Viking Museum Alexandria MN

Runestone Museum

Address: 206 Broadway St, Alexandria, MN 56308, USA
Phone: +1 320-763-3160
Email: bigole@rea-alp.com

Viking Museum Website: https://www.runestonemuseum.org

Viking Museum is located in downtown Alexandria, Minnesota, on North Broadway where you can see the amazing 28 foot tall statue of Big Ole the Viking adjacent to the Central Lakes Trail.

Winter Hours
November 1 - April 30
Monday - Saturday: 10am - 4pm
Sunday: CLOSED
The  Native American exhibit has beautiful artifacts of Ojibwe and Dakota items, ceremonial pipes and outstanding beadwork. This exhibit is fun for all ages, as visitors may examine children’s playthings, tools and garments that were used by local tribes for both daily life and special occasions.

Minnesota Wonders Amazon

Minnesota Wonders: A Kid's Guide to Roadside Sculpture and Cool Minnesota Places

Amazon store: https://www.amazon.com/Minnesota-Wonders-Roadside-Sculpture-Places/dp/0983638829 (not affiliate)

Prices:
Kindle $3.59
Paperback $12.99

Come along on an incredible journey to meet some of Minnesota’s most beloved characters. From Bemidji’s Paul Bunyan to Blue Earth’s Green Giant, these wonderful sculptures will spark your curiosity and make you smile! Along the way, tour the towns that these sculptures call home and view their incredible playgrounds, museums, pools, and other recreational opportunities. Explore the possibility of visiting these Minnesota Wonders for an unbelievably fun family vacation adventure today!

Minnesota Must-See for Families: An A to Z List

 
Amazon store link (not affiliate) https://www.amazon.com/Minnesota-Must-See-Families-Z-List/dp/1591935253
 
Price: $12.95 - paperback
 
Minnesota is known for its majestic wilderness and rich history and culture. 
This book features an A to Z list of unique Minnesota activities, with space on each page for kids to write their thoughts and experiences directly in the book. 
In this way, the book becomes a personalized story of your family adventures and experiences. 
Create lifelong memories while discovering the best of Minnesota. 
Parent-friendly tips are included to make the most out of each visit. 
Plus, extra journal pages, sketch pages and more will turn your book into a cherished keepsake for years to come.

Exploring Minnesota by Snowmobiling: Plan Your Adventure

Given our usually bountiful snowfall, it isn’t surprising that snowmobiles were invented in Minnesota. Their creators figured it would be a great way to get around. They probably had no idea it would be so much fun, or spark the development of one of the country’s most extensive trail networks.

There are now close to 20,000 miles of snowmobile trails in Minnesota. This vast grid of trails is made possible through a funding partnership between local snowmobile clubs, the state and trail users. The local clubs groom and care for thousands of miles of trail, and welcome visiting snowmobilers to tour their part of the state’s enticing web of trails.

What trails to take?

Trails wind from north to south, and poke into all corners of the state. They traverse rolling countryside and meander through forests, over rivers and past lakes. Where to start?

To help make this choice more manageable, there’s Minnesota Snowmobiling Destinations, a magazine-style guide to snowmobiling in the state. Ten major snowmobiling systems are described. For a copy, contact the Minnesota Office of Tourism.



What about maps?

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a series of large maps showing the snowmobile trail networks in each quadrant of the state: northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest. The maps are available free from DNR or the Minnesota Office of Tourism. For maps on individual snowmobile trails, contact local chambers of commerce.


Where to stay?

Snowmobiling Destinations includes information on motels, hotels and resorts that cater to snowmobilers. The Office of Tourism can also provide information through its Journey travel planning service,

What about snowmobile studs?

Snowmobiles equipped with metal traction devices are not allowed on any paved public trail, but can use all other snowmobile trails. A $13 annual sticker is required for any snowmobile with metal studs registered in Minnesota. It’s available from the DNR License Bureau and other license outlets.

Visiting from out of Minnesota?

To help Minnesota groom its trails, snowmobilers visiting Minnesota from other states and Canada are required to purchase a $16 Snowmobile State Trail Sticker, available from DNR. through various license outlets. It can be purchased with a credit card from the DNR. (Minnesotans support trail funding through their snowmobile registration fees.)

How’s the snow?

The Minnesota Office of Tourism has reports on snow depths and trail conditions across the state, available from first snowfall to spring thaw. Call the Office of Tourism for snow depth reports.

Links/for more info:

    Minnesota Office of Tourism: 800-657-3700; 651/296-5029 in Twin Cities area


    Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: 888-646-6367 (from MN); 651/296-6157