SO CUTE! It's $5 to…read moreget in & you drive down to the sight, you see Plum Creek & where their house used to be. There's a wooden sign explaining it & a picture of what it looked like. I'm a huge Little House fan so this was so fun & affordable to see. There was the big rock Laura talks about & there's a little spot we are pretty sure that's where she fished.

If you're a fan of Little House on the Prairie, the dugout site is a must see. If you're someone…read morelike me who is just not as familiar with Laura Ingalls Wilder, make sure you have a friend who will drag you here. It's a great view into the lives of not just the Ingalls family but the American experiment as well. I found a new respect for those pioneering families who struggled through harsh times. We walked over the creek and found several markers explaining the surroundings. My friend wanted to actually get into the water at Plum Creek but there's a pretty strong current and even a warning that Laura almost drowned there. I talked her out of it because I wasn't about to go in after her when she got swept away. There are a few Laura Ingalls/Little House on the Prairie inspired spots like this around Walnut Grove. Definitely worth spending a day taking in some history.

Pleasantly surprised! This self-guided tour made our pit stop well worth the trip! The amount of…read moreartifacts and historical items blew my mind. They literally created a village which was able to take us back in time. The $6 for adults was well worth the price. The volunteers were friendly and informative. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend you stop by.

What a delightful Village, showing life on the prairie. So many events there on 4th of July…read more Wonderful! I will go back.

If you are as old as me, you will remember the commercial, "Ho, Ho, Ho...Green Giant!" That…read morecommercial worked on me as a kid, I used to beg my mom to buy Green Giant Vegetables. To assure my consumption, my mother always showed me the Green Giant label when she was cooking. It opened my world to vegetables! Today, I actually collect Green Giant ads and other paraphernalia as part of my pop icon collection. You will see some of my ads in the photos and also some photos of my visit to the Land of Giants several years ago.

Stopping in Blue Earth feels like wandering into an old time tv commercial with a sense of humor…read more The Jolly Green Giant stands tall and watchful, a quirky landmark that manages to be both kitschy and oddly comforting. What makes the park especially memorable is its musical instrument park--a pocket of creativity where kids and adults alike can strike giant chimes, tap on outdoor drums, and strum oversized metal harps. It's playful enough to bring out anyone's inner child, yet beautiful in a way that makes you want to linger. And yes, travelers rejoice: there are clean, well-kept bathrooms nearby, the kind you'd actually recommend to fellow road-trippers. That, combined with the friendliness of the place, makes Green Earth not just a stopover but a small adventure--quirky enough to be fun, wholesome enough to restore a little faith in community.

Just a fun little museum and historical exhibit a short bike or car ride from Lake Shetek. We…read morestopped by during a camping trip and the kids had a blast climbing around and then picnicking at the tables. I wouldn't go out of my way unless you're a huge railroad buff, but it's a great little stop to break any journey past Currie. And very inexpensive, totally worth it at $5 per.

End-O-Line Railroad Park & Museum is a hidden gem! If you are in the area this is worth the stop…read more It is off the beaten travel path a bit, but worth the effort to drive a short distance to see this location. A lot of history here with many out buildings, but the focal point here is railroad history. The town of Currie marked the end of the line for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. This line was originally supposed to go through to South Dakota but with lines going through Tracy on the north and Slayton on the south, they didn't see a need to continue the tracks past Currie. The turntable was built in 1901 and was used to turn the steam engines around to head back to Bingham Lake. The turntable is on the National Register of Historic Sites and is the only one left in the state of Minnesota, on the original site, still operable, and always turned by man power - it was never hooked up to steam or horses. This is a seasonal museum (Memorial Day - Labor Day) and is open 10 am to 5 pm Wednesday - Saturday and 1 - 5 pm on Sunday's. They do offer off season tours for groups but you need to make prior arrangements. Allow plenty of time when stopping here. There is a lot of history to see and absorb. They also offer picnic grounds, very nice and clean restrooms, a gift shop and playground area for the kids. Our family was so very glad we took the time to tour this museum. It is fun for all ages and very informative. There is an admittance fee of $5 for those 18 and over, students 6 - 17 receive a $3 reduced fee and kids 5 and under are free. Well worth the stop if you are in the Currie area. Beautiful grounds and well kept exhibits. So heart warming to see a small town be able to maintain such a wonderful historic attraction. A must see!

Dickinson County, the smallest Iowa county in land area, is named in honor of Daniel S. Dickinson,…read morea lawyer and senator from New York. Starting with Rowland Gardner, this area was first settled in 1856. The first courthouse was partially completed in 1860. At that point it was used as a barracks for Civil War troops, was completed in 1868, and destroyed by fire 1872. A second courthouse was constructed using the salvageable bricks of the first courthouse. However, it was soon deemed unsatisfactory and condemned in 1880. In September 1889 a $15,000 bond issue was passed for the construction of a 3rd courthouse that was completed in 1891. This Courthouse (including the 1957, 1976, and 1978 additions) was the one I saw when I was growing up at the Lake and coming back during my College summers. But all good things must come to an end, as and old and tired Courthouse III was eventually condemned. Courthouse IV is now just a few years old and during our last trip to Spirit Lake, Gayle and I walked from the Cabin to take a look. Actually the Building itself was closed, so we admired the Veteran's Plaza that honors those who served (and returned) and the others who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Country. There's also a Tower in front of the Main Building which honors the previous 3 Courthouses, and features an interior that tastefully provides Lakes Area information for visitors. It's a beauty of a place and Gayle and I were both impressed. Later on we obtained a booklet commemorating the grand opening of the new Courthouse. We'll be back to finish our tour with an interior walk. Now if the good folks in Spirit Lake could work on restoring that lovely old Carnegie Library across the Street?

Summary: Excellent interactive day at this gem of a center. The staff were were very helpful &…read moresuper excited to drive awareness of the important & interesting Native American history in the area. Go on the interactive short hike to walk amongst the petroglyphs. Best time of day is just when sun is setting to get the right angle when the petroglyphs pop into sight. Fun for kids to try and find as many petroglyph treasures as they can. Fair amount of families visiting at the time! Be prepared to remove shoes so you don't impact the ancient carvings. The staff will spray water to help highlight them for you. Ask lots of questions about the historians removed the lichens from the rock to reveal the petroglyphs!

Three of the sweetest people work there. Very enthusiastic. It's a small gift shop/museum, but very…read morecool with things the kids can touch. You will not be impressed without a guide. And for a group of 7, without us asking used golf carts to ferry us out to the site on an 85° day. You are not allowed to walk out in the rocks except for the areas they designated, so your guide will walk barefoot with the spray bottle and spray the carvings and explain what they are. There are also signs showing you where the carvings are, but you won't be able to see them depending on the time of day or how wet the rock is. My 12-year-old son said "it was kind of cool and kind of boring." I think that sums it up. You won't be able to stay long, but if you use your Minnesota history pass, it will be free! Plenty of parking, bathrooms, drinking water, wide open spaces.

We rented the Red Rock Center for the Arts, in Fairmont, Minnesota, for my daughters graduation…read moreparty. The staff were 100% professional, and 100% helpful. The venue was amazing and beautiful!!!

Beautifully restored historic building dedicated to the arts. Always clean and very well kept…read more Great variety of musical performances, an ever changing art exhibits, and art classes for adults and youth. The facility is also available to rent -- great for receptions, reunions, graduations, anniversary birthday and more. The lower level conference room is perfect for small gatherings and meeting.