View Lodge Spa & Golf Course

It comes as no surprise to us that Grand Marais wins best town, and they are certainly no stranger to such accolades. This uber friendly community boasts a quaint downtown full of shops, restaurants, art, and nature. Situated at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains and only a hop, skip, and a jump from the BWCA, Gunflint Trail, and Canada, Grand Marais is a mecca for every adventurer, explorer, local, and casual vacationer.

BAND OR PERFORMING ARTIST

Corey Medina & Brothers | Bemidji

CONCERT/THEATER VENUE

Orpheum Theatre | Minneapolis

GALLERY

Brandenburg Gallery | Ely

VISUAL ARTIST

Michael Birawer | Minneapolis

BOOKSTORE

Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery | Park Rapids

MINNESOTA-MADE THING

Abdallah Candies | Burnsville

GIFT STORE

The Lake + Co. Shop | Grand Rapids & Crosslake

BURGER

Good Life Café | Park Rapids

FARMERS MARKET & FOOD CO-OP

Green Scene | Walker

CANDY SHOP

Aunt Belle's Confectionary | Park Rapids

BREWERY

Voyageur Brewing | Grand Marais

WINERY

North Shore Winery | Lutsen

HOTEL/RESORT

Anywhere on the North Shore!

FESTIVAL/EVENT

Moondance Jam | Walker

STATE PARK

Tettegouche State Park | Silver Bay

TRAIL

Oberg Mountain Loop | Tofte

SPORTING GOODS/OUTDOOR STORE

Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply | Grand Marais

SPA

Glacial Waters Spa | Nisswa

FURNITURE STORE

Thirteen Main | Deer River

HISTORIC HOUSE/LANDMARK

Mill City Museum | Minneapolis

To read the full article of The Best of Minnesota and more great content in Lake Time Magazine, you can find it online HERE or consider supporting this independent publication by becoming a member and receive the latest issues PLUS great Lake + Co. Shop perks! https://www.thelakeandcoshop.com/collections/lake-time-magazine