Welcome to Minnesota

Minnesota calls itself the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but that number is modest — there are actually almost 12,000, and the state has more shoreline than California. The mighty Mississippi River is born here too, starting as a stream so small at Lake Itasca that you can walk right across it before it rolls 2,300 miles to the Gulf. Up north, the Boundary Waters is a million-acre canoe wilderness with no roads or power, where you can paddle for days and catch the northern lights overhead. Lake Superior looks like an ocean, and its North Shore drive is one of the prettiest in the country. When winter bites, Minnesotans just head to the Mall of America, the biggest mall in the land. And yes, SPAM was invented here. Below you will find every Minnesota map, trip, guide, and hidden gem we have.

• Nickname: The North Star State
• State bird: Common loon
• State fish: Walleye
• State flower: Pink and white lady slipper
• State tree: Red pine
• State grain: Wild rice