Top 10 Things To Do In Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

things to do in detroit lakes mn
Saptami
Saptami 
Published
| 5 min read

The charming city of Minnesota possesses raw urban energy. During summertime, the population of the city increases for its pleasant weather. The city has a penchant for DIY, transforming abandoned buildings and farms into chic cafes and museums. The city has a long-standing history as a producer of luxury cars. Tourism is also an important part of the economy, being surrounded by picturesque lakes on all sides. Art is an important part of this city, seen especially in the colorful street arts. In one word, the city is all set to impress you with its Art Deco skyscrapers, charming public parks, not to mention countless cafes, bars, and distilleries. Check out the best things to do in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, for your next trip.

1. Enjoy some coffee over freshly baked cupcakes at Roasted Pub and Eatery

Tomorrow is #nationalcoffeeday Come celebrate with free cup of coffee with any Baked in DL sweet treat!

Posted by Roasted Pub and Eatery on Thursday, 28 September 2017

Located in the main street of Washington Avenue, this charming restaurant is known for its delicious coffee and craft beer. Their coffee here is well-roasted, enough to give coffee lovers a memorable taste. It can be teamed perfectly with the freshly baked cupcakes. There are also a number of meat and poultry items for you to choose from. The interior of the restaurant is charming and lively and there is also outdoor seating arrangement for the sunny days.

Roasted Pub and Eatery

Address: 815 Washington Ave, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501, USA

Website: Roasted Pub and Eatery

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 7am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 7am - 12am; Sun: 7am - 8pm

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2. Go bird spotting in a birding paradise

Fieldtrips today to Blanket Flower Prairie SNA, Buffalo River and Itasca State Parks revealed marbled godwits, dunlin, bobolinks, red crossbill and a plethora of woodland warblers.

Posted by Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds on Wednesday, 23 May 2018

Detroit Lakes is a paradise for bird watchers, as it is the home of the famous Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail. This famous trail is spread across around 200 miles (321 km), where you can spot over 250 species of birds. The city also hosts the annual Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds. This festival is held in the month of May when most of the species of birds are present. One of the most interesting events to check out in this time is the dramatic mating ritual of Greater Prairie Chickens which can be seen in Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge.

Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds

Address: 700 Summit Ave, 56501 Detroit Lakes

Website: Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds

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3. Take part in the town's charming festivals

Posted by Northwest Water Carnival on Wednesday, 19 July 2017

Detroit Lakes is famous for its enchanting festivals, and you should attend these to get a real vibe of the city. For two days in the month of June, the downtown area comes alive with a festival celebrating art, culture, and food. It is generally celebrated in the First Friday and Saturday after the Memorial Day. There are normally over a hundred artists’ booths showcasing their unique arts. Great music and delicious food also accompany the artists. In the heart of the summer, in the month of July, the celebration of Northwest Water Carnival takes place. The Parade of the Northwest is also famous, which takes place all through Washington Avenue and West Lake Drive. You can also catch the live bands on the shore of the lake during Bash on the Beach.

Northwest Water Carnival

Address: PO Box 456, 56502 Detroit Lakes

Website: Northwest Water Carnival

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4. Go mountain biking at Mountain View Recreation Area

Posted by Detroit Mountain Recreation Area, Inc. on Sunday, 12 July 2015

There are plenty of scenic trails with a sloppy path to enjoy mountain biking in the Detroit Lakes are. One of the best places to try mountain biking is Detroit Mountain Recreation Area. It used to be a family-owned Alpine Resort for skiing which now has trails with the downhill flow to get the perfect feel of mountain biking. There is a lift to take the bikers uphill so that they could fully enjoy biking in the downhill slopes. Mountain View Recreation Area also offers bikers a chance to try mountain biking through a forest, amidst the trees. The cross-country ski resort named Maplelag Resort has a web of trails. Among them, the wide ski trails are perfect to try out mountain biking.

Mountain View Recreation Area

Address: 30119, 30199 Tower Rd, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501, United States

Website: Mountain View Recreation Area

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5. Play frisbee golf in City Park

Detroit Lakes City Park
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Elizabeth A. Armour used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The charming park is perfect for a day out or having a picnic. It has several picnic tables and benches where you can have a great time with friends and family. Three of the picnic shelters come with grill and electricity. The frisbee golf course is one of the main attractions of this park which you can enjoy along with having a fun time with your peers. It also has tennis courts if you want to enjoy a game.

City Park

Address: 1320 Lincoln Ave, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501, USA

Website: City Park

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6. Hike the breathtaking North Country National Scenic Trail

Aug. 11 Fence Stiles Hike Join the Laurentian Lakes Chapter of the North Country Trail for a 3.2 mile guided hike. ...

Posted by NCTinMN on Sunday, 5 August 2018

The huge North Country National Scenic Trail is spread over 4,600 miles (7,402 km). The stretch of Northcentral Minnesota lies close to the city, and you can certainly enjoy hiking this trail. The trail runs between Detroit Lake and Remer. One of the important attractions of this area is Pine Lake. A trek around this lake gives you lots of opportunities for bird watching. The trail is beautiful, full of scenic lakes, wildlife, hills, and valleys.

North Country National Scenic Trail

Address: PO Box 1805, Detroit Lakes, MN 56502-1805

Website: North Country National Scenic Trail

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7. Try locally made wine at Richwood Winery

Posted by Richwood Winery on Tuesday, 24 June 2014

The beautiful winery is vast and beautiful, overlooking Lake Buffalo. Along with its excellent wine, this winery offers excellent scenic beauty. The winery started in the year 2008 using Marquette, LaCrescent, and Frontenac Gris grapes. Later, it got combined with Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes of Californian region. Together, all these grapes produce the wine with almost the same quality of Napa Valley. You can taste the wine in the log cabin tasting room which overlooks the vineyard.

Richwood Winery

Address: 27799 Co Hwy 34, Callaway, MN 56521, USA

Website: Richwood Winery

Opening hours: Thu - Sun: 1pm – 6pm (closed from Mon - Wed)

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8. Shop your heart out at Washington Square Mall

Posted by CineMagic Cinema 7 Washington Square Mall on Saturday, 6 July 2019

Lastly, your trip won’t be complete without a dose of shopping in the city of Detroit Lakes. Located in the downtown, the Washington Square Mall has almost everything, from movie theatre to excellent dining facilities. The mall is over three decades old and is a prominent institution in the downtown area. There are also unique boutiques in this mall.

Washington Square Mall

Address: 3042, 808 Washington Ave, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501, United States

Website: Washington Square Mall

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 8pm; Sat: 9:30am - 5:30pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm

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9. Go river tubing

K & K Tubers

Posted by K & K Tubing Inc. on Friday, 6 August 2010

For a slow yet adventurous water-based activity, you can try river tubing in Ottertail River. The two-hour-long tube ride gives you a chance to just float in the river, enjoying the calm, surrounding beauty. Separate tubes are available for the kids also, making sure you’re all set for a fun-filled family holiday. Sometimes, extra hours are offered for free once you have paid for the given hours.

K & K Tubing

Address: 33551 MN-34, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501, USA

Website: K & K Tubing

Opening hours: 10am – 5:45pm (daily)

Price: 7 USD

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10. Score bargains at Shady Hollow Flea Market

A L W A Y S . G R E A T • It’s another amazing weekend at Shady Hollow • We are restocked and ready for...

Posted by Shady Hollow Flea Market on Friday, 19 July 2019

If you enjoy a good dose of bargaining while shopping, then you must visit Shady Hollow Flea Market. The flea market is opened during every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Here, you can get clothes, junk jewelry, books, and other artifacts at a very reasonable price, depending on your bargaining capacity. Don’t miss delicious local foods after a good dose of shopping.

Shady Hollow Flea Market

Address: 12672 Co Hwy 17, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501, USA

Website: Shady Hollow Flea Market

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 7am - 4pm (closed from Mon - Fri)

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Detroit Lakes, a city with a green heart

Becker county Detroit Lakes MN IMG 1255
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Bjoertvedt used under CC BY-SA 3.0

A metropolitan city with a green heart–this is what the city of Detroit Lake can be described as a whole. There are a number of trails to go on a hike, or the scenic lakes to treat your eyes. The charm of a metropolitan city is also not compromised in this case. So, plan your trip immediately to enjoy adventures in this city first-hand.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Saptami's primary life mission revolves around the exploration of the uncharted. Following the completion of her MBA, she steered clear of the conventional 9-to-5 career path, prioritizing the...Read more

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