Tourism & Recreation
Minnesota’s lakes and their shores provide many recreational activities and draw millions of tourists each year.
Northeastern Minnesota is recognized for the unique wild and natural character of its forests, lakes and hills. Much of the land is an extension of Canadian Shield geology found in few other areas of the U.S. Outdoor recreation activities are key components of tourism in northeastern Minnesota. Tourism in northeastern Minnesota has grown steadily in the last 2 decades. Coastal tourism has surged; in the Duluth area, tourism now has an estimated economic impact of $400 million per year while tourism in small coastal communities, like Two Harbors, Lutsen, Tofte, Grand Marais and the Gunflint Trail, has shown equally impressive growth based on lodging tax receipts. At the same time, new homes and second homes have been and continue to be built at high rates.
This growth and the attendant human activity that it adds to the region has caused concern that the natural and scenic character of the area is being lost. Although there are extensive tracts of public land in the region, they are heavily used for timber and recreation with related impacts becoming more evident. continued…
Seiche Newsletter Articles
- Frequent Beach-Goers Aware of Rip Currents
- Read the results of our survey last summer to assess rip current awareness among Park Point swimmers.
- A Lake With a View
- Results from a survey show that Duluthians value the city's open space and are committed to protecting it. Minnesota Sea Grant directed the project that investigated residents' perceptions of natural and developed open space to add insight to community planning efforts.
- Community Concerns Explored Along the North Shore
- Land, jobs, age, and health – over 100 people spent a day discussing Minnesota's coastal community. Review some of the statistics and issues presented at the 7th annual State of the Coast conference.
- Noise Pollution in Ears of Beholder
- Personal watercraft (Jet Skis) are causing controversy in Minnesota in part due to the noise they create.
- Tourism’s impacts Minimized with Management
- Glenn Kreag, recreation and tourism specialist for Minnesota Sea Grant, points out in a fact sheet that smart community planners recognize that a thriving tourist industry must be managed.
- Why Love Lakes?
- Convenience, scenery and fishing are some of the main reasons Minnesota residents love to visit lakes.
Featured Articles
- Toward Sustainable Tourism
- This 40-page interactive Web booklet explores the ingenuity and efforts applied to sustainable tourism in the countries of Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. The results of fact-finding treks by the author are described along with insights into ways a sustainable tourism culture can be generated within a community and within a country.
- Duluth Values Open Space
- A 20-page PDF publication that describes results of a survey of Duluth, Minn., residents and their perceptions about open/green space in the city. Published in 2002.
- Superior Pursuit: Facts About the Greatest Great Lake
- Whether you visit Minnesota's North Shore or live there year-round, Lake Superior is a constant source of wonder.
- Estimated Economic Impact of Recreational Fishing on Minnesota Waters of Lake Superior
- The recreational fishing industry contributed approximately $9.74 million in direct expenditures to the state in 1990.
- Rip Currents: Escape the Grip of the Rip!
- About rip currents on the Great Lakes and what you need to know to enjoy the beach safely
- Survival in Cold Water: Hypothermia Prevention
- Explore risks, treatments and prevention of this cold water killer.
- Minnesota’s North Shore Snowmobile Trail: What is its Value?
- Winter trail-related recreation activities (snowmobiling and cross-country skiing) in Minnesota are in high demand and generate substantial tourism activity. Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior has both types of trails that, along with two major downhill ski areas, anchor the area’s winter tourism business.
See Also
- Catching Up With Aquatic Science
- A radio program and podcast about research concerning aquatic systems and coastal communities.
- Sea Grant Files
- A radio program and podcast about the latest Sea Grant activities in Minnesota.
- Superior Science News
- A radio series about Lake Superior research.
