I just finished watching Steven Spielberg's "The Post" in the Heart of the beautiful Cresco Opera…read moreHouse and Theater. Even if the movie had been a dud, the 30 minute drive from Decorah would still have been worth it. The theater is decorated with gold leaf, cherubs, and red velvet seats. The sound quality is perfect, the aspect ratio is even, and the staff friendly and helpful. I honestly hope to see the orchestra pit in full swing one day. I highly, highly recommend this movie-going experience.

Went to a nice lil musical with my wife and kids. After $50 (10 bucks per person) I figured it…read morewould be an alright show. I've seen middle school performances much better then this. There was some talent out there, but overall the music was way to loud smothering out the lyrics. Some of the actors seemed to be struggling quite a bit while others looked like they didn't want to be there at all. The theater itself is a wonderful, beautiful place. It's a shame the theatre club was so lame. I've seen much better peformances for a fraction of their price.

There simply is not a better place in the LaCrosse area for art shows, art work, concerts,…read moreworkshops, etc. This place truly is a community partner supporting the arts. A must stop-in!!!

From the owner: Visual Arts: 3 galleries featuring regional artists; new exhibitions approximately every 6 weeks…read more Performing Arts: Concerts and theater performances throughout the year. Film: International film screenings monthly, Sept-May. Education: Art, music, and theater classes.

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.

It's always a pleasant surprise to see a brewery that is excellent tucked away in a small town in…read moreMiddle America. Pivo is just one of these such places. I already had the brewery to try but relatives that live somewhat locally to the town added more justified hype and momentum to give this brewery a try. Without a doubt we will be returning! Might first beer so far with Pivo is their excellent their American Light Lager known as Rice ville Light Lager. As the name suggests this is a rice lager which I do really enjoy getting. This beer is crisp, slightly sweet, malty and a clean finish. That is a highly excellent beer and I can't wait to try more of their beer options. Excellent, excellent starting beer with this brewery!

Pivo Brewery is a wonderful venue tucked in the rolling hills of NE Iowa. We visited on a Sunday…read moreafternoon on our way through town and were pleasantly surprised that they had live music that afternoon. They had plenty of servers working and the service was prompt and attentive. We ordered the cheese curd appetizer which was just enough, had a few beers (Jamaica IPA was a personal favorite) and listened to some music on a very pleasant afternoon!

The museum is awesome!! So much to see and learn. The wildlife is incredible to see. We saw a very…read moremajestic bald eagle up close. We experienced the steam engines running and visited with the curator for a bit to learn even more. The movies were very well done. The fact that your tickets are good for two days allows you to take your time. Worth every penny and your time!!! A must see!!

Took a quick day cruise out to Dubuque Iowa. Yeah I know Iowa right. Fun little town located on the…read moremississippi river. Spent about 2 hours at the Mississippi River museum.Looking at the animals , checking out the museum,river and the exhibits outside. There was multiple movies and exhibits about early travel on the mississippi river and also real boat engines of steamboats and other river vessels. We spent about two hours there , exploring the inside and the outside of the museum. Very enjoyable and inexpensive experience for people of all ages.

We called ahead of time for more information about the center, I got a call back within a week. The…read moredirector was very friendly, great personality, accommodating, and eager to answer any and all questions. She got us a scheduled tour set up for the next day for a large group with a flexible arrival time on a day that they are usually closed so we very much appreciated that. The Carnegie Cultural Center was full of wonder and fascination as you see all the detail put into all the different models and displays. We loved our experience and will be returning again multiple times

From the owner: Focus on local Chickasaw County history. Wonderful platform for showcasing talented artists. Model…read moreand miniatures galore. If you love circus history--you will love us!

Have a baby, toddler or a kid? This is the place for you. First time parents get the first 18…read moremonths free! Amazing experience for the little ones. My daughter loved all of the activities they had there. Definitely go check it out.

I didn't realize this museum was in the mall, surprised to find that out as we pulled into the…read moreparking lot. oh well, let's give it a shot. On the plus side of location, when you need a caffeine pick me up, Caribou is ready and waiting. The museum is on the smaller side. They do cram a lot in but my kids interest was held for about two hours max. I get that you are somewhat limited by space and so they do their best. In comparison to other children's museums we have done, it is tiny. My kids did enjoy themselves for those couple of hours and then we just hung out at the mall to kill a little more time. Don't expect to stay the whole day unless you really commit but if you need something for a couple of hours, this will do.

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.