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.

Fun, retro theater only 40 minutes from Rochester. We got the luxury seats for $6 each and had a…read morepopcorn and two drinks for $7. We'll be back!

A great small town movie theater! One screen that shows a different movie each weekend. I love…read morethat I can take my son to a movie getting tickets, popcorn, pop for each of us, and a candy all the while leaving without even spending $20 on the whole thing. You can even bring your own container for their delicious popcorn, or buy it in a normal theater container. Staff has always been friendly and I've never had a bad experience here.

This is a great area to hike. Unfortunately the town is now longer open through the MN Historical…read moreSociety but the buildings are neat to check out and near plenty of trails!

Great place to hike, fish hunt and find yourself. Learn about the areas history at the same time.read more

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.

I recently performed at the Commonweal Theater and had a wonderful experience! The decor was rustic…read moreyet modern. I'll give you a hint. Check out the mason jars and the ceiling! The ensemble and audience are both very kind and sweet. It's located in a cute little town surrounded by fun things to do!

We recently saw No Wake and Incident at our Lady of Perpetual Help. Both were fabulous!! I would…read morecome and see Incident at Our Lady... . Again if I could. Laughed so hard!! Can't wait to see Spitfire Grill next. Get a season pass if you can. Totally worth it.

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.

Everything went well. There is plenty of free parking. The owner of this locally owned theatre…read morewelcomes you and waits on you. The bathrooms are spotless as is the rest of the establishment. The popcorn is fresh and warm just as I expect. There are no bad seats thanks to the design and there are spaces for wheelchairs.

great theater. very comfortable seats good popcorn and handicap seating.read more

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.