The facility is supposed to be open for visiting and tours. It wasn't until after we arrived and…read moresaw that the house is not open during the week. Very disappointing

Excellent. They do a fantastic job here. Look, there is not much to look at if all you 'see' is an…read moreold house. You need to get to know the old wood and reeds here. The storytelling work they put into their tours is top-notch. I highly recommend for young kids who will enjoy re-tracing Lindbergh's boyhood past. Tours run regularly and run about 45 minutes. You should get there a little bit early to walk around the museum and soak up the narratives. Allow 15-30 minutes at least. From a museum management perspective you can tell the marks of excellent work. The tour is well thought-out and the guides are prepared to answer questions. They draw upon sensations (taste, sight, sound, etc.) to help you experience the home. The cookies are delicious.

I'm a sucker for the historical society sites and this is no exception. They have some great…read moredisplays in the building and the tour of the fort was informative. The staff was friendly and quite tolerant of curious children. We had the tour to ourselves when we went so had no issues hearing and asking questions. Afterwards we took some trails down by the river and back to the building. Their t-shirts were cute and cheap so we bought one for each member of the family.

The North West Company Fur Post is located west of Pine City proper off of Exit 169. It is an…read moreofficial museum of the Minnesota Historical Society. Apparently, a local farmer found remnants of a fur trading post on his land and contacted the Canadian branch of the North West Trading Company, to get the official plans; and from there, a complete replica of the fur trading post was built. In the interpretive center, the story was told from the perspectives of the Native peoples who hunted and skinned the pelts; the British traders who brought together goods from all throughout the world to trade for the fur they wanted, and the French-Canadian Voyageurs who were the brawn behind the whole apparatus. The story also doesn't shy away from the fact that several intermarraiges took place and how they were resolved for the wives and children when the overseers left their posts and married within the church. (Apparently intermarraige was frowned upon by the Hudson Bay company but allowed and even encouraged by the North West Company and the XY Company whch they acquired). From the museum, we were led out by a person reenacting the Native perspective. She showed us the various animal pelts caught at the post, and how the Native people travelled a 100-mile radius throughout the seasons to fish in summer, hunt and trap in fall, survive the winter, and obtain sugar bush in the spring. She then led us down the path to the fur trading post, explaining room by room, how the post was run, from the youngest 14-year old voyageurs to the junior accountants to the post managers. It was amazing how many moving parts there were in the fur trade, and how the business was run down to every little detail. There is a chance to walk down to the river, or go on a 1/2 mile nature walk. Events also take place at the post all year long -- there are even snowshoes hanging for winter events. It was a very interesting museum and a year-round event center. It is certainly worth the detour if you want something to do in the area.

Because of conferences and trade shows, I frequently am at the St Cloud Civic Center. It used to…read morebe okay, but two new additions within the past year have really bumped it up on my 'Like' list: the additional meeting space, and believe-it-or-not, the outside parking lot. Expanding conference space that is modern, clean, and functional is a no-brainer, and I'm so glad that St Cloud is keeping up with the times and keeping up with the growth. Even though I'd prefer to have meetings in the Cities, the clients my business serves are statewide, so outer Metro hubs like St Cloud, Duluth and Rochester are often utilized by the associations who put on the conferences. Putting up with the freezing cold in the exhibit hall a few years back while they were building the expansion. So now about that parking lot. In the past, there were probably 20 parking spots (Okay, that may be a bit extreme. There were probably 30.) that were shared with the Civic Center and surrounding businesses. You'd have to park underneath the Civic Center in a cold, old, scary parking structure. The nightmare actually came when all the trade show vendors packed up their booths and we had to wait in line to cram ourselves, booth and SWAG into one elevator to get to our cars. Not any more! I'd much rather park outside all day for $6.00 and just stroll out of the Civic Center and walk a short distance to my car. It's a piece of cake now! There's a 'skyway' that connects the Civic Center to Le St-Germain Suite Hotel (Really? St Cloud is a university town. Who are they kidding?), and many local businesses are within walking distance. (See also: Adventure Advertising, Meta 13 and Jules' Bistro) I have reserved parking spot #4 for me. Please don't park there when I'm in town.

Whether you're looking for a venue for a small or big event, River's Edge Convention Center has…read morespace that will meet your needs. I've attended several conferences, trade shows, workshops, fundraising events, and dinners here, and it's always worked well for the organizations hosting the events. The cost is a bit higher than some spaces, but it's a centrally located space, adjacent to two hotels and restaurants and bars, and the building is large enough to accommodate either small or large groups depending upon what it is you're looking for.

This studio/gallery of American folk art is visually stunning. It showcases decades of work by…read moreAllen Christian, who was on hand and happy to answer all questions. When you visit, do take the time to discuss the art with him. Doing so will help you better appreciate his work. You could spend hours wandering around, or just visit on more than one occasion. The art is visually stunning, but when you pause and understand you can see the political meaning behind it. If you like American Folk Art or just want to experience something extraordinary stop by.

Stopped here during Doors Open '26. I've never really adventured out to this area but was curious…read moreto see what this place was. It's an art gallery full of random oddities. Looks like most of the materials are recycled or thrifted which was cool to see some retro signs or parts. Never ran into the owner/person running the place to ask questions but I'd definitely like to know more about how some of the pieces come together and how they source items. Also not sure if pieces were for sell or it was strictly for show. Cool nonetheless.

If you're a fan of stained glass or fused glass, like creating either, or desire to learn,…read moreMichael's is the place for you. Located behind the Coborns on Cooper in St. Cloud you'll find stained glass, tools, books, finished products, specialty sheets of glass, fused glass, glass beads, lead, and a whole lot more. The store is also Michael and Beatriz's work space, so you may find them working on restoring a window or creating something new. If you're interested in learning how to create a window or fused glass projects, they also offer a variety of helpful classes. I love to go into the store to look, get ideas, and purchase colored glass. Stop in. You'll enjoy it.

From the owner: Intro to Stained GlassLearn how to make a stained glass window with the traditional technique of…read morelead came. You will learn every step of the process and will complete this project in one day. No previous experience is necessary.The class fee includes all materials and use of tools1 sessionInstructor: Michael LauerCost: $85.00Dates: Sat Jun 11Time: 9-4Place: Michaels Stained Glass StudioCall for more details

Public Functionary is a contemporary art gallery with a vision: bring rising national and local…read moreartists whose work expresses diversity in background, approach, inspiration and materials and connect them and their artwork with with the broader Minneapolis community. Hands down one of the best (and non-profit) art galleries in the Twin Cities, Public Functionary has brought in a range on artists from Chicago-based artist Carlos Rolon, better known as Dzine, New York-based artists Sougwen Chung and Eric Inkala, L.A.-based artist Patrick Martinez, to local Minneapolis-based artists Jennifer Davis and Micheal Thomsen, and many more. In addition exhibiting world-class art and artists, Public Functionary makes a point of inviting in community groups and letting them use their amazing, huge (and expanded) space as a resource. PF "Takeovers" (fun party nights where local artists/musicians take over the space to create a scene), fashion shows, NE Mpls business functions and events, musical and dance performances are all regular occurrences in-between/during exhibitions that has Public Functionary truly live up to it's name.

One of the best non-profit, rotating, visionary art galleries in town. A hidden gem that needs to…read morebe un-hidden. The mixture of art, music and style during the opening weekends are inspiring and creative. Tricia does a wonderful job reaching into many different scenes within the city and pasting them together to make this gallery function.

This abstract sculpture is located in the Ecolab Plaza in front of the Obson370 Building. It was…read moredesigned by Ron R.M. Fischer and subsequentially fabricated by American Structural Steel in 2000. It is made of durable stainless steel and acrylic and is in great shape. That was not always the case though. The piece suffered from severe rust until 2004. It was then treated to survive the brutal elements of St Paul. The plaza that it is located in is nice, but there are no benches or other seating available to hang out at. It is a wide open area that is lined with paver bricks. Fisher was inspired by the crystalline forms of Saint Paul's historic ice palaces and garden gateway. It is a massive piece that is the centerpiece of the plaza. The sphere is illuminated at night giving the viewer a different experience during the day versus the night. I will be honest, without any context, all I saw was a tall tower of a sculpture with a ball and some shading. I did however, still find it impressive. Fischer has hidden symbolism in the sculpture. The blue acrylic sphere symbolizes the water and the sky. And the sphere and the stainless-steel rings combination represent the infinity of time and space. Deep huh! Parking to get a closer look is relatively easy. There is metered street parking and commercial parking lots available within a reasonable walking distance. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

Some tasteful public art at 5th and Wabash. It's a metallic structure that makes you think…read morefuturistic. Worth the stroll if you're nearby.

The conservatory is such a magical place! It's amazing that the whole place is completely free. It…read morecan get busy on the weekends, but we went on a rainy Friday afternoon and had the place to ourselves. We love the bonsai exhibit and the Japanese garden. The garden is so beautiful in the springtime! There's plenty of space to walk around both in the conservatory and at the zoo. Even the grounds outside of the conservatory is beautiful!

FLORA & FAUNA This…read morefabulous public zoo in Saint Paul is fun, multi-faceted, and FREE! When researching things to do in the Twin Cities, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory popped up on numerous "best of" lists, including best places to bring kids, best free attractions, and other recommended activities. The family and I came here in early June, and we had a lovely time. Parking is free but lots fill up quickly and street spots are on a first-come basis, so the longer you wait, the further you'll have to walk.  My advice is to get here early to avoid the gauntlet of busses filled with school groups, summer camps, and other families heading to the zoo. They suggest a voluntary donation of $5/kid and $8/adult; we chipped in $20 for our family of four.  By comparison, Brookfield Zoo in Illinois charges $30/adult and $21/kid....the 4 of us would have paid $100 PLUS parking.  The Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago is even pricier, so this was a welcome relief. We saw giraffes, a gorilla, polar bears, zebras, fishes, turtles, colorful dart frogs, a tiger, and lots more.  Within the zoo is a small amusement park with a handful of kiddie rides and a 'Galaxy' model roller coaster, as well as a splendid carousel outside the park that's $4/pp.  All rides are open seasonally from May-Sept. The sea lion show seemed mid.  They made a big deal of it (not to mention amassing a huge crowd) and all I saw were some volunteers trying to complete some goofy task faster than a sea lion would.  There was a lot of narration but very little actual activity from what I could tell.  yawn. We couldn't get anything to eat or drink outside of the visitor center cafe.  None of the snack stands were open (despite it being 11:45) and every pop machine was either unplugged, sold out, or all the plastic bottles were removed for environmental reasons.  Thank goodness we packed snacks for the kiddos. The conservatory was breathtaking: lush jungles with funky plants like the Ipecac tree, air potato, chocolate, cacti, and aloe.  We encountered a logjam of people near the fruit tree section with everyone stopping to admire fig, papaya, coffee, and sugarcane plants. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory was home to a legendary 81" tall corpse flower named 'Frederick' in 2025.  These plants, considered some of the rarest and smelliest on earth, bloom once every few years and last for only 1-2 days.  Witnessing this in person takes incredible (lucky) timing or tremendous patience. 'Horace', their latest corpse flower, displayed his magnificent burgundy bloom from 6/7/26 to 6/9/26.  We missed it by less than a week!  These generate quite a crowd, with lines stretching for hours and people waiting outside to view (and smell) a once-in-a-lifetime botanical event. * TL;DR * A cool zoo, an even cooler conservatory, and the coolest part?  You don't even have to crack open your wallet. Spending a day at Como Park Zoo is perfect for those wishing to embark on budget-friendly adventures.  Pack a lunch, wear comfortable walking shoes, and get here around opening to take advantage of decent parking.  The animals appeared to be well taken care of, and the grounds were clean. The conservatory is stunning although the narrow pathways can get crowded during peak hours.  We loved our time spent here and would highly recommend Como Park Zoo & Conservatory for families or solo travelers seeking to kill a few hours in the Twin Cities.

Kyle, a friend of mine did a beautiful job doing our mural in the basement bathroom. I would highly…read morerecommend him to anybody for murals or any kind of portrait work painting a motorcycles and cars. The man is talented and a great guy Kyle Holdridge thank you for the work you've done for Brenda and I Aloha

"Kyle painted a mural on the front of my store front. The art was so realistic it looked like it…read morewas sticking out of the building. People would stop and try and touch the artwork thinking it was 3D. They were painted on a flat surface. His work will blow your mind, so realistic it seems almost alive. The depth of the work is crazy. He is a master mural artist. Check out his site at www.muralmontage.com

Beautiful worship, Teaching The Word word for word chapter by chapter. great coffee. Pastor is…read moregoofy funny and dramatic.

From the owner: Refuge is a church in St. Cloud, Minnesota.read more