What better way to spend the fall than by taking a Minnesota Road trip. Explore Minnesota Tourism has made a ROAD TRIP’N BINGO board for each region of the state and we encourage you to complete your Central Minnesota board right here in Greater St. Cloud. With so many things to see and do, it might be hard to know where to start, below are some great spots if you are looking for some guidance. Let’s #ExploreMNagain!
Pro trip: give each person in your car a different board and see who can get a BINGO first!
Download your boardsGreater St. Cloud:
Other regions around the state:
How to Play
- Download your boards from Explore Minnesota (see above).
- Hit the road!
- Cross off the items as you find them along the way.
- Share pics on Instagram of your adventures and bingos using #VisitStCloud & #ExploreMNAgain.
- See if you can get a BINGO before your car companions!
- Remember to practice social distancing when you are at the stops.
Car snacks are packed, tank is fueled up, music playlist is set, let’s hit the road! Please contact businesses for updates and questions on changed hours and event happenings.
Warner Lake County Park site is a 264 acre site surrounding the 30 surface acres of Warner Lake. The initial establishment of this site occurred in 1973 when the Campfire Girls Inc. donated the 33 acres known as Camp Suima to Stearns County for public recreation purposes. The park is open year round from 6 AM to 11 PM. Check out the fishing pier located near the swimming beach to check off this BINGO square.
Birch and Maple Trees can be found all around the Greater St. Cloud area. Keep your eyes open for them!
Did you know? The Mississippi River was used for hauling Lumber starting as early as the 1800’s.
St. Cloud Hydro Dam
Not quite a waterfall but we think it can count as one! St. Cloud Hydro Dam is just a short walk from Munsinger right next to the greenhouse, or right off of the parking lot located in front of the Greenhouse. This can be seen from your car or you can get close to the power of the Mighty Mississippi with viewing decks at different levels, some so close you can feel the mist on a windy day. The St. Cloud Hydro Dam flows 4,970 cubic feet per second of water, producing 8.86 megawatts of electricity per day. Great for photos and a look at how power is generated, both sides of the river offer great views of the St. Cloud Hydro Dam.
Increase your chances in seeing a vintage camper by driving Hwy 10 in the St. Cloud area on a Friday or Sunday afternoon. As a major highway for travelers from both the north and south, St. Cloud sees some really fun units! Road-tripping with a camper? Check out the area campgrounds.
There really is no better way to stretch your legs than with a round (or two) of golf on a sprawling, scenic golf course surrounded by the changing colors. St. Cloud is home to three 9 hole courses and two 18 hole courses that are fun for golfers of all skills to enjoy. So if whether you’re looking for just driving by, some skill-refining on the driving range, or the perfect way to get some steps in for the day, here are some places to do so. Not so much into traditional Golf? Check out Summerland for a round of Mini golf!
Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area
Keep your eye out for these creatures and more at Sand Prairie WMA, a 649 acre wildlife preserve located in the glacial flood plain of the Mississippi River on the East side of St. Cloud. Great for hiking, exploring, and learning, you never know what kind of wildlife you’ll spot while you’re there.
St. Cloud Area Rail Legacy Museum
A historic 99-ton diesel locomotive is on display in Waite Park visible from 3rd Street. The locomotive joins two boxcars and red caboose put on by St. Cloud Area Rail Legacy Museum, or STARail. The 600-horsepower locomotive is identical to those which moved thousands of boxcars built in the Great Northern railroad car shops in Waite Park over the course of several decades.
Although Quarry Park & Nature Preserve is not technically a State Park, you could easily pre-game your state park trip with a visit to this amazing attraction!
Quarry Park and Nature Preserve currently contains 684 acres. The park has much to offer for those who love the outdoors. Natural features include scenic woodlands, open prairie, wetlands, and unquarried bedrock areas. Plant life includes everything from oaks and aspens to yellow ladyslippers, Indian paintbrush, and prickly pear cactus. Man-made features include sizable hills composed of quarried rock remnants (grout piles).
The Park is open year-round. It is open from 8:00 AM to one-half hour after sunset. After a snow fall of 4 or more inches, the park is open for Cross Country Sking until 10 PM.
The Great River Road is a network of roadways following the course of the Mississippi River through ten states offering a bounty of river stories and experiences in a parkway setting. The St. Cloud area is fortunate to have this Byway run right through its community and pass by the well-known and beautiful public gardens: Munsinger & Clemens Gardens. You just never know what you will see!
Unless you close your eyes, you will most likely see pontoon dealers along the sides of the roads as you travel through the St. Cloud area. We love our watercrafts here!
Did you know? Not far from the Mississippi on the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes in Richmond, Minnesota, lies the birthplace of the pontoon boat. Invented in 1952 by Ambrose Weeres, the original prototype consisted of a wooden platform on two columns of steel barrels. As their popularity increased and demand skyrocketed, Ambrose started Weeres Pontoons, and was given the nickname “Mr. Pontoon”.
One of Minnesota’s most known accolades: the land of 10,000 lakes. If you are trying to find a fishing hole, your problem might be deciding which of the area lakes to try!
Did you know? The Mississippi River also provides great fishing, Known as one of the top smallmouth bass fisheries in the state, it also provides great walleye fishing, whether from a motorized boat, shoreline, or even a kayak!
Bend In the River Regional Park
This hiking trail runs south from “the farmhouse” (parking lot is located here) along the top of the river bluff. This park consists of 289 acres, including 3,300 feet of undeveloped shoreline on the Mississippi River. High banks provide scenic views of a river bend, islands and adjacent 220-acre wildlife management area.
Rest Area Travel Information Center
Located off of Hwy 10, this Visitor Center is a great resource even if it is your BINGO FREE Space! 2651 US-10, St Cloud, MN 56304
Look for the Red Silo with the shape of MN on it.
Take a self-guided tour using a virtual or printed map to navigate your way through all of the most historic sites of Downtown St. Cloud. Information can be found here.
While you are downtown, grab a bite to eat, shop, and explore around!
Collegeville Orchards is located near St. Cloud, Minnesota in the scenic Collegeville hills. The fall apple orchard season, featuring your favorite Minnesota grown apples, begins Labor Day weekend and goes through the month of October. Collegeville Orchards offers a fun fall experience for the whole family! Come see the area’s beautiful fall colors, enjoy the charm of a vintage store. take a tractor wagon ride, feed animals in the petting zoo, pick your own pumpkins and have some fun with pumpkin painting.
Let Clear Waters Outfitting set you up with your equipment, training, and routes as you set out on the beautiful Mississippi River. Providing canoes, kayaks, SUP boards and more for purchase or rent, and ‘Wild & Scenic’ river trips, they are your experts to a fun day on the water! You are likely to cross off a few BINGO squares on this adventure!
Sure, you can see the Mississippi River in St. Cloud from your car, but what fun is that? We recommend getting up close to the Mighty Miss.
The Beaver Island Trail is asphalt and covers just over 5 miles, stretching along the Mississippi River from St. Cloud State University to River Bluffs Regional Park. Scenic views of the Mississippi peek through natural wooded areas as this urban oasis opens up to downtown St. Cloud. Looking for other ways to enjoy the Mississippi River? We have a few ideas!
Roadside attraction at its finest! Free, open to the public, restrooms, and spectacular views, Musinger & Clemens Gardens have it all.
Munsinger Gardens dates from the 30s; the WPA-constructed paths and garden areas are still here, refurbished and expanded in the 80s. This is an informal garden of 14 acres with winding flower-bordered paths under tall pines. This is the area closest to the banks of the Mississippi River.
The Clemens Gardens, developed primarily in the 90s, provide 7 acres of considerable contrast. This collection of six gardens is characterized by a formal style and situated on the sunny hill above Munsinger. The design is classical European but the use of plant material is decidedly American. Among them are the Virginia Clemens Rose Garden, the Rest Area Garden, the Formal Garden, the White Garden, the Perennial Garden, and the Treillage Garden. All are enhanced with decorative ironwork and fountains. Both Gardens dazzle from late spring deep into fall.
The Stearns History Museum’s mission is to “engage people in the exploration of the County’s diverse heritage by providing connections to the past, perspective on the present, and inspiration for the future.” There’s something for everyone to explore at the Museum. Find exciting events, engaging exhibits, unique research finds, and interactive programs for all ages.
A lake in the middle of downtown, now that’s something you don’t see everywhere! Though easily spotted while driving on Division Street (or as the locals say, “Cruisin’ D Street”), this is really a place to stop and enjoy. This urban lake is an oasis, just steps from the hustle and bustle of downtown St. Cloud. The lake is surrounded by gorgeous walking paths, water features, bench and picnic areas, and even a beach for loading watercraft, this is a great location for a mid-day stroll, a picnic, or some scenic relaxation.
Formerly an active swimming destination, George Friedrich Park is a unique property located in East St. Cloud, at the end of University Drive. The park was once the site of Gottfried Hilder’s granite quarry business before it was purchased in 1934 by St. Cloud State University.
The 50+ acre park has since been purchased by the City of St. Cloud, and in 2015 it opened to the public. With trails that are perfect for hiking, skiing, snow-shoeing and just exploring, it is truly a unique and beautiful place to get away.
Feel like spending the day hiking? The area has many trails for you, don’t forget to pick up some food for fuel.