If you want to see skyscrapers and city neighborhoods from your bike seat, look no further than Minneapolis and St. Paul. Several trails, notably the Grand Rounds and Midtown Greenway, take riders through the heart of the city and past landmarks including the Stone Arch Bridge, Minnehaha Falls and the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. Bike lanes on major thoroughfares, such as St. Paul’s Summit Avenue, and paths along both banks of the Mississippi River offer postcard-worthy scenery worth braking for.

The Twin Cities make it easy for those without a bike to get on the trails thanks to numerous bike rental shops. Nice Ride, a public bike-sharing system, has over 400 locations throughout Minneapolis, allowing travelers to get from point A to point B without a car.

Several areas known for downhill skiing in the winter transform into mountain biking destinations after the snow melts, including the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area in Detroit Lakes, Giants Ridge near Biwabik, Mount Kato in Mankato, and Afton Alps just east of the Twin Cities. Duluth, Winona, and parts of the Chippewa and Superior national forests are also big on mountain biking. Call ahead about bike rentals, and always wear a helmet.

Coming to Minnesota without a boat? Resorts and outfitters are happy to set you up with a rental, and can even hook you up with a local guide who will provide all the equipment, lead you to the fish, and even clean and cook whatever you catch. On big lakes like Superior and Lake of the Woods, charter boats are the way to go; on Mille Lacs and a few other lakes, a launch excursion can take dozens of anglers out at once.

In addition to traditional boat fishing, Minnesota also has waters suited to fly fishing, particularly in rivers and streams in southeast Minnesota and on Lake Superior. Kids will love fishing from the dock on virtually any body of water.

Come winter, lakes once teeming with boats transform into villages of ice houses, where anglers drill holes in the ice and wait for the fish to bite. These houses range from basic to downright luxurious, with some equipped with beds, stoves and heaters for a comfortable retreat. Get in touch with resorts and outfitters on major bodies of water to try out this truly unique experience.

Before planning your Minnesota fishing trip, check with the Department of Natural Resources about fishing seasons, licenses and regulations.

A handful of Minnesota’s premier courses were designed by the country’s top golf architects, including Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Minnesota’s own golf legend, Tom Lehman. Three are ranked among Golf Digest’s “100 Greatest Public Courses” in America: The Quarry at Giants Ridge (Biwabik), The Wilderness at Fortune Bay (Tower) and The Classic at Madden’s (Brainerd).

While resort courses have the added bonus of on-site lodging and offer stay-and-play packages, virtually every Minnesota course has hotels, resorts or campgrounds nearby. Variations on the sport, including disc golf, foot golf and mini-golf, can often be played on or near the traditional courses.

Another massive body of water, Lake Superior delivers some of the state’s most dramatic scenery, along with beloved state parks, roaring rivers and water so clear that a calm day can feel like paddling across glass. Resorts and outfitters from the St. Louis River near Duluth to the Pigeon River on the Canadian border can help paddlers pick the best segments and safest conditions.

Other popular water trails include the St. Louis River, with 7 miles of rapids through Jay Cooke State Park on the North Shore of Lake Superior; the St. Croix River, featuring a 200-foot gorge, ice age potholes and scenic rock formations on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border; and the Root River in southeast Minnesota, with calm water ideal for beginners and families.

But rivers aren’t the only places to get out and paddle. The state’s many lakes, including those in the heart of our biggest cities, are filled with people in kayaks, canoes and on paddleboards when the weather’s nice. Local outfitters rent equipment by the hour or day, and lakeside resorts often have watercraft available for guests to use during their stays.

Last but certainly not least, Minnesota is home to the world-renowned Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, named one of National Geographic Traveler’s “50 Places of a Lifetime.” This vast preserve of lakes and woods offers a wilderness experience like no other, with more than 1,200 miles of lakes, rivers and streams accessible only by canoe.

There are no roads, buildings, electricity or souvenir shops here; adventurers are as likely to spot wildlife like moose, deer, beavers and bald eagles as they are fellow humans. Nearly 2,200 designated campsites are scattered throughout the Boundary Waters, available without reservations and featuring little more than a patch of land for your tent and a steel fire grate. Area outfitters can help plan a trip that suits your interests and experience level, and will provide all necessary equipment and permits.