Wheaton MinnesotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Wheaton, Minnesota.
1. With the Wind Vineyard & Winery
LOCAL WINE EXPERIENCE
With the Wind Vineyard & Winery offers visitors a delightful taste of locally produced wines in a charming rustic setting. Guests can enjoy wine tastings while taking in the peaceful rural Minnesota landscape surrounding the vineyard. The winery has received excellent reviews, boasting a perfect 5.0 rating from visitors who appreciate both the quality wines and welcoming atmosphere.
2. Dakota Winds Golf Course
SCENIC GOLFING DESTINATION
Dakota Winds Golf Course provides golfers with a well-maintained course amid the natural beauty of western Minnesota. The course features challenging holes designed to test players of all skill levels while showcasing the region's rolling terrain. With a solid 3.9 rating from reviewers, this golfing destination offers both recreational opportunities and scenic views for visitors to Wheaton.
3. Big Stone Lake State Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION PARADISE
Big Stone Lake State Park sits along the Minnesota-South Dakota border, offering expansive views of the 26-mile-long Big Stone Lake. Visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and bird watching among the park's diverse natural habitats. The park provides camping facilities for those looking to extend their outdoor adventure in this scenic border region.
4. Ringling Brothers Circus Monument
HISTORIC CIRCUS TRIBUTE
The Ringling Brothers Circus Monument commemorates the famous circus family's connection to the Wheaton area. This historical marker attracts visitors interested in the rich entertainment history of America's most famous circus dynasty. With a strong 4.3 rating, this monument provides a unique glimpse into an important piece of American cultural heritage with local ties.
5. Traverse County Historical Society Museum
LOCAL HISTORY SHOWCASE
Traverse County Historical Society Museum is housed in the former Milwaukee Railroad Depot, preserving the area's rich cultural heritage. The museum features detailed exhibits recreating historical spaces including old kitchen, living room, bedroom, and sewing room displays, along with farm machinery, a general store, bank, post office, and various professional establishments. Visitors can also explore a restored one-room schoolhouse, railroad caboose, vintage fire truck, and car displays that bring the region's past to life.
6. Sanford Wheaton Medical Center
MODERN HEALTHCARE FACILITY
Sanford Wheaton Medical Center serves as the primary healthcare facility for residents and visitors in the Wheaton area. The center provides essential medical services with modern equipment and professional care in a convenient location. Though primarily functioning as a medical facility, the center represents an important community resource for the small town of Wheaton.
7. Sica Hollow State Park
MYSTICAL NATURAL WONDER
Sica Hollow State Park offers visitors a mystical woodland experience with its unique rusty-red water streams and glowing decayed wood, which earned it the Dakota name 'Sica' meaning 'bad' or 'evil'. The park features the Trail of the Spirits, a National Recreation Trail that winds through ravines and wooded areas rich with Native American legends. Hikers, horseback riders, and nature enthusiasts can explore this atmospheric park's diverse ecosystems while learning about its significant cultural history.
8. Minnehaha Falls
STUNNING URBAN WATERFALL
Minnehaha Falls features a spectacular 53-foot waterfall cascading into a deep gorge, located within Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis. The falls have inspired artists and visitors for generations, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who immortalized them in his poem 'The Song of Hiawatha'. With an impressive 4.6 rating, this natural wonder offers scenic walking paths, historical buildings, and picnic areas that make it a perfect destination for nature lovers and photographers.
9. Itasca State Park
BIRTHPLACE OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Itasca State Park is Minnesota's oldest state park and contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River where visitors can walk across the mighty river as it begins its journey to the Gulf of Mexico. The park encompasses more than 32,000 acres of pristine wilderness with over 100 lakes, ancient old-growth pines, and abundant wildlife. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and staying at the historic Douglas Lodge while exploring this natural treasure that has been preserved since 1891.
10. Stevens County Historical Society and Museum
REGIONAL HERITAGE COLLECTION
The Stevens County Historical Society and Museum preserves and showcases the rich history of the Morris area and Stevens County. Exhibits feature artifacts, photographs, and documents that tell the story of the region's development, from Native American heritage to European settlement and beyond. Visitors can explore the museum's extensive collections that highlight local agriculture, industry, education, and daily life throughout different periods in the county's history.
11. Bonanza Valley Days
ANNUAL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
Bonanza Valley Days is an eagerly anticipated annual festival that brings together residents and visitors in Brooten for a weekend of community celebration. The event features parades, live music, food vendors, craft markets, and family-friendly activities that showcase small-town Minnesota charm. This beloved summer tradition highlights local culture and creates lasting memories for participants of all ages.
12. Chippewa National Forest
VAST WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE
Chippewa National Forest encompasses over 666,000 acres of diverse northern Minnesota wilderness, featuring pristine lakes, rivers, and old-growth forests. Visitors can explore hundreds of miles of hiking trails, observe abundant wildlife including the largest breeding population of bald eagles in the lower 48 states, and enjoy water recreation on more than 1,300 lakes. The forest offers year-round activities including camping, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling, making it a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
13. Fort Sisseton Historic State Park
PRESERVED MILITARY OUTPOST
Fort Sisseton Historic State Park features a remarkably well-preserved 1864 frontier military outpost with 14 original buildings that transport visitors back to the Dakota Territory frontier days. The fort, originally built to protect settlers and mail routes during western expansion, now serves as a living history museum where visitors can explore barracks, officers' quarters, and other military structures. The park hosts popular events including the annual Fort Sisseton Historical Festival, which brings history to life through period demonstrations, reenactments, and entertainment.
14. Inspiration Peak
PANORAMIC SCENIC OVERLOOK
Inspiration Peak stands as the highest point in Ottertail County, offering breathtaking panoramic views that extend for nearly 50 miles on clear days. The peak, formed by glacial activity thousands of years ago, rises 1,750 feet above sea level and 400 feet above the surrounding countryside. Visitors can hike the moderately challenging trail to the summit where writer Sinclair Lewis once described the vista as 'the highest hill in all this part of Minnesota... from which a man can see... into the heart of fabled distances.'
15. Glendalough State Park
PRISTINE LAKES RETREAT
Glendalough State Park offers a peaceful retreat with pristine undeveloped lakes, including Annie Battle Lake which is designated as a Heritage Fishery with no motors allowed. The park's diverse landscape encompasses 2,761 acres of rolling hills, prairies, hardwood forests, and marshes that provide habitat for abundant wildlife including deer, loons, and pelicans. Visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, and camping, as well as winter activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in this natural sanctuary.