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🏖️Minnesota's Closest Thing to a Beach Town?
Plus air shows, reggae, and a food tour.
Joe Carmack
July 10, 2026
Your Weekend Forecast
Duluth Air Show & Expo
7/11-12
The skies over Duluth get loud in a hurry as military jets, aerobatic pilots, and vintage aircraft take turns putting on a show above Lake Superior. Between flights, visitors can explore aircraft displays, meet pilots, and check out aviation exhibits on the ground. It’s part air show, part aviation festival, with plenty of action overhead and enough to see between performances to fill an entire day.
 Bayfront Reggae & World Music Fest7/18Set along Duluth’s waterfront, this longtime festival blends reggae rhythms with music and cultures from around the world. Expect a laid-back day of live performances, dancing, food vendors, and colorful sights from start to finish. With Lake Superior as the backdrop, it’s a lively gathering that brings together music lovers of all ages
|  Vicki's Camp & Country Jam7/9-11A classic Minnesota summer weekend built around live country music, camping, and good company. Expect a mix of regional and touring acts, lawn chairs lined up near the stage, and plenty of time spent around campfires between sets. Part concert, part campground gathering, it’s the kind of event where strangers quickly become neighbors. All weekend long!!
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 Lakefront Music Fest7/10For a couple of summer nights, Prior Lake trades quiet evenings for big-stage concerts, bright lights, and crowds ready to sing along. National touring artists bring a mix of country and rock hits, while food vendors and gathering spaces keep the energy going between sets. It’s a large-scale outdoor concert experience with a distinctly Minnesota feel.
|  Anoka Riverfest & Craft Fair7/11Downtown Anoka fills with artists, makers, and visitors as booths line the streets near the Rum River. Shoppers can browse everything from handmade crafts and artwork to unique gifts and specialty foods while live entertainment and community activities add to the atmosphere. It’s a relaxed summer tradition that blends local creativity with small-town charm. |
 | Start your date night with the Heart of St. Paul Food Tour, a walking culinary adventure through downtown that feels part dinner, part city exploration. Along the way you'll sample dishes inspired by the city's diverse cultural roots while hearing stories about St. Paul's colorful history, including its gangster-era past. Expect everything from locally loved comfort food to unexpected flavors you might not order on your own. The best part is that dinner becomes the activity, giving you plenty to talk about between stops as you discover corners of downtown many locals have never seen. |
 | After dinner, put your teamwork to the test at The Lodge of Lazarus Crowe. This immersive escape-room experience drops you into a mysterious world filled with hidden clues, puzzles, and secrets waiting to be uncovered. You'll spend the evening searching, solving, and connecting the dots together while racing against the clock. It's the kind of date that gets you off your phones and working as a team, creating plenty of laughs, a little friendly disagreement, and a few moments where one of you feels like an absolute genius. Or at least gets to claim they are for the drive home. |
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Lake City is where we're headed, an easy getaway perched along the shores of Lake Pepin that feels a little different from anywhere else in Minnesota. Between the river bluffs, waterfront views, and small-town charm, it's the kind of place where a good meal, a beach chair, and an unhurried afternoon are all you really need.
☀️The Perfect Roadtrip to Lake City🌊
🗺️ Getting There
Lake City is one of Minnesota's easiest and most rewarding day trips. From Minneapolis, it's about a 1 hour and 45 minute drive. Take Highway 52 through Cannon Falls, then connect to Highway 61 as the route begins following the Mississippi River. The final stretch delivers beautiful bluff views and glimpses of Lake Pepin.
If you want to break up the drive, stop in Red Wing for a coffee and pastry at Mandy's Coffee & Cafe, a highly-rated local favorite that's worth the detour.
🥾 Things to Do
Start your day at Ohuta Beach, Lake City's popular lakeside destination. The sandy beach, marina, and waterfront paths make it easy to spend a few hours relaxing while watching sailboats cross Lake Pepin, the widest naturally occurring section of the Mississippi River.
From there, wander downtown along Washington Street. You'll find locally owned shops, boutiques, antique stores, and specialty gift shops that make for a fun afternoon of browsing without feeling overly touristy.
For lunch, grab a table at Kelly's Lake House Bar & Grill. The lakeside patio offers some of the best views in town, and visitors consistently rave about the burgers, fish tacos, pizza, and broasted chicken. If you're looking for something a little more casual, Port 104 Bar-Grill & Bowling is another local favorite that pairs good food with a laid-back atmosphere.
Need a caffeine break? Rustic Coffeehouse earns excellent reviews for its coffee, baked goods, and welcoming small-town feel.
In the afternoon, head about 15 minutes north to Frontenac State Park. The blufftop trails overlook Lake Pepin and the Mississippi River Valley, offering some of the most impressive scenery in southeastern Minnesota. Even a short hike rewards you with spectacular views.
Before heading home, stop for a sweet treat at Chickadee Cottage Cafe, known for its homemade baked goods, coffee, and charming atmosphere. Then take one final stroll along the shoreline. If you catch sunset over Lake Pepin, you'll understand why so many people return year after year.
🧭 A Few Tips
Pack beach gear for Ohuta Beach.
Bring comfortable walking shoes for downtown and Frontenac State Park.
Don't skip the bluff overlooks at Frontenac.
Plan time for a waterfront meal. The views are part of the experience.
As always, happy trails!
-Joe & Haley
 |  Joe & Haley Carmack |