The Music Space fills a void badly needed in Owatonna. It's a small record shop and live music…read morevenue. It's been open less than a year, but the rustic downtown location makes you feel like you've gone back in time 40 years. I had no idea exactly what or where it was. Then one day this summer I was walking out of a downtown bagel shop when I was drawn to the sound of great music filling the street from the next block down. It's got a very comfortable feel. At least in part because they have a couch! The couch sits behind a ew rows of chairs that all face a small stage at the back of the store. The owner's connections allow him to bring in a wide range of artists that wouldn't normally come to Owatonna to do an intimate show. A couple other locations have been used when a larger venue was need. Thursday nights are a sort of 'live mic' when anyone serious can perform for free This is a really cool place that's worth checking out.

What a delightful find in Owatonna! The Arts Center is connected to the Minnesota State Home for…read moreOrphaned and Neglected Children Museum, so it was nice to be able to see both organizations in one stop. The artwork is varied and beautiful. We enjoyed a temporary bronze exhibit before moving onto galleries that had work for sale. Between paintings and textile wallhangings, there was something for everything to be inspired by and enjoy looking at. Of particular interest was a ceiling mural in the library. There are so many images and vignettes to discover. The transition area between the Arts Center and Museum was the State Home's dining area. The black-and-white tile floor is still there and gorgeous stained glass panels are along the walls. This was an enjoyable stop during my time in Owatonna. I will return the next time I am in town.

The Owatonna Arts Center is a wonderful place that doesn't get the attention it deserves, It's…read morelocated in the West Hills area among the stately old buildings scattered across the immaculately maintained grounds, The exhibit area has recently moved to a new addition, but the interior still holds true to the classic old look. Each month the subject of the largest exhibit area changes. It's currently one artist's tribute to the farm women of southern Minnesota, all based on meeting and observing them. I grew up on a farm and a lot of these images ring true. Many of them remind me so much of people I knew. There's also a small room that replicates an old Englishman's library or den. As you tip your head back you see that the upper walls and ceiling are an incredible mural. It probably won't take more than an hour to see everything, but you'll enjoy it. The surrounding West Hills area is beautiful. They are open every afternoon except Monday and the admission is free.

The theater was very nice and have very comfortable seats that could be heated and tilted almost…read moreall the way back, my first thoughts were it seemed very clean in the lobby, buying tickets was fast, and the theater area was decent with a spacious seating area. One downfall I observed and also was a little disappointed with is the surround sound "ALL MAX" seem like most of the sound came from front instead of surround front the sides and back; at least in Cinema 6, not sure about the other cinemas sound quality. Each time I come here, I enjoy the experience overall! 2 thumbs up!!

Good prices on movie tickets and concessions…read more Did not like where the ticket office was located. Way to close to the concession stand.

A very nicely done privately run and owned military history Museum. The owner honors his relatives…read moreand others who have served in military service. There are a large number of artifacts and uniforms on display, from World War I through Korea. Admission is free, but call ahead to make an appointment.

Great displays, clearly identified, good people who KNOW their history and their museum. 3rd time…read moreI've visited and different displays make for new interests!

Great place for family, or individuals to go and relax and enjoy yourself! Highly recommend!!read more

This is the second year we've been here and they outdid themselves by far. My kids have had a blast…read moreboth years we've been here. The pumpkin patch is amazing, and even bigger this year. The games and photo ops are awesome. My son loves the corn pit and the prices on the pick your own pumpkin can't be beat. 5-STAR ALL THE WAY!!!

The SCFF is the largest county fair in Minnesota. In 2018 this six day event drew over 300,000…read morevisitors. It's 'free' in the sense that there's no admission fee, but if you don't want to walk half a mile you'll pay to park. There is no end of things to see if you actually take the time to wander the grounds. Like most county fairs it has a large midway, livestock barns, a grandstand for races and concerts, and a crazy amount of food stands. Cheese curds as far as the eye can see! Most of the food is typical fair food, but your at the fair so you gladly pay double to eat far more than you should as long as it's deep fried and on a stick. The Beer Garden is packed every night. On a hot August night you'll sweat off calories as fast as you can drink them. This year they have added a second area on the other side if the fairgrounds where hard alcohol is being sold. So finally you can knock back a few highballs as you look at the animals. The Village of Yesteryear on the east side is a nice place away from the human traffic to see what life was like here 75-150 years ago. The grandstand hosts a variety of races and concerts. there's also a Stunt Dog act and a human cannonball, because it's just not a county fair without the thrill of potential tragedy. This is the last county fair before the State Fair starts. It doesn't stack up in sheer size and variety, but if the State Fair is just too intimidating for you, the SCFF is a great alternative.

Drove about an hour south of the cities just to try this out and it was very much worth it! My…read morefamily usually around June will go camping over at Kamp Dels in Waterville. I think from now on we're going to be suggesting that we go here at least once during the weekend to get pizza. It's a wonderful little hangout. Where clearly a lot of people like to come and chill out while it's open. From the time we took the order with the gal up front, inside the barn all the way to the owner, Emily, chatting with us at the end and seeing us off properly. Both my girlfriend and I had a great time. The pizza was amazing. The ole pizza is what we ordered. We also got the dessert pizza which was even better. Both my girlfriend and I really love blueberries and the cream cheese spread was perfect! There was live music while you eat and relaxed, and a few games and critters to enjoy while you're there. Special side note... bring some of your own chairs. There are a couple of picnic tables, but most people end up forming a sitting circle around the grove.

Such a fun place to go in the summer with family and friends! The pizza is really good. We had the…read moreField of Dreams which was a weekly feature with sweet corn from Iowa that was delicious. We also had the pizza fries which was basically garlic bread but really good. The pizza was large and we had lots of leftovers. So much fun interacting with the animals too!

The Twin Cities area is fortunate to have four excellent Japanese gardens. Having lived in Kobe,…read moreJapan and traveling their extensively while obtaining a master's in Japanese history, I have come to appreciate Japanese art, gardens and architecture wherever I travel. This particular garden, located behing Watson Hall on the campus of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota is the highest rated of our Japanese gardens--currently rated the 7th best garden of its type in the country. While considerably smaller than the gardens at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and the Normandale Japanese Garden, Joryo-en keeps with a much more authentic design. It is small and simple with detail paid to the dry garden (karesansui) and water elements. There is also a small pavilion which is perfect for viewing the garden. It is tucked away in a somewhat wooded area behind some campus buildings--making it a peaceful retreat. A Japanese friend of mine who attended Carelton said that it was always a nice spot to study or get-away. If you are not accustomed to real Japanese gardens, it may not be worth the 45 minute drive from Minneapolis. You certainly arent going to see anything gaudy or ostentatious. The garden is small and no one element is going to jump out at you from an initial glance. However, if you are looking for an authentic Japanese garden experience in Minnesota, I dont think it gets any better than the Joryo-en. It's free to the public, too. I would recommened making it a day-trip combining your time with seeing the architecture of St. Olaf & Carleton Colleges, downtown Northfield, or even nearby Shattuck-St. Mary.