With a superior quality of life and four distinct seasons, Minnesota is rich with outdoor activities and ample job opportunities without having to live in the big cities. Minnesota is classic Midwest and provides retirees, vacationers and families looking to escape the confines of the concrete jungles with beauty, landscape, and peaceful towns to call their own. Below are some of the best small towns in Minnesota, acknowledged for their supreme livability, outdoor recreation, and slow-paced scene.
Grand Marais
This charming little quiet town is located near the water and woods. The landscape and scenery is picturesque with a small harbor village nestled along Lake Superior. The town draws artists and outdoor enthusiasts from around the region. Hiking and biking are among the area’s finest options and art galleries and museums are scattered throughout the village.
Warren
Time truly has stood still in the tiny town of Warren, Minnesota, located approximately sixty miles south of the Canadian border. Retro signs and vintage flair abound, as visitors travel back in time by about sixty years. Home to a museum known as Settlers Square.
Winona
Located along the Mississippi River and nestled among the Great River Bluffs, nature is brought to life through art and theatre. The area is famous for its fine arts collections the Minnesota Marine Art Museum that displays one of the largest displays of its kind in the country.
Chanhassen
Located at the edge of the Twin Cities boundary is the small community of Chanhassen, just twenty miles from Minneapolis’ downtown buzz. The town has been recognized in major magazines as the best town to live in the country. The town offers major attractions just footsteps or a short drive away and is beautiful in landscape providing ample areas for naturalists to enjoy.
Aitkin
The small town of Aitkin, Minnesota is best known for its Fish House parade that happens every year. The back-in-time coffee shops offer a slow pace but are filled with some interesting characters that seem to have the insight on solving the world’s problems. You will never grow bored in this quiet town filled with museums, festivals and outdoor gardens.
Related: How to Find Educational Trips for Retirees Who Love to Learn
Nisswa
Nisswa is a fine town located along Gull Lake and is considered a North Woods classic.The town is quiet yet houses one of the most historic lodges in the country, the Grand View Lodge. The house is constructed of logs and has been welcoming guests from all over the country for nearly ninety years. The area is great for outdoor enthusiasts, offering plenty of hiking and fishing opportunities.
Red Wing
Still considered a small town by many, Red Wing is recognized as being one of the top historic destinations to visit in Minnesota. Many who have traveled to Red Wing in the summer season claim that it was one of the best trips taken and they can’t wait to return. The town is full of museums and points of interest for the slow-paced traveler.
Robert Fowler
Contributing WriterRobert Fowler is a retired blogger who lives with his wife, Mary Ann at Village at Deaton Creek, a Del Webb Community in North Georgia. Robert was previously the President of Retirement Media Inc. He has visited numerous 55+ Active Adult Communities over the years, sharing his experiences along the way with readers. View more posts
