1. Enjoy Mississippi River views from Munsinger and Clemens Gardens
Munsinger and Clemens Gardens showcase St. Cloud’s historic 14-acre Munsinger Gardens, which date back to the 1930s and were constructed by the Works Progress Administration. The gardens were refurbished in the 1980s and incorporated with the seven-acre Clemens Gardens in the 1990s. They are located overlooking the Mississippi River and are a popular spot for nature lovers and photographers, beloved for sites such as their Perennial Garden, featuring a replica of a pre-Civil War-era cast iron fountain, and their Virginia Clemens Rose Garden, which showcases more than 1,100 roses, including shrub and tree variants. A gift shop sells a variety of nature-related and gardening items, and public special events include a Music in the Gardens concert series on Sundays.
Address: 1515 Riverside Dr SE, St Cloud, MN 56304, Phone: 320-257-5959
2. Walk around the nature park at Stearns History Museum
Stearns History Museum is the flagship project of the Stearns County Historical Society, which preserves the history of the St. Cloud region and Stearns County and encourages visitors to discover their own place within its historical stories. The museum is part of an outdoor nature park that encompasses more than 80 acres, featuring walking trails, floral gardens, and a skateboard park. Two floors of permanent exhibits are showcased, including the Flowing Through Time retrospective, the On Solid Ground examination of the region’s granite industry, and a profile of noted area figure Alice Wheelock Whitney. A children’s room also features activities for visitors under the age of five.
Address: 235 South 33rd Avenue, St Cloud, MN 56301, Phone: 320-253-8424
3. Go for a morning jog on the Beaver Island Trail
Beaver Island Trail spans a former route of a charter railroad belonging to the Minneapolis and Northwestern Railway Company, known as the Tileston Mill Spur, which connected the mill town of Tileston to Minneapolis and Clearwater. Two large segments of the former railroad route are open as part of the trail today, including a five-mile stretch along the Mississippi River near St. Cloud State University and a shorter segment that connects to the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center. The trail connects to the pedestrian River Walk, which offers direct downtown access, and is a popular site for runners, bikers, inline skaters, and cross-country skiiers during the winter months. Photo opportunities abound, especially in the fall when the trail’s trees are covered in spectacular autumn colors.
Address: Beaver Island Trail, St Cloud, MN 56301
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
4. Admire beautiful plants in Quarry Park and Nature Preserve
Quarry Park and Nature Preserve is the largest nature preserve overseen by the Stearns County Parks system, spanning an area of more than 680 acres. The park is open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk and showcases a wide variety of plant life throughout its prairie, woodland, wetland, and bedrock ecosystems, including oak and aspen trees, Indian paintbrush, yellow ladyslippers, and prickly pear cacti. Two unsupervised quarries have been designated for swimming, with picnic areas and restrooms offered nearby, and three have been designated as scuba diving areas for certified divers. Rock climbing and cross-country skiing are also permitted in areas throughout the park.
Address: 1802 Co Rd 137, Waite Park, MN 56387, Phone: 320-255-6172
5. On a rainy day go shopping at the Crossroads Center
Crossroads Center is Minnesota’s largest mall outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, offering five anchor stores, including Macy’s, JCPenney, Target, Sears, and Scheels All Sports. The center serves as a major regional shopping and entertainment destination, featuring a variety of mall favorite clothing and accessory retailers such as American Eagle Outfitters, Francesca’s, Hot Topic, and Victoria’s Secret. Other stores include Bath and Body Works, Kay Jewelers, LensCrafters, and Men’s Wearhouse. Food options include national chains such as Caribou Coffee, Chick-Fil-A, Sbarro, and Subway, along with full-service restaurants such as Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. A children’s play area, free wireless internet, and a nursing lounge are also offered.
Address: 4101 W Division St, St Cloud, MN 56301, Phone: 320-252-2856
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
6. Watch a game at Joe Faber Field
Joe Faber Field was constructed in 1998 as a part of the Municipal Athletic Complex and is the home today of the collegiate summer baseball team the St. Cloud Rox, a member of the Northwoods League. It offers seating capacity for more than 2,000 attendees, along with full-service concessions stands and several exclusive dining areas, including the all-you-can-eat-and-drink Sports Deck, which opens 60 minutes prior to each game. Private group seating is also offered at the stadium’s Your Home Improvement Company Lodge, Third Base Terrace, and Westside Liquor Wine Suite. Complimentary admission is available for children under four years with paying adult admission, and children under 14 are invited to run the bases following every Sunday home age. The stadium is also home to a number of annual public special events, including its annual hard cider CiderFest.
Address: 5001 Veterans Dr, St Cloud, MN 56303, Phone: 320-240-9798
7. See an exhibit at St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center
St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center was opened in 2014 and showcases more than 180,000 square feet of event space today, including a 16,000-square-foot ballroom and 60,000 square feet of exhibit space. The convention center is managed by the city’s government and showcases public exhibits such as its Natural Life on the Mississippi two-story feature wall, an artistic celebration of the region’s flora, fauna, and natural geography, and a number of arts cabinets presenting works by local artists. It also presents the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Museum, which displays artifacts related to the state’s baseball history. The center is available for event rental for public and private special events and offers full event catering and liquor service.
Address: 10 4th Ave S, St Cloud, MN 56301, Phone: 320-255-7272
8. Watch a game at Ultimate Sports Bar and Grill
Ultimate Sports Bar and Grill is a longtime favorite St. Cloud sports bar hangout, offering 42 televisions showcasing all major regional and national sporting events. The locally-owned restaurant and sports bar offers an extensive menu of classic American pub fare, including shareable appetizers, creative burgers, wrap sandwiches, personal and large pizzas, and chicken wings tossed in a variety of sauces. Light fare and a children’s menu is also available, along with more than a dozen taps of domestic and craft beers. Table top speakers are offered for listening to games, and a seasonal sports deck offers outdoor seating. Regular public special events include cash bingo nights and weekly Texas Hold-’Em events.
Address: 1101 Division St, Waite Park, MN 56387, Phone: 320-251-5580
9. See a play at Paramount Center for the Arts
Paramount Center for the Arts is a community performing and visual arts center housed within the renovated historic Paramount Theatre in the city’s downtown district. A wide variety of regional and national touring concerts, theatrical performances, and stand-up comedy acts are showcased at the theater throughout its season, which offers individual and season tickets. Two public exhibition spaces offer a variety of annual art exhibitions, including the Theater Lobby Gallery and the Studio C gallery and meeting space. An auxiliary exhibition space showcasing the Minnesota artist-focused Gallery St. Germain is also operated out of the downtown Regency Building, supported by a grant from the McKnight Foundation. As a community arts resource, the center also offers a variety of public art courses and studio spaces for artists of all skill levels.
Address: 913 W St Germain St, St Cloud, MN 56301, Phone: 320-259-5463
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