Here’s 4 Facts About Minnesota That Visitors Don’t Know

There are a ton of great things about living in Minnesota. We have all four seasons, plenty of natural resources to enjoy, lakes aplenty, and, of course, the people. The next time you are traveling out of state, and someone mentions some Minnesota trivia, here are four facts about Minnesota that the rest of the world may not be aware of.

You Can Walk Across The Mississippi

There are plenty of people who know that the Mississippi River starts in Minnesota, what many 'outsiders' don't know is that you can walk across the headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi while visiting Itasca State Park. If you haven't done this yet, put it on your to-do list for 2026.

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More Shoreline Than California

We don't flex enough as Minnesotans on this one. Minnesota has more shoreline than California. That means when you add up all the shore on Lake Mille Lacs, Lake George, the Mississippi River, and all the other lakes and rivers, we have more than 90,000 miles of shoreline. California doesn't even come close.

We Don't Need To Travel (Far) To See The Northern Lights

Unlike other states that just hear about the beauty of the Aurora Borealis, we get to experience it on what seems like a regular basis. While many Minnesotans have to drive out of town and away from the lights of the city to see them, it's not like having to travel to Iceland or Alaska to get the chance to see the splashes of red and green lights dancing in the sky.

Minnesotans Invented The Indoor Shopping Mall

The first indoor climate-controlled shopping center opened in Edina back in 1956. The state that boasts how hearty we are invented a way to avoid the winter weather and still shop. Ironic? Yes. But where would we be as a country without malls? Especially during the holiday season, you've got to be thankful that you can get a lot of your shopping done in one place.

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