Local Attractions

AREA ATTRACTIONS

Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway- a great way to see many interesting sites and attractions.  Covers the entire region from Ortonville South along the scenic Minnesota River Valley.

Visitor's Guide available 

DINING GUIDE

Montevideo- Local eateries  This is a partial list of places to eat in Montevideo

Madison-Local eateries  This is a partial list of places to eat in Madison

Dawson-Local eateries  This is a partial list of places to eat in Dawson

Appleton-Local eateries  This is a partial list of places to eat in Appleton

Ortonville- Local Eateries  This is a partial list of places to eat in the Ortonville Area

MUSEUMS/HISTORIC SITES

Chippewa County Historical Society-Chippewa City-Pioneer Village, Swensson Farm, Lac qui Parle Mission (Montevideo)  They will be OPEN on Sunday, May 4 from 10-2 just for the birders who are coming! (Montevideo)

Lac qui Parle County Historical Society- Lac qui Parle County Museum, Robert Bly House (Madison)

Camp Release Monument-State Monument to the Dakota War of 1862-located just west of Montevideo on Hwy 212 (Montevideo)

Big Stone County Museum- Has a large taxidermy collection, many birds, fossils, and artifacts, a walking trail, & a lookout tower of MN River Valley (Ortonville)

Yellow Medicine County Museum-Pioneer history of the area, Bison Kill Site artifacts, Glacial history, Native American history display (Granite Falls)

Andrew J. Volstead House Museum - home of the author of the National Prohibition Act, of 1919, historic home museum.  (Granite Falls)

Milwaukee Road Heritage Center- The Railroad  Museum collects and restores Milwaukee Road memorabilia and artifacts at the Milwaukee Road Museum and Railroad Park, Depot, model train display, turntable (Montevideo)

STATE PARKS/ NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES

Lac qui Parle State Park "lake that speaks" is a small park that is great for birding, hiking, canoeing, kayaking.  Be sure to check out the historic buildings in the lower campground.  The Map Building contains a WPA project that made a 30 foot long concrete relief map of the Upper Minnesota River from Ortonville to Montevideo. 

LqP Bird Checklist click to access

Big Stone Lake State Park  this park features native prairie, fishing, bird watching, hiking and spring and summer wildflowers. 

  BS Bird checklist click to access

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge  Auto Tour route is open with excellent birding along the way.  Several platforms extend out to the water for the best viewing.  250 documented species and is a part of the Big Stone-Lac qui Parle Important Bird Area recognized by Audubon MN.  biking, boating, fishing, hunting, wildlife watching, hiking, and photography are some of the activities that are encouraged on the refuge.

BigStoneNWR Bird Checklist click to access