Most Instagram Worthy Locations in Minnesota
If states were fashion models, Minnesota would be considered a classic beauty. This state is stunning, whether you're deep in nature or lost in the bustle of the city. How better to share it with the world than snapping a few pics and uploading them for your friends, family, and followers on social media? This is the age where you can spread the world's magnificence with just the flick of your finger. There are countless places to stop and take a selfie, but here are a few of our favorites to help you get started.
The St. Croix River Valley
www.saintcroixriver.com
The sparkling river cutting through miles of bluffs, lined with trees untouched by progress is breathtaking. Make sure to come in the fall as the changing leaves set the horizon on fire in a magnificent display of reds and oranges taking over summer green. It's an awe-inspiring display of Minnesota's natural beauty, and the pictures you get here are sure to make the jaws of your out-of-state friends drop. You can start up at Taylors Falls, and take a few photos on the bluffs or on a historic river cruise. Then, take a drive down Highway 95, down to historic Stillwater where every event center and small town along the way is worth stopping to snap a few selfies, or just let the landscape shine by itself. Plan you trip picture adventure using the website above.
Cathedral of St. Paul
239 Selby Ave
St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 228-1766
www.cathedralsaintpaul.org
The majestic church, built in 1915, is the third-largest cathedral in the country. Whether inside (you can visit until 4pm) or outside, you'll find incredibly impressive views. But the surrounding area is picture-worthy a well. The James J. Hill House across the street, and the stretch of preserved Victorian mansions (the longest such stretch in the country) offer plenty of opportunities as well, or if you look the other way you have the Capitol (the sister dome to the Cathedral) and beautiful downtown. You'll get lost in the history, the charm, and the beauty of this historic city. Whether it's in the sunlight of summer, or covered in the soft white snow of winter, the shots you'll get in this part of the capitol city are some of the most striking.
Downtown Minneapolis
Go to www.minneapolis.about.com to learn more about downtown
and www.downtownmpls.com to plan your trip there.
Whether it's a shot with Minnesota's favorite daughter Mary Tyler Moore on Nicollet Mall, where shops and restaurants abound too for picture-taking at a sporting event at Target Field, Target Center, or the brand new U.S. Bank Stadium, or immersed among some of the Midwest's most impressive modern architecture, the core of Minnesota's largest city is truly a sight to behold. Plan on parking in one of the ramps (there are plenty of early-bird specials) and you'll find a plethora of Instagram-worthy locations.
Lake Superior
The largest freshwater lake in the world (by surface area; third largest by volume) is more than just a geological phenomenon. It is, in a word, beautiful. Come during sunrise or sunset to watch the magnificent splay of red light across the water, or just revel in the seemingly endless blue that reaches toward the horizon. Passing ships seem as small as toys in the distance. Miles of greenery line much of the edge. It's a truly incredible destination that you can only hope to capture in your photos, but still, you have to try.
For the best pictures, head to Duluth's Canal Park, or take a trip along the North Shore, where you can camp, hike, and find some of Minnesota's most impressive views of the lake.
The Mall of America
60 Broadway E
Bloomington, MN 55425
(952) 883-8800
www.mallofamerica.com
Of course, this monument to American consumerism doesn't have the natural charm, stunning beauty, or incredible history as some of the other entries on this list, but it is included simply by the sheer number of awesome places to snap a photo that are sure to sweep through your Instagram account. With the life of the deep blue sea? Check. On the top of a roller coaster? Check. While eating and drinking some fine food? That too. And don't forget to snap a few pictures while bowling and playing arcade games, or before a comedy show upstairs. You can create a whole album of pics without ever stepping back outside.
Related: Best Tourist Attractions In Minnesota Worth The Hype
Adrian Schramm is a resident Saint Paul writer with a passion for all things local. Through his work with Saint Paul Almanac and Minneapolis Examiner at Examiner.com, as well as in the kitchens of bars and restaurants around town, he has discovered what truly makes the Twin Cities tick.
