Faribault: River Landscapes, Parks and Culture

The following places and attractions offer a range of experiences. Use your interests to guide your choice of destinations.

River Landscapes, Prairie and Trails

In Faribault County, the Blue Earth River meets the West Branch Blue Earth River. The Blue Earth River then flows 108 miles north, winding through the eastern part of the county. This description identifies both the confluence and the river’s direction and course.

The Osmundson Prairie Scientific and Natural Area is home to a mesic black-soil prairie community. Rare, threatened or endangered plant species found there include tuberous Indian plantain and rattlesnake master. These species give the protected area a specific botanical profile, while the prairie community describes its landscape type.

The Unity Trail is a three-mile paved multi-use trail. It starts at the Faribault County Fairgrounds and ends at a rest area north of Interstate 90. Along the way, it passes through grassland and wooded areas. Its length, surface and landscape sections describe the trail in different ways and help you consider it as a destination in its own right when planning your trip.

Parks and Their Different Features

In Blue Earth, the fenced Blue Earth Dog Park provides an off-leash area for dogs of all sizes. Putnam Park includes the municipal swimming pool and a disc golf course. Piano Park has several play structures for children. Together, these three parks offer a range of amenities, from an area for dogs to swimming, disc golf and play structures.

Steinberg Nature Park combines a scenic setting with informational signs. It also has an open shelter with restroom facilities. Here, enjoying nature goes hand in hand with finding your way around the park. Woods Lake Park is known for its natural, pond-like swimming area and plantings of native prairie plants. Nature enthusiasts can find named plantings in a park in addition to the prairie community in the protected area.

Railroad History, Museums and Events

The Wells Railroad Depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been restored. The Wells Railroad Depot Museum preserves an original freight scale, an original ticket window and original solid wood floors. These preserved features offer specific details about railroad history, from freight transport and ticket sales to the building’s fixtures.

The Jolly Green Giant statue has stood in Giant Park since 1979. It is located at 1134 Giant Drive, half a mile south of Interstate 90 on Highway 169. The Giant Memorabilia Museum has the world’s largest collection of Green Giant memorabilia. The statue and museum are two distinct points of interest for visitors interested in this theme.

The Faribault County Fair was founded in 1859. The fairgrounds in Blue Earth cover about 53 acres and are shaded by tall oak trees. The fair program includes open-class competitions, agricultural contests and demonstrations, free entertainment, and activities for children and adults. Details may change; check the dates if you are planning a visit.

Theater and concerts are also part of the recurring cultural program: The Blue Earth Town & Country Players stage a musical every summer and a Christmas play every December. The Blue Earth Valley Concert Association presents a series of professional concerts each year. Productions, performers and dates can vary, so check the latest event information if you would like to plan your trip around one of them.

Choose Hotels That Suit Your Travel Plans

Whether a river and prairie, parks, railroad history or an event date is the deciding factor, start by identifying the destinations that matter most to your stay. When comparing hotels, check the stated location of each option against the places you plan to visit. For seasonal and annual events, also confirm the dates for your travel period.

Discover more destinations: Wells, Blue Earth, Anoka, Cook County, Wright County, Becker County, Kittson County, Pennington County.

Go to the main travel overview: Minnesota.