Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Blaine is a city of about 70,000 people in Anoka and Ramsey counties, Minnesota, about 15 miles north of downtown Minneapolis. Named after the politician James G. Blaine, it grew from farmland and wetlands into one of the fastest-growing suburbs of the Twin Cities after the 1950s.
Blaine is best known as a sports destination. The National Sports Center is one of the largest amateur sports complexes in the world, with dozens of soccer fields and the Schwan Super Rink, and each July it hosts the USA Cup youth soccer tournament. TPC Twin Cities, an Arnold Palmer-designed course, hosts the PGA Tour's 3M Open every summer.
Away from the fields, the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary protects rare native wetlands with boardwalk trails, and city parks such as Aquatore Park and Lochness Park host festivals and outdoor recreation. Northtown Mall is the main shopping center. Downtown Minneapolis, Coon Rapids Dam and the lakes of Anoka County are all close by.
A huge amateur sports complex in Blaine with dozens of soccer fields, a stadium, a golf course and indoor facilities that host events for every age. Each July the USA Cup youth soccer tournament brings teams from around the world. Check the event calendar, as some weekends are very busy and parking fills.
Part of the National Sports Center, this is one of the largest ice arena complexes in the world, with eight sheets of ice used for hockey tournaments, figure skating and public skating. Bring layers, as it is cold inside even in summer, and check the schedule for open skating sessions.
A championship golf course designed by Arnold Palmer that hosts the 3M Open, a PGA Tour event held each summer. It is a private club the rest of the year, so the tournament is the main chance to see it. Tournament tickets include shuttle parking; wear comfortable shoes and bring sun protection.
A protected natural area in Blaine preserving high-quality wetlands, sedge meadows and oak savanna with rare native plants and abundant birdlife. Boardwalks and trails let you explore without damaging the habitat. Visit in late spring and summer for wildflowers, and bring insect repellent.
One of Blaine's main community parks, with sports fields, trails, a playground and open space that hosts the annual Blaine Festival and other city events. It is a good place for a picnic or a walk, and a lively stop during summer festivals. Check the city website for event dates and parking details.
A Blaine city park set around a small lake, with paved walking trails, fishing spots, a playground and picnic areas. It is a quiet place to watch waterfowl and enjoy the water close to home. In winter the trails are used for walking and the lake for ice fishing when conditions allow.
An enclosed shopping mall in Blaine, open since the early 1970s, with department stores, specialty shops, restaurants and services. It is a handy stop for shopping on cold or rainy days and is close to the major highways. Surrounding plazas add more restaurants and big-box stores.
No reviews yet. Been to Blaine? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Blaine? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Tony Webster from San Francisco, California, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Gabriel Vanslette, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Gabriel Vanslette, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jayesh Naithani, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Runner1928, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Etittle1978 at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
