Minnesota, USA
Minnesota bed and breakfast accommodation in the land of sky blue waters
As your Minnesota bed and breakfast host will tell you, Minnesota means "land of sky-blue waters" in the tongue of the Native Americans who appreciated the beauty of this part of North America. Immigrating Scandinavians loved it for the same reason probably because its astonishing 10,000 lakes looked just like the fjords back home. The lakes and rivers of this Midwestern state together with state and national forests and parks offer tourists a rewarding outdoor activities and attractions. For those who like the pleasures of lively and well-developed cities there are hundreds of Minnesota bed and breakfast businesses catering to visitors in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, also known as the Twin Cities. This area is the center of transportation, business, and industry and it is home to an internationally famous arts community. (The remainder of the state, often referred to as "Greater Minnesota", consists ofprairies now used for extensive agriculture, deciduous forests and the northern boreal forests.) There are also B&B lodges and inns in the Twin Cities with theaters, shopping and top-class restaurants to keep Minnesota bed and breakfast tourists happy. The two cities also have more theatres, dance companies, and concert venues per person than anywhere in the US after NewYork. The city of Duluth on Lake Superior is a midsize town near the lake shore and 
Stillwater is reminiscent of the Victorian era oflumber-baron days. It is situated beside the lovely St. Croix River. There are many bed andbreakfasts in both these towns. America's largest shopping center, the Mall of America, is located in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Tourism is Important to Minnesota bed and breakfast establishments which have multiplied in recent years. Tourists are attracted to arts events, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hunting and water sports. Of course the winter sports bringing in millions of visitors each year, many of whom stay in Minnesota bed and breakfasts, lodges and inns. Among the most popular attractions arethe St. Paul Winter Carnival; the Walker Art Center, the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre, the Institute of Arts and Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis; the Boundary Waters Canoe 
Area; North Shore Drive; the Minnesota Zoological Gardens; Voyageurs National Park; and the state's multitudinous lakes. Many Minnesota bed and breakfast accommodation businesses have opened on the shores of the lakes in the northern portion of the state. The proliferation of B&Bs has transformed the area into popular summer resort. On the summer long weekend the trek "up to the lake," as local parlance has it, is a great escape from the urban centers. Minnesotans continue to enjoy the great outdoors in winter when sports like skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating draw folks into the crisp air. Many Minnesota bed and breakfast establishments cater for winter visitors who want a cozy, affordable place to stay.
