Literary tourism is a wonderful hobby. It gives you an excuse to travel to far-flung and…read morelittle-visited spots, not to mention buying unusual souvenirs. In the past, it's motivated me to visit Cambridge, England and Savannah, Georgia. (If you can guess the authors that motivated those trips, you will win a free subscription to my Yelp reviews.) So, when my daughter suggested touring the home of the writer of the Betsy-Tacy books, which we both read and re-read avidly in our girlhoods, of course the answer was yes. Anyone who's read these books knows the story of a life-long friendship between two girls and the realistic depictions of their life growing up in the early 1900's in a small Midwestern town (Deep Valley in the books, Mankato irl.) Not only does the author accurately depict life at that time, she also describes the emotional dynamics and situations of childhood and adolescence in a timeless way. Mankato is about 1 1/2 hours by car from Minneapolis where I was staying. The drive is lovely, especially in fall: maples and sumac in red and orange, cattails waving in the wind. And when you get to your destination, Betsy's house right across the street from Tacy's house, you are rewarded with the sensation that "It's just like in the books!". Aside from the sheer pleasure of visiting an actual early-20th century home which has been beautifully restored, if you are a fan of Maud Hart Lovelace's books, you will have the unique opportunity of seeing many of the familiar settings and items described in her books. As with many authors of fiction, Ms. Lovelace was heavily inspired by her own life but adapted details as needed. However, she had a strong devotion to depicting her hometown as authentically as possible and it shows. You will find many familiar landmarks on the map provided by the museum. If you are a Betsy-Tacy fan, and even if you're not, it's worth a trip to Mankato if only to see a lovely Midwestern small town and a beautifully restored home. Am I over-enthused because I'm a Betsy-Tacy fan? If so, let's just say it's like "Betsy In Spite of Herself." If you want to know why, find out more here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy-Tacy and here http://www.betsy-tacysociety.org.

The childhood home of author Maud Hart Lovelace is the fabulous Betsy-Tacy Museum. A wonderful…read moreliterary pilgrimage!

Small and compact children's museum and I think it's great for little kids. We have 3 & 1 year old…read moreand they are enjoying themselves for hours. They spent the most time in the sandbox. The museum is full of sitting spots for the parents (whos lack of energy like me) to sit. The museum also has a cafe and very reasonable priced drinks. We holds other children museum memberships and the tickets are 50% discounts.

Went there when my 11 year old was 8 and it was a great day we had so much fun between this spot…read moreand Sibley park.

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.

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!

Outstanding experience. This museum is definitely a "hidden gem" in Rochester. Wonderful to see…read morethe art, learn about the creation and history of bronze sculpture, and hear stories about the artist's adventures in Rochester and around the world. There is definitely something for everyone. ADA accessible; beautiful facilities; wonderful tour!

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.

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!

No foolin', I took my family to the Spam Museum on April 1 for a fun day trip to Austin. I feel it…read morehas to be a write a passage as a homegrown Minnesotan to experience the Spam Museum once in your life. This free museum is right in the heart of downtown Austin and offers a fun little escape from cruddy weather outside or just to step into something historically and culturally unique in our world. I mean, a whole museum dedicated to canned meat? Weird! You can tell that a lot of creativity and thoughtful care went into the design and creation of this museum. So many bright and fun exhibits, there is not a corner left untouched. Lots of unique, hands-on opportunities for kids as well as some very cool historical offerings make this a great place for all ages. All of the exhibits are of high quality and very thought out. After your visit, you might just be inspired to stop at the grocery store afterwards and try your hand at "spiced canned ham" or in other words SPAM!

This is a cool, kitschy road trip-type of stop that is amusing and fun. Plus, it's totally free to…read moreenter, though there is a gift shop packed with branded goods to tempt your pocketbook! The museum is located right in downtown Austin. The lot immediately behind the museum is small but there is abundant other parking around. I didn't notice any meters or paid parking. A stop at the friendly front desk clerk helped us to get the layout. Everything is on the first floor, which is level. Many exhibits are located along wide aisles, though there are some cubbies such as in the international area. The museum guides visitors through the history of Spam, where it is found around the world and what the flavors are (the commercials are delightfully cheesy), and how it is made. World War II is quite a focus in the history section. There are interactive screens placed at an accessible low level for kids and wheelchair users that share quizzes and trivia. As we wandered through, an employee came through with samples speared on pretzel sticks. We got to try smoked Spam and maple Spam. The gift shop was a good final stop. This would be a great place to get a gag or white elephant gift. I collect smashed pennies, and I was happy to find a machine in the gift shop.

If you are as old as me, you will remember the commercial, "Ho, Ho, Ho...Green Giant!" That…read morecommercial worked on me as a kid, I used to beg my mom to buy Green Giant Vegetables. To assure my consumption, my mother always showed me the Green Giant label when she was cooking. It opened my world to vegetables! Today, I actually collect Green Giant ads and other paraphernalia as part of my pop icon collection. You will see some of my ads in the photos and also some photos of my visit to the Land of Giants several years ago.

Stopping in Blue Earth feels like wandering into an old time tv commercial with a sense of humor…read more The Jolly Green Giant stands tall and watchful, a quirky landmark that manages to be both kitschy and oddly comforting. What makes the park especially memorable is its musical instrument park--a pocket of creativity where kids and adults alike can strike giant chimes, tap on outdoor drums, and strum oversized metal harps. It's playful enough to bring out anyone's inner child, yet beautiful in a way that makes you want to linger. And yes, travelers rejoice: there are clean, well-kept bathrooms nearby, the kind you'd actually recommend to fellow road-trippers. That, combined with the friendliness of the place, makes Green Earth not just a stopover but a small adventure--quirky enough to be fun, wholesome enough to restore a little faith in community.

What a delightful find in Owatonna! The Arts Center is connected to the Minnesota State Home for…read moreOrphaned and Neglected Children Museum, so it was nice to be able to see both organizations in one stop. The artwork is varied and beautiful. We enjoyed a temporary bronze exhibit before moving onto galleries that had work for sale. Between paintings and textile wallhangings, there was something for everything to be inspired by and enjoy looking at. Of particular interest was a ceiling mural in the library. There are so many images and vignettes to discover. The transition area between the Arts Center and Museum was the State Home's dining area. The black-and-white tile floor is still there and gorgeous stained glass panels are along the walls. This was an enjoyable stop during my time in Owatonna. I will return the next time I am in town.

The Owatonna Arts Center is a wonderful place that doesn't get the attention it deserves, It's…read morelocated in the West Hills area among the stately old buildings scattered across the immaculately maintained grounds, The exhibit area has recently moved to a new addition, but the interior still holds true to the classic old look. Each month the subject of the largest exhibit area changes. It's currently one artist's tribute to the farm women of southern Minnesota, all based on meeting and observing them. I grew up on a farm and a lot of these images ring true. Many of them remind me so much of people I knew. There's also a small room that replicates an old Englishman's library or den. As you tip your head back you see that the upper walls and ceiling are an incredible mural. It probably won't take more than an hour to see everything, but you'll enjoy it. The surrounding West Hills area is beautiful. They are open every afternoon except Monday and the admission is free.