We're going to be in this beautiful state for 2 weeks. 1 week is booked in Ely. Just 2 of us traveling by car. Need ideas that would get us towards New Ulm because we want to visit the Schell brewery. Along the way....fishing, scenery, bike rentals. No golf. Nothing fancy. Open to suggestions.

It sounds like a nice trip, I have lived in MN for 6.5 years and it is great, i'm from the great state of north dakota. I like where your trip starts ely is great, you could go a couple of ways- I would go to International Falls, rent a pontoon and see voyagers NP and Rainy lake for a few days, that was my first stop in MN. Or you could go to Duluth, great night life, food and lake superior. You could then head south staying at thousands of resorts on lakes or head to minneapolis and take in the city great clubs, food, art, people watching, its great to see. New Ulm is also fantastic, its too bad you trip wasn't in Feb. becausr Scheel as as a huge party it's called Bockfest, after their mascot- outdoors in the winter with snow and it is just crazy. I ramble, Hope this helps.

I'd recommend using www.exploreminnesota.com to help plan your trip. While in Ely, make sure you go to the International Wolf Center and maybe a daytrip to the Soudan Underground Mine State Park.

As you may know, you can walk across the Mississippi River; no bridges necessary.

It has been said that a day in Duluth, watching the ore boats and walking the beach on Park Point followed by dinner at Lake Avenue Cafe is just about perfect.

Walking across the Mississippi without a bridge is done at the headwaters in Itasca State Park. Great park to visit and you can rent bikes and boats there. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/index.html

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Now, to refine our request due to giving you additional information. We canoed in BWCA and stayed in Duluth for 2 nights last summer. We also worked our way to Grand Rapids and went to the Soudan Underground Mine. What is attractive about the North Central West area of the state?

Wow. That's a tough one. It's not the most touristed part of the state - and I don't mean that in a good way. ;-)

Not that there isn't anything to see. You might drop down through St. Cloud, where there are beautiful, large formal gardens along the Mississippi (Clemens and Munsinger Gardens: www.munsingerclemens.com).

Or stop in Little Falls to see Lindbergh State Park, where the childhood home of the famous aviator is preserved.

Or Sauk Centre, where there's a tiny little museum commemorating the birthplace of Sinclair Lewis.

Or stop in Freeport at Charlie's Cafe, the model for Garrison Keillor's Chatterbox Cafe of Lake Wobegon Days fame.

In Pine City, there's a restored 1804 fur trading outpost.

Sorry, that's all I have.

Check this out :
http://greenroutes.org/

You will be seeing some unique places besides supporting local businesses.

What a terrific resource. Thank you ever so much

Worktowander...We did go to the gardens in St. Cloud also. Looks like we hit some high spots on the "tour" last summer. Will take a look at your other suggestions. Thank you.

>>>What is attractive about the North Central West area of the state?<<<

Nothing. Very boring compared with upper northeast.

Hit Gooseberry Falls on your way down. You can take Great River Scenic Route through most of it to make it a little more tolerable.

The gardens in St. Cloud are just okay ... not that much variety and lots of goose poop.

Bring lots of bug spray.

Head over to the eastern border because it is much more interesting. You can rent canoes and do a day trip on the St. Croix River north of the Twin Cities. This is marvelous because it is a designated national wild and scenic river. There is now a bike trail quite a ways along the north shore north of Duluth. I don't know about bike rentals there though.

Have you seen the Twin Cities and the chain of lakes in Minneapolis? Check into bike rentals in Minneapolis or St. Paul because there is fabulous biking here with tons of designated trails.

travelmom6642's comment about the north west central area of MN being very boring is very uninformed. Detroit Lakes, Bemidji, Walker, and Otter Tail county (the county with the most lakes in the US, 1,100) are all there and very popular.