When you're near St. Cloud, there's nothing better than stopping to visit the Munsinger Clemens Gardens. With fresh blooms and beautiful landscapes in every season, it's even worth going out of the way to see these spectacular places. Across the Mississippi River from St. Cloud State University, these gardens have acres of natural beauty and they hold plenty of public events like music in the gardens on alternating Sundays and the art fair in the gardens on July 21. They also hold a photography contest - so check our their website for photography rules and get snapping!
The gardens were started when a former sawmill was purchased by the city in the early 1900s and they created Riverside Park and Munsinger Gardens. A century later they were given another piece of land by Bill and Virginia Clemens who constructed the beautiful European formal gardens. They are full of fascinating shapes and beautifully arranged color.
The gardens are also the perfect place to relax and take in the fresh air of the MN countryside. So remember to give this place a try next time you're passing through, or better yet, plan a special trip to this little slice of paradise in the middle of MN.
I recently went on a troll hunt in and around Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. One of the clues sent me to the charming town of Frazee, which is located a few miles southeast of Detroit Lakes, and while I was there looking for trolls, I stumbled across a sizable turkey statue, as well as an incredible covered bridge in Minnesota that I'd never heard of before. Take a look at what I found!
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Frazee is located about 15 minutes southeast of Detroit Lakes along U.S. Hwy. 10.
Compared to other "world's largest" roadside attractions in Minnesota, this one seemed a little small. So, I was a little surprised that it's the "world's largest." But, hey - who am I to argue?
Just a few minutes from the turkey, on the north side of town, I found Wannigan Regional Park.
At first glance, it seemed straightforward enough. Some ball fields, a few porta-potties, and a trail heading out across the prairie, along the Otter Tail River, toward a stand of woods.
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The surprise for me, though, was as I started my hike, I noticed a covered bridge in Wannigan Park.
All in all, it was a pretty sweet little hike, and the park was unexpectedly scenic. One thing to be aware of when visiting this covered bridge in Wannigan Regional Park and hiking the trails there is that no drinking water is available (yet) in the park. So, be sure to fill and bring a water bottle with you. I used AllTrails Plus to track my hike, and the out-and-back trip to the troll was just under a mile on a wide, well-maintained trail; there was no appreciable elevation to worry about.
Have you visited this covered bridge in Minnesota or hiked the North Country National Scenic Trail at Wannigan Regional Park in Frazee, MN? Let us know in the comments! And if you dig hikes with a little bit of history, you'll definitely want to check out these Minnesota trails.
The Land of 10,000 Lakes is blessed with many incredible birding hot spots, from the world-renowned Sax-Zim Bog and the Superior and Chippewa National Forests to an urban heron rookery on an island in the Mississippi River. Hundreds of species are year-round residents in the state, and hundreds more come to Minnesota to breed and nest before returning to their home ranges. One part of our state that's often overlooked by casual birders, though, is the northwestern aspen parklands region. Sitting at the edge of the Great Plains, this unique biome attracts all sorts of species that you may not see elsewhere in the state. And one incredible place to experience this diversity is Agassiz Audubon Center in Minnesota. It's near the town of Warren, MN, just northeast of Grand Forks, ND.
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Also referred to as the Audubon Center of the Red River Valley, you'll find Agassiz Audubon Center a few minutes southeast of Warren, Minnesota.
Several small bodies of water are nearby. This combination of habitats attracts dozens of species of birds, both resident and migratory, as well as other types of animals. Raptors, like this American kestrel, find ample prey at the site.
Migrants from the north, who visit the center during the winter, include several owl species, like snowy owls, as well as other boreal species such as common redpolls.
In the spring and summer, you're likely to encounter many cool species of waterfowl, as well, like American white pelicans, trumpeter swans, and several kinds of ducks and geese.
If you're a photographer, you'll definitely want a camera with a longer lens, and anyone visiting Agassiz Audubon Center in Minnesota should, by all means, bring a good pair of binoculars. The center doesn't have much of a web presence, however, you can learn a little more about it on the city of Warren website and the Agassiz Audubon Society's Facebook page. Non-members who visit the site are asked to pay a $5 per car admission fee, making a visit here a pretty affordable way to spend a day.
Have you visited this Audubon Center in Warren, MN? If so, tell us about it in the comments, and if you like, please share some of your favorite birding hotspots in Minnesota.
