If you do not know the answer, you will after this Minnesota adventure in Chisago County on Old Highway 61. Plan on spending the entire day outdoors enjoying the warm summer weather in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
The highlight of the day is Fish Lake Park and Beach, the most popular lake in Chisago County, which provides activities for all ages and interests. Visitors enjoy hiking, boating, fishing, swimming, volleyball, picnicking, and building sand castles to name a few common activities.
Make sure to bring bug spray, sunscreen, snacks or a picnic lunch, water, fishing gear, swimsuits and towels, and water toys.
At the end of the day, you will have one heck of a fish tale to share.
World’s Largest Walleye
Wow, that big!
The first stop is at the World’s Largest Walleye in Rush City. Rush City is located approximately 2 hours north of the Twin Cities on Old Highway 61. The 2,000-pound walleye was hooked by Minnesota’s most well-known resident, Paul Bunyan.
Check out the stats on the sign next to the gigantic walleye. In addition to being interesting, the information might just come in handy when playing a game of trivia pursuit.
Don’t forget to take a selfie with the World’s Largest Walleye. To ensure good pictures, try to snap photos during the golden hours; the hour after sunrise, and the hour before sunset. Don’t forget to smile!
Fish Lake Premium
Very slimy!
Before heading out to Fish Lake Park & Beach for a day of family fun, stop at Fish Lake Premium, a bait and tackle shop. Guaranteed to be a memorable and fun experience.
Kids will enjoy seeing and touching the live bait (silvery minnows and black slimy leeches), and looking at the mounted fish and stuffed animals (not stuffed toys). Ask the clerk to hold the slimy black leeches.
Parents can purchase any forgotten fishing gear, including live bait, life jackets, snacks, and bottled water. Purchase a Harris Minnesota souvenir t-shirt as a memento of your trip on Old Highway 61.
Before you enter the store, you will notice the big handwritten Self-Serve sign and the white commercial sinks with running water by the entrance. As you get closer, you will hear running water and want to stop and peek in the sinks. If the store is closed, live bait is available in the sinks for purchase on the honor system. There is a lockbox next to the sinks for your money.
Fish Lake Park & Beach
A lake for all seasons
The kids will be anxious to get out of the car as soon as you arrive at Fish Lake Park and Beach, located just minutes outside of Harris.
Visitors can choose to fish, boat, swim, play volleyball (nets provided), horseshoes (horseshoes not provided), softball, hike, play in the sand, sit in a lawn chair and read, enjoy a picnic lunch, or do all of the above.
It is easy to lose track of time at Fish Lake Park and Beach, so make sure to lather yourself and the kids in sunscreen as soon as you arrive.
Cornerstone Pub and Prime
Minnesota’s state fish
After spending a full day outside in the sun, everyone is bound to be hungry, so head over to Wyoming for dinner at the Cornerstone Pub and Prime, located in one of the town’s historic buildings listed on one of the community’s historic walking tours.
Order their delicious fried walleye dinner with a fresh garden salad and crispy golden brown french fries. The fries are served in the cutest little black wire basket, and the walleye is so big that it hangs over the side of the plate. The white meat is flaky and firm, and it will melt in your mouth.
If you prefer red meat, try the Angus prime rib. The serving is extra thick and cooked to perfection.
P.S. The cheese curds are delicious.
Thank you to Old Highway 61 for hosting our visit. It was everything you said and more.
One-of-a-kind art galleries can be found in all corners of bluff country. Visitors will experience not only first-class art galleries, but they will be able to meet bluff country artists and purchase their work. In addition, visitors will also enjoy the drive through the picturesque farmlands, bluffs, along streams, and quaint Midwestern towns that inspire Bluff County artists to create. The range of work visitors will find ranges from jewelry, clothing, oil and watercolor paintings, woodwork, fiber arts, sculptures, and glass to name a few.
For up-to-date hours, check the gallery website, Google listing, or Facebook page.
Enjoy your year-round Bluff Country art tour!
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Art Bitz
Art Bitz, a gallery run by Chatfield’s two glitz gals, June and Alice. Visitors will find two former buildings filled with framed glass art, individualized gnomes, jewelry, glassware, colorful couch pillows, and bling cover flamingos. The gallery is located at 204 Main Street, Chatfield, MN 55923. June and Alice can be reached at (507)-254-8105. The gallery is open Thursday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed Sunday through Wednesday. Follow Art Bitz on Facebook.
Lanesboro Arts Galleries
Not one gallery but two galleries, Exhibition Gallery and the Juried Sales Gallery! The Exhibition Gallery features five exhibits annually and visitors will enjoy purchasing artwork from over 90 regional artists located in the Juried Sales Gallery. Every other year, Lanesboro Arts sponsor an emerging artist exhibition. Lanesboro Arts can be reached at (507) 467-2446. Hours: September through April Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday and Monday closed; May through August Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. and Monday closed. Visit lanesboroarts.org for current information.
The Bluff Country Artists Gallery
A 501(c)(3) collaborative, operated by volunteers, represents the talented creations of 70 artists from the bluff country region. The gallery is located at 111 W. Main St, Spring Grove, MN. The gallery can be reached at (507) 498-2787 and is open Thursday and Friday from noon to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check out the gallery on Facebook.
The Caledonia Gallery
Bluff Country’s newest art gallery is in a recently renovated limestone building built after the Civil War ended in quaint downtown Caledonia. The gallery features the work of artists from La Crosse, WI to Caledonia. The gallery is located in historic Caledonia at 115 East Main Street. The five-star gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is closed on Sunday and Monday. Visit www.caledoniagallery.com.
International Owl Center
Children from around the world have entered artwork featuring owls in the Center’s annual competition. Those pieces are exhibited throughout the year in the center’s gallery. 126 E. Cedar St., Houston, MN 55943 Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (507) 896-6957 www.internationalowlcenter.org
ArtHaus
ArtHaus is known for its workshop and classes, but it is also home to the Doyle G. Heyveld Gallery which features a new exhibit each month. 107 W. Broadway St, Decorah, IA 52101. (563) 382-5440. Open 1-7:00 p.m. weekdays and 10-5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Closed Sunday. www.Arthausdecorah.org
Agora Arts
A staple of downtown Decorah for 31 years, owner Gail Bolson-Magnuson hand selects each piece and carries the finest in handcrafted arts from over 250 artists. 102 West Water Street, Decorah, IA 52101. (563) 382-8786. Open Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. www.agoraarts.com
This month, Just Around the Bend Travel is featuring Little Miami, 5349 County 49, located in the village of Freeburg, MN. Another five-star small-town bar-restaurant combo. The first question that comes to mind of first-time visitors. A Cuban-style restaurant in Minnesota?
The upper Midwestern style menu is reason enough to visit, but there is so much more to experience.
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Location, location, location
Your first visit to Freeburg might leave you with the impression that the town is in the middle of nowhere, but it really isn’t. Freeburg is located just 12 minutes southeast of Caledonia, Minnesota on Houston County Hwy. 249, anywhere from 30 to 41 minutes from La Crosse, Wisconsin depending on the route you take, and 12 minutes from Brownsville, Minnesota. Caution: When using Google Maps, you might be directed to take gravel roads through some very desolate areas, so make sure your gas tank is filled, and you have a paper map as you will probably lose cell service. If you do end up following Google Maps’ shortest route on gravel roads, you are guaranteed to love the scenery.
Caledonia is at 1,181’ above sea level and quickly drops to 686’ as you enter the community of Freeburg. Hwy. 249 not only has a hilly grade, but is also curvy. Some of the curves are tight, so make sure to watch your speed.
No matter which way you travel, the drive never gets old as the scenery is breathtaking.
Crooked Creek runs through the ancient river valley surrounded by steep wooded hills. If you want to make it a day trip, bring your fishing gear and poles to fish in the stream.
As you are driving, remember to watch for deer, rocks, and fallen trees.
Rich history
Freeburg has a rich history, and so does the restaurant. The name, chosen by proprietor C.C. Michelson, has nothing to do with food but everything to do with swimming. Michelson built a sand bottom pool and kids and families flocked to Freeburg to swim, many even took the train to Freeburg to swim. The menu provides a brief synopsis of the bar/restaurant’s interesting history.
To get an in-depth look at the havoc flooding caused in 1946 to the small vibrant community of Freeburg and Little Miami, read the following three articles written by historian Lee Epps, published in the Fillmore County Journal in 2023.
Now for a description of the tasty Midwestern food.
New Mexico grandkids, Damien and Christian, enjoying a non-alcoholic Pink Squirrel. Yummy!
Little Miami is known for its large adult ice cream drinks. One drink is more than enough for two adults, especially after eating dinner. Little Miami also offers non-alcoholic ice cream drinks for young diners. The drinks are not only huge but delicious. Signature drinks include Brandy Alexander (Brandy and Crème de Cacao), Grasshopper (Crème de Memthe), Caramel Apple (Apple Pucker Schnapps, Butterscotch Schnapps), Dreamsicle (Peach Schnapps, Orange Juice), Golden Cadillac (Galliano), Heath Bar (Kahlua, Butterscotch Schnapps), Pink Squirrel (Crème de Noya (Almond)), Polar Bear (Kahlua, Irish Cream), and Slippery Nipple (Irish Cream, Butterscotch Schnapps).
The Minnesota state fish is the walleye.
Broasted Chicken, a Wisconsin invention.
Fried cheese curds are a family favorite, especially with the New Mexico grandkids. Tony enjoys the hamburgers, which he rated as ‘damn good’. Another favorite of my NE Iowa boy is the Saturday night prime rib special. Broasted chicken, a Wisconsin invention and a healthier frying option than fried chicken, is a favorite among locals. You will find me enjoying the walleye with a side salad including red onions and tomatoes topped with either the champagne vinaigrette or the orange balsamic dressings, which are both homemade. Tony orders a side of coleslaw, which he describes as having a unique taste. Haven’t asked but wonder if it is a homemade dressing. For French Fry connoisseurs, you can order thin-cut fries, crinkle-cut fries, or sweet potato fries. If you are feeling like a cup of soup, try the beer cheese soup, which is not only tasty but hardy.
A hardy Midwestern soup.
Exceptional service
There is room in the two dining rooms for large groups. There is also a patio where you can enjoy Minnesota’s pleasant weather.
The service at Little Miami is exceptional, plus the customers are always very friendly. There are always lots of families and visitors from all three states enjoying a meal, plus a handful of locals sitting at the bar. On April 26, 2023, all the customers were wearing camouflage clothing, even the two little girls with permanent smiles on their faces were dressed in camouflage clothing. One of the little girls even held the door open for us, demonstrating that Minnesota Nice is alive and well in Freeburg.
Little Miami is open Wednesday and Thursday night from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday.
The plan going forward is to feature at least one small Midwestern town bar every month, population less than 2,000. It is not unusual for a rural town located in the middle of farm county to have a bar that serves tasty traditional bar food, but some bars will surprise patrons with their expanded menu. Included on the menu is a selection of food and drinks that you would find in a five-star restaurant in a large town or city.
This month Just Around the Bend Travel is featuring Alpha Tap located in the NE Iowa town of Alpha. The unincorporated community of Alpha located in the Township of Eden, Fayette County is a typical small farming community. Visitors will find a church and cemetery, a grain silo or two, a bar, and Victorian-style homes. The population of Alpha in 1925 was 100 and almost one hundred years the estimated population has not changed much. Alpha, a one-road town, is located 38 minutes south of Decorah, IA, and 53 minutes north of Waterloo, IA. It is easy to miss the small directional signs pointing to Alpha, located one mile off County Rd. V68 3 miles south of Waucoma, IA, two-lane highway in Fayette County.
The sign on the front of the restaurant is a dead giveaway to what visitors will find on the menu. Alpha Tap serves seafood, including a perfectly cooked cold-water lobster tail from the seas of Australia and South Africa, mouth-watering sea scallops, and delicious jumbo shrimp. Finding seafood that is not fried in rural NE Iowa is ‘slim to none’. In addition, patrons can enjoy cod and Canadian walleye.
Doesn’t this look sumptuous? This French ‘fryaholic’ loves her french fries.
For those looking for a hamburger and fries or the usual bar food like tasty fried cheese curds, you will not be disappointed. Specials include wings on Tuesday night – 4 pounds and 1 pound of fries for $45+, enough to feed a family, rib-eye on Thursday night, all-you-can-eat cod on Friday night, and prime rib on Saturday night. Alpha Tap truly does offer something for everyone. The restaurant proudly proclaims that they serve a full menu all day, every day!
Chefs in fine restaurants are known to come out and converse with the customers to find out how the food is. When the owner comes outdoors to talk with you is rare and a special treat. What an example of first-class service?
What else makes Alpha Tap special? Besides the quality and variety of food and the exceptional customer service, Alpha Tap is open on Sundays as well as the other six days of the week. This makes Alpha Tap unique in this area, as most restaurants close on Sundays.
Hours of operations: Sunday from 12-10 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Watch for more stories on small Midwestern town bars that offer a five-star menu on Just Around The Bend Travel. You are in for a tasty surprise!
Oneota Film Festival, locally known as OFF, is unofficially recognized by the residents of Decorah, Iowa, as the first sign of spring.
It is time to make plans to attend the 2025 film festival. OFF will be held March 6 through March 9 in the picturesque town of Decorah.
If you are anxiously waiting for spring, plan to attend the documentaries offered by OFF throughout the winter months in the surrounding communities of Spring Grove, Lansing, Cresco, Waukon, and Calmar. Visit oneotafilmfestival.org for up-to-date information on the films that will be shown, when they will be shown, what time they will be shown, and where they will be shown. Pre-festival screenings are open to the public and are free to attend, so there is no excuse not to attend.
The 2025 festival will introduce film enthusiasts to 60 documentaries that will be shown in seven unique venues throughout Decorah.
What Is A Documentary?
Wikipedia defines a documentary film as “a non-fictional motion picture intended to “document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record”.
Documentaries are thought-provoking long and short films that force viewers to think outside the box. Documentaries may be about subject matters that you are familiar with or new topics you have never thought about.
They generate a range of emotions – sadness, laughter, surprise, excitement, relief, panic, anger, grief, shock, and others that leave viewers in a world of awe.
Documentaries force you to ask questions and encourage you to learn more.
Free Admission
Thanks to generous sponsors and donors, OFF has been a free event since its inception 15 years ago and continues to be a free event, making the event available to everyone.
There are costs to putting on a four-day event, so please consider becoming a member to support the festival. A bonus of becoming a member is that members are invited to VIP events throughout the year, plus members get to vote on their favorite film in the People’s Choice category.
Leadership
The year 2025 is the fifteenth year of the Oneota Film Festival. President Nancy Sojka leads a board of directors comprised of nine hard-working volunteers. The directors work year-round planning the next year’s festival.
The festival employs a part-time creative director, Elise Skelenger, the organization’s only paid employee.
You will see the directors and Elise throughout the film festival. Stop and thank them for all their hard work.
Volunteers
OFF also recruits an army of volunteers who help throughout the event. One of the many benefits of volunteering is you get to see the films in addition to helping your community. If you are interested in volunteering, visit oneotafilmfestival.org/volunteer to sign up. Volunteer positions needed are room managers, room hosts, doorkeepers, people movers for set-up and take-down, and greeters at the festival headquarters.
OFF volunteer, Deborah Bishop, introduces a film..
The Judges
The wide section of films will not disappoint as there is something for everyone, thanks to knowledgeable judges. The selection of films shown each year at film festivals demonstrates the quality of festival’s judges. They know their audience, and they understand what makes a good documentary. Imagine watching 100 or more films from September to December and having to select the films that will be shown. Judges are an important component of a successful film festival.
Reading the descriptions of the films will help attendees decide which films they want to watch. The films are normally shown more than once, so attendees have a chance to watch all the films. If you want to watch all the films you must have a schedule.
Venues
The films are shown at seven of Decorah’s popular historic venues that have all been given a new lease on life. Every location is unique and offers a different flavor, which adds to the enjoyment of the film festival.
Attendees may have a favorite venue and only attend the films at that venue, or they might want to watch a film at each venue to watch their favorite documentaries. What a great opportunity to get to experience Decorah, NE Iowa’s gem.
Make sure to arrive early if you want to get a front-row seat. A film festival is not like attending church where everyone wants to sit in the back.
ArtHaus
T-Bock’s Upstairs
Drift: Strength and Yoga CenterAll Vet’s Club, Post 1977Hotel Winneshiek
Headquarters
If you have any questions, make sure to stop at the festival’s headquarters, located in the lobby of Hotel Winneshiek, 104 E. Water Street. There will be eager volunteers ready to answer your questions arnd direct you to your favorite film.
Hotel Winneshiek
Friends and Family
OFF is the perfect time to hang out with old friends, meet new friends, or spend time with family.
New FriendsOld FriendsOld FriendsOld Friends
Snacks and Drinks
If popcorn is served at a film festival, that is a plus. Over the years, OFF has served flavored popcorn from Decorah’s own Pinter’s Gardens and Pumpkins. Some venues sell food and drinks for your enjoyment, thus, saving precious time while introducing you to the variety of tastes that are found in Winneshiek County. At Hotel Winneshiek, festival attendees can purchase adult beverages and take them upstairs to the Steyer Opera House. Tip: The margaritas are made just the way a margarita should be with orange juice and a salted rim.
Orange juice is key to any good margarita.
Meet the Film Director(s)
Make sure to hang around after the films to talk with the film director(s), whether they are onsite or attending the festival virtually. OFF offers time where attendees can chat one-on-one with the directors, providing opportunities to ask questions, get the film’s backstory, and sometimes there will even be members of the cast available to talk to.
2024 Director
Student film director, Noah Potvin. He was an 8th grade student in Decorah, Iowa when he created the short, Star Trek: Frontier in Diversity, that was shown at the 2024 festival.
Drake student and film director, Michael Veninga.
Directors at the 2024 OFF.
Create Your Own Itinerary
It is recommended that you plan your itinerary before the start of the festival. In 2025, there are over 60 films being shown over four days. It is a sure bet that if you do not lay out your schedule you will be disappointed. Some of them are shown more than once and in different locations, so plan out your schedule and carry your itinerary with you.
Not sure which documentaries to watch? Keep an eye out for the judges’ awards. Awards are generally announced a week or two before the festival.
Presenting this year’s 2025 Walter Ordway Best of the Fest OFF award winners are:
Best of the Fest – Animation: Brambletown, directed by Eric Power.
Best of the Fest – Honorable Mention – Animation: Swimming with Wings, directed by Daphna Awadish Golan.
Best of the Fest – Narrative Short: Statistical Probabilities, directed by Ryan O’Leary.
Best of the Fest – Narrative Feature: Loren and Rose, directed by Russell Brown.
Best of the Fest – Narrative Feature: No Way Home, directed by Yousaf Ali Khan.
Best of the Fest – Honorable Mention – Narrative Feature: Home Free, directed by Avi Ronn Federgreen.
Best of the Fest – Honorable Mention – Narrative Short: Dignity directed by Pat Battistini
Best of the Fest – Honorable Mention – Narrative Short: What We Don’t Say (Lo Que No Nos Decimos, directed by Josep M. Perez Ballano.
Best of the Fest – Documentary Feature: Climbing Into Life: The Dierdre Wolownick Story, directed by Melissa J. Davey.
Best of the Fest – Honorable Mention – Documentary Feature: Pink Belt, directed by John McCrite.
Best of the Fest – Documentary Short: Moved by Waters, directed by Kelly Rundle.
Best of the Fest – Documentary Short: Light Painter, directed by Eric Schmidt.
Best of the Fest – Honorable Mention – Documentary Short: The Dolphin Dilemma, directed by Olivia Andrus-Drennan.
Best of the Fest – Experimental: Odyssea, directed by Mariah Steele.
Best of the Fest – Honorable Mention – Student Film: Spectrum of Consumption: A Conservation Story, directed by Colleen Kelley.
Best of the Fest Student Film: Black Balloons, directed Gal Attia.
Best of the Fest – Honorable Mention Student Film: Where the Heart Lies, directed by Brianna Chapman.
Up-To-Date Information
Facebook is the perfect resource for keeping up-to-date on all things related to the OFF film festival. Follow along on the OFF festival’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/oneotafilmfest.
Future Dates of the Oneota Film Festival
OFF makes it easy to plan for future festivals by posting the dates in advance.
March 5-8, 2026
March 4-7, 2027
March 2-5, 2028
March 1-4, 2029
Midwest Film Festivals
Now that you are hooked on film festivals, below is a list of film festivals that are recommended by myself and fellow travel bloggers. Follow the suggestions described in this article for any festival you attend, and you are guaranteed to enjoy your experience.
