Grandad Bluff

From the overlook at Grandad Bluff visitors can see three states -Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. The small park is on the edge of a 600 foot bluff and has a picnic shelter, restrooms, a semi circle overlook, a statue honoring Ellen Hixon who raised the funds to buy the bluff  to prevent a sale to a quarry, interpretive signs, and a path that goes out on a ridge for a better view of the city of La Cross which spreads out to fill the Mississippi River valley. 

The semi circle overlook is accessible. The path along the ridge is paved but very steep - use caution.  

The parking lot is large enough for RVs. Do not drive to the park on Bliss Road. It has a five ton weight limit. Go east on State Hwy 33 and turn left on County Road F to go to the bluff. Bluff  43.81274, -91.20923

 

Green Giant Museum and Statue

 In 1928 the Minnesota Valley Canning Company began growing a large variety of peas and created their mascot - a giant holding a pea pod. This first giant was neither green or jolly but by 1950, when the company was renamed Green Giant Company, he was the friendly guy we know today. 

                          

The small museum has showcases filled with memorabilia and interesting facts on the history of the company, for instance, at one point they canned corn on the cob - a dozen in a can! We thought that most of the US vegetable production was in Mexico and other countries but corn and peas are grown in the valley and canned in Blue Earth where the museum and statue are located.

The museum is accessible. A paved path leads to the statue. A set of stair behind the statue allows visitors to stand under the giant's legs.

RVs will fit in the lot if backed up over the grass or parked across the spaces.  Museum  43.65161, -94.09607

 

Wheels Across the Prairie Museum

Relocated buildings and newly constructed ones are lined up to form a small village. Each of the buildings has a different theme or purpose. There's also a train depot with a train, a church, and a large barn containing an enormous amount of donated items that are randomly arranged.

Paved paths run between the buildings. Most of the buildings have high thresholds making entering difficult without assistance. 

The parking lot is shallow with only one entrance/exit. We parked sideways to avoid sticking out too far.  Visitors who are towing may be able to park in one of the adjacent businesses.  Museum  44.2384, -95.63579

 

Sertoma Park

 The four miles of paved trails that loop around Sertoma Park pass by picnic shelters, play grounds, volley ball, tennis, and pickle ball courts, a zoo, and a small amusement park. We walked/rolled about 1 1/2 miles. The trail is very nice and connects to other trails so if we're in Bismarck again we'll definitely return to the park. 

 

The zoo lot is the only one with spaces that can be pulled through. RVs will fit in the other lots if backed in or parked across the spaces. We fit in the only shady lot by backing up over the grass.  Park  46.80284, -100.80709 

 

Lewis and Clark Trail Museum

Alexander, North Dakota, which was founded in 1905, grew slowly as homesteaders arrived from Norway, Germany, and Ireland and it remains a small town with a population that barely tops 300. 

The museum focuses on the early settlers. An entire room features  cases filled with individual family histories and artifacts.  

Other exhibits cover farming, ranching, and local businesses. Besides the main museum, which is housed in the old Alexander schoolhouse, there's a log cabin, a sheepherder’s wagon, a church, an old Boy Scout headquarters building, and a building with trucks, tractors, and wagons on display. A number of large petrified redwood stumps are located on the grounds of the museum. 

The entrance to the main museum is under repair and will have a ramp when the repairs are completed. The first floor doesn't have much on display but there is a stairlift to the second floor. The lift was too high for me to transfer into so Tony lifted me onto it. This was the first time I'd tried a lift like this and I found it rather scary. The third floor is not accessible.

Ramps access the other buildings and the interiors are accessible. 

RVs can be parked along the street. Museum  47.84517, -103.6418