Josh Duhamel Loves Minnesota—and We Bet You Will Too

Josh Duhamel may seem like a Hollywood guy, but it turns out, he’s most at home in the middle of nowhere with as few special amenities as possible. And it’s a lifestyle that, frankly, sounds like a lovely little vacation from the day-to-day grind. In fact, it’s so great, we think you should try it. 

In mid-April, Duhamel, who currently stars in the Netflix series “Ransom Canyon,” sat down with Country Living to give a glimpse of his all-new life, far away from the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles, trading it for the woods in Minnesota—a place he calls his “doomsday cabin.” It’s a fitting destination for Duhamel, as it sits about 90 minutes from Fargo, North Dakota, which itself sits about four hours from his hometown of Minot, North Dakota. 

“Part of the reason I built my place out in Minnesota, deep in the woods, is it’s removed from everything,” Duhamel additionally shared with Parade about his Minnesota home. “The closest store is 40 miles away. Once we get there, it’s really about everybody taking care of each other—making memories, spending time with family and friends. You really get a chance to get back to the basics. You’re not consumed by all these other distractions. When you’re out there, it’s really about having fun, making sure everybody’s warm, everybody’s got food and water.”

While Duhamel didn’t share exactly where his magical cabin in the woods is, he did note, “It’s basically a Terry Redlin painting.” And that could be true for many parts of Minnesota. 

According to the state’s Department of Natural Resources, there are 46 campgrounds with 1,000 campsites across its state forests, each allowing you to live out that same off-the-grid lifestyle as Duhamel for a few days. But that’s not all. The Department added that guests can ‘Try dispersed camping anywhere in the state forest” or check out its more than 5,000 campsites, cabins, and guesthouses sprinlled across its state parks and state recreation areas “Plus, there are thousands of miles of rugged or paved state trails and state water trails that can lead you there.” 

But if you only want to go halfway to being totally off-grid, that’s OK too, as the state is home to plentiful glamping operations that will allow you to rough it without having to forgo a few little luxuries. At Sweetbriar Ridge in Pine City, travelers can check into gorgeous geodesic domes that are completely clear, allowing Mother Nature to shine through, but still include creature comforts like kitchens and cozy beds. At North Shore Camping Co. in Beaver Bay, travelers can try more traditional tents, but again with the bonus of an actual king bed. And again, that’s just the beginning, with plenty more glamping sites punctuating the state.

So while Duhamel may have a spot in the wilds of Minnesota to call his own, you can at least find one for a quick vacation to call your own, too.