Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes – where the headwaters of the Mississippi River and Lake Superior are found. With 85,000 miles of coastline, 66 state parks, 57 state forests and two national forests, this truly is a tour for those wanting to get close to nature and view an abundance of wildlife, including eagles, wolves and black bears. This motorhome itinerary includes:
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Depart the UK on your chosen scheduled flight to Minneapolis. Upon arrival, independently make your way to your hotel, where you spend the first night of your adventure.
Collect your Cruise America Motorhome from our depot in Minneapolis and then it’s not a long drive to your base camp for the next couple of nights at the Minneapolis Southwest KOA in Jordan. Tour the “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis & Saint Paul which is one of the greenest metropolitan areas in America with over 1,000 lakes & 400 parks including Mississippi National River & Recreation Area and the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. Visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and if time permits the adjoining Walker Art Centre. Allow a full day’s visit to Mall of America for some serious shopping. As one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, Mall of America features – 520 stores, 50 restaurants and attractions galore, including Nickelodeon Universe, the nation’s largest indoor theme park. Take a paddlewheel cruise on the Mississippi River. Maybe tour the city by bike – rated top bicycling city in the US by Bicycling magazine. Stock up at all the shops on your visit to Mall of America and remember there’s no sales tax on clothing or shoes in Minnesota!
Today you drive to Itasca State Park, headwaters of the Mississippi River and Minnesota’s oldest state park. Enjoy the park’s 100 lakes, 32,000 acres and walk across the mighty Mississippi as it starts its winding journey 2,552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Visit: the Itasca Indian Cemetery or Wegmann’s Cabin, landmarks of centuries gone by. Explore Wilderness Drive past the 2,000 acre Wilderness sanctuary.
Today you drive to Ely named America’s coolest small town by Budget Travel magazine. Visit the North America Bear Centre which provides a detailed insight into the lives of the black bears that roam Minnesota’s northern woods. Also located at Ely is the International Wolf Centre, featuring a resident wolf pack and offering a variety of educational programs. Tonight you camp at Bear Head Lake State Park, recently voted America’s favourite park in a nationwide campaign sponsored by Coca-Cola. From the Bear Centre windows and observation deck, watch three live bears in a 2 acre wooden enclosure with pond. Enjoy some fun activities at the Wolf Centre including night-time howling with the wolves!
Explore the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) on a day canoe trip, a 1.09 million acre wilderness area within the Superior National Forest. National Geographic magazine rated it among 50 places of a lifetime that any serious world travel must visit. This is a road less wilderness accessible only by canoe or kayak! Try your hand at fishing which is a popular activity. Game species includes pike, small mouth bass, yellow perch & lake trout. Maybe you will even spot some beaver, bears, moose or bald eagles.
Depart for Duluth via the North Shore Scenic Drive, an All American Road, along the coast of Lake Superior. The 154 mile North Shore scenic coastal seashore drive is truly dramatic. Lake Superior encompasses eight state parks and brims with natural wonder. Spend some time exploring Duluth known for its rocky shoreline and Canal Park with its iconic Aerial Lift Bridge. Suggested stops include Split Rock Lighthouse Historic Site and Gooseberry Falls state park. Appreciate the areas beauty & wilderness by hiking The Superior Hiking Trail.
Drive to Wabasha following Jay Cooke State Park, Veterans Evergreen Memorial Scenic Drive, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, first among the nation’s Wild Scenic Rivers, and Great River Road, a National Scenic Byway. Suggested stops include the historic river towns of Stillwater and Red Wing.
Visit the National Eagle Centre in Wabasha. Four eagles reside at the centre and interactive exhibits explain the biology of the eagle, the cultural history of the eagle, its significance as a national symbol and its importance to American Indian cultures. Minnesota has over 1,300 nesting pairs of eagles and Wabasha has one of the largest concentrations of wintering bald eagles in the nation. Drive Bluff Country with soaring, wooded bluffs and charming river towns to stop off at along the way. These scenic river valleys offer plenty to see and do, with antique shops, wineries and apple orchards. There are many Amish homesteads in the area, and shops carry their quilts.
Allow a good two hours to get back to the Cruise America depot in Minneapolis, especially if driving in rush hour. Return your motorhome, make your way to the airport and check in for your flight back to the UK.
Our team of travel professionals focus on providing you with the very best advice when it comes to planning your holiday to the USA and Canada. They have experienced the destinations, hotels, tours and excursions for themselves, so if its expert advice and guidance backed by faultless customer service that you are looking for, you couldn’t’ be in safer hands. We will listen to your wish list of ideas as well as add our own personal recommendations to create a unique itinerary, personalised just for you.
For a quotation based on your preferred travel date and to check availability please contact one of our team of professional consultants who will be happy to assist you.
| Superior Deluxe | Among the finest the world has to offer, hotels in this category are exclusive, lavish and indulgent. Needless to say, you will enjoy the highest service levels, superb accommodation and outstanding facilities and public areas. |
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| Deluxe | This will be an outstanding hotel, offering many of the features of Superior Deluxe, though on a scale which will be a little less grand. |
| Moderate Deluxe | This will be a Deluxe standard property, although some of the accommodation and public areas may offer a less pronounced degree of luxury. In other instances, the hotel may be a famous name with a well-established reputation. |
| Superior First Class | More often than not, this will be a superior modern hotel or an older property which is exceptionally well maintained. All offer very comfortable and well-furnished accommodation and public areas. |
| First Class | A dependable and comfortable hotel with standardised rooms. These are the ideal choice for travellers who don not require deluxe facilities or special services. |
| Moderate First Class | Essentially a First Class hotel with comfortable but sometimes simple accommodations. Public areas may be limited but generally provides all the essentials a guest requires. |
| Superior Tourist Class | |
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| Dude Ranch | |
| Resort Ranch | |
| Working Ranch |
