Cheap flights to Minnesota from £229

The “Land of 10,000 Lakes” is a huge draw for travellers visiting the Midwest. Thanks to the bodies of water spread across the state, booking flights to Minnesota means a lot of outdoor activities for tourists. Visitors to Minnesota can camp in one of the state’s 72 state parks and recreation areas, or hike in one of the 58 state forests. Minnesota is home to numerous wildlife preserves controlled by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and some holidaymakers book flights to Minnesota just to walk on some of the oldest rocks on the earth. But there is more to Minnesota than the great outdoors.

The “Twin Cities” – Minneapolis-St. Paul– is home to nearly 60 per cent of Minnesota’s population. This metropolis is the centre of transportation, business and industry to the state, and is also an internationally recognised arts community. Visitors booking flights to Minnesota visit the Twin Cities for a tour of the Weisman Art Museum, the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Many artists call Minnesota home including Prince, The Andrews Sisters and Bob Dylan.

If nothing else is of interest here, book flights to Minnesota for the shopping. Pack an extra suitcase on your Minnesota flight — The Mall of America in Bloomington is the size of 78 football fields and offers visitors a shopping experience unheard of in other states.

Minnesota climate

Minnesota’s climate is one of extremes. In winter it is bitterly cold while in summer it can get unbearable hot.  In the northeast snowfall averages 178cm (70 inches), and in the south it reaches 101cm (40 inches). Temperatures in January drop below zero (Celsius). May through July in the southern regions is peak tornado season. Summers are humid and temperatures are in the 30s and even higher in southern regions.

Getting around Minnesota

Trains and bus companies provide transportation in the state. The Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul – have extensive skyway systems for walking around downtown. Buses and old-style trolleys also reach their downtowns. The Metropolitan Transit Commission provides transportation between the Twin Cities. Minneapolis also has the Hiawatha Light Rail that runs between the Warehouse District, Mall of America, and the airport. Although most attractions in St. Paul can be reached on foot, you will need a car in Minneapolis.

Visitors head to the northern part of the state for its outdoor activities, but driving through some of the region is a wonderful way to experience the wilderness.

What is good to know if travelling to Minnesota?

• Most of Minnesota’s population lives in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St Paul, and this is where a large part of the tourism to the area is also based. However, the rest of the state is worth exploring and has some stunning landscapes including prairies and forests. It’s hard to believe that in the northwest of the state, the Red River Valley was once covered with tall prairie grass and roamed by herds of buffalo. Today, State Parks are needed to preserve the way the countryside once stood naturally. The best ones to visit are Buffalo River State Park and Bluestem Prairie Preserve.
• Minneapolis’s attractions won’t disappoint. The minute you step off your Minneapolis flight shopping, museums, restaurants and theatres await you. While there, don’t miss a visit to Minnehaha Park and the Walker Art Center. Minnehaha Park contains the creek and the Minnehaha Falls, a 53 foot waterfall. There is a statue in the park of Hiawatha carrying Minnehaha, based on Longfellow’s Song of Hiawatha. The Walker Art Centre also contains sculptures in its 11-acre sculpture garden, though of a slightly different nature. A symbol of the city is one of the most impressive sculptures by Claes Oldenberg and Coosje van Bruggen; it’s a giant spoon with a cherry on the top. A fountain flows out of the tip and downtown Minneapolis is the backdrop.
• The capital of the state, St Paul, is a more historic city than adjacent Minneapolis. Cultural attractions are plentiful, including a tour of the Capitol Building. Those visiting with children can’t miss the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, where resident animals include camels, reindeer, giraffes, penguins, cougars, lions and gorillas.
• Duluth, the third-largest city of the state, sits at the top of Lake Superior. The town is focused around the waterfront and harbour. Visit Canal Park for a bird’s eye view of activity on the waterfront. Here an aerial lift bridge connects Canal Park with Minnesota Point, a seven-mile sandbar. From the top of the bridge the views are breathtaking.