I will be visiting Minnesota and would like to know if there is anything of interest to visit either in Minnesota or the surrounding states of Minnesota. Please offer your suggestions. Thanks.

Minnesota is a very big state. If you count it, plus only the states that touch it (the Dakotas, Iowa and Wisconsin), you're probably looking at an area that is about 500 miles by 500 miles. And that doesn't even touch on the fact that Minnesota also borders Canada.

Of course there are interesting things to do in a combined 5 states!!!!!

So, where will you be in Minnesota, how far are you willing to drive/fly, how much time will you have, how much money do you want to spend, and what are your interests (hiking, strolling cities, museums, gourmet food, etc.)

Straight off the bat, I'll tell you that the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore are in S. Dakota if that interests you. And Minnesota borders Lake Superior.

Now it's your turn.

If you're a shopper, there's the Mall of America in Bloomington (a 'burb of the Twin Cities).

How about camping in the Boundry waters(shared lake region with Canada)and canoeing its many lakes and pick its Blueberrys and raspberrys growing rampant or a houseboat on Lake of the Woods (huge lake bordering canada but more to the west and hasn't as many portages as in the Boundry Waters). Or a wonderful, spacious log cabin in Itaska state park (home of the headwaters of the Mississippi)or Visit Paul Bunyon in the amusement park in Bemidge (oops - spelling?) also close to Itaska or a visit to lighthouses along the shores of the Lake Superior or visit the quaint little shoppers paradise of Grand Marais on the northern shore of Lake Superior or relax in a hot tub at Bluefin Bay with its lovely bakery and hiking trails and canoe-able lakes also on the shores of LS. Sailboating and shopping and eagle watching in Lake City? Waterfalls on the Mississippi along the Minnehaha parkway in Minneapolis? How about the ferris wheel and rollar coaster and Lego Land inside the Mall of America? Decide what you like -We have it all.

Minnesota can be glorious. But I remember taking the last Vista tour of Duluth harbor in mid-October last year. We were dressed for chilly. But the weather verged on raw--particularly if you wanted to take pictures.

You don't say when you're going to be visiting, but it is in the upper midwest, and fall can come early....

Summers are no treat either. Hot and muggy with high humidity and GIANT size mosquitoes!

I won't be able to do any great outdoor adventures but will have time to visit some tourist attractions around the Minneapolis area and because I have a vehicle, I will be able to visit any area of Minnesota and some of the surrounding states. So, if there is anything worthwhile visiting as a tourist attraction or something that you highly recommend, please do. Have been to Mt. Rushmore but will consider the Dakotas, Iowa and Wisconsin if there's anything great to see. Please offer your suggestions and recommendations. This is a great forum full of good travel information.

Stillwater and Taylors Falls on St. Croix River

Minnehaha Falls near the VA hospital in Minneapolis

Itasca St. Park

North shore past Duluth - several waterfalls that are right along side of road. Gooseberry Falls is great.

Isle Royale National Park (Michigan), can take ferry from Grand Portage, Minnesota

By the way, when waterways and borders inside waterways are considered, Minnesota actually borders Michigan. The two states have a common boundary in Lake Superior.

About 4 hours north of Minneapolis, there is the Tower-Soudan underground mine tour that is fantastic. You go 1/2 mile underground in a "cage-like" elevator, rickety (but safe) to the point of seeing the rock walls as you descend. Helmets are required and once underground, you travel on a train guided by old miners who share their colorful stories. It's always a cool 50-some degrees, which is really nice when it's hot and humid outside. It's a great tour.

Here's another vote for the fabulous North Shore. In some ways it seems totally out of place in the middle of the Midwest with places like Split Rock Lighthouse, the 1000-foot ore boats, Goosebery Falls, etc.

And when the rest of the region is enduring a muggy summer, the cool lake breezes are a delight -- there's often 20 degrees difference when you head down the hill into Duluth, which is a fun stop on its own.

The Boundry Waters Canoe Area, BWCA, in Minnesota is one of the largest wilderness forests in the lower 48. Central MN has thousands of lakes and resorts. Minneapolis is the queen jewel of the north. Duluth is a seaport city complete with ships in the middle of North America and is on the largest fresh water lake in the world.

I would not recommend anything further west than Minnesota. Lots of extra driving and not a lot to see.

Really depends on how far you're willing to drive and how much time you have. The North Shore of Lake Superior and Duluth are a few hours north of the Twin Cities -- and there's plenty to do in and around the Cities. The Black Hills of SD and Mt. Rushmore and much much farther away.
I'd suggest first exploring the cities. The Uptown area, just south of downtown Mpls., is really nice with lots of nice restaurants, shops and Lake Calhoun (a beautiful lake to walk around). And of course, there's always the Mall of America, if you're into that sort of thing. If you like museums, Minneapolis also has the Mill City museum in the old warehouse district that's pretty cool.
St. Paul has the capitol, a great science museum.
If you're actually running out of things to do in the cities, then I might suggest venturing up to Duluth.

I just came back from spending some time in Minneapolis and Rochester, Minnesota. Minneapolis is a beautiful city and Rochester even more. I found the people in Minnesota to be the most friendliest and the weather is really comfortable in the Summertime. I truly enjoyed my stay there!