1. New Ulm: Brown County Historical Society Local museum housed in historic post office building

  2. New Ulm: City Parks

  3. New Ulm: Civic Center Open skating and rentals, shows such as farm show, camper show

  4. New Ulm: Flandrau State Park Hiking, camping, sand-bottom pool

  5. New Ulm: Glockenspiel Chimes that play with animation at noon, 3, and 5 p.m.

  6. New Ulm: Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park Scenic views of New Ulm and vicinity, museum, playground, picnic gazebos

  7. New Ulm: Minnesota Music Hall of Fame Shares a building with the New Ulm Library

  8. New Ulm: New Ulm Recreation Center (Vogel Arena)—Walking track, fitness equipment and classes, indoor pool

  9. New Ulm: Park & Rec Activities for adults and kids,

  10. New Ulm: Schell’s Brewery Brewery tour and gardens

  11. New Ulm: Wanda Gag House Tour during regular hours, or visit a special program such as Wanda’s birthday celebration in March

  12. New Ulm (rural): Harkin Store 1870s general store with weekend special activities

  13. Blue Earth: Jolly Green Giant

  14. Comfrey (rural): Jeffers Petroglyphs American Indian rock carvings

  15. Darwin: World’s Largest Twine Ball (rolled by one man)

  16. Fairfax (rural): Ft. Ridgely State Park and Historic Site Camping, tubing in winter, amphitheater, hiking, historic fort

  17. Fairmont: Aquatic Park Pool, waterslides

  18. Gaylord: Aquatic Center Pool, waterslides, adjacent to city park

  19. Glencoe: Oak Leaf Park Camping, aquatic center, playground

  20. Henderson (rural): Ney Nature Center County park with nature-related programming

  21. Henderson: Schuette’s Ice Cream Shoppe Old-fashioned soda fountain with other goodies

  22. Henderson (rural): Kerfoot Canopy Tour Zip line tours and high ropes course

  23. Hutchinson: Aquatic Center Pool, waterslides, lazy river

  24. Hutchinson: Wheel & Cog Children’s Museum

  25. Le Sueur: W.W. Mayo House—Historic home of the founders of Mayo Clinic

  26. Le Sueur: Froggy’s Sweets n’ Treats featuring many flavors of cotton candy

  27. Madelia: Watona Park Disc golf, camping, fishing, golf course, playground

  28. Madelia/LaSalle: Younger Brothers capture site and reenactment Jesse James’ gang members

  29. Mankato: Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota

  30. Mankato: Kato Escape Escape room

  31. Mankato: Mankato Moondogs Northern League baseball with fun promotions and activities

  32. Mankato: Betsy-Tacy Houses Homes that the children’s books were based on

  33. Mankato (rural): Minnemishinona Falls Waterfall with bike trail adjacent, on scenic Judson Bottom Road

  34. Mankato (rural): Minneopa State Park Waterfall, hiking trails, camping

  35. Mankato: Maverick Adventures Rock climbing walls

  36. Mankato (rural): Rapidan Dam Park and Store Park with camping and trails; store is well-known for its pie and other café items

  37. Mankato: Sibley Park Large park with zoo, sledding hill, and more; holiday lights in December

  38. Morton (rural): Birch Coulee Battlefield

  39. Morton (rural): Lower Sioux Agency Historic Site

  40. Redwood Falls: Alexander Ramsey Park Large park with trails, small zoo, camping, playground, and waterfall

  41. Redwood Falls: Aquatic Center Pool, waterslides

  42. Redwood Falls (North Redwood): Birthplace of Sears Roebuck Co.

  43. Sanborn (Rural): Sod House on the Prairie Replica sod houses and restored prairie area

  44. Sleepy Eye: Aquatic Center Pool, waterslides

  45. Springfield: City Park Swimming pool, campground, disc golf, bicycle trail

  46. St. Peter: E. St. Julien Cox House 1871 Italianate home

  47. St. Peter: Traverse des Sioux and Treaty Site History Center Historic site and museum

  48. St. Peter: Gustavus Adolphus Arboretum and Art Museum

  49. Walnut Grove: Ingalls Dugout Site On the banks of Plum Creek—and Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

  50. Walnut Grove: Wilder Pageant Play based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s time in Walnut Grove, held annually on weekends in July

BONUS

  1. Various: Car Races Arlington and Redwood Falls

  2. Various: “Town Ball” Baseball Tomahawk East League games in New Ulm, Courtland, Hanska, Gibbon, St. James, and other local ballfields

  3. Various: City celebrations—Many include parades and fireworks

  4. Various: City/county historical society museums

  5. Various: Discount movie theaters Hutchinson ($5/$6.50), Madelia ($5), Arlington ($5/$6.50)

  6. Various: County fairs, most in August, including the Brown County Free Fair in New Ulm

  7. Varous: Disc golf courses

  8. Various: Apple orchards

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

  1. Local libraries hold many programs for adults and kids. We are a part of the Traverse des Sioux Library Cooperative, and you are welcome to attend programs or borrow materials from any of these regional libraries. Your MLC ID also serves as a public library card at these locations.

  2. If you enjoy learning about history, you might consider a membership to the Minnesota Historical Society, especially if you have several children. A membership provides free admission to all of the MNHS sites. Several of these are in our area, and many others are within day-trip distance of New Ulm.