This is a small but enjoyable aquarium and butterfly house. Takes 1-2 hours max to see and experience it all. Buy the optional butterfly flower for kids. It was lightly attended the day we visited (a Thursday in June) which made it nice.

This was great fun for my 5&6 year olds! They were a little disappointed that the touch tanks were closed when we went but I also completely understand the need. It's not a large place and I don't know the price completely justified the experience but it was fun. I do recommend renting a butterfly feeder, the kids really enjoyed that part!

Wonderful experience. Not very busy on a Tuesday early afternoon. Everyone was helpful and kind. Cute little play area for the kiddos.

This place was a very nice experience, sharing time with the butterflies and, at the same time, experiencing their small aquarium. It's a very peaceful place to relax and simply enjoy the sounds of nature and the freedom of the animals. I would definitely recommend this place for a date.

Butterfly feeder flowers are unreasonably expensive! They should come with the entrance fee to the Butterfly house. When a grandparent takes their 4 grands out for the afternoon the added $2.80 for each kid to have a flower is an unexpected expense and hardship. This is also on top of say an earlier trip to the zoo, lunch out then ending with the Butterfly House. It was also disappointing that the "touching experience" in the aquatic area was closed due to staffing issues.

Great place to check out. Really enjoyed the butterflies. Be sure to get a flower to take with you from the desk. When we got ready to leave I gave it to someone else that didn't have one. I didn't know to take one and a little boy gave me his before he left. The butterflies will sit on the flower while you hold it.

This place cool fun for the kids. Although they dont offer military discount. Its still fun to go and see.

We loved the zoo overall. Some of the enclosures were empty/animals in places different than the map showed. Everything shuts down at 4:30 even though the park closes at 5. Highly recommend bringing a swimsuit and towel for littles to enjoy the splash pad. The mother’s nest in the gift shop at the main entrance is a nice place to escape the heat and sun and nurse/change a little one.

Fare admission price, little bit expensive food, but the food was really good. Many different kinds of animals living in the zoo. I love the fact that the zoo has a splash pad for kids. They have a petting zoo with many cute baby animals 😍. My baby also enjoyed merry go around ride!

Nice, little zoo! Came here with the kids & they loved it! Not too big nor too small! Was able to walk the whole place in about an hour and a half with littlest! Lots of animals, photo statues, etc! Not too expensive, they have wagons you can borrow/rent & a cafe!

This was a great experience with our family. There are lots of different animals to look at and plenty of places for the kids to rest and have a good time. Highly recommend!

Love going, rarely get to...but things have really gone downhill since a year or two ago. Many animals were either temporarily moved or gone. Love the gift shop, excellent popcorn, they have others like coffees boba fountain and freezee. But it was horrible, the prices of anything was skyrocketed way to much for probably most who visit. A small sized slushy $10, I got just two ice waters and it cost me $6. If you're on SNAP bring proof and ID and the kids are way cheaper to get in. All it is is a bunch of construction. DO NOT go on the kids train that circles the outer perimeter of the zoo. If you're lucky you might see just one animal, horrible location!

I thought it was a very nice place to go with the family. The zoo has a variety of animals, and they look well cared for. Plus, you can see them up close, which enhances the experience. I thought the admission price was very good. The only thing I didn't like so much is that I feel like some spaces (if not all) of the animal habitats should be a little bigger.

Don't be fooled at the size of the zoo. It was big enough to entertain my kids and short enough to satisfy their curiosity. It was clean, and all of the animals were out except a few birds. There is also a splash pad for kids, a carousel, and a small playground.

Lots to see! It's clear they value sculptural arts around town!

What a fun way to experience down town Sioux Falls! There is a map you can use online to get to all the sculptures. My husband and I concluded our date night with a beautiful stroll through down town admiring the metallurgy of some of the pieces. It was fun to find out where each piece came from and was pleasantly surprised to see names of local artists in our neck of the woods. Definitely would recommend.

It was neat to take the walk and see the sculptures. I had fun. I heard there are some good eateries on the walk, but didn't get to try them.🙂

Very cool walk along downtown Sioux Falls main street. We have visited several Sculpture parks, but loved the idea of seeing these as we walked through the city.

Awesome! I love art so this was right up my alley. I wasn't expecting some of the subject matter to be so deep. Also a good way to experience downtown and see what else it has to offer. Definitely recommend!

I loved seeing the local art and learning the stories and inspiration behind each sculpture! I also thought it was cool how the sculptures are scattered throughout the downtown area. I kept discovering new ones as I was walking through the area. Really unique experience

I enjoyed checking out the sculptures. I missed a bunch, didn't feel that the map was very helpful.

Very nice. It was closed when we went today. But used the very clean restrooms. Very nice mural. We took pictures with the south Dakota sign. I wish it had been open. Nice picnic area to eat and or rest. Lots of history. If you go, stop and rest a bit and enjoy the history on the plaques. Don't forget to take pictures!

As a traveler, this was amazing to see in the middle of town. One side is downtown Sioux Falls, and the other side is the industrial side, which has the largest bacon making factories in the area. I highly recommend checking this treasure out. It was very cool and a lot of history in this area. The observation tower was great and a store at the bottom.

Great Park with a Beautiful view of the Falls. There's also a cafe if you want a sandwich or burger or Ice Cream!

My stepson got a bee sting and they were very helpful with getting it cleaned and dressed

Great park. The city of Sioux Falls has done a phenomenal job of fixing up, improving and maintaining this wonderful Park. The flow from the rains was amazing to see.

Amazing view from the tower. You can take the elevator or use the stairs to get up.

This place is so beautiful. If you love being in nature, water, and Falls... this place is for you!! I hear, from locals, that it is quite incredible during the holidays as well, at night.

I have to admit I was very confused when I first pulled into the park, it is rolling Prairie Hills closely surrounded by houses and farms, and I couldn’t figure out where all the beautiful pictures of red rock cliffs on the river were from. The front section is apparently all new with day use and camping options, which seemed very clean and attractive. The signage doesn’t really tell you how to get to the main attraction, but you go to the very back of the park and there are a couple of overlooks and some trails where you can go see the rocks faces on the river. The wildflower Prairie Meadows were also very beautiful. $10 to get in for a day use and they have a self serve kiosk as soon as you come in.

Palisades State Park is definitely the best thing to visit for outdoors adventures in the Eastern part of South Dakota. The geological rock features here are so massive and impressive. You can hike down to the river edge and get some really good views from there. There is also multiple lookout points. The park also has a nice campground and a Frisbee golf course. A day pass is $15, but is good for other state parks on the same day.

Wow, this is probably the most beautiful place I’ve seen so far in the Midwest, within four hours of Lincoln. I would recommend this to anyone. It has gorgeous waterside walks and impressive, unexpectedly rosy pink rock formations, some of which are upwards of 3 to 4 stories tall. I brought my climbing gear, and this is my first experience with quartzite rock, which I was surprised by how slippery it was, as well as being sharp, so I didn’t end up, throwing any top ropes up, but just scrambled around, which I would only recommend if you feel confident around heights, and understand the risks. Climbing, logistics-wise, this location is really for Trad climbing, as bolts for sport climbing aren’t allowed in the park. We didn’t see a single rope climber there while we were there, despite perfect weather, but we could see chalk marks on some areas. For the next time, I plan to spend more time checking out the walking trails downstream from the bridge on the parking lot side, and this would also be a stunning and safe place to do some paddleboarding. All in all, I would definitely return, and check out the full trails parallel to the river for the adorable overlooks downstream from the bridge on both sides of the river (the trail that stretches upstream from the bridge is also pretty but a little bit more rugged). It also made for a great picnic area with tables and trash cans. 10 out of 10 would return.

We found this little gem while wandering around. We accidentally booked a hotel 4 hours away from our original destination. Upon wandering Google we discovered this park. So much to look at and it is absolutely on our list for camping spots next year. We are from out of state but will be putting reservations in for here. So many places to hike, both advanced and beginner. Lots of amazing views and photo ops.

We hadn’t been to Palisades State Park in a few years, and we were pleasantly surprised by how much has changed! The entrance is completely different now. It’s a shorter and smoother drive to get into the park. There have been so many wonderful improvements: new trails, playgrounds, cabins, and campsites, plus freshly paved roads, clear new signage at trailheads, repainted facilities, and even a new disk golf course. It really feels like the park has been given new life while still keeping the natural charm that makes it special. This time of year was especially beautiful with all the fall colors in full display. We loved exploring both the classic trails we remembered and the new additions that made the visit feel fresh and exciting. It’s great to see such thoughtful updates to a local favorite, and we hope the park continues to thrive. We definitely plan to visit more often!

Great cabins in new area…hikes are easy and less than 2 miles. New bathhouse is immaculate. Beautiful cliffs…only negative was the nearby train with its horn at 6:00 am.

Beautiful park for walking, hiking, picnics/gatherings. There is a campground on-site. Nice playground for kids. River runs right through it, and fishing is permitted. If you haven’t been here, you NEED to check it out!

First time here: went with family. Service was fair- reason for one star. The buffet was extremely poorly done. Salad bar was completely out when we arrived, never did they fill it through our entire visit. We came to get crab legs, so it was very pricey for the experience that was not worth it. Went to get desert and there was absolutely nothing on the entire table! Came hungry and left hungry to say the lease. Not worth the time spent traveling let alone the experience. Would not recommend this place to anyone who wants to enjoy a buffet style family friendly buffet. Not one of us were satisfied.

Absolutely amazing staff hotel experience, Chantelle and Hannah were amazing at the front desk. They were friendly and went above and beyond to make our stay go great. The hotel entry and hallways are clean and updated. The hotel room was not recently updated, but they were clean and comfortable. The casino floor is very small and when they get busy it's hard to get on a table, or a populer machines. The worst part about the Casino Floor is SMOKING is still allowed here. So it had the smoke smell. You and the staff are forced to breath in disgusting second hand smoke the whole time your there. All in all it was a nice place for a night or quick stop.

Normally I would have had nothing but really good stuff to say but the experience that I just had was the worst customer service I ever had. The problem started last night when my guy wasn't able to get the promotion that was Thursday's promotion. The ladies that were there last night tried everything to help but couldn't do anything with out talking to the supervisor so had to wait until today and the people who were there was very unprofessional and I asked twice to talk to the supervisor about the problem and they wouldn't let me talk to him or her and just kept saying that there was nothing that they could do. I have spent a lot of money there and I'm a gold member and they just lost my business because it's not the lousy 10 dollars of free play that he didn't get it's the way we were treated they pretty much was calling me a lier and was trying to get another whooping 10 bucks for free please give me a break it's not the money it's the whole principle of the situation unbelievable so we won't be back

What a great place to stay and play! Every single person that works here has been so kind! We will absolutely come back when we visit later this year.

My friend and I stopped to have the breakfast buffet on Saturday 8/23/25 and we were seated, and we sat there for a bit and seen two useless servers walking around 2 table's 1 was us and a 4 top already eating, one server was doing side work filling something like sugar trays. Both kept looking at my friend and I not considering we needed assistance to order drinks.and the hostess came over to take our drink orders, after these 2 useless servers just watched! We left and went to subway! Way better service! I worked in the food service industry for years as a chef! And when you see a table open you tend to the customers no matter if it's your section or not! It's about the hospitality not getting your side work done or not my section! So we destroyed our players cards were never coming back to this gank restaurant if this is the best service royal river has to offer? Hell no! Have your servers get a REAL taist of customers in Sioux falls! This city will chew them up and spit them out! And I let it be know to other restaurants here In Sioux falls know what sloppy staff royal river has! AND I'M NATIVE AND THE SERVERS ARE WHITE!

I wish I would win more, but that's gambling. The buffet is OK. Used to be fabulous but the last 2 times I've been there the food has been ok. The chicken is great, but some of the beef products were really chewy. I've never stayed in the hotel as we live close enough to drive back home.

They used to have great rewards the changes maid suck I'll be finding a better place due to the changes maid in rewards program...free play / promotion the gave rewards based on points earned previously and was really nice but now they are based on wins only so if you're not winning not rewarded seems as backwards to me and was the only thy getting me to go each week pretty sure I can find more productive things to do with my time

Great place for short walk and great information on the history and cultural significance of the location. Local artist demonstrations are fantastic. The walking path is easily accessible for all and unexpectedly beautiful. So much history packed in a small location.

One of the best features of southwest Minnesota. Pipestone National Monument is a great place to hike around, they have a very informative and wonderful visitor center, as well as some much Native American history here. I would definitely recommend stopping in the visitor center first and checking out the petroglyphs. Free admission.

Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota is a remarkable and inspiring place that offers a deep connection to both nature and history. The site preserves the sacred quarries where Native Americans have mined red pipestone for centuries, creating culturally significant pipes and artifacts. Visitors can walk the scenic trails, watch demonstrations of traditional carving techniques, and explore the peaceful prairie landscape, all while learning about the enduring traditions of Indigenous peoples. The monument’s visitor center provides insightful exhibits and friendly staff that enrich the experience, making it both educational and moving. Whether you’re drawn by history, culture, or the beauty of the surrounding landscape, Pipestone National Monument is a profoundly meaningful and unforgettable destination. October 2025: Gov shutdown means open restrooms and access to trails. Take time walking around, it is pretty.

Beautiful area with lots to learn and read. Has a nice picnic area by the lake and pretty views of red stone and large rocks. The lake was filled with turtles and that was fun to watch them The visitor center was awesome and so much to learn. They had people there carving Pipestone. A small gift shop,, and restrooms. Then there is a nice loop around the area and a waterfall. So pretty

Pipestone National Monument is super sacred to many American Indian tribes, who dig up and carve its red pipestone for some serious prayer ceremonies. Pipestone National Monument is like, the ultimate spot to explore American Indian culture and the natural resources of the tallgrass prairie. It's got some pretty cool geologic features and paved trails, making it a great place to hang out.

Pipestone National Monument is a Beautiful park with great history. There is plenty of parking and easy access to the visitor center. The people are friendly and take time to answer your questions. The exhibits are beautiful, and you can talk with the tribal people and they will share the history of their crafts. Just outside the visitor center you can take a hike around the beautiful 1/4 mile loop, the path is mostly flat and paved for easy walking. Along the walk ,you will enjoy the beautiful views of the meadows and fragrant scents of the flowering trees. Stop and see the marvelous rock wall and find the hidden faces in the rock. The trail will lead you to a beautiful running stream, and about half way you can stop and enjoy the beautiful waterfall . There are rock stair areas where you can climb up to see hidden rock sculptures and bulletin boards with descriptive photos so you can enjoy the history as well. The sounds and sites of singing birds, and small critters can be seen as you explore. This is definitely a beautiful place to see, filled with great history.

We are on our journey to collect National Park Service Stamps and this monument was along our drive to North Dakota. We loved watching the video and learning about the pipestone only found in this area of the country and the significance to the native people. My kids each picked out a hand made item from the gift shop. Employees were friendly and had a wealth of knowledge. We did a short hike. Saw a couple water places and loved seeing the colorful prayer cloths.

We were in Sioux Falls and made a side trip to do the Bison Tour. Don’t trust Google maps as the visitor center isn’t where the app says- not the parks fault though as it is so hard to get wrong locations adjusted. Don’t turn at the signs for the rocks- go up two more roads. The tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable, very nice. We were lucky to have the herd come very close to the open air tram. We got to see the youngest baby and the big bull both close up. Allows you to get a real appreciation for how massive they are. Reasonable price compared to other similar opportunities elsewhere and it helps support their conservation efforts. If you’re in the area and enjoy nature at all, I would recommend the Blue Mounds Bison Tour.

The road through the park,picnic area and beach all closed on July 3rd ...the interpretive center is boarded up....the equinox rock alignment is overgrown, they don't even have a sign for it or a trail following it, the trail goes over it and you can hardly tell it's there with all the shrubs. I've been wanting to come here for years and I'm disappointed in the poor shape of the park. The hiking a rock cliff is amazing! Loved the buffalo/ prairie tour.

We really enjoyed our stay at Blue Mounds State Park. It’s a well-kept park with nicely laid out campground. Hiking trails start just steps from the campsites, making it easy to explore the park on foot. Clean restrooms, peaceful atmosphere, and wide-open skies made it a relaxing getaway. Definitely worth the trip!

There is a closed road right now, 6/30/25. So a lot of the sights are unavailable. However, you can still see great views if you go to Equinoctial Rock Alignment instead. This is with 5 minutes of the Blue Mounds, and there are nice hiking trails with great views.

I honestly can't say enough how much I love this park! We have the pleasure of living just a few miles from here and can take in its beauty whenever we want! Hiking, biking, walking.... there are so many ways you can enjoy the park! You can even stay in a tipi! Beautiful scenic views and all kinds of interesting nature to take in up close too! Be sure to give this a park a visit!!

We had an incredible experience on the bison tour with our amazing guide, Tiffany! Her energy, charisma, and knowledge made the entire tour both fun and educational. We were lucky enough to get up close to the bison and witness some truly memorable moments — including the dominant bull and two of the oldest cows wallowing in the dirt, cooling off and scratching in the dust. It felt like they were putting on a show just for us! Seeing the baby calves was the cherry on top — such a heartwarming sight. This tour is an absolute must-do — and at just $15 per person, it’s not only a great value, but your money goes directly toward caring for the bison. If I could give it ten stars, I absolutely would!

Blue Mounds is great! We have been wanting to get out here for a long time and are glad we finally did. We especially enjoyed seeing the cacti and bison.

Tons of cool cars. Just me and my son touring on a Friday morning and the tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. $15.00 per person entrance free was a little high since we weren’t expecting this and it wasn’t clearly posted on their website.

What a fun place to go! I am not a car buff, but I really enjoyed looking at the restored cars and hearing the stories from our guide. There are fabulous art murals, lovely vignettes, vintage clothes from former businesses in Spencer, and the Lakes area that are throughout the tour. It is worth the visit!

Fabulous! Talk about a hidden gem! If you like old cars & and history, this is the stop for you! Today, I stopped by to view these cars and got the whole tour. You pay $15 dollars for a 45-minute tour. When I was there, I was the only person present, so I had the opportunity to go through and get the personalized tour. The gentleman who led me through was extremely knowledgeable and patient while I asked my questions. I learned that it's more than juat a museum. You can also get your car restored there. They have a special spot to paint it, and the special controlled garage allows paint to dry in 60 minutes instead of 8 hours. I also learned they refurbish the appolostry. In another section of the garage, it is not affected by the paints. It is all very safe and they are very professional with all the cars as you will see in their collection. Finally, there are certain cars on display that are for sale, and after going through the tour, you could talk to the salesman. The artist thay drew all the murals was fantastic. You could look one angle looked like people were driving one way and then as you walked to the other side of the room your eyes played tricks on you and the road seemed to go the opposite direction! What a true optical illusion! I actually took way more than 50 photos not sure it will allow me to post them all! This is a fantastic collection you must come in and see!

Amazing place! Everyone should visit and get a tour! The murals were beautiful and breathtaking along with the car collection.

What a pleasant surprise! The murals and cars are amazing! With the guided tour, you learn different things every time you visit!

We enjoyed all the cars and a fun tour guide.

If you like the 60's-70's c cars you will thoroughly enjoy this place. The real attention grabber however is the hand painted mural along all the walls that extend what I believe two football fields from ground to 20 ft tall on 2 sides... My understanding is that it took two years start to finish.... it is incredible artwork with a '60's theme

The amusement park is small. But very charming. Went on a day that was 95° degrees plus. My only complaint is not enough seating in the few restaurants at the park. It was a long hot wait to get a table. Then another 50 minutes to get our food. Inside the park. There needs to be more SHADED REST AREAS WITH PLACES TO SIT FOR A BIT. We would of stayed longer, but we were all on the verge of heat stroke.

Only visited from the outside due to the 6pm closing time. The $60 ticket price for a 1 hour visit was too much for us. While the price included $10 towards food and $20 for games would be a great value for a whole day, we just wanted to see the park and take some pictures. Maybe they could consider a lower price point for later in the day, one without the food/game credits, or a senior price? We didn't want to ride the rides, just experience the atmosphere, see the sights and reminisce.

The park is clean and nicely maintained. The rides are nothing out of the ordinary, just a quaint little theme park with a nice view of the lake. Pricing for the rides is fairly high, but they do give you a generous number of laps with the go karts (along with some hype Spanish rap music when you’re waiting in line). Definitely give this place a try if you’re in the area! 😊🙌

If you buy in advance, things are easy. You still have to go to the same ticket window, but it is just getting your wristband for the day. It is free to get in, the day pass is for all the rides. Workers are VERY nice and you can tell they love their jobs. In a world of top thrills, it is nice to have a place still available that seems to follow family values and history. Visit the museums if you have any love of history. They are small, but pack some wonderful information. I came as a kid and was not disappointed in bringing my own kids (ages 17-8) and giving them the wonderful memories I had!

The BEST roller coaster in short run form. Off the seat rides!! We have been going by the park still at 68 just to ride the coaster. All classic rides in the park. Roc-o-planes second favorite.

This was fun & clean. You don't have to pay to get in... walk around 1st, count up how many "Park bucks" you'll need for the rides your kids want to do. Then, go buy a card for exactly that amount. We spent $21, rather than $40 per person day pass. Pirate mini golf is separate $12/adult, $9/kid. And Raceway go karts is separate it was $60 for 5 single kart rides. They were very long rides felt like, our teenagers enjoyed it. At the park, Tilt-a-whirl & that old wooden roller coaster were the 2 favorites!

Nice old fashioned amusement park plus tons of cute little shops and eateries, and the launch dock for the Queen II. It was just a little confusing which things you could do free vs a la carte vs wristband only and the wristbands and a la carte ride prices were expensive. My favorite part was the free musical play area in front of the boutiques. My kids has a blast.

We had an incredible tour with an incredible guide. Watching Jeffers Petroglyphs grow from a small dirt parking lot to the beautiful building and fabulous volunteers they have now has been fantastic..The incredible care and preservation of this site is wonder to explore and experience first hand.. You feel like you are stepping back in time.

It was a very unique experience. So much Native history I wasn't aware of before the visit and a walk through one of the last surviving native prairie sites was an added plus. Well worth the ride from the metro area. Another Minnesota treasure. Highly recommend.

This Minnesota Historial Society site is spectacular! I can't recommend the guided tour and demonstrations enough. The tour trail is gorgeously lined with native prairie grasses, plants and flowers. The scenery is magnificent and awe inspiring.

What an opportunity! Definitely go if you can! This place is truly unique. It's a great chance to learn about the history of this land, and to be EXACTLY where ancestors were. You get an up close look at some artistry left behind by the Native Americans, left to document, teach, and remember. It's otherworldly to be in such a place. To imagine them there, chiseling. Such effort. Not much lasts these days, to see something so old is refreshing and profound. History is SO important. Do yourself, the past, the ancients, and the future a favor and go check it out! Also-- clarification: photography of the Petroglyphs themselves is forbidden by the elders, but photography otherwise is just fine. Of course, always double check. It's absolutely a sign of respect to ask, and you're not going to bother them by asking. If anything, they'll thank you. Such a good bunch there!

This is rather a hole the the wall type of site. Wouldn't think it would be worth the time to go there being its out in the middle of the boonys. But its a cute little tour with fascinating historical information. The glyphs are almost impossible to see with how weathered its gotten with time. But the staff (Tiffany) did great at showing us the highlighted areas of interest with her magic water spray bottle. It was a shorter tour than I had expected, but was enjoyable none the less. Worth the trip out in cow country to take a younder at.

I find it odd that there's no picture signs everywhere of the Petroglyphs out of respect for the Native Americans. But it's perfectly fine to set up a fence and charge 12 a person to see them. It was neat to see but not worth the price.

A little expensive ($10) for adults. You're not allow to take pictures of the petroglyphs. Pretty prairie area, there were about 15 people total when I went. Nice short walking experience. Saw some native cactus from Minnesota there.

Honestly this was a really cool piece of obscure history. I love traveling and seeing little pieces of America like this. The statue is really cool and huge. The museum was very interesting, I really liked the old machinery and all the artifacts they had on display. There's a cute gift shop inside. This is a great place for a quick stop on the road to stretch your legs a bit and learn a little something new. It was very easy to get to from the highway and it was not crowded or loud. There is a nice park attached with some musical instruments that I found very charming

If you like quirky interstate pull offs then you'll like this. Its exactly what the name suggests, a giant statue of the green giant. You can walk up some steps to stand under him for a fun photo op. Next to it are musical instruments you can play. They would be super fun for a toddler or little kid!

We were not planning to make a stop in Blue Earth on the way to Rochester. However, we made a pit stop and we were pleasantly surprised to see this giant statue. It made a great stop for us. The music park is something out of ordinary. It was well worth it to visit the park.

It was fun to experience this unusual statue. He's HUGE. But I loved the music chime area. Even as an adult, I enjoy hitting a few xylophone like instruments.

This is a perfect roadside stop off I-90! The park is clean, well-maintained, and offers picnic tables - great for taking a relaxing break during a long drive. There are fun things to keep kids entertained, plus a nice store and a small museum to explore. We also really appreciated the nearby walking path, which runs behind a baseball field-it was just what our dog needed to stretch his legs. A fun, family- and pet-friendly stop that’s definitely worth pulling over for!

The visitor center tells the whole story of green giant vegetable processing, receptionist was very helpful and caring. Got some great pictures of the big guy and his little sprout

Always a cool stop don’t forget to check out the gift shop in the green giant museum. It’s worth the few extra minutes and also they have some musical instruments outside in the park.

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.

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!

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.

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

Cool experience, so much candy and pop, it's crazy. Be prepared to be shoulder to shoulder. It is cash only and watch the checkouts as they don't always pay attention while ringing things up, especially clearance products. They have some cheese and a cool selection of brats and bison burgers.

This place is crazy cool. Almost always packed with people, but there's good reason for that. They have a lot of staff to process transactions efficiently. They have every variety of almost every snack, treat, or baked good. You smell their fresh baked goods as soon as you walk in.

This place is so cool to visit. Even if you are not a huge fan of candy, this place has something for you. They have one of the most extensive collections of puzzles for sale. They also have a huge assortment of canned goods, preserves, cheeses, meats, olives, and so much more. Oh and a ton of candy. Things I have never seen before. It is such a fun place to visit.

I absolutely love the candy store. I come every year with my family. It’s one of our favorite places to come. Not only do they have candy. They have a lot of homemade goods in general including food and gift like items such as candles and soaps. they have awesome designs of different characters painted all over the walls and ceilings. I highly recommend coming here.

First time visit. So much to see. Very crowded! Large assortment of candies, chips, and pops/sodas from all over the world. Freshly picked apples, baked pies, apple crisp, and fudge. Candy cigs, pop rocks, rock candy, and more. Wide assortment of jarred items, snack meats, cheese, fresh chicken and duck eggs. And lots to see overhead - free eye candy so to speak! Special note: Cash and Checks Only. No debit or credit cards. ATMs on site. Will return for sure!

Amazing place. So many candies, but not just candy. They have fresh apples, pumpkin's and more. As well as preserves, jerkies, and fresh baked pies. And the decor is amazing. Well worth the stop, just plan your time. We went on a Saturday and it was packed.

Stopped here after another event that had brought us so far south of the cities, so we had to stop on the way back! I haven't been here in years, but its an attraction all its own now!! Every nook and cranny had its own theme, that seemed to transport you to another world. AMAZING kinda comes close to describing what they have done with this place!! And the selection of almost anything you can think of for candy and special treats from around the world.. they had so many other options besides candy.. it was so hard to choose!! We settled on some new tea we haven't tried, a new soup mix, carrot cake mix and some other special treats thats hard to find in the normal grocery store. We had just as much fun here, looking at all the things they had, as our other event!! Will have to make the drive just for this place next time!! 😄

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.

Helpful young staff, who are patient and thorough. I had a fun experience although it went by fast.

Duane and staff take care and are excellent guides. The scenery is breathtaking and property is calming. The Leap of Faith was an extra add on and so worth it to challenge oneself with self- determination and to see what the body is capable of. We will be back!

The staff is amazing with people of all skill levels. We had a guest who was completely new to ropes courses. They were patient when they got scared stiff and wouldn't move. They even came out to where he was and helped him get to the next section! It was a very uplifting moment for everyone and it made the experience a very memorable day for us.

Sand Creek Adventures is a beautiful location in Jordan, MN for ziplining—especially in the fall. The scenery made the trip worth it! The experience is quick since there are only three lines, but the staff keeps things moving, and our favorite was definitely the third line. A heads-up for anyone considering this as a first-time zipline experience: there is no warm-up line. You start right away on a long and high line. I’ve ziplined once before and it still took me a little time to step off that first platform. If you’re new to ziplining, just be prepared for that. If you’ve done it before, you’ll be fine and enjoy the experience.

our bachelorette party had an amazing experience!! the staff was SO accommodating to every persons request - allowing some of us to do different things etc. its a great family run business!!! definitely recommend for a group activity!!

Very fun (and lowkey, kind of scary) zipline! The hosts were amazing as they led our party of six through safety procedures, tips/tricks, and made all of us feel comfortable enough to overcome our fears. Beautiful scenery, as well. Loved this experience!

We had a fun time Ziplining here! The staff are very knowledgeable, friendly, and help you make the most of it. We had Joe and Teagan who set up a relaxed vibe, conveyed all instructions clearly and I can strongly recommend this experience!

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.

By far my favorite place near the twin cities. This place is so well thought out. The gift shop has the most amazing chocolate. Definitely so much art. Such a peaceful place. You will want to make sure you check this for your list. Everyone is welcome here so many features for anyone from walker to wheelchair and very kid friendly

I bought one of the year long membership options and it’s definitely worth it. There are so many events and plants to see here all year long. The tulips during May are spectacular and definitely worth seeing. I also love going down to the Farm at the Arb which hosts different events in August-September for harvesting different plants (potatoes, sugar beets, apples, etc). An incredible amount of flowers, bushes, and trees to see throughout the Arboretum. There are different hiking paths as well. It’s very well maintained and definitely if I didn’t live 45 minutes away, I would be here more often.

Gorgeous Grounds. Beautiful For a Fall wedding. This was the second wedding I attended at the Arb. It was stunning - the most intimate venue. The barn becomes a dance floor after dark . The ceremony could be in any of the gorgeous gardens on property. Dinner indoors or out. Gorgeous. As a guest you could not pick a better choice to attend. ‘Twas magical.

Okay first I did not know this cost money but it was $25 to get in and I went on a weekday. But the one person membership is $75 and they do take that $25 off so that's kind of a good deal. But this is beautiful scenery smells amazing and love the different flowers smells and the different tree smells so much to see. Suggest buying a membership because you will need to go more than once to see everything you have to go at different parts of the year to see which flowers are blooming. Great experience a very peaceful.

The most stunning place! I love the variety in plants and views! All times of the year, the arb is so much fun to visit! From field trips as a child, to family outings, or bringing my students, this place is the best!

Landscape is well maintained throughout the year. The Aboretum have a huge collection of different types of tree, flowers, and other plants. Fall colors are beautiful and hard to find similar ones elsewhere that I've been to.

Recently had my wedding at the Arboretum in the Fireplace Room/Tea Room; from start to finish everything went off without a hitch! Avery and Harry (Venue and Bar Coordinators) were so extremely helpful throughout the entire planning process. The location is so gorgeous; you can't go wrong booking this location for your wedding! I greatly appreciated the price transparency as well for venue and bar services. If you're considering booking the arb for your wedding, I would highly recommend doing so!

Took the general tour. Had a lot of information about Prince's life and work. Thought the price was just a little too much for what was offered. For the cost, most places offer some free small items or personalized photos. A photo booth with the ability to put your name and date would almost make it worth it. People were very nice and you could tell everyone were fans.

As a diehard Prince fan, this was a special day. 3 hour ultimate experience with Tom. This tour exceeded my expectations by a mile. Really professional and efficient team. And you can see so so much. It’s a bit of a trek from downtown but your tickets in advance and get out there!! You can’t use your phone most of the tour but you can at the end! And eat the cheesecake!!

If you are a true Prince fan THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!!!! Its not cheap but worth every penny. We only did the VIP 2 hour tour because the 3 hour tour was sold out. The moment you know you desire to experience Paisley Park, you need to get your tickets because they do sell out. We plan to return for the 3 hour tour and next time it will be just me and my husband. We'll leave our teenager at home. He enjoyed it but had no clue who Prince was. Hubby and I will experience it together and have some grown up time. You won't regret it!

What an absolutely amazing experience from the moment we arrived. The staff and especially our guide, Tommy, made our experience priceless. His love for Prince and the stories he shared made you feel like he was just around the corner. Can't say enough about our 3 hour experience, the memories will last a lifetime!

A must-see for anybody in Minnesota! Definitely worth the price, such a special and memorable experience. The staff and tour guide were friendly and knowledgeable, the tour encapsulated Princes life in an honoring and beautiful way. Prince 4ever n ever💜🕊️

Great experience! I would have liked to see more of Paisley Park, the Rotunda, second floor but overall the tour was good: that’s my reason for only 4 stars. Bummer not being able to take pics but liked that phones were unlocked in large concert space to take pics & experience the room with live music. I appreciated being able to spend time in the spaces we did tour & time to just chill a bit. I never felt rushed. Our tour guide was great, answered all questions and was super knowledgeable.

Amazing place with such a great history! This man was incredible, I learned so much from the staff and they were so friendly. This place has stuff you will not find online, incredible stories and you really get to know him and what he was about. I felt Inspired after leaving here. Thank you for the music Prince and the inspiration.

I would totally recommend this to anyone! I saw grass and it was fantastic!! Our waiter was very kind and understanding. She was also very funny! We had such great time. Our food came out fast for the full theater! The show was phenomenal and the only complaint I have is that I can’t listen to their rendition at home! My dessert was especially good too!

We saw the Queen tribute concert at the Fireside Theater. This place is a nice intimate venue. Because of its size, I think any seat will be good because you won't be that far from the stage. I happened to get front row seats which I thought might be too loud but it wasn't. We had dinner downstairs before the show. My Mom has limited mobility and couldn't do the stairs so meandered through a maze of hallways to get to a really cozy, low ceiling place. It felt quite vintage down there, but not too claustrophobic. Dinner choices were good-- we had steaks and veggies. Mu mom chose.the fish. There were other choices thay came with the ticket plus some appetizers that you pay for extra. I also ordered the sangria which came with their signature hurricane glass that I could take home. It was nicely fruity and not too alcoholic. We loved the band that played Queen. The main singer Matt Riehle's voice was quite similar to Freddy Mercury's bright but gritty voice. They also had two other very good singers who help create that full stadium sound into this small venue. They're an amazing band and would love to see them again!

My first time here. I'll be honest with you. I wasn't looking forward. That's not really my thing but boy was I wrong. I have completely changed my mind. I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. And the funny part is that the food and drinks are so good that I was just at Texas Roadhouse the day before and had a steak and it wasn't nearly as good as what I got over here. Cannot recommend this place enough. It's entertaining. The staff is amazing. The people in the play are incredibly talented. Never thought I would say it's in a million years but I'm definitely going back again.

Chanhassen dinner theater is an excellent place for a group event, get together with friends, or family. The plays and concerts are always very professionally done. The prices are a little high and the food is not that wonderful. There is definitely room for improvement, but with no competition within the Twin Cities I don’t believe there will be any change. You might be thinking, concerts, really? Oh, yes! Check out the photos of the fun we had!

I really enjoyed my experience at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. Dinner first, followed by the show – a very nice setup. The main entrée (Orange Roughy) was delicious, though the salad was quite disappointing, more like bagged veggies with croutons. The show Grease was absolutely fantastic – the cast, the music, and the storyline were all wonderful. We sat close to the stage, which made the evening even more special. 💫 The only thing that surprised me was that taking photos or videos during the performance was not allowed. I’d definitely love to come back!

My first time going to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater was in 1999 and I still enjoy going today. The management does such a good job ensuring everything is done properly from the performances to the staff to the food and the drinks. They really do a great job nailing the details. If you prefer your steak medium rare they actually cook it to order and it comes out right. If you order an Aperol spritz it's made properly, not short on the aperol and really delicious. And of course they always provide really fantastic quality performances in an extremely intimate venue. Really enjoyable and tickets are priced very reasonably considering everything that must go into the productions they put on.

What a wonderful afternoon at the Chanhassen! We went as a part of our church group and had an excellent time! Our waiter, Coty, was the best! The play was outstanding! Can't wait to go again! The food was very delicious and they had a great selection of entrees.

I’ve been to this park twice now and had a very nice time both times. Renegade is an absolute beast of an attraction, one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world in my opinion. That Twisted Drop is insane! A very well maintained park, lots of pretty colors, friendly staff, and clean walkways. On both my visits I was also impressed with the random pop up shows on the Midway. It’s small stuff like that that makes you see this park is well run and they want the average guest to have a great day. I also appreciate this park for always running 2 trains on everything, and having speedy operations to keep the lines moving. Overall everyone should checkout Valleyfair, it’s a super nice park.

Very nice, clean, friendly amusement park. Love that it's 2 parks in 1 with the water park. Great rides. Good value, especially with a season pass. The staff is welcoming and seems week-trained. Short line to get in on a busy weekend, but it moves really quickly. This is our first summer at the park, and it's been a lot of fun!

Coming in you have to pay $25 to park right away so beware. The tickets are half the price online than buying them on-site. We bought a fast pass and premium dining. With the premium dining you can order drinks every 15 minutes and food every 90 minutes. Went on a Sunday and the crowd wasn't too bad. The lines weren't out of control and we were able to move around easily. Only one of the rides were shut down and opened back up shortly after. There are a good number of rides but nothing overwhelming. The food is mediocre but there's a good variety. There is a sit down restaurant and a couple places not included in the dining package that might have had better food. There are lockers you can rent for $15 and you're allowed to use it all day and have in and out access. The staff all appear to be teenagers that aren't the most helpful which is the reason for 4 stars. Overall, what you get for what you spend is 9 out of 10. Lol online for discount tickets, we were able to get them for $32 general admission.

It's an amusement park that feels like Cedar Point & Six Flags kind of forgot about, so it feels lacking in many ways, since there are multiple empty stages that don't ever seem to be in use. The busiest time we've visited has been for their valley scare, where we've learned that omitted from the website, they do not allow reentry after 5pm. Which means if you want to do spooky stuff you can't expect to come in after 5pm for their event that start at 7pm. You'll have to arrive 2 hours earlier at the latest. I'd recommend a season pass if you plan on going twice in a year, then you're probably good to not buy one again. I know I don't think I'll get one next year. Edit: an update on this review, we contacted the company and they confirmed that the rule is that no one can leave and reenter the park after 5pm except for 1 person in a party for medical reasons. After staying for an extended time to experience the "darker" parts of Valley Scare we purchased a $17 "No boo" necklace for our kid, and multiple times were told despite paying for this item, the people still might scare if they don't see it. This did happen and usually apologies were given, but there was one man on the "Blood on the Boundary waters" section saw the No Boo necklace and proceeded to make threats to my child stating "that necklace only protects you here, and won't protect you when I'm knocking on your window later." While I can understand a bit of light-hearted prodding, what the hell is the point in doing that to a child let alone one that is wearing a necklace to not be scared? My kid was honestly more annoyed he was still talking than scared, but if that's how he treats kids, and it's only a matter of time before he genuinely alarms someone. I will state that unlike any other of the other visits with the season pass this time many stages actually had shows and show times during valley scare, and applaud those doing those jobs as entertainers. As an aside for pricing, this place is pricey and compared to Disneyland in California you will actually spend more on this park in Minnesota for things like food and souvenirs. (Granted, Disneyland might have more souvenirs you are willing to pay to take home.) Which means if you have been to other places, you do feel like you aren't getting your money's worth. But I can't recommend this place for being worthy of more than a 1 year season pass at most. And I only recommend that, because with a season pass you get free parking and once you do ticket+parking you are already close to the price for a season pass anyway.

My daughter lives for "VALLEY FAAAAAIR!!" (what she hollers out every time we drive past - which is nearly daily). She loves the Camp Snoopy/kids rides. I love that all the kids rides are close together and grouped in ways that make it easy to keep an eye on the kids. I also appreciate that it's clean and usually has all the rides running. (*Cough*cough* miss the Carnivale event though *cough*)

The park is well laid out, and overall clean. However, it has a very mediocre ride lineup, and operations were atrocious. The ride operators had no sense of urgency, and most seemed “bored” and seemed like it was an inconvenience for them to be there. The food was absolutely insanely priced. $20 for 2 chicken tenders and a splash of fries?? - One of the highest priced theme park foods I’ve ever experienced anywhere in the world. (Photo of said $20 tenders attached.) - The waterpark was decent, however definitely lacks a real stand out attraction. - The lazy river was long, and very enjoyable since they enforced the “must be in tube” rule. Seemed to cut down on people trying to “push their way” through the river. - All in all, it’s a decent regional park. Absolutely NOT worth the cost of a plane ticket to fly in for a visit. If you’re in the area, sure, visit it. - Making a special trip for it? Would not recommend.

Lines for rides are LONG on the weekend! You spend far more time waiting in line than on the rides. I'd recommend going through the week if at all possible. Also..bring your own water. $5.50 per bottle in the fairgrounds (or not very tasty water fountains if you are cool with that). That being said, they do have a lot of unique rides that you don't see elsewhere! There's no limit to how many you ride or how many times.

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.

🌟🥫 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.

It's a pretty good zoo. Decent variety of animals. Some really fun exhibits. The carousel was a big hit with my kids. A lot of variety of animals to pick on it. No lines for anything. The Treetop Trail was interesting... A fun idea to be above the zoo and animals. But it would have been a lot of fun if it was like a train that high to see everything. B/c it was hot and sunny up there. The splash pad area was fun. Recommend the bird show. It was really fun.

Where do I even start. This zoo is home to some of my fondest childhood memories. It’s a great place to wander around & learn about the animals we share this beautiful Earth with. Just learned from 1 of their maintenance guys that it’s in the Top 5 biggest zoos in the US. You will definitely get your steps in. Wear comfy shoes, eat beforehand, & dedicate a good 3-4 hours to exploration. Have a ball.

Great zoo experience today despite some construction near the south entrance. Apparently they're rebuilding the snow monkey enclosure. Some of my favorite animals were fairly active, and that, along with an overcast sky, made for some good photography. I attached some of my favorites to this review. If I could I'd deduct a half star for a poor online experience. I feel like the process of purchasing tickets could be much smoother.

First time visiting the zoo and we pretty much covered the entire surface that was not being renovated. First of all, I must say that most animals looked very healthy. The only exceptions would be maybe the bigger cats and the Penguins. They looked a little restless. But otherwise the animals were very lively. We started of with visiting the sea lion show which was a nice little example of how smart those animals are. We later moved into the food court to have lunch. They selection was not massive, but we ordered a candied bacon club sandwich and cheese curds which we split, a little expensive as expected since it's a zoo, but surprisingly not that bad. Felt clean and the club was especially refreshing this day. We later took the tree top trail. This is a short walk (1.5 miles) and a nice overview of the park. But you don't get to see everything. The ground floor has more information, viewing windows and interesting caves to explore. I enjoyed both, but the vibes I got was that more experienced people who are there just for the vibes and a good walk with fresh air take the tree top trail. The kids enjoy it, but mostly for the height. The people who really want the close-up with the animals take the ground level trail. We also took a walk in the tropical trail, which was a bit lacking at that time since we didn't get to see our favorite komodo dragon. But we managed to see some unique birds and tree animals. The Minnesota trail was probably my favorite. It was a narrow little cave path with local animals from the area and my personal favorite was the wolverines. They were so p playful and active. I stood and watched them for a good while before moving on. Overall a nice zoo and a good time. The only improvement I would recommend is to have a sign that properly displays the status of the exhibit. For example, there were times when we were just staring into an empty exhibit for a while. The wolves were retired and was being replaced with younger wolves as well, but that we only found out when we assembled upon a pleasant volunteer on the way out. Could even be information in the app!

My family loves this zoo! We come here often and there are always new things to explore. They do a great job of keeping it fun and interactive for all ages. We especially love the outdoors trails and the tree top trail. There are indoor and outdoor experiences making it perfect year round. There are food options (including a few gluten free), multiple playgrounds and lots of shows to catch. We even love the adults only evenings. Staff and volunteers are always helpful and friendly, I have never had a bad experience here. I even lost a mitten here one time and their lost and found system is very organized!

We were in Minnesota for my daughter's wedding. The zoo seemed like a great way to spend a day. Of course, October is the "off season". Undeterred we went. There was some construction going on. The exhibits were really cool. I'm certain summer visits would be more crowded, but better overall.

A magical experience for all ages! 🐾🌿 Minnesota Zoo is truly one of the best places to spend the day, whether you’re with family, friends, or just exploring on your own. The variety of animals is incredible — from majestic tigers 🐅 and playful bears 🐻 to exotic birds 🦜 and underwater wonders 🐠. What I loved most was how spacious, clean, and well-designed the zoo is. Every section feels like its own little world — the Tropics Trail, the Northern Trail, the Discovery Bay… each one tells a story and brings you closer to nature. 🌍❤️ The staff were friendly and passionate, always happy to answer questions and help. The animals looked well cared for, and the environment felt safe, educational, and fun for everyone. Perfect for a full-day adventure, with plenty of rest areas, food stands, and kid-friendly activities. Don’t miss the farm section — it’s a favorite! 🐐👧 Definitely a place I’ll return to — and highly recommend for anyone visiting Minnesota! 🎟️🦓

This is a beautiful and well-maintained park! I came here to knock out a 10-mile run and the trails were awesome. The size of the park makes you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere in nature, which is lovely. Everyone on trail was respectful and nice! The signage was excellent and I never felt lost or uneasy. Facilities were ample and the restrooms were well maintained. Very cool to see swans!

There is a place — a park, vast and winding — where nature and civilization meet in a curious dance. Trails weave like thoughts through the forest, and entrances abound, as if inviting not merely feet but a kind of presence, an openness to what is. I recommend arriving early, for though entry is free, the company of many tends to gather as the day unfolds, each person a ripple in the still water of morning quietude. On this visit, I wandered a well-worn path, bustling with motion, and I must confess — my nature leans toward the wide and open, the scattered spaces where silence dwells between the trees, and neighbors are but distant possibilities. I didn’t make it to the campground — a sign marked with reservation required stood as a gentle reminder that, in some corners of the world, spontaneity yields to structure. Yet even within these boundaries, the park revealed a certain majesty. The facilities — restrooms and resting places alike — are of a quality that speaks of care and intention. For those simple things done well, I give my gratitude, and a tentative score: 9 out of 10. A number, of course, is only a symbol — a placeholder for a momentary impression. But I sense this story is not yet complete. The mountain bike trails call to something more primal in me, a rhythm of movement and terrain still unexplored. I shall return — earlier, freer — and then, perhaps, revise not the number, but the understanding beneath it. For, as with all things, the park is not merely a place — it is an experience. And experiences, like the self, are always unfolding.

Came here to see the fall colors mid October. They looked so beautiful! I loved how easily accessible the trail was. It's fully paved and has a few winding bridges, one that goes above a lake. You could easily spend several hours here because the park is so large! The people on the trail were really friendly. I loved seeing all the wildlife along the trail too. We spotted several caterpillars and saw ducks and different birds in the distance. The fall colors were very beautiful and the trail was wide and relatively empty for a Sunday mid-day. I absolutely loved it. Would definitely come here again in the future !

This is where I learn to love exercise in the outdoors. It holds an incredibly special place in my heart. It's been almost 10 years since I've been here, and I'd say it's just like I remembered, but in reality, it's better.

The trails! This park is a great place to walk and hike through. Easily 8 miles and more of trails to wander through the woods of Egan. It is very helpful that every so often there are numbered markers on the trail and posted maps so you don't get lost.

The area features many trails, all clean and peaceful. There is a beach, playground, gazebos, and various trails for biking, walking, skiing, and horseback riding. Numerous maps are available and easy to use. Walking here feels comfortable, with a quiet and serene atmosphere.

Nice place to relax in the sun and take a stroll around the water. Nice scenery, nice beaches, kayak rentals spent 4 hours out on the lake and it was a beautiful time!

On Sunday, June 29th, my best friend surprised me with a picnic lunch date at Alexis Bailly Winery in Hastings, MN. My friend, Joelle lives in Stacy and I in Hugo. I mention this only because the drive was not only pleasant, but WELL WORTH IT!! OMG! Let me tell you: The grounds, main building and the "Yert" (tent like shelter) she rented for the afternoon were absolutely lovely, tranquil, bucolic, and immaculate. In the back of the main building where the live Salsa band was playing that afternoon could only be described as pastoral! Then add to that having the wonderful music filling the air, and looking out from wherever one is sitting and seeing the vineyards - well, it was the BEST AFTERNOON BIRTHDAY GIFT I could have ever received!!! Aside from the venue itself, let me tell you about the proprietors of this extraordinary piece of heaven here in little ol' Minnesota . . . Chet, and his wife Andrea own the vineyard. They were the fantastic!! So genuinely interested in accommodating us - making sure we had anything and everything we needed for our special day. The bartender, "Tamru" (I think I got that right) was so engaging, cheerful and pleasant. Really, it was probably the BEST BIRTHDAY I've ever experienced. My best friend who is an amazing chef, brought "French themed food", which we shared with the owners. We tasted their great wine, and bought some to take home. If you really, really want to make someone feel really special, or have a special occasion to celebrate, I highly recommend you do it at the Alexis Bailly Winery! I intend to go back on the Sundays they have live jazz music. Lastly, I want to personally THANK Joelle (my Bestie) and Chet, Andrea (owners) and Tamru (bartender) for taking part in making my birthday such an incredibly joyful and memorable experience!! Most Appreciatively! jeanne chacon** Hugo, MN

This place is gorgeous, is so much fun and has amazing wine. They have a bourbon infused wine that is absolutely delicious that I recommend trying. I will be coming back. I highly recommend visiting this vineyard, it does not disappoint. We had our work holiday party here so they do corporate events! Everyone there is so nice and makes it easy to have a great time!

It was a beautiful winery/space. We brought some picnic snacks and I love that they allowed that. I enjoyed most of the wines. However, I bought a bottle of the Seyval Blanc. The vintage I bought was not the same as what I tasted. In fact the bottle I bought was bad. And then I saw it was from 2023, which is 2 years old and most white wines can’t last that long…so not sure if it was the vintage or just one bad bottle but it was not good. It’s unfortunate because I paid $30 for it and it was not good. I’m surprised that they would first have the wine we tasted be different than the vintage that we buy and second, that they’d keep that vintage on the floor. It was not good…I dumped over half the bottle. It’s hard to tell from the picture but it was a color yellow that a white wine shouldn’t be

We had such a great experience even before we arrived! A week or so prior to our visit, we asked for information on how to plan our time there, what to expect, etc. Alexis Bailey wrote right back with exactly what I was looking for! As well as a great way to proudly explain this amazing winery to our California guests (who really know their wine!). Once we arrived, we had a great time. The owner even came out to say hello. We had been to the winery years ago with my parents and loved it. It was fun to meet the new owners who have a great energy. We look forward to coming back soon!

Always a great venue for a variety of music. Drink wine inside or venture into the vineyard or the many picnic areas.

This is a very quaint beautiful winery. You see when you enter the grapes they use to make the wine. There are plenty of lovely scenic places to sit outside and it is just as elegantly rustic and roomy inside. The wine is varied and delicious and they know how to introduce you to something you'll enjoy! Must try.

Love this hidden gem of a winery here in Hastings!! The wine is great, the employees are knowledgeable, there is plenty of outdoor and indoor seating and lots of grass to run and play!! They have special events and bring in special musoc-

This is a beautiful, historic little area with some adventurous, unmarked trails below the falls...be careful, they are unmarked trails, and very difficult terrain (generally speaking). There is also a paved trail that are falls level. There was a port-a-potty which was unkept and not handicapped accessible. Handicapped accessibility is limited to the top of the falls and the paved trail. Parking is plentiful and a medium lot which is easy to access.

This area is so unbelievably beautiful, you'll have to keep shutting your gaping mouth. You can hike down to the water or hear it melodically from an upper trail. My favorite was the multi-level waterfall from the bridge.

Beautiful park with paved paths and great signage. Easy to walk from the falls across the bridge to the old mill ruins - took about 35 minutes total to go there and back. (2km) The gorge is very pretty, and the falls are absolutely breathtaking!

Beautiful place, well kept. There is a trail down to the falls, but be physically able to manage rough dirt paths, steep hills and slippery rocks.

We got married here on 10-4-25. We had never been to Vermillion Falls previously, only found out it existed a few months ago. As crazy as it sounds we climbed down to the top of the 1st waterfall with my 86 year old mother. She had plenty of help from her 2 eldest and strongest grandson's. It's a beautiful place to make beautiful memories.

Beautiful waterfall! The lock bridge is also pretty cool. Lovey place for a an afternoon date.

Beautiful falls, need to ignore the industrial setting. Easy to view, though, and they are pretty. Park seemed more walk through except for the shelter with picnic tables.