Minnesota is bordered by Canada on the south and the Dakotas on the west. Warm summers, cold winters with snow December to March.
Temperatures are lower in the northern part of the state.
Moderate rainfall the rest of the year. Minnesota's North Shore Scenic Drive has been designated as an All-American Road by the Federal Highway Administration. This distinction is shared by only 16 other routes in the USA, including the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Big Sur highway. This is a primary north-south passage for thousands of tundra swans, Canadian geese, snow geese, ducks and other waterfowl. The Minnesota Office of Tourism now offers the first toll-free accessible birding hotline in the nation, informing visitors about the presence of unusual birds, migration status and general birding activity.