Went for the Waterfall and it did not disappoint (this particular date) full flowing spectacular- Recent rain upstream having a huge effect on the quantity.. It does change quite dramatically, so go expecting some water, but not huge flow- unless the weather has been wet before hand 😋

🦬 First stop: the Bison Drive! This unique auto tour gives you the chance to see a herd of majestic bison roaming freely across the prairie. We lucked out and caught them super close to the road—it’s such a cool experience (and perfect for kids, too!). Then stretch your legs with a short walk to Minneopa Falls. Whether you hike to the bottom or take in the views from above, the falls are a stunning sight and well worth the trip. Pack a snack, bring your camera, and enjoy a little escape without having to go far.

Was never disappointed visiting this place. Although the entry fee is $7 per vehicle, there’s the all-year subscription at $35, which covered the Minnesota State Parks. Definitely the all-year subscription is worth the price, especially if you’re living in/around Mankato or in Minnesota in general. I really love the accessibility of both the falls. Also the place has great landscape overall. Definitely a great outdoor place to visit with friends and family.

The good: nice campsites, walking friendly trails, patrons were all quiet and friendly for the most part, the bison are cool and the ambassadors are cooler, the waterfall is gorgeous The bad: road noise, noise from the train that is a mile or so away later at night, firewood was wet, B17 has a black walnut tree that drops all night, drain flies in the self standing toilets. What to know: There is firewood for sale, no ice for sale that i know of. Park ranger office closes at 4pm weekdays and 6pm weekends and is NOT near the campsite. The park is divided into two sections so follow signs for office first. LIke anywhere in Minnesota there are a lot of mosquitos (not a deal breaker for me). The even B sites have the most privacy.

Beautiful double waterfall, we were disappointed that the trail was closed, but there’s still a great view of the falls. The buffalo enclosure drive was a unique experience. We got a glimpse of about 12 members of the herd.

Nice park. Go to both entrances. You can see bison on one end and the falls at the other end. The falls are a short walk from the entrance and parking 🅿️ lot.

The waterfalls are beautiful. We did the buffalo drive and didn't see anything the first time, but we came back a couple of hours later and saw them from a distance. Didn't check out the campground or any other hiking trails so can't comment on those.

My husband and I came to have a adventure date and boy.it was! Amazing helpful caring and intelligent staff. Mary & Caleb we're exceptional guides and instructors! We had a blast and it was so beautiful! Great pricing and great amount of time to learn and enjoy!

What an incredible experience for people of all ages! It is great for group or team building, birthday parties or dates! The zip lining takes you through the trees and valley. The ropes course offers a wide variety of obstacles and is worth the trip even if you don’t go zip lining! The instructors know their stuff and will take good care of you! If you have a GoPro, they will mount it to a helmet for your adventure! Definitely recommend you check it out, plan to spend a good 4 hours zipping and climbing!

We had amazing time with rope course and zip lining. Amanda and Shauna were great , it was my first time and both of them were so supportive. Both of them were very experienced so I felt very safe . They were so nice and funny. My family and I had so much fun.

What a great experience! We completed the zip line course to cross off our bucket list. David and Josiah were great instructors - super friendly, answered any questions we had, gave us helpful feedback to ensure a smooth journey and had a surplus of “dad jokes” to share! Also, shout out Caleb for driving and even going the extra mile to grabbing water back at checkin to splash out sweat and bug spray out of our eyes. As first timers, this is the best place to experience zip-lining - we’re hooked! Thank you all so much for the wonderful experience!

What an amazing experience! David, Amy, & Maddie were amazing guides! Fun, knowledgeable, and they made the zip lining adventure one we will never forget. Will definitely be back!

It was very fun it had 14 fun fast and high ziplines the guides were great and everyone in our group loved it. The best zipline was Kong that is 175 feet on the air and pretty long. And a close second was shootout where you went 40 mph trough the forest. The course also had great views and amazing scenery. Four stars out of five would recommend.

We had a great time doing the 14 zip lines. We had two guides that were absolutely fabulous. They had a great sense of humor and they definitely knew what they were doing. Thank you, Ava and Kaylie… you guys rocked! Would definitely recommend

This is a beautiful spot! If you’re in the area check it out! Just note that there is no cell service.

A nice park with great paved trailed for walking or running. Clean port-a potties and playground area with plenty of tables for picnics and larger gatherings.

Lots of trails along the creek; free to enter; 2 playgrounds, pavilion, outhouses for washrooms which were clean and stocked. The park even has equestrian trails. Great place to spend a few hours in beautiful natural settings.

Beautiful creek, but bring your bug spray this time of year!

IMHO, this is a wonderful, uncrowded hiking area especially in the far western and northwestern reaches of the park. Thank you Nicollet County for maintaining the park and trails! I would only suggest building a bridge over the far western edge where the trail crosses a frequently-flowing side creek to assure hikers of easy passage without the need to remove footwear.

It is a pretty park with a beautiful view. I even saw a bunny making love to a chipmunk! Obviously I got curious and decided to join in. What I had not realized was that bunnies are NOT meant to handle human equipment and as soon as I entered the bunny, it died and its booty tightened and clamped upon my member. I had to go to the emergency room where they removed it and then promptly arrested me. I’m excited to go back now that I’m out on bail! I had a blast!

Beautiful park. Trails for walking or horse riding. Lots of room to have a cook out with your friends and family. If you like hiking or just a simple walk, you will like the trails and the overall scenery. The trails not simply flat, there is change in the elevation. Seven Mile Creek runs through the park; It is normally a highlight as one gets to hear the rushing water. On this visit, the creek was fairly dry. Great place I would go back.

Spend sometime this afternoon at Sibley park. It has a great walking path, and exercise area. Bring some quarters to purchase food for the fish, goats and sheep. I recommend this for families with children. Great Play ground area also.

While this place offers a very nice and relaxing environment, it is a great place overall to walk around and see all the animals. The holiday lights are amazing. The only problem I have is that it is very annoying when you rent out the barn (the barn is well kept and nice) but if you hold a reception, graduation party etc. There are random people that can walk in and take your stuff. So many kids without their parents watching will enter your reception and take your stuff and food.

"Absolutely gorgeous park! 🌳✨ The scenery is stunning and so well-kept. Perfect spot for families to enjoy a relaxing day together, but also has a really romantic vibe for couples. Definitely one of my favorite parks to visit!

Beautiful place and well taken care of. Bathrooms aren't very accessible which is disappointing. The grounds and attractions are nicely kept.

Very unique park with lots of playgrounds. There are some animals which the kids love: goats, different fowls, peacocks, cows, pigs, llama, and more. There is a koi pond where you can feed the fish (need quarters to get fish feed). During the holidays it lights up and they bring reindeer. There is a work out area for adults with some unique tools. One of the best parks for kids and adults together!

Love the park it's so cute and I love seeing the animals. We even had a goat look like he was smiling for his picture!!!!!

Holds the Kiwanis Lights every Christmas. Definitely worth stopping to walk through or at the least drive through. Has a great play area for the kids, animals for the kids to see, and close to the river. Has bathrooms available with flush toilets. Lots of room for events or to play a soccer game. Check it out anytime of the year!

Pretty nice skiing. Several good easy runs for beginners. Could use a few more black diamonds. Overall pretty great.

Mount Kato is a nice, 50 acre hill with a good variety of terrain, basic facilities, and easy to get to. The back side of the hill is a gem, definitely longer than the front side with smaller crowds. Most staff seemed to be professional and friendly enough, particularly the day time staff. Perhaps my biggest issue is I encountered a lot of rude skiers and riders. I was here for 4 hours in the number of rude kids and adults (cutting in lift lines, reckless skiing, skiing full speed in slow areas, etc.) equal the number I've come across in four, long weekend trips to Colorado. Unfortunately, ski patrol weren't around and lift operators didn't seem to care as they appeared to be bros with them. Second issue is a lot of skiers and riders huddle around the top of the lift, making people getting of the lift have to dodge them or run into them.

Absolutely love our home skiing mountain! Since we haven't got much snow the past two years, they do a great job of making their own. Now mid January, most of the runs are open. They range from the bunny hill , a couple nice greens, some great blues, and fun/fast black diamonds. Staff is very nice and they have a very responsive ski patrol. Rentals are a little spendy on top of the lift ticket, but they have super nice equipment for skis and snowboards. Food options inside are typical skiing food like hamburgers, hotdogs, etc. They also have a nice bar and grill upstairs.

Went for the mountain bike trails. Was impressed nice and challenging ride. Well maintained. Remember to bring a helmet.

Came to Mt. Kato for my first time skiing (with my experienced skier wife) and it was a blast. Mid day on a Monday with no one on the trails or lifts made for a far more enjoyable/less stressful for a new skiier. One amazing feature here versus other ski mountains we looked into was the $10 adult first timer lesson. My coach Annabella was calm, professional and extremely helpful. She laid a great foundation for the rest of my day that went great. We will be back again for sure!

This was a great hill to spend a few days getting comfortable with skiing. Friendly staff, not too crowded, we had a good time. Conditions were great and the runs were well groomed.

Visited with my 8 and 10 year olds, for their second time skiing. The kids loved it. Every person who paused a ski lift for me or helped me up from my several falls was truly lovely! I don't know much about skiing, but I can tell you that on Thursday and Friday the second weekend in March, it was not busy and that made my parade of wipe outs less embarrassing! They serve Minnesota wine at the bar, both whites are sweet. The chips in the chips and salsa are homemade and just delightful!! The woman at the rental window is very kind and answered tons of questions. The gentleman in the rental room were patient and knowledgeable. I saw 2 Hawks, 1 black squirrel, 8 deer and a blue jay.

My wife and I came here for an afternoon getaway to celebrate her birthday. Wonderful place. Wedding space and grounds are beautiful and wine was great!

We had a great visit the Chankaska Winery over the weekend. It was drizzly and rainy but they had a cozy fire inside and lots of fun drinks to try. Their lemon drop shot and the peppermint liquour were my two favorites! Wonderful ambiance and stunning property with a beautiful creek next to the back patio. I can’t wait to visit again!

Absolutely beautiful grounds. High quality wines and great appetizer options. If you enjoy beautiful gardens and delicious wine come enjoy an afternoon wandering their grounds with your favorite glass.

I had my wedding here and it was the wedding of my dreams. The venue is beyond gorgeous and the staff do a great job making the wedding guests feel special. Their wine is really good along with their pizza. Our coordinator, Chris, was extremely organized, communicative and went above and beyond for us on our special day. We are so happy with our wedding day!

A great road trip destination! Beautiful setting with plenty of outdoor seating. Intimate indoor seating in wine tasting room and a vibrant Spirit room. Nice variety of wines. Flights of wine available include red, white, Minnesota wines and Reserve Red. Pizza and charcuterie boards available if you are hungry.

We always have a great experience there. The food and wine and spirits are always good. We did have an unusual situation. When we walked up to the door I had to go back to the car and my husband went in. There was a worker who was right ahead of me and did not hold the door open for me. I was a foot away. My husband was at the 2nd door and had it open for him.

Amazing wine, friendly staff, great pizza, and next to a bubbling creek you can enjoy if you sit outside. Back again and discovered Chankaska also has spirits! The Apple Brandy and Straight Bourbon Whiskey were awesome! We also had the Thai Flatbread Pizza, very tasty. Wonderful place to relax!!

Great brewery, hidden in the middle of nowhere! Up to 20 fresh, different brews on tap! And a great brewed root beer on tap as well. Kid friendly atmosphere, games to play and good food from a good food truck on-site. Well worth the drive!

Beautiful location in the MN River Valley. Everyone from owners to their staff is amazing! Loved the Coconut Porter, can't wait to try the Rocks and Cows Ginger Cream Ale crowlers we brought home

Euphoric was a whim of a stop on a Jordan - Belle Plain - Blakeley bike route along river roads. The roads were great and so was the beer! We tried 6 or so beers and we liked them all. Nice pallet very drinkable. We will definitely do this again. Had a nice chat with Kurt. Fun fun. Wish u4ic the best future. Add u4ic to any routes you can!

Best Fish Fry South of the Minnesota River! Arguably the best craft brewer in Minnesota. Yum! Well worth the drive.

We stopped here on a Saturday after seeing signage for years. We didn’t love the beer. They all tasted very similar to one another. That being said, the tap house was great! Very spacious and not overly crowded. Clean bathrooms and quick service. We tried a flight of four and an IPA. We didn’t eat but the menu looked delicious, especially if you are looking for wings. Just because we didn’t love the beer doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check it out! Everyone has different preferences.

Can I give this place more than 5 stars? Seriously the beer is incredible. They also have the wing king on site which makes incredible food. Service is top notch on both sides. I randomly stopped in when i saw a billboard for the place there was only a couple people here kinda sad i thought as everything was great(must have been a off time). I've since been here 4 times since my first visit and each time its been busier, yay! I love that its in a tiny town off the beaten path. Good beer good food good people gopd service.

Very dynamic choices. They even had cider u could add flavors to. The grass skirt is the best beer I've had in years! Unique! They didn't have a growler I wanted ready so they made me one on the spot! What customer service!

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!

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.

Great beers all around. However, their IPAs are in a higher tier than most breweries. Incredible spot and very much worth the trip!

Montgomery Brewing is a great small brewery in a reclaimed historic building. They have 12 of their beers on tap. 2 American IPAs, NEIPA, session IPA, imperial IPA, a good Peanut butter Porter, fruit beer, 2 Sours, a Red ale, a brown, and a blonde. I was not sure what to expect but I thought all the beers I tried were on point, IPAs and dark beers alike. I didn't try the sours or fruit. It's not a fancy place and I has just 8 or 9 tables plus a little bar seating but that does not bother me a bit, I liked it. Further than that the beers were above average. They have pizza and pretzels and a friendly staff and crowd. Definitely a 4 maybe a 5 star as I liked the beer.

This was my first visit here. It’s a lot smaller inside then you think but don’t let that scare you. They have a nice selection of beers to choose from And offer Growlers as well. They do have pretzels on hand to quell your appetite. Staff was very friendly and they have some pretty cool merch for sale as well. If you are in the Montgomery area add this little gem to your list.

Great beer - very flavorful! We liked the Triple Berry Bomb sour and the Peanut Buster Porter

This is an inexpensive gem with a cool little taproom.

I believe the story goes that two best friends decided that they wanted to start a Brewery and one of the friend's Dad owned a building.... Actually the original Montgomery Brewing Company building! Whether its the owners their friends or family members that work here they will always greet you with a smile, laughter and good cheer!  Everyone is welcome and the more the merrier at this place! These brewers know their craft if you have any questions about their beers, they know what they're talking about, they are proud and love sharing what they've learned throughout the years in brewing. Take the time going down the list of beers they have on tape and feel free to request a sample or several! Pick a Pint or pick a Flight you can't go wrong! I will admit, the "Tap Room" is a little small so on certain days at certain times this place can fill up pretty fast. On the quieter days feel free to grab a board game, deck of cards or a puzzle from their stash that are free to use while you enjoy your libations or strike up a conversation (like I've done on many occasions!) with your table neighbor! Plus, like most Minnesota Breweries you can bring your lunch or dinner in with you! It doesn't matter if you made it at home or got take out down the street from Pizzeria 201 or up the road from Subway or even from one of the Food Trucks that frequent this place right outside! Bring it in and enjoy it with your favorite brew! Then when you decide to leave don't forget your Growler, Stub or Cans! But, if you don't want to drive out to Montgomery thinking it's out in the "Boondocks" which it isn't. You can find their beer at some local liquor stores.  One is Viking Liquor Barrel in Prior Lake, MN. They have a great selection of brews from the Montgomery Brewing Company! If you think you're a beer connoisseur and haven't been here yet... You're seriously missing out!!

Short drive from the cities, worth it! Was very surprised. Beer is top notch. No gimmicks, real deal beer. Friendly staff and cozy seating.

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. 😂

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

Such a fantastic nature center ,amazing walking trails ,whether you by your self or you have your pouchirs (dog) a highly sought out natural nature center with an amazing park happy earth day

Beautiful place with lots of trails, river views, a water fall and scenic views for your delight. Birds in different colors and sizes, deer, squirrels, frogs, snails, turtles and more you can find to feed your curiosity. There are two main areas for parking, very clean and spacious. Definitely a place the you need to visit with friends and family, so you can have a relaxing time surrounded by nature. I love the River Bend Nature Center. #faribaultmn

A beautiful rustic path along the Straight River. Comfortable to walk the owl path, it's calm, and the nature sounds are abundantly clear. If you stay quiet the whitetail, finches, and cardinals appear with out a doubt. Great picnic areas for a park lunch.

The riverbend nature center is a real gem. It is as large and as nice as many of our state parks and is free to the public. It is not uncommon for me to see more deer than people and the wildflowers are abundant. It has a nice mix of prairie, woods, bluffs, and river. It has beauty any time of year.

River Bend Nature Center is the best of local nature parks. Over 700 acres of nature and maintained trails plus river frontage on the Straight River allow the visitor to incorporate several activities in one visit. There are also classes for all ages and lunch programs through out each month.A good place to visit to lift your spirits!

Growing up near here, field trips to the nature Center were always a highlight. As I grew up, I came to understand this place is entirely privately funded; there is no city, state or county control. River Bend Nature Center is physically and programmatically well-maintained. Trails are groomed and cared for, and they have programs for all ages to learn about nature and take part in activities. I especially loved mountain biking here as a teenager and just recently returned to ride the trails again after many years away. I was glad to find it as it was twenty years ago — with enlightening displays, engaging and helpful staff and volunteers, and the well-known trails that inspired my love of nature many years ago.

It has many types of ecosystems here and many miles of trails to go through. I cannot wait to come back this summer when full foliage is in full effect! Some flats, hills, woods, the river, a little marsh land, some parie like land.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The lady I talked to on the phone was very rude and unprofessional. No help at all.

Always do a great job! Everyone is so friendly and helpful.

Mobile app is not working, very frustrating.

Good people

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.

Staff was really disrespectful to me. Yelled at me for "being" too slow. Watched Sonic the hedgehog 3. It was a great movie. Although it was way too loud. Ordered popcorn and a Dr. Pepper. The popcorn was awesome. But the Dr. Pepper tasted like it had been watered down. Thank you for having me and my family!!

Concessions are reasonably priced, bathrooms are not the cleanest, but the seats in the theater recline! The atmosphere was pleasant (we saw Beetlejuice Beetlejuice so mostly families in audience) and we had a great time! Small town theater folks, we're lucky it's there at all! Take your Karen wig off and just enjoy it for what it is

The only place I come to watch movies is here they have recliner seats and let me bring my blanket the manager is so welcoming

Little theatre, nice reclining seats, decent prices and concessions.

Great theater with great prices! We went during matinee hours and were pleased with the pricing. The popcorn was delicious and fresh and fairly priced. Boxed candy was fairly priced compared to other cinemas as well. The staff were friendly. The theater is pretty small and there’s a single small hallway. They don’t have any loveseats which my daughter prefers because she likes to lay on me while we watch so we ended up only using 2 of the 3 seats we reserved. Our seats were also taken when we came in but I think this happens at every theater because I’ve always had this happen to me! Or I just have bad luck. The atmosphere was very relaxed and cozy. We will definitely come back!

The floors in the bathroom are so sticky that my shoes literally felt glued to them…. Everything else was okay.

Been watching movies here for years.Always a good time always fresh popcorn

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.

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.

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 space for music In the peace garden during the summer ! Thank you

Cool place to visit. They host some good events. Went to a 1920 themed event they hosted.

It was closed the day we went, but it's okay because we did get to go to their amazing SPAM museum! This is just walking distance from the museum so definitely a must stop for photo op!

This place was very cool. They let us have our meeting there. The food was very good and the service was GREAT! The staff was friendly and went out of their way to make us comfortable.

Elegant home, lots of history and interesting facts about the family behind such an iconic food. They ask for a $5 donation but it's worth it. The historian gives a short introduction but after you can roam around the house by yourself.

This is one truly one of our favorite places to visit over and over again. The staff is absolutely wonderful and the history behind this beautiful mansion is pretty awesome to have in our town. Thank you for always welcoming us and being so great....

Mr. and Mrs. Hormel's home is a gracious, stately mansion, yet it feels like a home. The woodwork and floors are all original and lovely.

🌟🥫 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.

Beautiful nature trails. Amazing views and many great habitats for wildlife. Great place to see the geological formations of Iowa!!

This is a great place for trails, exploring, taking family and seeing wildlife. There are several miles of trails of all different types (grasslands, prairie, woods, rocky, flat and hilly). There is even a trail by the visitors center that is partially paved for handicap accessibility. My favorite trail is probably the Quarry Lake Loop as you get to see the lake and have both rocky and woodsy parts of the trail. There is a small play area and lookout to the north at the entry to the prairie trails, great for kids and picnics. The visitors center is very cool for kids with a lot of educational activities and animal info, as well as space to sit and relax. There are bathrooms as well. There are picnic tables outside and a gathering area behind the center with a lot of bird feeders to watch. Dogs are allowed on leashes so I usually take my dog along. Great place to visit to be outdoors!

I went to visit my girl and had no where in particular to go. She learned about this place so we decided to come for a minute. We ended spending a couple hrs there. Had a good hike, beautiful sunny day, and learned a few things about over 100 types of eggs. Great visit!! Thanks to everybody involved for the wonderful experience

The nature center was a great place to come with kids aged two to eight, with lots of child-friendly exhibits that kept them engaged! They especially loved the eagle nest outdoors and being able to touch the fox pelt. There are also miles of well-maintained trails here for hiking through beautiful natural areas.

Trails are awesome, leading to some cool sites. I would suggest cooler or fall/early spring days as the bugs can be thick.

Spent a couple days there this week while visiting my wife's hometown. Remembered what it was like to tear up the trails in cross country at MCHS. There are some great loops to enjoy with the kids and a nice conservation office. My favorite trails are still the River trail that goes all the way to Mason and the Quarry Loop.

Great place for a morning walk. The River Bluff trail was nice and the Prairie Loop was cool. Several different types of trails to choose from. I saw three deer, several squirrels. There were tons of unique Bird calls also. The nature center was decent, but didn't see a lot of information for children's activities.

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.

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.

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.