Such a fun place to visit if you are driving through or are spending the day in Northfield! The…read moreguide did such a great job explaining the story and was so knowledgeable!

It's not the biggest museum ever, but for the low cost of admission, it was worth walking around to…read morelearn about the biggest thing in history to have happened in the area. I would say Northfield is known for the defeat of the Jesse James gang and the museum gives great history to learn more about the event. Since it wasn't terribly busy the day we went, we were able to really look at and read everything. It was kind of neat that you could walk through the actual bank that was attempted to be robbed. There is also a rotating display, which happened to be about a local man who got to go around the world in an Airstream for a year. If you have 5 bucks and an hour to spend, it was well worth the time and money.

If history and pioneer life is up your alley, you will love this place. The town is a fully…read moreoperational little city that is runned by volunteers and historical reenactors. Many of the buildings have been gathered from small Minnesota townships that are now defunct. There is a drugstore, ice cream shop, post office, bank, train station and many more buildings. Each is interactive and have live performers and historians talking about each buildings use and history. Holidays are especially fun with themed events. Another cool thing is that you can volunteer and be a performer if you like. All ages are welcomed.

The volunteers make this a great visit for both young and old. The holiday season is the best!read more

This is a great little museum that packs a lot into a small space. I'ts really more focused on the…read moreera and the area than actual LIW items, but it really helps give you a feel for what life there was like at that time. I particularly liked the map that showed where each book took place.

This is a small museum, nothing fancy, but a delightful stop for me as I am a lifelong fan of Laura…read moreIngalls Wilder. The parking situation is somewhat precarious, as the lot is small and requires backing onto what can be a fairly busy highway. You enter into the gift shop, which has all kinds of pioneer apparel, decorative and household items, and books. I was happy to find a penny smasher machine. After paying for entrance, guests can explore two sides of the building. One is focused on Laura Ingalls Wilder and includes family artifacts or related items along with quotes from the books. On the other side are rooms with exhibits that focus on the history of Lake Pepin, including several tragedies that've hit the area.

I was here a few times a few years ago. I was impressed with the amount of stuff they had about our…read morelocal history. If you like antiques this place might seem cool to you.

I go here with my kids all the time…read more Nice selection of anime toys and Pokemon. They have good Pokemon cards in binders, just ask. We never leave without buying something.

They are always super friendly and very willing to explain why certain cards are worth more than…read moreothers. They also like showing cool things to look for in trending cards that are selling and they are super patient with teaching different things about different card games. Always an awesome time when I stop in.

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.

We have visited the Arcade inside Treasure Island in the past and we were shocked when we turned…read morethe corner on our first visit this year to see the space completely transformed. The old dark, dreary, arcade is now a bright, colorful, and friendly place. The prize selection far surpasses the old arcade and the kids are now excited when we head up to spend our tickets. The staff we encountered were friendly and engaging and the kids are already asking when we can go back!

" Nice Learning About Engines "…read more The Red Wing Marine Museum is in one of the city's historical venues along the river and depicts one of the oldest manufacturing industries-the boat and motor business. The museum displays restored Red Wing Thorobred marine engines, outboard motors and a display of fishing tackle, photographs, documents and other river-related items. This Museum sits very near the site of the original factory where Red Wing-made boats and motors were made and launched. More than 30 fully restored Thorobred's are on permanent display along with photos and other items.