What Is The ‘Coolest Small Town’ in Minnesota?

A new survey has listed the Coolest Small Town in Every U.S. State. So which Minnesota town took the honors this year?

Thanks to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, many of us might have put our big, out-of-state travel plans on hold. But that doesn't mean we can't still have a nice getaway right here in Minnesota, does it? So perhaps you'd like to plan a visit sometime this summer to Minnesota's entry on the list of the Coolest Small Towns in Every State.

The list was compiled by the travel site Far & Wide. It noted that the towns on the list this year are "filled with their own history, museums and cultural attractions, but also come with the added appeal of home-spun charm and hometown heroes," it said.

So which town is the Coolest Small Town in Minnesota? I'd have guessed maybe Lanesboro? Or perhaps the folks up in Lake City took the nod. Or, heck, maybe even up by Brainerd, don'tcha know. As it turns out, though, Minnesota's Coolest Small Town is... Grand Marais, waay up on Minnesota's North Shore.

That's right, if you take Highway-61 north out of Duluth through Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Tofte and Lutsen, you'll find Grand Marais. It's the county seat of Cook County. And, I've gotta say it IS a pretty cool small town. Far & Wide says "Its remote location makes for a quiet getaway, but there's still plenty to do on the lake and in the hills, along with beer and wine tastings at North Shore wineries and breweries."

We've been there several times, and always have to stop at Sven and Ole's for pizza, plus we'll get a drink at the Gunflint Tavern and My Sister's Place, just to name a few. While it IS a bit of a hike from Rochester (Google Maps says it'll take you 5 hours and 23 minutes), there are TONS of outdoors activities you can take part in, including hiking, biking and exploring both Lake Superior and the Gunflint Trail, which leads north out of town.