Top Hidden Destinations To Visit In Minnesota
Five hidden gems off the beaten path offer scenic beauty, cultural relevance or historical significance.
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Five hidden gems off the beaten path offer scenic beauty, cultural relevance or historical significance.
It's back, it's bigger and better than ever and it's right downtown Austin: Hormel's SPAM Museum. The museum recently reopened in Austin after an extensive renovation and expansion.
It's exactly what Spam lovers have been waiting for. The new and improved Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota opened this weekend.
Law enforcement officials have identified the officer and suspect in last week's officer-involved shooting in Austin, Minnesota.
Police pulled over Bonnie Sutton, 34, for driving erratically. After bringing in a K9 unit, police found 28.5 grams of meth, according to Chief Brian Krueger of the Austin Police Department.
A practical guide for visitors who have just 48 hours to visit the beautiful city of Austin, Texas
Whether you want your child to be the next Mozart or simply seek well-rounded intellectual and emotional development, take a look at these options for making music a part of his or her life.
Authorities are investigating a Christmas Day house fire in Austin that left one person dead. Austin Fire Chief Jim McCoy says the fire was reported just after 3 p.m. Friday. The victim was found dead inside.
A man already serving a life sentence has been acquitted of murder in the shooting death of an aspiring teacher during an iPod robbery in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the jury found Marcellus Jones not guilty of all charges Wednesday, including murder and conspiracy to commit robbery, in the death of 23-year-old Beau Zabel.
It was another Hail Mary pass to give the Packers the win. Only this time the winners are the Austin boys basketball team with a stunning, full-court shot as time expired. The winning players and fans erupted in jubilation as Austin walked away with an unbelievable 57-56 buzzer-beating win Tuesday night over Northfield.
A man accused of gunning down an aspiring teacher from Minnesota for his iPod on a Philadelphia street says he didn't do it and witnesses lied. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Marcellus Jones took the stand Tuesday during his trial in the death of Beau Zabel.
Authorities have identified an Austin man who died in a garage fire on Thanksgiving morning. Austin Fire Chief Jim McCoy says 43-year-old Jorge Abeyta was found dead inside the garage when firefighters arrived around 9 a.m. Thursday.
Hormel is announcing a two-for-one split a day after the company reported a strong fourth quarter and outlook. The company is projecting higher sales from organic meats producer Applegate, which it bought earlier this year.
After the turkey's been gobbled, your out-of-town guests may get antsy for some entertainment over the long Thanksgiving weekend. Show them the best of Minnesota with this handy holiday guide.
Pick your own pumpkin this year in one of Minnesota's best patches.
Visiting Austin anytime soon? Check out the top 10 things to do once you get there according to Laura Griffin, author of "Shadow Fall."
Two men and a woman are facing charges for a large fight at Austin High School in southeastern Minnesota. Twenty-seven-year-old Odell McCullough pleaded not guilty Thursday to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and second-degree riot with a dangerous weapon.
An annual Minnesota traveling music showcase is scheduled to kick off in Northfield. The Minnesota Music Coalition says the fifth annual Caravan du Nord will kick off Oct. 3, in partnership with Carleton College.
Officials say an Austin couple was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to producing child pornography.
The killing of 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco, California, allegedly by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant, has many focusing on the "sanctuary city" policy that many U.S. Cities adopted. But the real focus shouldn't be on sanctuary cities, it should be on what happens to illegal immigrants after they commit a crime.
The Midwest is officially the best! Moorhead, Minnesota has been named the best small city in America, according to the Nerd Wallet.
Minneapolis taco enthusiast Kelly Johnson is on pace to devour a taco a day in 2015 and her tongue-in-cheek reviews of the various tongues and cheeks she's eaten at taco stands around the Twin Cities have attracted a growing readership online.
Nurture the creativity of each member of your family, no matter what their age. These Minnesota arts and crafts studios allow you to bring out the artist within while sticking together.
Gov. Mark Dayton will visit Worthington and Austin to promote his proposal to require farmers to leave 50-foot buffer strips along ditches, streams, ponds and lakes to improve water quality and animal habitat.
Explore the Live Music Capital of the World like a seasoned veteran with these guides for your South by Southwest vacation to Austin, Texas.
Former University of Minnesota Gopher kicker and punter Rob Gray is adjusting to life with a new kidney donated by his pickleball partner.
Players and coaches alike were flowing in and out of the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel on Thursday, making final preparations ahead of the 2026 World Junior Championship. The tournament begins on Friday.
A stretch of a road in Minneapolis' Seward neighborhood was flooded with water on Thursday night.
Jordan Addison took a jet sweep handoff 65 yards for the game-sealing touchdown with 3:43 left after the Minnesota Vikings forced six turnovers and eliminated the Detroit Lions from contention for the playoffs with a 23-10 victory.
In an era of bowl opt outs, Minnesota still finds plenty of reasons to embrace the postseason experience, even when the chase for a national championship ended long ago.
Former University of Minnesota Gopher kicker and punter Rob Gray is adjusting to life with a new kidney donated by his pickleball partner.
Players and coaches alike were flowing in and out of the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel on Thursday, making final preparations ahead of the 2026 World Junior Championship. The tournament begins on Friday.
A stretch of a road in Minneapolis' Seward neighborhood was flooded with water on Thursday night.
Christmas gives many a much needed break-including social services and shelters, but people who need those services don't get a break for the holidays.
A 63-year-old West St. Paul, Minnesota, man accused of pointing a gun at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent says the agent also pointed a gun at him, according to court documents filed on Thursday.
Two women are dead after a semitruck collided with a Chrysler minivan in Elmer Township, Minnesota, on Christmas Eve, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
Sabrina Schnoor, 25, was found dead under an Interstate 35 overpass bridge in May 2023.
From a cat that accidentally made an 8,000-mile journey in a shipping container to a tunnel made just for turtles, all kinds of animals made the headlines in Minnesota this year.
There is no denying 2025 was a difficult year in Minnesota. A list of the biggest news stories is fraught with tragedy, attacks on the vulnerable and political division and dysfunction.
A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please the fictional Slender Man has been ordered back to a state psychiatric hospital after she escaped from her group home last month.
Several schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin are reporting delayed starts on Monday amid a messy morning commute.
The U.S. Justice Department has sued three states, including Illinois and Wisconsin, and D.C. for not turning over requested voter information to the Trump administration.
Defenders of a Wisconsin judge found guilty of felony obstruction for helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal officers are raising alarms about judicial independence and say they hope the conviction will be overturned on appeal.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says Menards, the Wisconsin-based home improvement retailer, has reached a $4.25 million settlement with several states to "resolve claims" of deceptive marketing practices in its popular "11% Rebate Program," and pandemic-era price gouging.
Many people who serve in the U.S. military find it hard to ask for assistance when they've been trained to help and serve others.
Food Bank Eatery in North Minneapolis provides free meals for children, who may have little to eat after the pause of SNAP benefits for many in the community.
Firefighters are continuing a 44-year tradition that happens every year north of the Twin Cities.
It was a scary moment in the Twin Cities over the weekend, as a trailer hauling sled dogs turned over on Interstate 494 in Minnetonka.
On Sunday, members of Minnesota's Somali community spoke out against President Trump's social media post calling for an end to temporary protected status.
The strikes come after President Trump spent weeks accusing the West African country's government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
Gama, originally from Mexico, has been operating the Pastaleria Gama bakery on Lake Street in Minneapolis for 10 years now. Her store was empty for long stretches of time on Christmas Eve, which she said has never been the case in the past.
President Trump spent part of Christmas Eve bantering with kids, updating families on NORAD's Santa tracker and reminding one child that the big guy has a "serious appetite."
President Trump said TV broadcast licenses should be revoked if newscasts and late-night shows are almost entirely negative about him and the GOP.
This season of giving can really do a number on our recycling systems. But we can all be part of the solution.
With the time-honored tradition of gift giving comes gift concealing.
Twin Cities shoppers were out and about on Super Saturday, the second-busiest shopping day of the year. The day lands on the final Saturday before Christmas annually.
Buy now, pay later plans are becoming more popular for shoppers this holiday season.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says Menards, the Wisconsin-based home improvement retailer, has reached a $4.25 million settlement with several states to "resolve claims" of deceptive marketing practices in its popular "11% Rebate Program," and pandemic-era price gouging.
A 63-year-old West St. Paul, Minnesota, man accused of pointing a gun at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent says the agent also pointed a gun at him, according to court documents filed on Thursday.
Minneapolis police are investigating after they say a man suffered "potentially life-threatening injuries" in a stabbing on Thursday morning.
In five years, Clinton Ward allegedly made millions by importing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the Twin Cities via "an expansive net of distributors" in what officials call the most prolific drug operation in Minnesota history.
Court records say Eh Tha Blay, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting third-degree property damage.
Sabrina Schnoor, 25, was found dead under an Interstate 35 overpass bridge in May 2023.
The clock is ticking to snag a few more gifts and prepare for that holiday trip to visit family. As the pressure builds, so does the stress.
The Minnesota Athletic Trainers Association says of the middle and high schools they know of, only 49% have an athletic trainer providing some level of service.
From 2021 to 2025, Smart Therapy Center submitted claims totaling $31.8 million across all Minnesota Department of Human Services programs, according to that data. But the provider was only approved for a fraction of those payments.
The family of a Minnesota Vikings player who died at training camp from heat exhaustion in 2001 is still fighting to protect others.
A Twin Cities metro area school shifted to e-learning after a flu outbreak impacted nearly a quarter of its students. A senior epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health said flu season is "definitely picking up."
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
Feeding America's CEO said the organization is "incredibly grateful" for Taylor Swift's large donation.
The singer said an MRI showed a cancerous spot on one of his lungs after he recovered from a lengthy bout of bronchitis.
The special features interviews with Kathy Bates, Annette Bening, Albert Brooks, Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Jerry O'Connell and Mandy Patinkin.
The Oscars ceremony is moving to YouTube starting in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.
Former University of Minnesota Gopher kicker and punter Rob Gray is adjusting to life with a new kidney donated by his pickleball partner.
Players and coaches alike were flowing in and out of the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront hotel on Thursday, making final preparations ahead of the 2026 World Junior Championship. The tournament begins on Friday.
Jordan Addison took a jet sweep handoff 65 yards for the game-sealing touchdown with 3:43 left after the Minnesota Vikings forced six turnovers and eliminated the Detroit Lions from contention for the playoffs with a 23-10 victory.
The junior cornerback transferred to Minnesota from Iowa this spring. He was a depth defensive back and special teamer for the Hawkeyes. But this year, with a larger role, he's had a breakout season.
The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings have gone from 29 combined wins last season to just 15 this season entering their Week 17 matchup on Christmas Day.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for answers about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. She is also denouncing the president's attacks on the Somali community and herself. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy shows us how, for Omar, this is a familiar position to be in.
Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is calling for clarity about the immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities.
Fear and uncertainty continue in Minnesota's Somali communities as ICE continues its intensified focus on the Twin Cities.
Opposition to ICE actions is widespread among Democratic elected officials throughout the state, though nowhere more than in Minneapolis, home to the state's largest Somali population.
Minnesotans who welcomed a child this year were able to start applying this week to the state's new paid family and medical leave program to take time off in 2026.
On Dec. 9, 1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" debuted on CBS, and it became an instant classic. Lee Jenkins' home is proof that the show is still a hit six decades later.
Holiday lights are on full display across the state right now, and just south of the Twin Cities you'll find a Christmas light show that's been around for more than half a century.
The story begins years ago when the city acquired one of the T-38 Talon Thunderbird jets from the Air Force.
The holidays are upon us, and in the town of Kellogg, Minnesota, you'll find a toy store unlike any other.
With the holidays fast approaching, and lutefisk on the menu for many families, one Minnesota town has the distinction of being called the "Lutefisk Capital of the Country."
According to the Smithsonian Magazine and Britannica, eggnog has British roots.
With the time-honored tradition of gift giving comes gift concealing.
The story of "The Wizard of Oz " is 125 years old, yet still reinventing itself in all kinds of forms.
It's the time of year when we accumulate the most stuff. When we do, people often throw around the word "hoarding." But it turns out it's a frequently misunderstood term.
Why do we have oily or dry skin? A dermatologist explains the root cause and how it can change over time.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
A mix of fog and icy conditions are possible early on Friday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
Meteorologist Adam Del Rosso said there's a potential for freezing drizzle and icy roads in northern and central Minnesota from Thursday afternoon to Friday morning.
A NEXT Drive Alert is in effect due to the potential for icy roads with possible freezing drizzle in northern and central Minnesota.
WCCO meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says it could drizzle in the evening on Christmas.
A former University of Minnesota Gopher football player found a new way to feed his competitive itch in his older years. But he had no idea this sport would lead to a life-saving gift for him. WCCO’s Marielle Mohs explains.
Thursday was a perfect December day for tailgating outside U.S. Bank Stadium ahead of the matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. Mike Max caught up with fans from both teams.
Anyone who goes to the pickleball courts at Life Time Bloomington North may run into Minnesota Vikings season ticket holder Dan Muraski. Mike Max explains how he uses this passion for the sport to cope with the loss of his wife of 47 years.
A mix of fog and icy conditions are possible early on Friday, according to NEXT Weather meteorologist Lisa Meadows.
Christmas gives many a much-needed break, including social service and shelter workers. But people who need those services don't get a break for the holidays. Our Frankie McLister shows how Catholic Charities Twin Cities is filling the gap.