I have driven by this place so many times and I finally stopped in to check it out. Their exhibit…read moreon Puppetry caught my eye so we bought our Urban Sketchers group here. Entry to the museum is free (donations accepted). The special exhibit was Puppetry in Minnesota and it was well done. Puppets were hanging from the ceiling and propped up on stands so you could get a feeling of movement. There were two rooms of puppets and one gallery for their permanent displays. Parking was easy and being just off Hwy 61, east to get to. Look for the tower and you won't miss it. Staff was helpful and friendly. I even asked about a piece that didn't seem to have signage to tell me the author and the person helping me went in back to find the answer.

I've been coming to the Dakota County Fair for a few years now, and it always feels like the…read moreperfect prep for the Great Minnesota Get-Together! One thing I really appreciate is that general admission is free... a nice change compared to other county fairs. There's also free street parking available, or you can pay to park in the lot. The fair has all the staples: lots of food vendors, barns with animals, non-food vendor booths, live music on multiple stages, and a ride/game area. Classic fair fun! The night I went was a bit warm, so we didn't try as many foods as usual. We started with cheese curds (served hot and super tasty), then a slice of spicy pickle pizza-- not bad, but not the best either. We ended the evening with a chocolatey whoopie pie, and that was seriously yummmOOO! One area that could use some improvement, though, is the bathrooms. They definitely need a bit more attention-- updating, cleanliness and upkeep could make a big difference in the overall experience. Suggestion: Please highly consider adding a water fountain/refill station for water bottles. Still, it's always a fun time, and I'm sure I'll be back next year!

Family always goes to fair to check out the new hot items. Love the food items and animals. Very…read morerelaxing atmosphere and cool set up with the old city buildings to explore. Never see the same thing twice when we go. Highly recommend.

" 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.

Well worth the stop and view the great displays of military history. My 11 year old grandson was…read morejust amazed at the many displays he had only read about.. yes, he asked a lot of questions.. great job Stan.. thanks again..

This is one of those places that if you just looked at it from out front, you might just pass by…read moreeven if it is free. However, this was a pleasant surprise. The person running the museum has some personal insight into the collection of memorabilia and it is pretty interesting. I usually am slightly adverse to Nazi stuff, but perhaps because of the way it got to be here, I found it more acceptable. They do have a fair collection of German items. They also have some very interesting maps, newspaper articles and letters, etc. that have been collected and are displayed down the hallway. The maps particularly provide some insight. It is small, but has a very local character and is better than I expected. Stop in and look around.

Wow! Keri runs a tight ship, honestly such a well kept farm it's truly impressive! The farm tour…read morewas great, highly suggest doing that to get to know the staff the animals and the story of the farm. We had a blast interacting with the animals. The farm shop is adorable with lots of awesome locally made goodies. This past weekend I signed up for goat yoga with a friend, it was Fun - I don't know If I would consider it relaxing with goats head butting each other for some of the food you have while doing yoga. Definitely a fun bucket list experience for me - nothing like a 45lbs goat on your back.

What a gem! My son went twice this summer once with a group…read moreand once with me. We learned about the animals and enjoyed our experience

Cannon River Winery is a fun local destination if you're looking for a relaxed wine experience…read morewithout making a long drive. It is not actually at their winery but rather their tasting room in the city. The tasting room is spacious and welcoming, and they offer a nice variety of wines ranging from sweeter dessert wines to drier reds and whites. There's something for almost everyone. We also shared a charcuterie board, which paired nicely with the tasting and made for an easy afternoon with friends. The staff was friendly and happy to answer questions. They have a few different tasting options including by the glass, and up to 10 different pours for a more complete experience.

We are so fortunate to have destinations such as the Cannon River Winery here in Minnesota!…read moreWe enjoyed the private tasting experience and were blown away by how much we learned. All four of us in our group had gone to Napa, Sonoma and Italy- and learned more about wine during our visit to the Cannon River Winery than we had at any of our other wine tours or tasting experiences. Our favorite wine- the Perfect Storm trio! I usually don't like Rose' but their's is delicious. And get the charcuterie board! the perfect pairing with our wine flights. We are already planning return trips with other groups of friends.

Fall is our favorite season. The weather is cooler, the leaves are changing, and the apple orchards…read moreopen. We have a couple of favorite orchards however after finding Maple Leaf Orchard, we have a new favorite. While we really enjoy a couple of orchards in MN, Maple Leaf Orchard is something special. We had just stopped at our favorite cheese factory just down the road. Instead of driving back into MN to visit one of our favorite orchards, we thought we would look for an orchard on the way home. Maple Leaf Orchard was right on the way. The first thing we noticed is how scenic the area is. Nothing but corn fields and hills around until you find this orchard. They are busy too. Lots of cars parked and people picking apples and a long line for fresh made apple doughnuts. We picked up a bag of apples, some apple cider and of course we tried the doughnuts. A hot fresh apple doughnut is a sweet treat. The apples were fresh and crispy. What makes Maple Leaf Orchard special is their apple cider is the best. I could tell right away after my first sip. The freshness, the flavor. Excellent! Our favorite orchard in MN has apple dandies. Now we have a new orchard for our favorite apple cider. I already finished their apple cider so we are heading back again soon for another round of apple cider. Great family owned orchard and ooh that apple cider is delicious!

A great business run by great people who live with the land and not on it. Stewards of nature who…read moreoffer fantastic orchard produce!

" I Got Educated On Pottery Making "…read more We went to the Pottery Museum of Red Wing to find out how the Pottery is made. They had a wonderful collection of pottery that was made in Red Wing for many years. As we walked around the Museum looking at the displays, it was was nice seeing and finding out the history of Pottery in the Red Wing Area. Well worth a stop to see this Red Wing History.