Property crime is far more likely in this region than violent crime. Use common sense regarding valuables left in vehicles. Most locals are very approachable and helpful to out-of-towners, and will go out of their ways to provide assistance.
Mosquitoes can be problematic during the summer months, up until the time of the first killing frost in August or September. Do not underestimate the effect of the wintertime cold on yourself or your vehicle!
The Minnesota State Patrol has a considerable presence on local highways, and drivers would do well to obey posted speed limits.
talk
Finnish is still spoken by some residents in the far Northeast. Many locals speak with a pronounced Scandinavian accent, and quite rapidly! However they are usually happy to oblige and speak slower if asked, nicely.
When ordering food in a restaurant, some tips: a Pasty is a meat and vegetable pie common in this region. Pop is served here, there is no soda available. A glass of beer is referred to as a 'tap' or a 'glass' but usually not a 'draw' or a 'draft'. Polish, or 'Polacker', will get you a spicy sausage, and 'Smelt' a fried fish. And even the locals will usually avoid 'Lutefisk', no matter what you may have heard elsewhere.
Going to the 'show' means seeing a movie at the cinema. A 'snow machine' is a snowmobile, and a 'block heater' is a device to warm car engines on cold winter nights marked by the tiny plug-ins dangling from the grills of many local cars and trucks. 'The Cities' always refers to Minneapolis-Saint Paul. A "sow-na" is in reality a steam bath (sauna, but a 'sarma' is a stuffed cabbage roll.
Acceptable affirmative responses to questions here include, 'oh yah', 'you betcha', and 'no doubt'. 'No way' is a common negatory. Derision is not advised.