Great place to hike, fish hunt and find yourself. Learn about the areas history at the same time.read more

This was a cool little experience that takes you way back to a different era. The people are all…read moredressed in period costume and actually working the land with old tools and they will let the kids push one of the old fashioned lawn mowers you can visit the old barns and stores and learn a tad about history. The ladies were actually baking something from an old recipe and we got a chance to sample it ---the gardens are all done by hand and they use the produce from that to cook with. . It was a great little experience glad I went and worth taking your kids to if you are around the area.

Everything went well. There is plenty of free parking. The owner of this locally owned theatre…read morewelcomes you and waits on you. The bathrooms are spotless as is the rest of the establishment. The popcorn is fresh and warm just as I expect. There are no bad seats thanks to the design and there are spaces for wheelchairs.

great theater. very comfortable seats good popcorn and handicap seating.read more

Lots of fun for kids . We enjoyed running around the farm playing with all the activities. The…read moreslide and the corn pit were the favorites. We also had a lot of fun on the hayride . They offer a nice menu for food and lots of pumpkins to choose from . The staff is very friendly and helpful. I will say $12 per person seems high especially for a family of four just to walk in at $48. But the amenities help . Definitely check this place out .

This was a total hidden gem. We stumbled upon this lovely museum because our roadside app told us…read moreabout some wood carvings of the 3 Stooges on the corner. I spotted "Laura Ingalls Wilder" on the church sign next to Mo and dragged hubby over. This church is now a museum. Almanzo Wilder and his family moved to Spring Valley from New York. Laura and Almanzo lived here in 1890 and attended this church which the Wilder family helped finance. Very interesting collection of photos and momentos from this time. Admission also includes either a one or 2 hour tour. We had only 20 minutes and the young guide did a great job hitting all the key items. We also rushed through the local history section which was also very unique. Don't miss the white wolf, 1950s perm machine or the medical kit from the "Lady Doctor" who was certified to practice medicine in 1838!

This is one of the best historical museums in Minnesota if not the nation and compares favorably…read morewith the best museums I've visited around the world. It covers the history of Spring Valley and its environs from before 5,000 BC to the present, focusing on the Wilder family and the history of this area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Frankly, I could simply not believe depth and breath of the exhibits here when I recently visited for the first time. I learned many interesting, why-did-I-not-know-this facts. The Wilder family, for example, made a sizeable contribution for the construction of the Methodist church in which the museum is located. Almonzo Wilder, who married Laura Ingalls, had a childhood friend named Richard Sears, who went on to found Sears with his partner, Alvah Roebuck. And, it really surprised me to learn that Dr. Henry Plummer, the Mayo brothers' right hand man, graduated from Spring Valley High School. There is much, much more. If you want to learn about Minnesota, visit this place and skip the State Fair this year.

I recently performed at the Commonweal Theater and had a wonderful experience! The decor was rustic…read moreyet modern. I'll give you a hint. Check out the mason jars and the ceiling! The ensemble and audience are both very kind and sweet. It's located in a cute little town surrounded by fun things to do!

We recently saw No Wake and Incident at our Lady of Perpetual Help. Both were fabulous!! I would…read morecome and see Incident at Our Lady... . Again if I could. Laughed so hard!! Can't wait to see Spitfire Grill next. Get a season pass if you can. Totally worth it.

Burr Oak is a very small town tucked between the Minnesota border and the Iowa city of Decorah. We…read morevisited on a quiet Saturday. We paid for our tickets in the gift shop, then crossed the street to the old hotel, where we joined a tour that had just begun. The docent was great, bringing to life the history of the building, Laura's life, and present efforts to restore the property. I've wanted to visit Burr Oak for decades so that I could better understand the portion of Laura's life that she omitted from her fictionalized autobiography. Our tour took a little over an hour. We went throughout the hotel and then outside, where we could also visit the neighboring one-room schoolhouse. We then returned to the gift shop to look around. Visitors should note that the buildings are not readily accessible to handicapped individuals. In particular, the stairs to the attic guest rooms were quite steep and narrow. My very-tall husband had to be very careful when he went up there, too, as the ceiling is low.

Burr Oak, Iowa, is the only location where Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family lived that was not…read moreincluded in the Little House series of books. The volunteer board along with a part-time director, a part-time curator, and part-time summer tour guides have done an amazing job preserving three historic buildings in Burr Oak including the hotel where Laura and her family lived, and worked. The volunteer board has also acquired a fourth historic building, the Mercantile. I can not wait to see their vision for the Mercantile come to fruition. They also maintain a park that adds to the experience. In addition to summer tours, there is also a summer festival at the end of June celebrating life as it was when Laura and her family lived in Burr Oak. It is a fun time to be in Burr Oak.

Fun, retro theater only 40 minutes from Rochester. We got the luxury seats for $6 each and had a…read morepopcorn and two drinks for $7. We'll be back!

A great small town movie theater! One screen that shows a different movie each weekend. I love…read morethat I can take my son to a movie getting tickets, popcorn, pop for each of us, and a candy all the while leaving without even spending $20 on the whole thing. You can even bring your own container for their delicious popcorn, or buy it in a normal theater container. Staff has always been friendly and I've never had a bad experience here.

An amazing and peaceful farm ! A great place for the whole family. Wonderful flowers!read more

Luckily a friend of mine KNOWS how much I love U-Pick farms. Of all kinds. And this one is…read morecompletely full of flowers. Wild flowers, sun flowers, other flowers I didnt even know the name for.... Their season is short (Minnesota summers are short) but that makes it all the more special when you can sneak away from the city and explore Berry and Bloom Farm. It's also the most instagrammable spot ever, and the most quaint. The U-pick flower portion is on the "honor system." It is family owned, they only ask people leave a couple bucks for a few flowers (vases can be purchased for a few dollars more.) And I would probably hunt someone down if they took advantage of this amazingly open, kind, gift to humanity. I didn't take any flowers home, but left a few dollars any way because you truly can FEEL how much love and passion goes into this farm. Please understand that if you plan to visit: family owned. Small farm. Trusting people. Dont ruin the kindness :) Its about 30 minutes out of Rochester (great spot to explore if youre visiting the Mayo Clinic on a health trip.) Be sure to check their website though to ensure they are still open. This is going to be a permanent stop every time I visit this part of Minnesota.