There’s no better place than the Minnesota State Fair to get a feel for what Minnesota is all about. The “Great Minnesota Get-Together” draws over 1.5 million attendees every year and is the largest 12-day fair in North America. The annual celebration features endless games and rides, animal exhibits, and over 400 free concerts. The fair celebrates everything that is special about Minnesota. If you’re looking for an experience you won’t find anywhere else, visit the North Woods area to see lumberjack and stunt dogs performances, and make sure to catch the State Fair Parade at 2pm every day. Popular musical artists visit the Grandstand each year to play to sold-out crowds. Food is also a highlight of the State Fair; past culinary innovations included SPAM sushi, deep fried grilled cheese bites, and a Reuben pickle dog!

Saint Paul's beautiful Rice Park is the "center stage" for the Winter Carnival, which is an annual celebration of winter held entirely outside. Three parades, a beer festival, a 5k, the Snow Park at the Fair, and ice palaces demonstrate Minnesota's embrace of its cold season. The Winter Carnival is held from late January through early February.

Port Macquarie is part of a significant wine region around the Hastings River where the best grapes are chambourcin, chardonnay, verdelho, semillon and merlot. Dairy and oyster farms, as well as plantation crops such as macadamia nuts and avocados, make this a great foodie destination. Fresh produce aplenty can be sourced at Wauchope Farmers Markets, held on the fourth Saturday of every month. Annual food and wine festivals include Sip and Savour Festival.

Located at the southernmost tip of Cozumel, Punta Sur Eco Beach Park is an ecological reserve boasting pristine white beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and lush vegetation teeming with wildlife, including exotic birds and crocodiles in their natural habitat. One of the highlights is the historic Celarain Lighthouse, which offers stunning panoramic views of the coastline and houses a navigation museum. Visitors can also explore the "El Caracol," a small Mayan structure thought to have been a temple or a hurricane warning system. For adventure seekers, Punta Sur offers snorkeling opportunities just off the shore and guided boat tours across the Colombia Lagoon to spot crocodiles and diverse bird species. Additional experiences such as massages, tequila tastings, and water sports add a touch of luxury and excitement to this natural gem.