Grand Rapids Travel Guide

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  Just an hour's drive from its source at Itasca State Park, the baby Mississippi River flows through the center of Grand Rapids. The river is celebrated at this park where several exhibits detail the importance of the river, not just for Grand Rapids, but throughout its 2.552... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  For many years we have admired this famous photograph as we have viewed it in homes, restaurants, and churches. It's of an old man pausing to give thanks (offer grace) over a simple meal of a loaf of bread and a bowl of soup. But until we visited the Itasca County Museum we... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  The sidewalks leading from 5th Street to the Old Central School have been replaced with a "Yellow Brick Road," like that in the movie, "The Wizard of Oz." As we walked up to the school this crow flew down and landed in front of us, inviting us to take it's picture. So we... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  Occupying a full square block right in the center of Grand Rapids the Old Central School looks more like a courthouse than a schoolhouse. No longer used as a school, it is now a multi-use structure, housing the Itasca County Historical Society Museum, a restaurant, various... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  Frances Ethel Gumm, who became Judy Garland and starred as Dortohy in one of the world's most beloved films, "The Wizard of Oz," was born and spent her earliest years in Grand Rapids. A section of the Ithaca County Museum is dedicated to her, but even more interesting is to... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  It would be well on any first time visit to a town to start at the Visitor Center, which is where we began our day in Grand Rapids. Here we learned that we needed more than just one day to explore all the many things there are to see and do in this very interesting area. One... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  This is one of two murals we saw in downtown Grand Rapids honoring the town's most famous daughter, Judy Garland, who starred as Dorothy in the enduring family movie, The Wizard of Oz. 

 zrim Says:  I must admit that I was at first flummoxed by the sight of corn growing in the square surrounding the Old Central School. But then as I drew closer and noticed the yellow brick road, it all came together. When Dorothy followed the Yellow Brick Road out of Munchkinland she... 

 zrim Says:  Even the mightiest rivers start their journeys as benign little streams. At Grand Rapids the Mississippi River is shallow enough to walk across in hip-waders. The River's source is in Ithasca State Park about 150 miles west of Grand Rapids. 

 Burgfresh Says:  The Grand Rapids area is known as having Minnesota's 'Grand Slam of Golf'. There are four championship courses in the area;Pokegama, Wendigo, Sugar Brook, and Eagles Ridge. Pokegama is the Oldest and most prestigous course. And if your staying on Lake Pokegama you can take... 

 Burgfresh Says:  The abandoned Tioga mine is a great place to go mountain biking. There are alot of old roads that have been partially grown over but makes for a great off-road ride. There are no maps of the mine so you can get lost easily, I still do even though I've been riding them for... 

 Burgfresh Says:  The Fedral dam on the Mississippi River. It's located just west of town on highway 2. It's really not that big because way up here the Mississippi isn't that big but there are some good hiking paths on the other side of the dam and a campground along side it.(pic. of swamp... 

 Burgfresh Says:  Visit one of the surrounding lakes. Lake Pokegama is one of the largest in the areas and there are many public landings and beaches. There are over 1,000 lakes in Itasca county alone so your bound to find one you like. Swimming in lake Pokegama, the water is clean and...