Best of Summer: 4 Weekend Getaways

Wooden Boat Show And Summer Solstice Festival
Come on, it’s summer. Who really needs an excuse to drop in on Grand Marais? But if The World’s Best Donut Shop, the legendary Ben Franklin store, and the soups and beer at Gunflint Tavern aren’t enough, coordinate a run up to the North Shore with this appropriately artsy weekend festival. Heck, sail up. As you may know, the town is chock full of artists and a magnet for even more. Besides the usual small-town festival chow and beverages (Did we mention that the donut shop will be open?), you can get up close with folks doing their crafts, even take a free quickie class. The kids will love it. June 20–22.

Willmar Lakes Area Studio Hop
Given a little warm June weather, a run out to west central Minnesota’s “lake country” is an easy and refreshing day trip, even edifying if you also include this burgeoning art crawl and some water time in Green Lake at nearby New London–Spicer or Robbins Island right in the middle of Willmar. Organizers are promising a minimum of thirty-nine artists in sixteen studios (Prairie Americana, June 21–22.). Or, if you’ve got time to kill an entire week, stick around until the following weekend’s Willmar Fest celebration, June 25-28, with all the usual activities—food, beverages, queens, parade, fireworks and sunburns.

Warroad Fishfest Walleye Fry Competition
Admit it, you’ve lived in Minnesota your entire life and you’ve never been to Warroad. So go. And once you get there, hop in a boat and run up to the Northwest Angle. Then call your college pals in Los Angeles and tell them you’re standing in that “notchy thing at the top of the map.” But since it’s a long ride through what might be terra incognita Minnesota for you, include this day-long fish fry too. And not just any fish. We’re talking fresh walleye. The kind they charge you $17.95 for back in the Cities. July 26.

Orononco Gold Rush Days
Antiquing isn’t dead. And there’s still gold in them thar hills. Diehards from around the region head to southern Minnesota to the town of Oronoco the third weekend in August for one of the best outdoor flea markets of its kind. One thousand dealers take over the streets and sell their vintage wares. Plus vendors serve up ice cream sandwiches, soda pop, dogs, and all the other festival-like food trappings. If that isn’t enough—head just a spell down the road to Rochester for its take on Gold Rush at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds, where another 1.000 dealers from around the country set up in ten buildings scattered around the grounds. If you don’t own an SUV or pickup, we suggest you borrow one. You’ll need it to haul back your loot. August 15–17.