14 Best Hotels in Minnesota, USA

"Inner geek-meets-chic" is the self-proclaimed—and apt—description of this cozy and quirky University-area hotel in Minneapolis whose warm, inviting vibe, starts at the fire pit in the driveway (where guests can roast s'mores) and continues to complimentary apple cider in the lobby. A roster of unique activities and events—from Book Butlers and Sudoku "sleep-ins" to mixology lessons, Words with Friends Wine Hours, and Retro Bar Bingo—are what help make the "Commons" name refer more to "communal" than "typical." Other social draws include the Beacon Public House gastro-pub, serving regional cuisine and creative cocktails, and a refurbished fitness center. Up on the eight floors, the redone rooms now have an upscale-academic decor of blue velvets, rich leathers, and argyle wallpaper, plus features like iPod docks, LCD TVs, Starbucks coffee, rain showers, and free Wi-Fi. Upgrades to a Superior room get you robes and bottled water, while suites have separate living areas with sleeper sofas.

Formerly the home of a lumber baron, this four-story Victorian mansion is a short walk from downtown Stillwater and tucked into a historic neighborhood. Owners Jeremy and Erin Drews are a young couple who are coffee aficionados and brew their own beer, and the full breakfast that they serve daily in the dining room highlights local food producers. In each of the five rooms are a king bed, Italian-made bed linens, L'Occitane en Provence toiletries, a private bath, a fireplace, and a whirlpool tub.

Opened in 1913 and renovated in 1987, the park's only hotel is trim, tidy, and remote (15 miles from the nearest road and less than ½ mile from Canada); it also has a colorful history that begins with its initial proprietress, Madame Nellie Bly, who, as the story goes, sold it to a bootlegger in 1918 for $1,000 and four bottles of whiskey. Some of the property's 12 historic rooms share baths; half of the 10 larger, pricier, and more modern adjacent villas have kitchens. It's hard to beat the sunset views from the veranda. Motorboat, kayak, and canoe rentals are available, as is shuttle service to and from the Ash River Visitor Center.

Snug along Lake Superior's shoreline, this place exudes luxury, but also feels more like a personal residence than a hotel. The 13 room categories range from standard guest rooms to the lavish Penthouses Continental, along with one-, two- and three-bedroom condos (with fireplaces and whirlpools). All have a private deck or patio to experience Lake Superior's sunsets, and, in summer months, bonfires to make s'mores are hosted. The hotel has a pool, sauna, and fitness center, and kayaks and bicycles are available for exploring nearby waters and parks.

In the heart of Duluth's oldest downtown district, this inn occupies a house built in 1910. Each of the five suites has a private bath. Rates include a daily complimentary breakfast (hot entrée, muffins, fresh fruit, coffee, and juice) in the dining room or glass-enclosed porch or, for greater privacy, delivered to your suite in a wicker basket. A fully stocked butler's pantry ensures guests never go hungry or thirsty. Massages can be booked fireside in the Woodland Suite.

This boutique hotel, in the heart of the Business District, offers traditional rooms with crown molding, an on-site spa, and complimentary access to a 58,000 square foot gym. The hotel's restaurant, Martini Blu, serves excellent sushi.

Eclectic art adorns the gleaming white walls of this ultrahip and trendy boutique hotel in the downtown Theatre District, giving off a cosmopolitan, mod feel. The hotel's swanky restaurant, celebrity chef Jean Georges Vongerichten's Chambers Kitchen, serves artful fare.

Formerly a Loews hotel, this fashionable boutique hotel, steps away from the bustling Warehouse District, is a sleek, serene environment and now part of the Hilton family. A trendy lounge and AAA Four Diamond restaurant complete the package.

This charming 1893 limestone inn is on Nicollet Island in the middle of the Mississippi River, with downtown Minneapolis on one shore and the Riverplace and St. Anthony Main on the other. There's early-American reproduction furniture in the rooms, some of which have river views.

Enjoying the city's best harbor views, this hotel within a circular-tower building is connected to Duluth's climate-controlled skywalk. Rooms are decorated with calming sage-green and ivory hues, and those in the tower have stunning views of Lake Superior's shoreline or the Duluth skyline. Topping the tower is Duluth's only revolving eatery, J. J. Astor, with a menu of classic American dishes. A cozy vibe prevails at Bowery Bros. Pub, offering pub fare.

With rooms and suites named after 19th-century literary legends, from Alfred, Lord Tennyson to Agatha Christie, this inn certainly has a storybook setting. The Victorian home, built in 1882, is in a residential neighborhood three blocks from downtown Stillwater. Passionate about antiques and gourmet cuisine, its owners filled the rooms in period style, from hand-painted wallpaper to crystal chandeliers, and a daily complimentary breakfast highlighting organic and artisanal foods is taken in the dining room next to a carved Gothic wall. Each room features a private bath, some with lavish spa-like features. Cooking classes are offered monthly.

This 12-story, marble-pillared 1910 landmark on Rice Park has been a stopover for presidents, heads of state, and celebrities. It's within 7 blocks of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, the Civic Center, and the Children's Museum. Rooms are traditional in style.

With a riverfront patio and an Irish pub, this is a destination inn. Formerly a lumber-exchange building, then a train depot, the Victorian-era building has a rich past. Public spaces reveal extensive renovation to preserve the building's architecture along with new period-style additions such as ceiling murals in the dining areas. Rooms feature queen beds, double-whirlpool baths, and gas fireplaces, and some have balconies. Live music is on offer at Charlie's Irish Pub (known as Charlie Lustig's Saloon during the late 1800s) on Friday and Saturday nights. Don't miss the Sunday brunch, a locals' favorite.

Minneapolis's historic Farmers & Mechanics Bank was transformed into this luxurious hotel without losing the original woodwork, marble staircase, and light fixtures in the bank lobby. The building's two original vaults are now a meeting room and a wine vault.