The SPAM Museum did not disappoint! Such a fun and unique stop with so much history packed into one…read moreplace. We loved learning about the story behind SPAM, seeing all the exhibits, and of course getting to try the free samples! Even better, admission is completely FREE, which makes it an awesome stop if you're passing through the area. The staff really made the experience too--they were fun, friendly, helpful, and seemed genuinely excited to be there. Definitely one of those quirky places that ends up being way more fun than you expect. We had a blast and can't wait to go back!

We stopped at the SPAM Museum on a whim after seeing several signs for it while driving through the…read morearea, and we're glad we did. Admission is free, and while the museum isn't very large, it's surprisingly fun, engaging, and well put together. The exhibits cover the history of SPAM, its cultural impact, and include an impressive collection of memorabilia from throughout the years. Everything is presented in a lighthearted and interactive way, making it enjoyable even if you're not a die-hard SPAM fan. One unexpected highlight was trying the SPAMples, which we thought were delicious and a fun twist on the classic product. If you're passing through the area, this museum is definitely worth the stop. It's a unique roadside attraction that's entertaining, educational, and easy to enjoy in an hour or two.

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.

music man square is a blast! if you love "the music man," you will love hanging out here. the hall…read moreis a replica of river city even though the actual set was in hollywood. there is a fun museum, a great ice cream shop, and meredith willson's boyhood home. for just six dollars, you can look around all of these (the museum was surprisingly well-manicured and full) and get a guided tour of the home. the meredith willson history is fascinating and the fake river city is abound with photo opportunities. you will not regret coming here!

What a great museum. The staff was great and I liked the movie that was shown. They have an ice…read morecream shop inside. The gifts hope was also great. Don't forget to do the house tour next door.

Ed Krueger was a lifelong resident of Wykoff, the owner of the Jack Sprat Food Store, and a hoarder…read morewith squirreling away abilities Jeff M. can only aspire to. When Ed died in 1989 he left his store to the town with the stipulation that it be turned into a museum. The museum continues to operate today, to the delight of roadtrippers who love all things strange. He saved old TV guides, boxes of candy that are 40 years old, Hollywood pinups, advertisements. He saved his dead cat Sammy in a box. The museum is a time warp, and the people who work there are generous with their time and their stories. Make room in your drive across Minnesota for this one; there is nothing like it anywhere else in the country.

It's was a very interesting tour of the home. It is beautiful and has much of its original…read morearchitecture and decor. The guide, Grace ? I think, was very knowledgeable and passionate about her tour. She did a great job. She went the extra mile when we had problems with our uber driver getting lost and needing help. If you want to learn more about the history of the Mayo family and the Mayo Clinic from a more personal perspective this is a good stop for you. Especially during Christmas time, as the home is decorated similar to the decor from when the family lived there.

Grace Mattress was the best tour guide ever! The mansion was decorated for Christmas and was…read moreabsolutely enchanting!

What I like best about this place is the cave tours they offer. The Stoppel family dug these caves…read morein the sandstone outcroppings in the 1800s. Some old dates and rather interesting graffiti inside.

My wife and I and a couple of relatives were in Rochester for a wedding and needed something to do…read morefor an afternoon. I lived here for a few years and never knew the history museum was here because I never really made it to this side of town. The museum part is pretty small but informative, but the outside features are cool. You can tour an old farm house and an old school. There is a lot of history about the Mayo Clinic, which I didn't really know about and you can do the whole thing in about an hour. We had a nice place to kill a couple of hours and I am glad we did.

10/10! The Gagnon Museum & Sculpture guided tour was truly a phenomenal experience. Our guide…read moreArlyn, truly brought each sculpture to life. She beautifully shared the events behind each artwork, educated us on the process and hard dedication that is involved in each sculpture. She shared fond memories behind each piece of art. I strongly recommend taking the time to learn and enjoy the experience at the Gagnon Museum.

One of Rochesters best kept secrets The Charles Gagnon…read moresculpture museum is amazing Arlyn is a wealth of knowledge and detailed historian with each piece of art. Beautifully displayed and in an inviting and peaceful sanctuary! A must see!

We visited the International Owl Center for one of their programs a few weeks ago. We paid $18 for…read moretwo people and it was definitely worth it, especially if you love owls and care about conservation. We arrived early and had time to walk around an check out their adorable gift shop. Even if you can't make it to a program, the gift shop alone is worth a stop and the proceeds go to an amazing cause. There were 3 owls present for our program but Ruby was the star of the show and the only one to be brought out for viewing. Our speaker advised that there are typically 5 owls present but they have to be transported to the center daily and if they don't feel like coming, they are not made to. I love that! JR the Eastern Screech Owl was also there but he never really came out so I could get a look at him (although I did hear him once and his little "screech" was nothing like I expected!) and Bea the burrowing owl was also there. She was my absolute favorite with her dainty size and her sweet, although shy, disposition. I never even knew there owls that nest underground before seeing her. We learned a lot about these amazing animals and things we can do to help them and although our program was full of adults and seniors, I think this would be a really great thing to do with children. For instance, through an exhibit about wingspan, we learned that my husband has the wingspan of a Blakiston's Fish Owl and I have the wingspan of a Eurasian Eagle Owl. They have plenty of interesting exhibits about the different sizes and types of owls and we made sure to "Make a pledge to save owls" before leaving. They also sell artwork from the community and are working very hard to raise money for a new facility for these beautiful creatures so I recommend coming to visit if you are able and having a nice time while helping a very good cause.

This is an amazing place. So interesting- informative- family friendly-and educational. The owls…read moreare magical. The staff kind and programs presented are great. Gift shop has a wonderful assortment of owl themed products. Also- the kids art from all around the world is amazing. Please support the owls and this wonderful Owl Center.

This is one of my favorite museums in the state, I love the art here so much. The museum is right…read moreon the river, has a nice coffee bar with light fare inside, cool gift shop, and lots of exhibits. It will take you about an hour to check everything out, maybe a bit more if you do the scavenger hunt, which I did alongside my kiddo. The interactive exhibits were great as well, and they do a great job of teaching you about environmental issues plaguing our water systems and use art to do it in a way that conveys a great message. Highly recommended to pop in when you are nearby!

On a recent trip to the area, my friend and I decided to check out this museum. Located on a…read morepeaceful stretch of the Mississippi, there's a beautiful promenade area along the river that would be perfect for relaxing if you find yourself with time to spare. We arrived about an hour before closing and despite having to visit at a fast clip, I'm so glad we added this to our agenda. Most of the rooms contain visiting exhibits, and my favorites this time included the up-cycled plastic art and the large canvas from the 19th century depicting whaling that is visiting. If you're in Winona, this museum is a must-add to your places to visit list!

Went with daughter. Doors were wide open, but no one was at the desk. We proceed to exhibts - not…read moremuch to see. A woman approaches us and asks who let us in. We tell here the doors were wide open. She says it's not open. We applolgize and offer to go, she says no - go ahead and look around, we couldn't have known it was closed. Another, older woman then comes up and tells us it's closed. We appologize and mention the first woman, but offer to leave. She locked us out onto the street so we had to go around the entire complex to be able to get to our car. Won't be visiting again or donating, no wonder they can't get real exhibits. Don't waste your time.

It's a great Art center I enjoy their exhibits very much. I love the way it's laid out.read more