Scotland is home to some of the most rugged and beautiful landscapes on the British Isles. Remote areas offer a chance to get away form it all, but nature can also be found an arm’s length from whatever Scottish region of choose to visit.

One of the tag lines frequently used by Scotland’s tourist industry is “Scotland. Created for walking.” While residents might argue that Scotland was created for Scots, the sheer number of trails in the country seems to support the “created for walking” idea. One could even argue that walking is the unofficial national sport. Though rugby fans might take issue with that.

Despite its small size, Scotland offers unique and varied landscapes.

Southern Scotland has a quaint, stereotypically “countryside” feel. The rolling hills and villages with buildings made from stone and brick make for pleasant strolls. This region of Scotland has more in common with southern England than with its own country’s rugged north. (Scotland is technically a “constituent country,” meaning it is considered its own country but is part of the larger United Kingdom with England, Wale, and Northern Ireland).

In Central Scotland, the Cairngorm National Park offers a wide variety of treks. Serious mountaineers come to conquer the peaks of the Cairngorm Mountains while the forests, foothills, and rivers at the mountains’ base teem with wildlife, scenery, and plenty of opportunities for daylong or multi-day treks.

Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, is found to the west, as is the birthplace of the uniquely Scottish sport of hill walking. Sport? Yes. There are even competitions; though viewing the postcard like scenery of western Scotland from a height is probably reward enough for a strenuous hike.

Scotland’s trails offer visitors a chance to get up close with the rugged and beautiful landscapes.

Perhaps you think of Minnesota as a place of oppressively cold winters and summer fishing expeditions. No one would try to disprove those stereotypes. But the culture of the Land of 10,000 Lakes is not limited to snowmobiles and walleye pike. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul are also home to a booming arts and theater scene.

Whether you like wandering through vast art museums or neighborhood galleries, chances are you’ll find the space that you are looking for in the Twin Cities. The same could be said for theater. Large commercial theaters share the stage with innumerable smaller operations. The nationally renowned Guthrie Theater has just moved into a new building on the banks of the Mississippi River. This playhouse offers original productions of plays ranging from modern to Shakespearian. Downtown Minneapolis is home to the Hennepin Theater District. Traveling musicals and concerts are staged at the Orpheum and State Theaters. Nearby restaurants and shops on Nicollet Mall make this the perfect place to combine an off-Broadway show with a night on the town.

There are plenty of smaller stages, as well. Theater in the Round, The Southern Theater, and many others provide an intimate experience. What makes these smaller playhouses unique is that, despite smaller budgets, they are professionally run and staffed by local and regional talent.

The Children’s Theater Company puts on family friendly fare and is conveniently located in a theater that is adjoined with the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The MIA is the stopping point for many traveling exhibits.

Minneapolis’ Northeast neighborhood (Nordeast to locals) is home to a blossoming arts scene. Studios and galleries line the streets just east of Downtown Minneapolis. Many older galleries can be found on the city’s south side and also in Downtown Saint Paul.

So, even if you do come to Minnesota bearing a fishing poll, know that there is plenty of other options out there.