St Cloud is a delightful small city in Minnesota. It is the largest city in central Minnesota and the 10th largest across the state. Whether you’re planning for a short solo retreat or a family vacation, it gets quite tricky to decide on the destination. With that, we have put on a list of things to do in St Cloud MN for you.
In this case, you should decide on the destination that offers you a combination of nature and thrill. Saint Cloud, Minnesota, is packed with exciting pastime activities – brewery, parks, sports, cultural and historical places, and many more.
Europeans established St Cloud in 1851, but it was populated thousands of years back by Native American tribes. St. Cloud became a regular stop for the fur trade by the early 20th century. After a certain amount of time, the city was also known as Granite City.
An Overview: Things to Do in St Cloud, Minnesota
Here is a list of things people can enjoy in St Cloud MN.
1. Indulge in Sports Activities
Believe it or not, being active or watching others be active is among the fun things to do in Saint Cloud! Three splash pads, seven wading pools, three dog parks, 11 outdoor ice rinks, and two sledding slopes are all available in the city.
With 42 TVs showing all the big local and national sporting events, Ultimate Sports Bar and Grill has long been a popular sports bar hangout in St. Cloud. A wide menu of traditional American pub fare is available at the locally owned restaurant and sports bar, featuring shareable appetizers, inventive burgers, wrap sandwiches, personal and big pizzas, and chicken wings offered in a variety of sauces.
Light meals and a children’s menu are also offered, along with various domestic and craft beers.
1.1. Joe Faber Field
The St. Cloud Rox, a collegiate summer baseball team that competes in the Northwoods League, call Joe Faber Field their home. It was built in 1998 as a component of the Municipal Athletic Complex. It features more than 2,000 seats, full-service snack booths, and several upscale dining options, including the Sports Deck, which opens an hour before each game and offers all-you-can-eat and drink options.
The stadium’s Your Home Improvement Company Lodge, Third Base Terrace, and Westside Liquor Wine Suite provide private group seating options. Children under four can enter for free with a paying adult, and kids under 14 are welcome to run the bases after every Sunday home age.
Various yearly public special events are also held in the stadium, including its annual hard cider CiderFest.
1.2. Teams At SCSU
Saint Cloud University has six men’s and ten women’s teams. Among the women’s sports are basketball, cross country, hockey, Nordic skiing, soccer, softball, swim & dive, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, swim & dive, and wrestling are among the male-dominated sports.
There are many ways of supporting the Huskies. For a fun day of college athletics, purchase your tickets online, don your red and white, and take a seat in the stands.
1.3. Whitney Recreation Center & Sports Complex
Over 100,000 individuals attend the sports complex at Whitney Recreation Center each year. It has five volleyball courts that may double as six pickleball courts, three basketball courts, and a public indoor gym. It has a fitness area, a walking track, and year-round climate control.
There are eight soccer grounds and twelve baseball/softball fields outside. On the walking path, stretch your legs. You have 1.5 miles of room in the outer loop, and the inner circle is 0.85 miles long. Along with activities for kids and adults, fitness classes, and special events, the facility hosts numerous team practices, scrimmages, and tournaments.
2. Make Sure to Shop
Crossroads Center is one of the biggest shopping centers in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. This mall is the ideal location to visit if you want to spend an evening shopping for your loved ones back home.
Our first suggestion for enjoyable activities in St. Cloud, Minnesota, is shopping. There are many places in St. Cloud to find those must-haves and one-of-a-kind things, from conventional indoor malls to lovely boutiques and unique businesses. For a fun day of Saint Cloud activities, grab your money, charge your phone, and go to one of these fantastic retail locales across the city.
2.1. Crossroads Center
The biggest mall in the state outside of the Twin Cities is the typical indoor Crossroads Center. Several well-known anchor retailers exist, including Scheel’s, DSW, Macy’s, JCPenney, and Target.
The mall, which was initially inaugurated in April 1966, has undergone a few updates and additions over time. More skylights, a food court, better parking lot traffic flow, and a soft play area for kids were all included in the 2004 improvements. For Dayton’s, which later changed its name to Marshall Field’s and then Macy’s in 2006, an additional 200,000 square feet were constructed in 1976.
2.2. Midtown Square Mall
Midtown Square Mall houses various retail shops, business services, and event venues between its two-story shopping center and four-story office building. Many of the city’s key local offices are here, including legal, medical, and community services.
The Tuscan Center, a sizable event facility, and a 27,00 square foot fitness center are also located on the property. There are numerous hair salons, a nail salon, and two tattoo parlors inside the mall. Midtown Square has clothing, footwear, uniforms stores, cell phone, and technology shops.
2.3. Have Great Food and Drinks
From our perspective, Saint Cloud is an underestimated dining destination. Every cuisine is well-represented in the many distinctive restaurants, and there are even two breweries in the city and a few more scattered across the metropolitan region. Try one of these fantastic locations the next time you’re looking for something entertaining to do in St. Cloud.
Pantown Pantone Brewing: To build St. Cloud as “the new Detroit,” Samuel Pandolfo founded the Pan Motor Company there in 1917. He lost a lot of resources in World War I and was imprisoned for fraud.
They produce a variety of craft beers, including cream ales, Märzens, IPAs, and stouts. They frequently work together as co-owners selling real estate throughout town or under a tent at nearby beer festivals.
2.4. Olde Brick House
The only authentic Irish pub in the central Minnesota region, Olde Brick House debuted to the general public in January 2017. Traditional Irish dishes like Guinness-battered fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and meatloaf in the Celtic manner are among the many lunch and dinner options available in the tavern’s casual atmosphere.
Sandwich and salad pairs are offered at lunch, along with soup favorites like the restaurant’s house seafood chowder. A complete pub menu, including traditional sandwiches, burgers, and bar snacks, is available for supper.
On Sundays, drink deals, and Irish recess food plates are available throughout the day. Corporate events and wedding rehearsals can rent several conference rooms for private special events.
2.5. Beaver Island Brewing Co.
You can get craft beer worth bragging about in downtown St. Cloud in the location of the former Bo Diddley. The Beaver Island staff is committed to upholding the craft’s history, honoring its ingredients, and supporting the neighborhood.
Brews with a deliberate twist are being served, including Kölsch-style ales, American wheat, IPAs made with Minnesota-grown hops, and a winter ale made with spruce tips, among many others. On Wednesdays, stop by them for Tending for a Cause, a fundraiser for a nearby charity.
2.6. The White Horse
You can go to the White Horse when you want to go out for a special cause like a birthday meal or a date night. This downtown restaurant offers a delectable cuisine that includes spaghetti, wild-caught Canadian walleye, certified Piedmontese New York strip steak, salads, burgers, and more.
The countless rows of liquor bottles behind the bar demonstrate their huge cocktail menu. They are open Monday through Saturday for lunch and supper, hosting various events, and offering incredible food deals. To be the first to learn about any updates at The White Horse, follow them on Facebook.
2.7. 7 West Taphouse
In the former Electric Fetus music store building in downtown St. Cloud, the 7 West Taphouse serves a selection of traditional American bar cuisine in a relaxed, cozy atmosphere. The little Minnesota franchise, which opened its doors to the public in Duluth in 2012, now has four sites across central Minnesota.
In addition to a sizable selection of affordable, informal pub dishes like inventive taco alternatives, imaginative bar snacks, and iconic burgers like the chain’s brown sugar Sugar Daddy and One Eyed Jack pepper jack cheeseburgers, it provides more than 50 domestic and craft beer taps. Additionally offered are fresh house fries and chips with a range of a la carte sauce and topping choices.
2.8. Granite City Food and Brewery
Since opening its doors to the people of St. Cloud in 1999, Granite City Food and Brewery has grown to include 32 restaurants spread throughout more than a dozen states. The handcrafted microbrews are served on tap at the award-winning restaurant and brewery and are brewed on the premises in a brewhouse visible from the main dining area.
In addition to inventive bar snacks, artisanal flatbreads, famous steakburgers, and seafood entrees, the open-style kitchen offers made-from-scratch menu selections. Its Duke Pale Ale, Bennie Bock, Batch 1000 Double IPA, and Northern American-style Lager are among its signature beverages. The restaurant also offers a private dining area for large groups and exclusive special events.
2.9. Mongo’s Grill
A casual Mongolian grill-style restaurant with numerous locations in Minnesota and Manitoba, including one in downtown St. Cloud, is called Mongo’s Grill. The build-your-own-bowl restaurant offers meat and vegetarian alternatives, and customers can select from a vast range of protein, noodles, sauce, and add-in topping selections.
Each bowl is individually grilled at the restaurant’s wok-style grilling station before being served with a selection of rice, wraps, or tortillas. Visitors can enjoy their original creations matched with a range of distinctive beverages and sweets after witnessing the restaurant’s grill masters produce delicacies. There are additional options for catering and takeout.
3. Visit the Parks
Within the City of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, 95 parks cover over 1,400 total acres. Of such parks, about 80 are categorized as “neighborhood and mini-parks.” At 243 acres, Whitney Memorial Park is the largest park constructed. It is now a recreation and sports center, although it was once the city’s regional airport.
3.1. Munsinger And Clemens Gardens
The Works Progress Administration created the Munsinger Gardens in the 1930s. They also constructed a lily pond, a fountain, and brick walks bordered by flowerbeds and tall pine trees. There are 21 acres of flowers, trees, and lush landscaping to enjoy in these nearby gardens.
In the 1980s, these gardens underwent renovation and expansion. Bill and Virginia Clemens created the Clemens Gardens in the 1990s, after which they gave them to the city. This formal, European-style garden has six gardens with several flower varieties, a trellis, and four fountains, among other features.
3.2. Lake George Park
Check out the amenities at Lake George Park for a one-stop shop. In addition to having two playgrounds, picnic, and grill spaces, a splash pad, a performance stage, and plenty of parking, the property also features fishing off the dock and a lake view. Don’t overlook the Lake George Municipal Complex, either.
This facility is accessible to the common people. It has a Community Room with a fireplace and comfy seating, a Preschool Room for kid-friendly playdates, two event rooms that may be rented, and additional access to the kitchen. It’s the perfect spot to hold your next large gathering or catch up over coffee with a friend.
3.3. Quarry Park And Nature Preserve
Visit the 684 acres of bedrock areas, wetlands, prairie, and forests in the close-by Waite Park. The largest property in Stearns County has 20 granite quarries, including two that are suitable for swimming, as well as mountain bike trails and walking, hiking, and dog-walking paths.
Throughout its prairie, woodland, wetland, and bedrock ecosystems, the park, accessible to the general public from dawn to dusk, displays a broad range of plant life, including oak and aspen trees, Indian paintbrush, yellow lady slippers, and prickly pear cacti.
Additionally, you can attempt geocaching, rock climbing, scuba diving, and trout fishing. Get outside in the winter to enjoy the snow on the fat-tire bicycle, cross-country skiing, winter walking, and snowshoeing routes.
4. Visit Stearns History Museum
The Stearns County Historical Society, which maintains the history of the St. Cloud area and Stearns County and invites visitors to find their place within its historical stories, is best known for its flagship project, the Stearns History Museum.
The museum is part of a more than 80-acre outdoor natural park that also includes a skateboard park, walking pathways, and flower gardens. The museum’s two floors of permanent exhibitions feature the retrospective Flowing Through Time, the look at the granite business in the area in On Solid Ground, and a study of notable local person Alice Wheelock Whitney. Visitors under five can also participate in activities in a children’s room.
5. Check Out Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center
In addition to a 16,000-square-foot ballroom and 60,000 square feet of exhibit space, the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center opened in 2014 and now offers more than 180,000 square feet of event space.
The city’s administration oversees the convention center, which features free public exhibits like the two-story feature wall Natural Life on the Mississippi, a creative celebration of the area’s flora, fauna, and natural geography, and several art cabinets showcasing the creations of regional artists. The Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Museum, which showcases artifacts connected to the history of baseball in the state, is also included. The venue may be rented for public and private special events, providing complete event catering and alcohol service.
6. Visit Paramount Center
The restored historic Paramount Theatre in the city’s downtown is home to the community performance and visual arts institution known as the Paramount Center for the Arts. The theatre hosts a wide range of regional and national touring concerts, plays, and stand-up comedy acts throughout the season and sells single and season tickets.
The Theater Lobby Gallery and the gallery and meeting area in Studio C are two public exhibition facilities that host a range of annual art shows. The McKnight Foundation has provided funding for the operation of additional exhibition space in the downtown Regency Building that features the Gallery St. Germain, which focuses on Minnesota artists. The center also provides a variety of public art classes and studio facilities as a resource for community arts.
7. Pay a Visit to Mary Cathedral Church
You need not follow any certain religion to appreciate the magnificence of St. Cloud’s Cathedral of St. Mary. The parish was established in 1855, and a church and school were built together. A Gothic-style church was constructed in 1864 but burned down in 1920.
Shortly after, the current church was planned and built. It was finished in the 1930s and was modeled after a basilica in Ravenna, Italy. The pipe organ was installed in 1984 after a restoration in 1980.
The Shrine of Saint Cloud, located inside the cathedral, houses several artifacts connected to the city’s past, including a supposed bone fragment from Saint Cloud, a few of his clothes, and a reproduction of a statue of the saint from the 17th century.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
8.1. How Many People Live in St. Cloud, Minnesota?
St. Cloud has a population of around 68,000 people.
8.2. How Is the Weather in St. Cloud, Minnesota?
A humid continental climate, with hot summers and chilly winters with a lot of snowfall, prevails in St. Cloud.
8.3. What Are Some of St. Cloud, Minnesota’s Top Attractions?
The Stearns History Museum, Quarry Park and Nature Preserve, Clemens Gardens, and Munsinger Gardens are some of St. Cloud’s well-liked tourist destinations.
8.4. What Kind of Economy Does St. Cloud, Minnesota Have?
Major employers in the healthcare, education, manufacturing and retail sectors make up St. Cloud’s broad economy.
8.5. What Airport Is Closest to St. Cloud, Minnesota?
The St. Cloud Regional Airport, which has flights to Minneapolis and Chicago, is the closest airport to St. Cloud.
Conclusion
We have covered all the amazing places and things to do in St. Cloud, MN. We hope this list will help you choose the places you would like to visit when you are there.
Tell us in the comments below if we missed out on any places.
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Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Steffy Michael
