My new town and volunteer opportunity. Re opening both Birthplace and Museum before June 30th, 2019. Wonderful Volunteer Opportunity for those with time to fill at your convenience.

The Mamie Eisenhower birthplace is now permanently closed. You can still see the house from the outside, but it is never open.

We came here for a wedding. There was around 120 guests and this seemed like the perfect place for a wedding that size. Beautiful winery. There were grapes in the vines while we were here. They have a playground for the kids. The make their own wines and they recently starting making their own vodka. Prices were reasonable for a winery. The staff were great, helped when they needed, stayed away when you didn’t need them. Bartenders were kind and helpful.

My husband and I got married at Next Chapter Winery in June 2024 and we had the best day thanks to Jackie and Jeff! The venue itself was so beautiful for our special day. We had a rainy wedding day so we mainly utilized the Barrel Room and Pavilion which turned out to be the perfect backdrop for photos and our ceremony. We were able to have the sides of the Pavilion up so the vineyard could be the backdrop for group photos and after our ceremony we were also able to sneak outside in a break of the rain to take photos in the vineyard. Jackie and Jeff constantly went the extra mile to make sure that things were running smoothly and checking in to see if we needed anything. We trusted their judgment on certain details and we are so glad they did what worked best in the space. We are so very thankful to have had their support leading up to our wedding and to celebrate with them on the big day. We will always recommend Next Chapter Winery to everyone not only because it is a beautiful space, but because Jackie, Jeff, and the staff make the experience over the top special.

We had the most beautiful wedding here last weekend. Jackie is wonderful. She and her husband are the nicest people. The vineyard, barrel room and dinner areas are beautiful. I couldn’t recommend more.

I can’t say enough good things about Next Chapter Winery! I was able to use their venue for my bridal shower, rehearsal dinner & wedding and each event went perfectly with the help of Jackie, Jeff & staff! They were so helpful and great with communicating to every question and change in plans I had. Even with rain on the wedding day the venue has so many options to still put on a beautiful ceremony when I couldn’t be outdoors. I truly can’t thank them enough for making my day so special. I would absolutely recommend anyone looking for a venue for an upcoming event to check out Next Chapter Winery!

Beautiful winery and vineyard! The house-made vodka is delicious and they've created a huge variety of fun cocktails! Great ambiance, large outdoor seating with playground for the kids and lots of places to sit. It truly is a Minnesota gem that needs to be visited.

We just celebrated our daughter and new son's wedding at Next Chapter yesterday, and in a word, wow! Jackie and Jeff are the sweetest people and so easy to work with! Jackie was the officiant of the ceremony even, and she wrote such a lovely and silly ceremony; everyone loved it! We are so happy with how the day went from start to finish. Everyone said what a beautiful space it was, and it was so perfect for our book nerds! I couldn't recommend Next Chapter enough!

Getting married at Next Chapter was a no brainer for us! Do you love wine? Do you love a very elegant yet rustic feel? Do you love twinkly lights and a good time? GET MARRIED HERE! They have everything you could ever want in a venue and Jackie and Jeff were absolutely wonderful through the whole process making the whole day a breeze! I love all the positive energy and love filled memories we have from this wonderful place. Take it from a DIY Bride!

Beautiful grounds, only wish there were notices on the website about road closures. we weren't sure where to go, but we found the lower loop eventually. So beautiful, many wildflowers, ponds. The Japanese garden was so peaceful! Would love to go back and see the upper gardens.

GenX Glamping Guy here back from an early October visit to the Cowling Arboretum near the campus of Carleton College in Northfield, MN. We hiked the Upper Arboretum and enjoyed the streams, banks, bluffs, flora and fauna. Lots of Red Oaks and a sighting of what might have been Eastern Meadowlarks. I can imagine the trails are ideal for wintertime cross-country skiing. The nearby downtown and a close up view of the Cannon River are worth a visit.

I'm not sure why this nature reserve has some not very good reviews. Parking and finding a spot isn't hard to find. The walk is beautiful. You get a bunch of different beautiful pictures and animals. It's relaxing and calming. There are maps along the way in case you don't normally go on a daily basis so you can't even get lost! Depending on the time of day you visit, its not even busy! The most people you'll probably run into would be the people fishing in front of the trail. Otherwise not a lot of people! The trail consists of different terrain. Starts off with just some grass and some rocks. Goes into a sandy area that doesn't last too long. There are miles of trails, different ways you can take. There are some hills, but it isn't even that bad. The views and the quietness will be worth the hike and different areas of the trails. There will be a lot of trees for nice shade. Some spots where you can find a bench to sit down and relax. One tunnel to go through. If you take the trail long enough it can take you to the upper part of the trail.

Great trail with mix of sun and shade. Trail changes from dirt to sand them pea rock with long stretches of grass. It's not TOO hilly but is a very good hike. Flies found us near the end...bring bug spray.

Beautiful place to walk... on summertime!

Beautiful walking paths. Not sure if there is an actual building but the grounds of the college are beautiful.

No public bathrooms found anywhere. We didn’t bother because we couldn’t find a public bathroom when we got there even after walking around. The only restrooms we saw were in the recreation center and they are not public. We left.

It's a cool exhibit. They have it free for Veterans, & students, cost per person is roughly 10 bucks. There are approximately 8 walls to read, a video of teens giving you the rundown of the foiled robbery. Some artifacts like guns, spurs, original bank books 📚 to see amount of cash would have been deposited in the bank. They have a nice store of memorabilia, t shirts & sweatshirts all reasonably priced.

I was not there during the defeat of Jesse James day. Therefore, there wasn’t a lot going on and it’s a fairly small museum. We had a tour and it was actually pretty well. Spent 45 minutes I learned a little bit about banking, heroism, horses, guns and the origins (and ending) of the Frank and Jesse gang.

Great tour! The lady was very informative and kept the tour interesting. I mean interesting by all the facts that I had to learn. I was happy with it! It's a must stop if you have never been to Northfield Minnesota

Beautiful scenic place with lots of cool shops and historic places to see. Great for photographers and site seeing. Saw the bank that Jessie James drives back in the day. A clean quite little town.

A fantastic preserved collection of historical artifacts and a great tour guide to boot. It was extremely interesting hearing about the raid that happened at that very building and being able to see the exact saddle Cole Younger rode into town on. 10/10

This is something if you love history. The last bank the Jesse James gang robbed. The actual vault and floors are intact. The actual bank ledger is there with blood on it, too. They also do a reenact the robbery on the first weekend after Labor Day.

Pretty small museum but very interesting. Wife and I came here and found it charming. Great gift shop on the site took

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is a surprising hidden gem among the prairie and farmland of southern Minnesota. It offers lots of well cared for hiking trails with moderate elevation changes. There are a number of interesting interpretive markers. Prairie Creek is very shallow, so the water flow of Hidden Falls varies greatly depending on recent rainfall. The photos and videos included in this review are after a couple days of rain.

It’s a great gift to the area that this special place is set aside. A lot of nice hills and beautiful trees. Good heart workout and nice hiking club hike. There are areas of ropes which are intended to preserve an endangered species. One of the farther east trails absolutely stinks from a chicken farm nearby. Otherwise, it is a great place and I hope to go back soon.

This is a nice park just south of the Twin cities. Playground, picnic area, hiking trails and of course the waterfall. The bathroom is clean and modern. The showers have good pressure and warm water. The roads through the campground are not paved and narrow. Larger trailers will have to navigate carefully and will not fit in several sites. Definitely not 46E where we stayed. Tent sites have large tent pads. Electric sites are average length. Many sites back up to others, so privacy exists left to right, but often not behind you. If you're in a group, it would work great.

Great State Park! There is a lot of spots to see, and the falls are beautiful. The trails are good and well marked. There is camping and places for a picnic. The playground is a nice addition to keep the kids entertained.

Our first time here and we highly recommend. Thursday afternoon was perfect, Hardly anyone here. Beautiful park with clearly marked and well maintained trails. Check the website for the rangers hours (limited right now), you may need to purchase day pass online. Our planned destination was hidden falls. Not a lot of water this time, but still a beautiful hike! Dog friendly.

This is favorite state park! The falls are a lot of fun for the kiddos (and adults too). Great hiking trails and NOT "buggy" at all. Camping sites are well maintained with some privacy between sites. The campground Hosts are the Best! Very friendly and keep the area and restrooms neat and clean.

The Hidden Falls Trail was very pretty- the woods are beautiful, the ravine and creek are pretty and the falls are gorgeous even if the water wasn’t flowing very strongly.

I visited this state park to check off another hiking club trail, so that's the only trail I explored. The trail was wide and relatively easy, and there were plenty of maps along the trails to prevent you from getting lost. There is a paved bike trail that goes through the park, and it looked very well maintained. Overall, I had a great experience here.

It was definitely worth the stay. The lake was weedy and it was cold and rainy when we stayed. We had the kayaks with but didn't take them out. Instead we experienced the calm, quiet campground and the trails winding through the state park.

Nice quiet campground even though it was very full. The spots are a bit more spread out than some state parks and many of the spots are very private. The bath/shower room was clean and well cared for. We talked to 2 different Park Rangers, both were very nice and helpful. The closeness to the bike path was great. The dump station turn in would be tight if you had a larger camper, but if you take the last loop of the campground it looks like it would be a straighter shot. We did not have to do that as our rig is very small. Just a note to check it out before you drive down to it with your camper. The firewood sold at this park was probably the nicest wood we have bought at any other state park. I was a bit worried about that because (in our experience) the parks closer to the twin cities don't always have the greatest firewood. It was a nice quiet weekend - we will camp here again!

We were in the upper camp and they had SO MANY bugs, especially flies and spiders. Don’t get me wrong it’s a great area for camping but they just need to kill the bugs.

This park is better than expected. Nice lake area and has a good wooded campground for a smaller park. Very nice big woods scenery throughout. Not much for trails being a smaller park but the ones they have are nice . Has a nice bike path. Park would be exceptional if it had a swim beach and better day use area. Road noise is a constant being small and close to the main highway.

The good: nice campsites with specific tent pads, nice trails, friendly staff, well kept restroom areas The bad: road noise, noise from Waterville (ie live music from the bars late as in i know what song is playing and can vividly hear the bass and lyrics), lots of kids (unless you want that then maybe it is good) What to know: firewood for sale, no ice for sale, like anywhere right on a lake a lot of mosquitos (not a deal breaker for me), everything within the state park is very close like restrooms to campsites and ranger station to camp area, gas stations are a mile or two away, there is strong cell signal

What a lovely campground. Very quiet. Bathroom and shower building is great. Trails are excellent. Mosquitos are trying to carry us off so bring bug spray. 😂

I brought my 8 month old daughter there for the first time and she had a blast. The people working there are super nice, they went in back and grabbed a baby alligator for her to look at up close, then they asked If we wanted to watch them feed the tortoises. The little things like that, that they don't necessarily have to do, really makes an impression nowadays. I would definitely recommend this place to anybody that has kids, or just likes reptiles.

We have not been to the facility itself yet. But we booked them for a birthday party and it was absolutely amazing. The kids loved it! Our guide was soooo very friendly, kind, calm and patient with the children. He took time to answer questions we had and we learned quite a bit of things too. All the kids got to touch at least some of the animals. But my son was able to hold more of them. Being the birthday boy. He was over joyed! Big reptile friend!!! I'm so very happy and glad we found them. I was worried they weren't coming because I hadn't heard anything, but turns out traffic was really bad(construction season) but everything worked out wonderfully! All my friends are looking into it for their future things too. We will make a trip to the zoo itself sometime too!!! Very happy. Recommended highly. Oh and everyone got to hold the big snake at the end. The kids faces just lit up with that!!

My grandson has been there before, my first time. It was amazing, all the animals, the employees-extremely knowledgeable and friendly. So many reptiles and amphibians to see and learn about. Sitting with my grandson and daughter, holding Harley- a 6 yr. old Cayman was pretty cool, to say the least. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST VISIT, for quality family time and fun education for the kids. Definitely going again! Google RAD ZOO..

Unequivocally the absolute best reptile and amphibian zoo anywhere ! ! ! My wife and I love going to zoos and we have been at many over several states. We have seen other amphibian and reptile displays but this is far and above better anything we have seen thus far. There more in number and variety here than anyone else. They have several species I have never seen before -- along with a few beautiful birds. The owner also brought out an alligator and a python for us to pet. I can't say I've ever petted an alligator before! So if you want to see reptiles and amphibians you absolutely, positively, must see this!

We live about 45 minutes away and we love going to this zoo we don't mind the drive the people and staff are so nice there and you can get so close to the animals it's a very unique experience. I think we will end up doing one of her birthday parties down there also at some point we had seen a party going on and it looked very fun. All of our kids look forward to different features and animals at the zoo.

The RAD zoo exceeded our expectations. The animals appeared well cared for even with minimal staffing. My husband and I toured the zoo for over 2 hours with the only rush being our children which finished the zoo in about an hour. We will definitely be back to visit the next time we are in the area.

I so wanted to visit this place after seeing them on Facebook. Sadly was pretty let down. The guy who took our money literally told us how much and then walked off after we paid. We were the only guest at this point. The blonde female worker never bothered to acknowledge our group as we walked past her. Some of the enclosures are great and really well done. Others are rather dirty and super cramped for the species. I felt terrible for the fly River turle and the gold fish. In another enclosure I watched a tortoise "chasing" a toad and kept trying to bite him. I feel like this place started out with great intentions and got in over their head trying to help rescued animals. Again this is all my opinion because staff couldn't be bothered to explain anything else. The alligator snapping turtle were in just enough water to cover their heads not even their entire body. Unsure if they were draining and cleaning their habitat or just thought they wouldn't like to submerge all the way. I will say I got lucky I had to come from Wisconsin to the ren fest so it was only a 45 minute detour to check this place out. We had talked about making the 4 hour drive just to visit this place at one point this summer. Had I made that trip this would absolutely been a 1 star experience. If you are in the area and really love reptiles it might be worth a stop. If you are the type of person who gets upset about how animals are houses at petsmart this would not be the type of place you'd like to visit. I don't ever see myself visiting again.

Mother’s Day Brunch. I think there was a good turnout, but we got there at noon and you could tell they had been busy. Friendly staff. Breakfast buffet was just ok. My food was all cool. Nothing was hot. Some things were very picked over. I felt it was expensive for what they offered. Music on the outside patio was nice and people were enjoying the day there.

Like their wine..,,.,,.not a fan of their sampler. Plastic cups and tray, really small sample, and forced to stick to one type of wine (reds, white, etc) Some in our group opted for a beer at $6 a bottle. That equates to making $144 a case…. C’mon!!!

Fantastic wine, food and entertainment. Wonderful staff and pleasant environment.

Awesome winery, run by super nice people. Have had several wines and all were very good. My favorite is the village marquette...chilled.

We celebrated an 82nd birthday with a party of 17 people. Great wine selection and appetizers. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Highly recommend!

Delicious wine and a great venue for live comedy!

We rented a room for a birthday party. Never was given a contract, just word. A couple weeks before event I went out to pay the balance and talk about set up. I was told they get the balance that day because no one except Ray knows what was agreed to. But I was assured we were in the calendar for that day. The day of our party, the staff were surprised by our arrival. The room was dirty! Used wine glasses and empty cans on the dirty tables. One of the staff was trying to mop the floors while we were trying to set up! When we left we were over charged for the room because again, no one except Ray knew the agreement and he was on vacation. The wine is good but this is a shady way of doing business and I would never recommend this place for an event location. UPDATE: I’ve changed my review as the owner did contact my brother and discussed things. We were refunded the total amount of the room rental. We were very thankful for the quick response to our review and that they made things right. We would give them another shot if we ever have another event because they do have very good wine.

Very sad at times, but they have put it together with some uplifting stories of the children that spent time there. They have done a great job of honoring the children and the cemetery brought us to tears. So much has been put into making those graves that were only marked with numbers back to having names. I thought my 16 year old daughter would think it was boring and she was so touched by the stories we have been talking about it since our visit this afternoon. Everyone that has put this together and honored the children has done a wonderful job. My 18 year old son was working today, but wants to visit it when he gets the chance. The art center is beautiful too. Highly recommend you visit and donate what you can. Self guided tours are free. Set aside some time, because it’s extensive and very well documented on the daily life of the children that went through the school.

Just great to have this history, it's not all good but it is our Minnesota history. Sad and sometimes brutal, yet there were success story's. The cemetery is a dreadful reminder.The buildings are beautiful and some times very creepy.

So interesting to learn about everything! It was informative and also sad. The volunteer tour guide in the Cottage 11 was amazing! Her uncle and aunt actually worked in the orphanage so she had insight on certain things.

You have to read crackers and milk and C11 to learn the history of the orphanage. It unfortunately has a cool history. Opened in 1886-1945. Over 10,000 kids live there.

This is a great place to bring children. Historically educational. This is one of Minnesota historic places that most Minnesotans are unaware of. Please visit with your children.

Wonderful staff so passionate about this history and what you see and hear here is so interesting!

Will be back to explore more

This candy shop is a gem...an absolute gem. It's in a very cute town that oozes charm. The chocolates are delicious. My particular favorites were the hand-dipped potato chips. I also loved the lemon creams and chocolate dipped orange peel. They are a small operation and it's fun to see the activity in the candy kitchen. I will definitely be back.

We received your turtles in the DeliciousFoodDelivered 2022 Advent Calendar and they are Wonderful! Now this California gal knows where to source excellent chocolates for the MN family in the future! We can attest they traveled well to us here and know the way to our hearts in San José. The chocolate covered potato chips are an absolute delight in the 2023 Delicious Minnesota Advent Calendar and are as awesome a kickoff to these treats as last year's day 1 turtles. Thank you!

I don’t think I have ever had better ice cream in my life. I had the kitty kitty bang bang and it was to die for, my wife had the mint chocolate chip and couldn’t get enough. We also bought a various assortment of chocolates and candies, all homemade and they were all amazing.

This shop has always been a treat. The caramel apples, truffles, chocolate cherries, ice cream, maple fluffs, and mints have always been wonderful. This last time was different though. The chocolate cherries were leaking in the bag and the cherries didn't seem to be fully ripe. Still completely delicious but the entire 1/2lb had to be eaten immediately. I didn't try my assorted pound of truffles until home the next day. Over the last few days I've tried each and every one thinking it must just be a fluke but each tasted off. The flavors didn't come out like they used to-champagne, rum, bourbon, coffee, mint, chocolate- these were bitter and heavy on the alcohol but also overpowering. The bourbon has always been my favorite to melt away in my mouth but it was unbearable. The coffee wasn't coffee at all and then the chocolate in each was grainy. Mint was closest to what it should be. I don't know if the chocolate was tempered wrong or if they were old or maybe they froze in my cooler. I'll be back though!

Cute little shop in historic mantorville! You can see them making chocolate right in front of you and the employees/owners were super nice and welcoming!

Stopped there Saturday. Got some cashew turtles . They were awesome. What a nice shop. From sugar creek wisconsin.

Good ice cream, good prices. My favorite in US.

I visited Myre-Big Island State Park in the off-season to complete the Hiking Club Trail (6.2 miles), covering a large portion of the park. It’s a spacious state park with plenty of opportunities for fishing, camping, hiking, and biking. The lake views were stunning, with one side still frozen while the other had melted. Despite the chilly weather, I even saw a few people braving the cold for a swim! The entrance was a bit muddy, and parts of the trail were slightly messy from the melting ice, but there was plenty of parking available. The island portion of the trail was especially beautiful, surrounded by water, which added to the scenic atmosphere. Even in the off-season, I came across several campers and fellow hikers, making it feel less isolated. A highlight of this visit was completing my 100 miles of the Hiking Club! The visitor center staff was incredibly polite and answered all my questions, making the experience even better. Overall, a great park with diverse activities and beautiful views—definitely worth a visit!

There's a geological party happening at this state park: ice block, moraines and eskers resulting in Albert Lea Lake, prairie, and wetland environments. All of this makes for a great park to visit as there is something for everyone: hiking, canoeing, birdwatching and more. There are two campgrounds in this park: Big Island for those who want the dense forest, stifling air, shade vibe and White Fox for those that want a more open, show me the sun, feel the breeze vibe. White Fox campground tends to flood during heavy rains; most sites have poor drainage and low spots that produce pooling. Good to be aware of so that you don't wake up in a pool of water. The trail system is extensive and takes you through both the esker to the north and the beautiful prairie with fantastic vistas to the south. There are no clear views of the Lake during summer when foliage is most dense; fall hikes would be amazing with potential for good colors though. Remember to bring your bikes so that you can jump on the blazing star state trail that runs right through the park.

The park is a great place to paddle and watch for water birds. The campgrounds are quiet and sites are well-spaced for privacy. Wildlife was all around with numerous deer and cottontail sightings. We even saw sandhill cranes just outside park boundaries. Lots of wildflowers in late July, too. The white fox campground has some issues with drainage after heavy rains. And the bathroom showers - while no extra charge for campers - take a little trial and error. (Touch the flat "button" on the panel.) The water pressure and temp are good, but the water only runs for a minute or so before you need to touch the "button" again.

Great staff, good price, flat tent sites, free showers. This place is well maintained and beautiful. You can't select the temperature for your shower but it's very comfortable. Totally worth the $. Mosquitoes were kinda bad, but it's Miinnesota. It's camping, you cant pick your neighbors! Staff was very accommodating and allowed me to switch sites to get away from someone running a generator (quiet time is 10pm).

Gorgeous park, especially when the fall colors hit. Great hiking trails with lots of space. We stayed at the Big Island campground which was very cool. Unfortunately there were quite a few very noisy guests including some extremely yappy dogs and it made our stay significantly less relaxing, otherwise it would have been five stars.

Beautiful park with great facilities. We rented a campsite for 2 nights, tent camping. Our campsite was very lush and secluded, so we couldn't hear or see our neighbors. The fire pits at the campsites are nice - concrete base with a solid metal ring (no rust) and easy to move cooking grate. The bathrooms and showers were so nice!!! Clean, hot water, plenty of nice toilet paper. The main office was well stocked and the park ranger on sight was friendly. I love living in a state where we prioritize our parks.

So many good things about this park. Close to the Twin Cities but far enough away. The Blazing Star State Trail goes through the park for walking or biking. Lots of good hiking and wildlife. There is a grass multi use trail that you can mountain bike on. The lake is great for kayaking. You WILL see deer and the bird watching is excellent. Campgrounds are really good, I prefer the upper. The lower is closer to water but can get buggy sometimes.

We love this nature center! Lots for the kids to do, beautiful trails, and wonderful staff. We really love attending nature play times in the summer and all that they offer.

The Hormel Nature Center in Austin, MN, is a beautiful and tranquil destination for outdoor lovers and nature enthusiasts. Spanning over 500 acres, the center offers a diverse range of landscapes, from woodlands to prairies, wetlands, and scenic trails. It’s an ideal place for hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife photography, providing visitors with an immersive experience in nature. One of the standout features of the Hormel Nature Center is its well-maintained trail system, which includes both easy and more challenging paths, making it accessible to hikers of all skill levels. Whether you’re walking along the serene shore of Bean Lake or exploring the forested trails, the park provides plenty of opportunities to connect with nature. The center also offers a variety of educational programs for all ages, focusing on local wildlife, conservation, and the environment, making it a great spot for families and school groups. In addition to its natural beauty, the Hormel Nature Center boasts a lovely interpretive center that provides visitors with information on the flora and fauna of the area. The center also features exhibits, interactive displays, and a gift shop, enhancing the overall experience. Overall, the Hormel Nature Center is a peaceful oasis just outside of Austin. Its combination of scenic trails, wildlife observation, and educational opportunities makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking to enjoy nature, whether for a short visit or a more immersive outdoor adventure. It’s a hidden gem that highlights the natural beauty of the area while promoting conservation and environmental education.

The Trails are smooth and well maintained, and the wild flowers are spectacular. This was a pleasant walk. The only drawback is the road noise from interstate 90 was inescapable. Buy not to overbearing.

Awesome!!!! I was so Happy to find this place, since we were doing a delivery for Hormel. What a treasure, Thank you everyone for your hospitality & answering my questions. I did my personal best here, walked 8 miles I love that you have motorized wheelchair for people in need, enjoy nature also. (For free) Excellent Definitely gets a heart on my map for one of the most beautiful places I have been in this country ❤️ The last 3 pics are of the real homestead where the Hormel farm was, I got that info from the locals

I learned quite a few interesting facts about the nature around this area. Nice exhibits, pleasant modern building. But most of all, the nature trails here are beautiful. A very good complement to the wonderful Myre-Big Island State Park which is about 20 minutes drive to the west.

This is an interesting exhibit. We were not greeted when we arrived so we enjoyed a self tour. The grounds are well kept, it's a beautiful walking trail as well.

Beautiful and maintained trails. If you love nature then must go and enjoyq at Jay C Hormel Nature Center. We love this place. A great spot to take kids of all ages.

🌟🥫 If you're looking for a unique and quirky experience, the Spam Museum is a must-visit! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with vibrant displays and fascinating exhibits that tell the story of this iconic canned meat. The interactive exhibits are not only informative but also entertaining, making it a fun experience for visitors of all ages. One of the highlights was learning about the history of Spam and its impact on culture, especially during wartime. The memorabilia and vintage advertisements added a nostalgic touch that truly brought the history to life. Plus, the sampling station was a delicious surprise—who knew Spam could be so versatile? The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, eager to share fun facts and answer any questions. The museum is well-organized and easy to navigate, making it a perfect spot for a quick visit or a longer stay. Whether you're a fan of Spam or just curious about this unique part of food history, the Spam Museum is definitely worth the trip. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience! 🥫🌟

Oh man, oh man—you’ve got to stop off and see the Spam Museum. We were on a road trip, and what says “wacky roadside stop” more than Spam? Nothing! I went in with low expectations, but give credit where it’s due: the folks at Hormel nailed this shrine to canned meat. It’s splashy, full of fun and interactive exhibits, and packed with quirky history. Would our soldiers have had meat on the regular without Spam during WWII? Thank goodness we will never have to know. Need a taste? Yep—they’ve got people handing out samples. The gift shop is glorious, overflowing with kitsch that makes Vegas go Hmmmmmm. Best part: they completely own the fact that Spam is the butt of jokes worldwid, and yet over 9 billion cans have been served world wide and counting. Love the taste or taking a hard pass the point is it's (joking aside) a true piece of Americana. don’t miss this trippin’ stop.

What a delightful side trip! We found the museum thanks to a very kind octogenarian at the Minnesota Welcome Center on I 90 eastbound. We paused our trip home and spent additional night just to visit the museum. It was an amazing experience, especially the overhead Spam train. Numerous displays told the story of the Hormel Company and its most famous produc and its spread across the globe. Hint: follow the movement of our forces in the Pacific during World War II. An added highlight were the free samples kitchen staff periodically brought out to share. We came out of the gift store with a t-shirt and hoodie........and a 12 can case of assorted flavors of Spam. A kind young man James graciously carried our treasures to our car. We, however, later learned we could have bought our Spam at the local Walmart for $3.79 a can compared to the approximate $5.00 a can in the gift store. The company is one of the largest. If not the largest, employer in the town. It has maintained Mr. Hormel's policy of paying for a 2 year college degree for all employees and their children.

Loved this museum! Very welcoming staff. Bright and colorful inside. Great displays about the timeliness and history of SPAM. Samples included! I especially enjoyed the wartime displays and how important SPAM was during that era. SPAM in different countries was fun to read about. And make sure you find out what kind of SPAM you are. Plus, the museum is free!

DELIGHTFUL! What a fun stop - very glad we visited. It's FREE, it's very well curated, the staff is fantastic, and the SPAM samples so much fun. Highly highly recommend a visit! SAMPLES - there was an employee walking around with SPAM samples using pretzel sticks as toothpicks (edible toothpicks!). Different flavor every time the tray came by - so much fun! STAFF - friendly, delightful, ready to help without hovering MUSEUM - so well created with a fun "food stand" area that highlighted different countries for each "booth", a giant can display, the rotating cans, a Lilo & Stitch area, and much more STORE - so many fun SPAM items it took us longer to shop than to see the museum lol. So many fun items I don't know where to begin so just check it out for yourself We were staying in Albert Lea about 20-25 minutes away and decided to go check out the SPAM Museum, unsure what to expect - it was so much fun to learn about SPAM with a very thoughtfully put together museum, well designed and visually very pretty with multiple levels and carefully considered placement of objects, plus a "model train-like" conveyor belt of SPAM cans moving throughout the museum! We then went across the street after our museum visit to get SPAM fries at Piggy Blues to keep the SPAM fun going, and brought cans back to Albert Lea to share with friends. Go visit - it's fun!

I've been meaning to go here for a long time. I know SPAM was introduced to many soldiers in WWII, and has taken off in Hawaii and Japan and many other places. It has a wonderful history, as does the Geo. Hormel company. It was a nice self guided tour. You can spend as little time as you want, or more time to watch videos and read the placards. The SPAM samples were really a nice touch. I haven't eaten SPAM in quite a while so I entered into the spirit of the tour and tasted three samples. I wish they world have offered more! I was pleasantly surprised- it was tasty. We went to the gift shop and purchased SPAM varieties and more. Then we went out for a bite, and I ordered breakfast with SPAM at a local restaurant. Oh, no admission charge, so you spend a little in the gift shop!

If you're in the town of Austin or just a Spam aficionado, a visit to this museum is worth the trip. Right from the moment that we walked in we were greeted with friendly smiles and set up immediately on a tour. Are tour guide Erika, was very knowledgeable regarding the origin of Hormel family and their contributions to the brand Spam and the community of Austin. I also learned a lot regarding the Hormel brand and all the other sub-brands that they've acquired. I learned that the Hormel brand contributes significantly to scholarships for youth of the community. They also have a connection and a partnership with the University of Minnesota with regards to research in the science. Unfortunately there are no actual factory tours. All the exhibits are museum style. Yeah there are plenty of hands-on exhibits that contribute to increasing the attention span of those younger visitors. During the tour of the museum we were offered several times different Spam samples. There is a very large souvenir shop selling all sorts of spam themed items. In addition, the museum offers free bike rentals for visitors to explore the town of Austin. Wonderful experience. Highlighted by a wonderful spam representatives such as Erika.

Nice! Happy there was no smoking / stale smell.. Resort desk gal was not super friendly, but, ok. Lots of slot machines & we had a good time.

First time here decided to take my 30 minute break, I’m a truck driver. Nice clean restrooms and establishment. Not overwhelming with smoke and actually did pretty good. Walked away with about $1825.

Was in Northwood, Iowa for a golf stay and play to celebrate a birthday and my husband and I dined at Woodfire Grill. First of all, Jerilynn was an exceptional server and we truly appreciated her knowledge about the menu. She was also very attentive to our needs. I mentioned I had been looking forward to Chicken Scallopini for my meal and unfortunately, it was rotated off menu. But, she went back to the kitchen and talked with Chef Rich. She returned and informed me that since the ingredients were all available, he would be able to prepare the dish for me. He also came out to our table and confirmed he would be happy to make it. Both hubby and I were pleased and impressed that such an effort was made by both Jerilynn and Chef Rich to provide such great customer service! Our meals were wonderful and to top it off, Jerilynn brought us a bowl of ice cream as we were celebrating my birthday. It was an exceptional experience! I would heartily recommend choosing to dine there.

Very clean, newer casino with plenty of new slots to win on. I've had my best luck there gambling on pro sports cause it's legal in Iowa and only about an hour from Mankato. Also have good entertainment there and classic country singers too.

We had a blast playing at the casino and had a great dinner here

I enjoy visiting and staying on my comp nights. Rooms are lovely and comfortable. Just wished you would get rid of the cigarette smoking. Those feens are destroying the property and new carpet and peoples Health including yours!!

We stayed 1 night. We found the hotel and the casino very nice and had a good time. clean, cozy,and quiet room. Breakfast was good .Special shout out to Ash , our bartender/server at the Mixx bar. Friendly , attentive, and fun to talk too.

Trent was awesome on our tour! He gave us good information during the tour. We had called tree times to make a reservation and no returned our call as promised . We stopped on our way by this morning and they had room in the next tour ( (9:00am). Nice manufacturing facilities, very clean and the employees are nice.

Great place to visit. Good tour. I do feel like they could do a bit more at the visitor center and tour with telling about the roots of the company. Maybe they could have a little 15 minute video presentation or something? More reading materials for the history would be great too. But overall, this was a good introduction to the Winnebago brand.

We were able to fit into the 9am tour without a reservation although reservations are highly recommended. 15 people were on our tour. Tour was about 2 hours and it is free. It was very interesting to see how big their factory complex is. We went during a slow time when not a lot of production lines were going. Would be even more interesting when.its operating at full capacity. The museum was interesting. There are restrooms if needed. And Winnebago merchandise for sale.

The visitor center and the tour of the factory were awesome! You can see how they assemble Winnebagos together and how they make the stitchings. The guide is also very knowledgeable! If you own one or plan to own one, make sure you visit here and see how it’s made.

You don’t know Winnebago unless you own it. Not only their RV products are outdated but the quality is poor and customer support nonexistent. The design is a mixture of rusty steel, plywood, some newer materials and imported components assembled together onto marketed products called RV’s. Poor engineering design makes process of making RV’s labor intensive, prone to manufacturing errors and quality escapes. I called Winnebago this morning asking customer for help regarding slide issue, they didn’t have answer but they told me I will get mail with instructions. Several hours passed still waiting….Don’t buy Winnebago

We just bought our new Winnebago Ekko RV from Lichtsinn RV, which is only a mile away from the Winnebago Factory! And we just had to come and take the Factory tour, it was so cool, fun and amazing, we just love all the old Winnebago history in the visitor center!

Great history of the Winnebago product line. Very helpful staff. Good opportunity to look at new models on the lot.

Nice small park. Easy to get to. Good hiking trails. Pit toilets are good. Campground is decent.

This is a little tough to give a rating and I might have gone with a 3.5 if it was an option. The park itself is okay. Nice trail to the tower, which was neat. The lake just so, so. We didn't fish, so we can't attest to that. The campground isn't that big, which isn't an issue, but many spots are small and very sloped. The campground hosts were very helpful and friendly and went out of their way to assist if needed. Bathrooms were some of the cleanest I've seen this year! The friends of pilot knob organization were also a positive! They had concessions each day and hosted a movie with popcorn on Saturday night, so that was very cool!

I like it here, I get in a good workout. The only annoyance is that it's not marked well. I have to use Google all the time to get my bearings. I also would like more loops back to my car so I can do short or long hikes depending on how I'm feeling. Today I had to leave the trail and cut across the woods to get back to my car and that's not really feasible when everything grows in the woods but I still give it 5 stars.

Fantastic park with a historic tower you can see all th surrounding towns from.

Great place for a short hike and a picnic on the lake. The observation tower has some great views. We enjoyed walking around dead man's lake bog. The campground is a bit small but nicely shaded. It also has a nice playground and a gazebo. Fun park!

Quiet park with a lake and walking trails. Enjoyed the peace and quiet at this park. Away from major roads and highways, Clear Lake is only 20 minutes away. Will be back again.

Jen RN, Travel Nurse from Florida. We were granted the privilege to camp at Pilot Knob, while I on assignment in nearby Mason City. The Park Ranger is extremely accommodating, helpful, and courteous. We mostly have had the park to ourselves since it is winter. The resident goats are my favorite neighbors! I've never seen so many deer in one place, ever! Huge flocks of geese! We have had a very peaceful and tranquil time here. We will definitely recommend to fellow travelers and friends. We will return to Pilot Knob on any future trips through this area.

We enjoyed seeing the site today. Parking is easy right across the street. Shortest drive on gravel is to approach from the south. Appreciate the landowner allowing the public to still visit this site after so many years. Be sure to visit the Surf Ballroom located 6 miles south where they preformed just before the crash. So much to read about at that historic ballroom, so glad it is still around.

If you're a music buff and fanatic like me, it's worth the trip. Nice gravel parking lot with a porta potty. Across the gravel road are the infamous glasses. You walk down a trail in the field, it takes about 8 minutes. Long enough to listen to American Pie in its entirety. The path is pretty well kept up, and while there are a few bumps and holes, a wheelchair could easily get down it. Once there, there is a neat little memorial. I took a pair of black glasses and put on the memorial. It's worth seeing.

Interesting place to visit. Not a tourist trap. No admission. If you are traveling by motorcycle, be careful. Approach roads are all gravel.

This is a place I had wanted to visit for years. Simple memorial for "The day the music died". Walk out to it can be muddy so come prepared. Not bad during our visit. There is a small parking lot nearby built by a local family that also has a port a potty.

I think it’s a nice walk in a field to the memorial spot. There’s free parking with donation box with guitar pics a glasses . It’s a nicely made and vary respectful

A somber visit, but incredibly kind for the farmer to voluntarily lose such a large strip of land to keep this available for people to visit. There was a locked box for donations, and ponchos to purchase if it were to have rained.

We got here and the sun was fading fast. Took the walk into the field wasnt to long before we found the memorial. Was surprised at how much people vist. Was a great time wiuld do it again

Great venue, Head East put on a great show. Sorry I do not remember the name of the warm up band but the were excellent. Very interesting museum. Fantastic collection of guitars and memories. looking forward to the next time.

I can't find enough words. The staff are tremendously nice. The new interactive experience will give you goosebumps. The memorabilia is so neat to see (this is in the new ballroom). But the old ballroom, wow. Just wow. The history is ALIVE. It even smells like back in the day. You can go into the green room, the ballroom, the dining area, the booths, and finally, the stage. The literal stage where they all performed! Worth every second.

Visited on 6.30.2025. Spectacular venue that many music legends have performed at over the years. An annual Winter Festival is held every February 3rd to honor the legacy of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. The exhibits regarding the Day The Music Died are Outstanding and the originality of the stage, seating areas, and dance floor are Awesome. Highly recommend visiting for the nostalgia and to see a concert.

This place is fantastic! I am so glad we stopped by and that this place has been maintained. Seeing all the information and standing in front of the stage, one can imagine how it must have been that night during the show. We really enjoyed our visit and would recommend it to everyone. I really wish we lived close enough to attend a show at this historic place. They have a ton of things to look at and read about and the staff on hand are very friendly and helpful. I have included a few photos but there is way more to see than my photos even show.

A must see for the Holly, Valens, & JP fan! Was like a time machine. The restoration and upkeep are impeccable and it almost feels like you’re stepping back in time. Downtown Clear Lake is a beautiful place to visit!

Great experience. The Surf well maintained and should be a must visit for all music fans. A large collection of photos and memorabilia. Staff was fantastic. Jada was so very kind and gave us a private tour of the New Surf Music Experience which was to officially open the day after we were at the Surf. She made sure we got to see the entire Experience. Much appreciated and thank you again for taking the time to spend with me and my wife.

Terrific place to check out. U can wander around on your own or pay a donation and get a guided tour. Our tour guide Dana filled us with knowledge in every corner of the facility. Highly recommend a stop here.

Understand that we stayed in the best room on the top floor and that I believe my review would be different if that wasn't the case. Having said that, my husband - who HATES hotels - has said he would live in this one if we could be in that room. If you're into Frank Lloyd Wright, this place is a must, but splurge on the suite. This is an old building and while it's been updated with very modern amenities (like quiet air conditioning, a wine fridge in the room, and heated tile floors in the bathroom), there's not much you can do about squeaky floors and strongly sprung doors (which slam easily). Read: a fair amount of guest noise. The suite in which we stayed was beautiful, with a 270° view thanks to Wright's design. The area was quiet throughout the day and overnight as well. It truly was a great experience. While I found the restaurant average and the desk and gift shop staff generally reserved, the food and beverage manager and the bartender were genuinely friendly and fun. (The bartender makes a good old-fashioned!)

This is such a cool and historic place to stay! The only FLW hotel still operating and they kept as much of the history as possible. There are some rooms that were restored to their original look, but most rooms are upgraded for space and amenities with design finishes that are prairie school style. There is a restaurant on site that has great dinner options and a lower level cocktail lounge with a great atmosphere. You’re downtown Mason City so you are within walking distance of many restaurants, bars and historic sites. They even have a couple secret patio spaces to sit and view the park if you wander around the hotel. Highly recommend staying here if you have the chance!

How often do you get to stay in a work of architectural art? This is a beautifully renovated hotel that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as a precursor to his Imperial Hotel. Guests are encouraged to explore and look through all the different spaces and shared areas. Dinner at the hotel's upscale restaurant was very delicious. We also did the hour long tour and hit up the gift shop for very reasonably priced FLW merchandise. Highly recommend visiting if you live in the Midwest. We will be back!

Such a fantastic property!! It’s Frank Lloyd Wright’s last remaining hotel. Magnificent! A must for fans of the GOAT. The hotel is lovely. Just perfect. We got a queen suite. At the time I booked there were no king beds available. It’s period appropriate, so maybe there aren’t any here. We had a nice suite. 2 rooms and a bathroom. Great shower. Lovely room. The common areas are incredible. Just oozing with charm and character. If you’re a FLW fan, this is Mecca. So much Prairie Style architecture in this town. So lovely. The staff is fantastic here. Kay in the Draftsman in the basement is so cool and fun. Carole at the front desk was incredible! Come to Mason City and do it right!!

Stayed one night while passing thru. Room was clean and the air conditioning worked very well. Very quiet and a nice change from the chain hotels. Ate in their bar - very good food and drinks. Hotel is better for adults than families.

This experience could’ve been substantially better the rooms weren’t bad however, the first time we flushed the toilet in our room it began flooding. They moved us to another room eventually. The woman at the front desk wanted to do something nice for us as an apology but ultimately the manager arrived and downplayed the situation. It felt as if she was almost inconvenienced by having to move us to a room where we could flush the toilet. I wouldn’t return and hopefully in the future the manager is trained a bit on the hospitality business and how things should go. I know what this hotel is going for and it just feels as if the manager can’t properly drive the vision forward.

I had previously visited the hotel, but did not stay there. This time (Sept 2025) we stayed for 2 nights. At first everything was great, a good check in, the room appeared to be pretty nice at first. The shower handle was loose which made it was difficult to make it go all the way to the hot and then to turn off. There were no extra pillows or blankets in the room, those had to be requested. We were woken up by a guest at 2 am walking around above us. Our room phone randomly rang around 7 am with beeping on it. The restaurant is not great. Especially the staff. You would think the locals would know about this, as they do, and be in there and have it packed? Especially on a Saturday night? Nope. One couple was in there. They left, and it was just us, then as we were about to leave 1 couple came in. That was it. Between 6 and 7 pm. As soon as we sat down they asked if we were ready to order..? They did that to the third couple as well. We ordered a cocktail and we heard the manager? telling a new employee, "We can never get that ingredient in so just forget it". What was served was just horrible. It didn't have any alcohol in it and we sent it back. It was dreadful. As stated, we were the only couple in there at one point, and the staff just stood talking to each other watching us. One staff member was saying she was already a great aunt, and something about kids and if they get someone pregnant she wasn't having it. Something along those lines. Real classy talk around your only 2 guests. The professionalism and training isn't there, at all. On the salad was a cheese cracker? It was chewy like an old piece of rubber and should have never been served. The other food was okay, nothing special but it worked. Another odd factor, was this was a Saturday and people kept walking by outside, and when we went outside we saw all the restaurants in the alley by the bank were packed with people. So why weren't they in the hotel eating? Because they know better. We went downstairs to check out the bar and the bartender just glared at us and handed her son a soda. He thanked his mom for it. The vibes of the staff were just dreadful. On the morning we were leaving, a staff member tried to come into our room, and didn't knock. She said, "My bad! I thought this was empty". When we did leave and gave the front desk person our key, she didn't say anything. I said, "do you need anything from us" she said, "no, you're good." That was it. No, "How was your stay?" "Thanks for visiting!" "Please come again!" nothing... The building itself is amazing. It speaks for itself. The staff and restaurant need a lot of help. I can't imagine it is easy to find people in this town, but the ones you have should be property trained. There are delicious places to eat in Mason City. Do your research and find those and eat there. I'm not sure why Wright on the Park doesn't seek out the best places to eat in town, make a deal with them (give them cheap rent) recruit those places to come operate their restaurant. This places needs people, vibrancy, excitement.. It's not there.

Although the Stockman House isn't quite as lavish as some other Wright homes, it's stunning in it's own right. Don't let the more modest appearance dissuade you from visiting. The tour was terrific and the home was stunning. There is a surprising amount of fun shops and restaurants to visit in Mason City. If you are a fan of the architecture of Wright this home is most certainly worth a visit.

Lovingly restored house with a visitor center next door. Steve was out guide and he was fun and knowledgeable

The stockman's house was an incredible find. I arrived early and found that the doors were not yet open, but that didn't dampen my excitement. As I stepped out of my car, I was greeted by an absolutely amazing woman who worked there. She gave me full details about the tours and even made some fantastic recommendations about things to do in the area. She then informed me that I could explore the outside while I waited for the house to open, and I have to say, it was absolutely breathtaking. The hospitality and customer service at this establishment were truly on another level. Experiencing such genuine care and attention to detail was a true testament of how to keep people coming back for more. I can't wait to return and experience it all over again!

3rd visit to this architectural gem. Stockman is an excellent example of Wright's early prairie style, including elements and design principles that carry into future periods. Nancy was a great guide, an amazing experience all around.

The style was typical Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie school style, we enjoyed the tour, Carol was a great docent. We did not purchase tickets in advance but if we would have arrived any later we probably wouldn't have gotten into the 1:00 tour. They keep the group small because the rooms in the house are small plus you get a more personal experience. $10.00 might have been a better price, but we paid the $15 ticket price, they depend on these fees to keep the foundation going. We also bought the walking tour book and did that as well.

Truly a joy to be able to finally tour this amazing FLW home. The home itself is just so lovely and they did a lot of work to recreate the interior pieces. Really neat place to visit.

The staff was very friendly and knowgable. We were the only ones on the tour which was great. They only let 8 people on each tour so we made a reservation online. No pictures allowed inside the house.

LOVE THIS PLACE!! It’s a bit treacherous for walking, but it’s so much fun to hunt for fossils. I recommend bringing a hat, jeans, and a canvas bag instead of a bucket. Buckets tip, and then you spill all your goodies- and that makes kids and adults cry. Kneepads or a gardening knee pad are a good option as well.

Beautiful March visit. Off season so not too many people out. Nice trails for leisurely walking. Now getting down into the basins is a bit of a workout, but this out of shape 50 year old did it. Wear good shoes that stay tight, you don't want slippage in the shoes. The kilns were really neat to see, each one a bit different. If you visit in the summer, bring water if going down into the base, no shade to cool off in. Didn't get to go into the center, was closed for the season.

The moment we arrived at this spot, we were struck by its absolute beauty. The large parking lot and building that greeted us were just a preview of what was to come. As we walked towards the pits, we were mesmerized by the stunning turquoise water pools that seemed to glimmer in the sunlight. The option to either hike down the steep hills or follow the trails that lead down to the pits made for an exciting adventure. However, we soon realized that the trails can get quite muddy and challenging to navigate on rainy days due to the clay soil. Despite this, we pushed on and discovered an area near the trails that led to fishing spots and some old kilns that were once used to fire tile. Although the rain cut our exploration short, we left with the promise to return and fully experience all that this spot has to offer.

Visitor center is good, a lot of cool information of the history of the area. Quarry is the main thing everyone comes for, but there is more. The old buildings from the brick factory are neat to see. Can be very very hot in the quarry, so make sure to pack a lot of water and wear good hiking boots.

Great place for a family outing. Very easy to find fossils. Restrooms are available, but they are not plumbed. Wear good shoes with thick soles. It's kinda a climb up, but worth it at the top.

My boys loved this! Spent a few hours finding fossils! Worth the 3 hours drive!

Visiting the Prairie & Fossil Center in Rockford, Iowa, is an absolute delight—especially for families, geology buffs, and prairie lovers alike. Tucked within a beautifully preserved 292‑acre state preserve, the grounds include native prairie trails, historic beehive kilns from the old Rockford Brick & Tile Company, and a fossil-rich former quarry filled with Devonian sea life—mostly brachiopods, corals, crinoid stems, gastropods, and even cephalopods . The visitor center, open seasonally, is a treasure trove. Exhibits interpret the prairie ecosystem, fossil geology, and brick‑making history—with a striking prairie mural by Robin Macomber . Helpful staff and volunteers, are on hand to deepen your experience . A big appeal? You can collect fossils straight from the quarry—no digging required, and no limit for personal use . Visitors regularly find dozens of specimens in minutes and appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and ample signage . The landscape is perfect for a calm walk, and benches offer scenic prairie views. Birdwatchers will spot meadowlarks, bluebirds, wild turkeys, and pheasants . Whether you're discovering fossils with the kids, soaking in Iowa’s prairie heritage, or exploring historic kilns, the Prairie & Fossil Center is a wonderfully engaging, educational, and inspiring destination. Highly recommended for a half-day adventure!

This museum is definitely a hidden gem! Such an expansive display of tractors, machinery, buggies etc. We also had the Honor of meeting with one of the largest display owners Larry Maasdam. Not only did we get to talk with him but he invited us to his home and workshop for an exclusive tour. It was absolutely AMAZING!! Everyone should visit this museum

This museum was more than what we expected. The store fronts of the little town gave a lot of history of times gone by. The tractor and toy collection had a wide variety of farm machinery.

Wow.. What a gem this place is. If you are into old and unusual tractors, this is a great place to visit. There are literally hundreds of tractors, including the Biggest one in the world.. 'BIG BUD'.. wow... he's a beauty too. The place is clean, and the staff will try to answer any questions you have. There are lots of farm toys too. 'Main Street' in the museum shows how life was 50 to 100 years ago with lots of 'antiques' from the past. Very interesting and lots to see. Big bud is in a building down the street along with even more tractors. The birthplace of the 4-H emblem school house is soon to join the museum. Presently that is in the city park downtown. A worth while stop if you are in the area or 30 mile detour off of I-35 down Iowa Highway 3 (Exit 165) to the west. Thanks Melody for a personal tour on a slow day.

Just driving by, saw the sign and stopped. So glad we did. It's a farmer's paradise. Tractors upon tractors plus a lot of history. And, Big Bud to boot! My farmer was in heaven.

A hidden gem! We were road tripping from Minnesota back home to Nebraska. We searched online for things to do on the way and found the Heartland museum. We were utterly blown away! What we thought would be a short stop turned into an adventure back in time. My husband and son spent hours looking at the massive collection of tractors, tools, miniature train sets, buggies and so much more. My girls had so much fun in the ladies themed rooms with hats and dresses. The front porch at the entrance was a perfect spot to enjoy the beautiful weather and relax before getting back in the car. The volunteers were so kind and prideful of the beautiful collection. You can tell how much they care about their town and history. Our kids all left with free goodie bags that entertained them in the car for the next hour. If you are ever in or near Clarion IA, this stop is a must!!!

Absolutely amazing. Definitely worth a trip to see it. Completely unexpected for this small town in northern Iowa. We wouldn't have been here except that we were visiting relatives. The small town history part of the museum is really remarkable and very well done. The hat collection is astounding. The tractor/farm equipment display is beyond belief. You may not be planning to visit Clarion, IA, but if you are ever close this museum is certainly worth the detour.

If you would like to see bits and pieces of history in the farmland this museum is definitely the place to go. Also known for the home of the world's largest tractor known as "Big Bud". "Big Bud" is expected to leave at the end of the month to go back home to Montana. Safe travels "Big Bud" when the day arrives.

We went here on labor day weekend. The campgrounds were well kept and clean. the lake is nice but a small lake so a large boat wouldn't be the best choice. The camp sites are right on top of each other. when we pulled up to our site we thought someone was in our site. Apparently we were just suposed to park along the road. on one of the roads going through the campsite I think there was only 2 feet on either side of the RV. Maybe on a non holiday weekend it is not as bad.

Took a short walk to the dam. The lake is beautiful. We did take a path at the bottom of the dam that was a dead end to a drainage ditch. The campground looks really nice and there is a really nice picnic area.

I loved this place it was very fun to camp. The dam was very pretty to see. I would recommend this place to bew campers!

One of our favorites. Not too big or overly crowded. Pretty quiet, nice lots, clean bathrooms. Showers here also. Walking trail around lake, plenty of fishing from shore or boat.

The spillway and lake is nice. Lots of wildlife.

Beeds is a well maintained campground with really nice bath houses, fishing, and some nice trails. The lake features a unique dam/spillway that provides decent fishing opportunities for those of us without boats! If there is a drawback to this campground it is that several electric sites are directly across from each other so it limits the feeling of seclusion but there are a few that are a bit more private if you can get them. We'll definitely be back again.

The place was kinda isolated. Had to wander all around the lake to find out the spillway. The Google map took us to the middle of the lake. Just walk through the beeds lake drive across the two lakes it's fun. Then you can park your vehicle by the sign of spillway and make a very short walk to it. Don't forget to get down for the spillway it gives a nicer view. We almost missed it cz we didn't see any trail down there first. Plenty of bugs near the water way even for a 2mins stop by. Very nice and calm place where the maintenance is needed. A campground was there too. Good only if you live nearby.

My husband and I decided to take the Wolf Dinner Train for date night, and it did not disappoint! Great atmosphere, wonderful service, delicious food (I chose the porkchop dinner option, and he had the mushroom and spinach lasagna), and beautiful views. The operator was friendly and knowledgeable. He has been working there for years as a volunteer and was able to answer any and all questions we had, as well as pointing out landmarks and wildlife we passed. They stopped the train a few times, once so anyone who wanted to come out on the platform at the back to view the high trestle bridge we went over and again when we crossed the river. We loved our evening and hadn't even headed back before we started to plan when next we would come. We can not recommend it highly enough!

I'm big fan of trains, so this place was amazing to me. Excellent displays in the museum, sadly you cannot take any pictures of them. So I can't share any pictures of the displays. We did the Thomas the train ride with the kids and grandkids. Nice short ride, kept the kids occupied really well.

Really neat museum & train excursion. Knowledgable volunteers who are very passionate about trains and very friendly. They love to answer train related questions and have lots of enthusiasm for the beautiful trains. There's a wonderful signal garden that's a peaceful place to sit for a few minutes. Overall we really enjoyed our experience on the Fraser train and will do it again.

We had a wonderful time at Day Out With Thomas! The kids were thrilled with the train ride and loved seeing Thomas in action. There were loads of fun activities to keep them entertained—from games and crafts to interactive play areas.

The train tide was pretty neat but as others said, you can't see past cloves by trees in some areas. We did not do a ride that included a meal, so no climate control cars. I think if it got to be 90° outside, the ride would be quite hot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🚂 Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad — such a fun, peaceful ride! Highlights: Beautiful views 🌄, plenty of photo ops 📸, seat switching ✅, museum included 🎟️, and super friendly staff 😊. The train even slows down so you can really take in the scenery — such a nice touch! 🌾👀 Recommendations: 🎫 Book ahead (especially Rail Explorers!) 🥾 Dress comfy & bring water or grab snacks at the depot 🥤🍪 📷 Arrive early for the museum and best seats 💡 Switch sides halfway for full scenery Perfect Midwest adventure for families, train lovers, or anyone wanting a relaxing day! 🚆💛

Beautiful, relaxing adventure. The food was great and the service outstanding. Shout out to Avery our service. Excellent job!

Dining halls are sometimes mid but are normally ok. Some of the professors are bad but the majority are good. The campus is normally very nice and clean. The dorms are ok but some don’t have a/c. Overall solid school.

Every fall, I am reminded as to why Iowa State University is ranked as one of the most beautiful campus in the country. All the fall foliage makes me want to keep snapping photos like an incoming freshman visiting the campus for the first time. Some of the best locations for looking at fall colors are: 1) around the campanile, 2) central campus (near Pearson Hall), and 3) along Osborn Dr. If you want to avoid getting judged by others for taking pictures, there are plenty of photo opportunities at Reiman Gardens. However, be sure to take those photos quickly as peak fall colors only lasts for about a week.

Class of 2023. Good faculty, agronomy, engineering programs. Some adverse experiences with students and lack of career support. Come prepared with path already decided

Stephen's Auditorium for a dance recital. Where are the bathrooms? UP stairs or on the other side of the building. I guess, former students never needed to use a bathroom. UNBELIEVEABLE!

To all high school seniors looking at colleges, tour Iowa State! Iowa State was pretty low on my college list but I decided to tour it anyway. Coming from Wisconsin, my first thoughts were it was a college in the middle of no where with an easy acceptance rate...sketchy. But the moment I stepped foot on campus for my college visit I knew it was the place for me. It's a division one school but the beautiful campus and friendly staff made it feel small. Iowa State was the only college I applied to and I am more than happy with that decision. The professors and advisors truly care for every student and want you to succeed. For the university being in a such a small town, there is so much to do at ISU. From intramural sports, clubs, going to sporting events, joining greek life, exploring Ames, there is so much to do. Go cyclones.

My oldest has become a cyclone and my youngest is convinced he will become a cyclone. When I go back to school again I will be a cyclone.

Beautiful campus. Awesome football stadium. Was there for the Iowa State vs Iowa game.

I loved this place. They have a small but cute butterfly garden. The kids garden have a kaleidoscopes🤩🤩🤩 Walk around is pretty cool, you can take a lot of pictures, there is a tons of flowers and plant.

A stunning and beautiful place to visit! Take your family, take your kids, take your date to this amazing place called Reiman Gardens. Trails and flowers abound in both quantity and quality, with plenty to do and explore for the entire family.

Beautiful, well-kept gardens with a standout Butterfly Wing and fun touches like the giant gnome. Easy to enjoy in 2-3 hours, with plenty of spots to sit and friendly staff. Exhibits change seasonally, so there’s a reason to come back. Downsides: the butterfly house and paths can feel crowded at peak times or during campus events, and signage/flow could be a bit clearer. Overall, great value for a relaxed stroll, photos, or a family visit—just try to avoid ISU game days for easier parking. Solid 4 stars.

I have a membership at the Cedar Valley Arboretum, but because of reciprocal memberships I am able to visit whenever I am in the area. Such an amazing space, always a calming and soothing stop between Waterloo and Des Moines. The Butterfly Gsrden is my favorite. I can't encourage you enough to buy a membership at your local Garden or Arboretum and the visit any of them as you travel the USA.

This is wonderful place to spend time with family and friends or to relax your soul... Their garden conservatory and butterfly wing is something you must see... Time stops when you get there...

A beautiful and lush gardens that is expansive and has a research lab in partnership with the ISU universities with some very cool displays. Handicap scooters are available for free if you ask.

Gorgeous! Had some time before our flight so my fiancé and I went and loved every bit of it. The butterfly building is a must!

Great brewery, friendly staff and good beer. Get the Ladder (cream ale) or Tropical burn (IPA).

Great brewery! The staff are all super friendly (even after I dropped a full growler on their clean floor). I took home their Golden, Brown and Red ales. All are delicious!! Great atmosphere! Thanks Firetrucker!!

Absolutely beautiful and the staff treated us so well. We came here to celebrate our anniversary. We are huge fans of this perfect brewery. The bathrooms were so clean, the structure is gorgeous. Thank you Firetrucker for such a great time. 10 stars hands down. Everyone much experience this great atmosphere.

We had a great experience here! So glad we stopped while in town for work. Cool vibes, nice people and great beer.

Their acoustics are a bit rough so if you have sensitive ears it might put you off. My favorite drink is the Cat Dragon. It packs quite a punch, and if you like ginger beers I suggest you try it. Sorry if it ruins all other ginger beers for you.

A staple in Ankeny! One of my favorite places. I'm happy to drive from Waukee to enjoy new taps and their awesome atmosphere. If you haven't been here, give them a try.

The firetrucker is a local staple and make some of the best beer and drinks around! Always a great place to start or end a bike ride!! Employees are always friendly and attentive!

I spoke with the owner of the place he is opening up full time may 29th 2021. Awesome place with very friendly people.

Great diamond in the rough. Excellent displays. Well done and interactive. Extremely nice folks in each building. Lots to see and buy. No pressure from any of the staff to purchase anything, which I was sort of worried about before going in. Absolutely must stop if a collector. Spent a little less than 2 hours there.

I enjoyed my visit to Trainland USA. The hosts were knowledgeable about not only the exhibits, but general history of the area and people. The exhibits may not have been in perfect working order (there were a couple buttons that didn't work), but considering the number of moving exhibits, the intricacy of the wiring, and the age (38 years!) of the exhibits, it was not disappointing in the least. The lights would shut off at intervals so the guests could enjoy the "night time" exhibits; besides the general miniature lights around and through the towns, there was also a drive-in movie theater, fireworks, and airport lights that only worked when the main lights turned off. It was a great experience and would love to go back soon!

A must see. Loved it. Staff very nice and informative. 8.00 admission fee to muesium but free to visit the old Pullman car where you can buy pretty much anything train related. Worth the stop

This is an awesome place to see beautiful and very detailed train setups. Also they have some trains for sale, and a cool civil war-era depot. Red and Judy are very enthusiastic and accommodating. Highly recommend this place for train lovers of all ages!

Open 10am to 6pm, memorial day through labor day. Had a great time there with the kiddos today! Glad to see them open this summer!!

Your kids will have a blast here looking at all of the different displays. There are button's for them to press to light up different items on each set. There is an old railway dept that was moved on site some time ago with many authentic railroad items inside. They give a short tour of it to talk about the items. Also there's a train store to buy Lionel and other types of trains inside an actual train car, which has a history of it's own. Fun place to stop in and check out.