Sesquicentennial Spotlight Tour - Deciduous Forest
Stretching from the Northwestern tip down to the far south, the Deciduous Forest of Minnesota is a unique landscape stretching across some of the more densely populated areas in the state. Traveling from the Twin Cities to northwest Minnesota may take you across miles of terrain, yet never leaving the Deciduous Forest!
23 communities were nominated to represent the Deciduous Forest region of Minnesota. Scroll through to explore the unique features this area has to offer!
494 Corridor
Commission Homepage: http://www.494corridor.org/index_currrent.htm
Alexandria
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.alexandriamn.org/
The prairie meets the forest in the Alexandria area where the glaciers carved their way through Minnesota thousands of years ago creating a perfect blend of lakes, wooded hills, and open prairie. This scenic backdrop of year-round beauty provides unlimited opportunities for recreation, tourism, business, industry, shopping, and culture—a great place to live, work, play, and prosper. 
Apple Valley and Rosemount
Chamber of Commerce – Apple Valley: http://www.applevalleychamber.com/
Chamber of Commerce – Rosemount:
Bloomington
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.minneapolischamber.org/chamber_bloomington.php
Detroit Lakes
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.visitdetroitlakes.com/
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/tamarac/
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge was established to serve as a breeding ground and sanctuary for migratory birds and other wildlife, but also provides many opportunities for visitors to enjoy and learn more about our natural world through wildlife-compatible activities.
Lake County Scenic Byway: http://www.lakecountryscenicbyway.com/intro.html
Travel around over 1,000 lakes and waters along this unique Minnesota Byway.
Douglas County
Douglas County Historical Society: http://www.rea-alp.com/~historic/
Faribault
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.faribaultmn.org/
Rice County Fair: http://www.ricecountyfair.net/
- July 15 to July 20
Hastings
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.hastingsmn.org/
Jordan
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.jordanchamber.org/
Scott County Fair: http://www.scottcountyfair.com/
- July 23 to July 27
Lakeville
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.lakevillechambercvb.org/
Lakeville’s Summer Festival: http://www.panoprog.org/
- July 4 to July 12
Long Prairie
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.longprairie.org/
Longville
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.longville.com/
Longville Turtle Races: http://www.longville.com/turtleraces.html
- Wednesday afternoons, June through August
The famous Longville Turtle Races have been enjoyed by all ages for the last 38 years. Every Wednesday afternoon from June through August, swimming beaches go strangely quiet; cabins, cottages and resorts empty out; and streams of cars descend on the little town of Longville on the shores of Girl Lake.
Owatonna/Steele County
Steele County Historical Society
- Village of Yesteryear
http://www.steelecohistoricalsociety.org/village.php
The Village of Yesteryear, operated by the Steele County Historical Society, is a setting of fifteen structures where you can experience what life was like in Owatonna and Steele County at the turn of the 20th Century. The village hosts a history Extravaganza in July.
Events in July at the Steele County Historical Society:
Happy Birthday Minnesota!
Join us from May 1st till September 30th for our special Minnesota Sesquicentennial display. In celebration of Minnesota's 150th birthday, a special display has been created in the Dunnell House featuring a timeline of Steele County and State history. Special Sesquicentennial signs in the Village buildings will highlight artifacts specially chosen for this Sesquicentennial celebration. Take the trivia test and test your knowledge of our local history! You may tour the Dunnell House alone Tuesday through Friday from 1-5 pm, or take a guided tour. (offered at 1:30 p.m. daily—Tuesday through Sunday). Tours are $5 for adults, $3 for children 7–16, and children 6 and under are FREE. For more information, please call 507–451–1420. Group tours are welcome by appointment.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Chuckwagon Supper: Enjoy an evening of cowboy fare, entertainment, and interact with the Old West Society during our Chuckwagon Supper. Tickets are $12 per person with children 6 and under FREE with a paid adult. Entertainment 5-8 p.m. with supper served from 5:30-7 p.m. Advance sales only. Tickets will be available starting June 9th at Kottke Jewelers, Cashwise Foods, Hy-Vee, and the SCHS office in Owatonna. Tickets are also available from SCHS Board Members. To make reservations, please call 507–451–1420.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
11a.m. till 5 p.m.
Extravaganza: Our largest event of the year! Music, food, historic demonstrations, blacksmithing, soap making, handwork demonstrations, an antique tractor show and parade, horse-drawn rides, OZ Printing Press, and more await you during this family day of historically related fun! The Old West Society of Minnesota will be on hand to entertain you and take you back to the “old west”. All Village buildings are open to enjoy. FREE admission, donations are appreciated.
Perham
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.2chambers.com/perham,_minnesota.htm
Barrel O’Fun Snacks: http://www.barrelofunsnacks.com/
Prior Lake
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.priorlakechamber.com/
Lakefront Days: http://www.priorlakechamber.com/LakefrontDays.htm
- July 29 – August 3
Roseville
City of Roseville: http://www.ci.roseville.mn.us/
St. Cloud
Chamber of Commerce: http://stc.stcloudareachamber.com/stchome.php
St. Joseph
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.stjosephchamber.com/
St. Louis Park
City of St. Louis Park: http://www.stlouispark.org/
Shakopee
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.shakopee.org/chamber/
Stillwater
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.ilovestillwater.com/
Waconia
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.destinationwaconia.org/
White Bear Township
http://www.ci.white-bear-township.mn.us/