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Central Lakes

Step back into history at many interesting museums in the cities and towns here. Learn about novelist Sinclair Lewis at sites in Sauk Centre. Experience 1850s farm life at the Oliver Kelley Farm at Elk River. The St. Cloud area is “granite country;” learn about the quarries and stone cutting at the Stearns History Museum.

Visit the beautiful Munsinger and Clemens Gardens along the Mississippi River in St. Cloud. Check out the arts performances, galleries and shops in this bustling city. Several other towns, including Willmar and Hutchinson, also feature art galleries, antique and specialty shops.

Outdoor recreation is big in the Central Lakes area. Bike the Glacial Lakes Trail, which links New London, Spicer and Willmar. The Lake Wobegon Trail explores the peaceful countryside between Sauk Centre and St. Joseph. The lakes throughout this area are popular for fishing, with several family resorts along the lakeshores.