You can also hear an audio version of this story with the player below.

Destination One: 
St. Cloud/Central Minnesota
by Jim Maurice, WJON.com

UNDATED -- Recent surveys show that our high gas prices will keep a lot of us closer to home this summer. This week the newsroom is starting a summer-long series called “Tour of 10,000 Lakes”. We’ll look at all the fun things to do, and places to go, right here in the great state of Minnesota.

First in our series – let’s checkout the St. Cloud and Central Minnesota area.   If you’re looking for something casual and relaxing, the St. Cloud Convention and Visitor Bureau’s Julie Lunning says first on the list is always the beautiful Munsinger/Clemens Gardens.

Explore our county’s heritage with a visit to the Stearns County Museum in St. Cloud and the Benton County Museum in Sauk Rapids. And, if you’re looking for a little entertainment in the evening -- downtown St. Cloud has a theatre district with shows at both the Paramount and Pioneer Theatres most evenings.

If you have something a little more physically challenging in mind, Central Minnesota can oblige.  Lunning says, instead of just driving over the Mississippi river, why not take an adventure on it.

Lunning says Outdoor Endeavors offers 3 ½ hour trips from St. Cloud to Clearwater, 4 hour trips from Rice to Sartell, and 3 hour trips from St. Joseph to St. Cloud on the Sauk River.

Other opportunities for outdoor fun include: the beautiful Quarry Park in Waite Park, horseback riding at El Rancho Manana, paddle boating on Lake George, and of course, there’s the Lake Wobegon Trail starting in St. Joseph. 

Sports fans – you can take in a minor-league baseball game this summer. The St. Cloud River Bats are coming off their championship season, and play their home games at Joe Faber Field. And speaking of baseball, have you checked out Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame? It's free and it’s right downtown in the St. Cloud Civic Center.

And, finally, if you’re looking to entertain the kids this summer. Take them on a trip to the A Maze’n Farmyard in Eden Valley, the Summerland Water Park, or the Pineview BMX Park.

Resources:
St. Cloud Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Minnesota Office of Tourism

If we've missed a great tourism destination in the St. Cloud area, tell us about it, or send us pictures of you visiting that place.  You can e-mail Jim.

Next Wednesday (6/4), as we continue our “Tour of 10,000 Lakes”, we’ll take a trip up to the North Shore and check out the Duluth area.  And on Wednesday (6/11), we'll visit the Stillwater area.