Bemidji, The First
City on the Mississippi, Minnesota USA
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Customize Your Tour
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Select
from our 'Mix & Match' options activities to meet your groups
interests and time frame. |
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Contact:
Cindy
Habedank, 800-458-2223 X
106
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Minutes |
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Paul Bunyan and Babe his
Blue Ox
No visit to Bemidji is complete without the traditional photo
opportunity with the legendary lumberjacks. The adjacent Tourist
Information Center display's Paul's memorabilia and the Fireplace of
States. Located downtown Bemidji at Lake Bemidji waterfront.
Year Around
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Freedom
Defenders Veteran's Memorial
Dedicated May 2006, the memorial is designed to honor the unity
and cooperation of the armed forces in defending America and the
freedoms we treasure. While it honors all branches of the
military, it also focuses on one - that of Charles Lindberg, the last
surviving Marine who hoisted the first flag on Iwo Jima.
Located adjacent to Beltrami County History Museum
downtown Bemidji Year Around
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One Hour
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Bemidji Art Walk Over 20 sculptures and murals scattered throughout the downtown
area. A treasure hunt activity can be arranged to add to the fun of
exploring the downtown shops and restaurants. Begin at Tourist
Information Center, map available. Sculptures change annually.
Year Around
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Beltrami County History Center
Quaint museum housed in renovated Great Northern railroad
depot. State-of-the-art, self-guided exhibits changed bi-annually. Miniature
railroad diorama, gift shop. Located in downtown Bemidji - a
good complementary activity to the Art Walk. 218-444-3376
$1 per person
Year Around
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Forestedge
Winery
This winery is located on the edge of the Paul Bunyan State
Forest, about 25 miles south of Bemidji. Sample wines
handcrafted from fruits and berries that survive the winters of
Minnesota's North Country. Tasting room and gift shop.
Stretch your legs on a stroll through gardens on site. Often
included on itinerary to/from Bemidji.
Join them for the annual Art Fair Fair at the Winery the 3rd weekend
in August. Featuring 25 selected artists exhibiting and selling:
pottery, porcelain, jewelry, fiber, leather, wood, painting and more.
218-224-3535
* Wine sold by the glass and free wine tasting
* Delightful food provided by area restaurants.
* Featuring Jazz on the cobblestone Bistro!
No Charge for admission
Open Mother's Day through Christmas 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Closed Mondays
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One to Two Hours
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Bemidji Woolen Mills
'Warming the World since 1920' Tour the factory and
outlet store, manufacturing essential woolen apparel
for the outdoor industry right here in Bemidji. Highly skilled
seamstresses take pride in their dedication to their perfection.
Originally founded to provide outdoor woolen apparel for the
logging industry. As demand for lumberjack apparel declined,
thousands of individuals came to explore our great forests,
spectacular lakes and pristine rivers. Bemidji Woolen Mills has
become a trustworthy source of woolen garments for outdoor
enthusiasts - a favorite stop for
groups. 888-751-5166
45 min tour of factory (Located in Industrial Park)
30 min (approximately) to shop retail portion of store
(Located downtown)
(Factory and retail outlet store about 5 minute drive apart)
No Charge for tour
All Year Around
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Lake Bemidji State Park
218-755-3843 John
Naturalist-guided Pontoon Ride on Lake
Bemidji or down the Mississippi River. Length of tour
depends on groups interest and available time. 15 passenger
capacity*
30 min -
Brief introduction to Lake Bemidji
1 hour -
Lake Bemidji history and tour
2 hours -
Lake Bemidji into Mississippi
River history tour.
Naturalist-guided Bog Walk 1 hour -
walking tour. (Solid trail, rolling terrain) - a 1200 foot
boardwalk winding deep into the mysterious world of the bog.
(Minnesota's state flower, the Showy Ladyslipper, grow profusely
along the boardwalk and are at peak viewing the 3rd week of June.
*Group can be split into two, with one group taking the pontoon
tour, the other the bog walk, then rotate.
Park entrance daily fee: $5.00 per motorcoach
Located about 6 miles from Bemidji on northeast side of Lake
Bemidji.
Summer/Fall
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Headwaters Science Center 218-444-4472 Peggy
Demonstrations and Programs oriented for
groups.
Presentation Choices:
All About Raptors - Live birds of prey
are used to introduce
participants to history and characteristics of these
fascinating birds.
Bats - gain respect for these often
misunderstood creatures.
Cryogenics - how substances change when
temperature varies by
hundreds of degrees.
Combustion - Fire! It has fascinated
humans throughout history.
Clouds of fire flash, metals burn, balloons explode in discussion of
chemical reaction.
Star Lab - portable planetarium.
Capacity: 20 (Requires some physical mobility - need to step into lab)
Hands-on Exhibit Floor offers a variety of fun
and interesting
exhibits, including animals/reptiles on display and for handling.
1 hour for presentation
$30 for up to 25 persons, $1 per additional person. Capacity: 50
Visit exhibit floor - additional 30-60 minutes
$3 per person for exhibit floor.
Located downtown Bemidji
Year Around
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Two and One Half Hours
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"Top of the World" Covered Wagon
Tour 218-243-2250
Board an authentic horse-drawn covered wagon. Narrated
tour originates from a replica of a logging village. Ride up
the Continental Divide
(Northern
Divide) for a beautiful view of
lakes and forest. Chuck wagon lunch or refreshments can be
arranged. Approx. $550 for full coach. Meals approx. $11 per
person.
Located 15 miles north of Bemidji.
Summer/Fall
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One to Four Hours
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Itasca State Park
1 1/2 - 2 hours - Mississippi River Headwaters Tour
An abbreviated version of the above tour, with the headwaters
stop being the highlight.
$55.00 per coach.
Park entrance daily fee: $7.00 per coach
Summer/Fall
1 1/2 hours - Lake Itasca Boat Tour
Board the "Chester Charles" for a narrated
tour of Lake Itasca, whence the Mississippi River springs from.
Departs from Douglas Lodge Pier. Capacity: 55 passengers
Reservations required. 218-266-2101 / 218-732-5318
$10.00 each or charter for $450.00
Memorial Weekend - Labor Day Weekend
Fall Tours available
45 minutes
- Douglas Lodge Dining option - 218-266-2124
This historic log lodge has been accommodating guests for
nearly a century. Dining room offers specialty lunch for
groups, or will cater a 'picnic lunch' at one of the picnic
shelters.
Open Memorial Day Weekend - Early October.
Summer/Fall
1-4 hours - Rent bicycles in the Park at Itasca Sports
Rental. Explore scenic and historical sites along miles of
paved trails. Choice of routes depending on time
available. Electric pedal aid motor units available on some
bicycles.
Open May-mid October
Located 30 miles south of Bemidji.
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Suzi & Hondo, Inc
Can provide a "Dance Party" for
your group. Music and dancing instructions of your choice -
Salsa, Swing, Social, Ballroom, Country, Line Dance and Big Band
themes. Catering to all ages. Downtown Bemidji - Elk's Club Ballroom.
Year Around
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Three Hours
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Gourmet
House Wild Rice Processing Plant
Tour 42,000 sq.ft wild rice processing plant
located within a 100 mile radius of 7500
acres of paddy production. Gourmet House has
been processing, packaging and marketing
wild rice for over 20 years. Plant
tour includes a visit to the lab and samples
of wild rice for each visitor. Harvest
season is typically in August/September
depending on the season.
No charge for tour.
Plant tour best in Summer/Fall
Contact: Julie Wraa
800-226-9522
Clearbrook, MN, 40 miles NW of
Bemidji.
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Downtown
Walking Tour
Begin
at the Tourist Information Center on the shore of Lake
Bemidji. Take pictures with legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan
and Babe his Blue Ox. Inside the TIC is a collection of
Paul's memorabilia along with the Fireplace of States. Pick
up the Art Walk brochure and stroll through the downtown
area in search of over twenty sculptures and murals.. Take in the
Beltrami County History Museum, a renovated railroad depot of James J.
Hill. Continue on the Art Walk visiting a variety of
shops and dining opportunities of your choice. The
Headwaters Science Center offers interesting presentations
and hands-on activities along with a science related gift shop. Next, visit the Bemidji Community
Arts Center, where 2 galleries and a gift shop reflect on the arts
of the area. From here you may return to the TIC or extend
your tour to include Lake Boulevard - a street lined with historic
homes of various architecture from the early days of
Bemidji.
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Concordia
Language Villages Tour
Breakfast in Bemidji and then
it’s off on a tour of the famous Bemidji Woolen Mills. A stop at the
Mill’s factory store offering quality woolen garments and items. From there, take a scenic
historic home tour along Lake Boulevard as you make your way north to Lake Bemidji
State Park. At the Park enjoy interpretive programs and a unique bog walk over wild
orchids, or take in a naturalist guided pontoon tour of Lake
Bemidji. Next, it’s a 10-minute drive through the majestic Chippewa Forest, until
you reach Concordia Language Villages, the internationally famous center for
linguistic and cultural learning. Take a delightful tour of the German, Finnish, Norwegian
and French villages. Ethnic banquets can also be pre-arranged. On the final leg of
your tour, drive to Buena Vista for a covered wagon ride overlooking the beautiful
Continental Divide. Finish your day with a visit to the waterfront statues of Paul Bunyan
and Babe. (Available
Spring & Fall)
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Big
Bog State Recreation Area
This two-part recreation area
includes a northern unit and a southern unit. The 500-square-mile
peat bog, the largest in the lower 48 states, is located in the
northern unit. A mile-long boardwalk, completed in 2005, enables
visitors to get a first-hand look at the unique plant and animal
life of this rare resource. The bog, which has long been a source
of medicinal plants for the Ojibwe Indians, represented a barrier
to European settlers who tried in vain to drain it. Today, many of
the native plants, including yellow-eyed grass, bog rush and two
kinds of sundews, are on Minnesota's endangered or threatened
species list. From orchids to carnivorous plants to rare birds,
visitors will see a mixture of fascinating and rare resources.
The southern unit has a sandy
beach, picnic grounds, and great fishing.
$7.00 State Park Vehicle permit for motorcoach - day permit
Best in Mid May to October
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Waterways
& Wildlife
After breakfast,
begin the drive from the "pines to the prairie" stopping
at the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge. Completely handicapped
accessible with paved level walking trails and pier to view variety
of waterfowl and other wildlife. Next stop is the beautiful
Bergeson Gardens where acres of blooming flower beds will please
your eye and heart. Time for lunch at the historic restored
Inn at Maple Crossing- true country inn style dining and
unique gift shop. On the way back to Bemidji an antique and
gift shop can be taken in also. 50 miles west of Bemidji, off US Hwy
2.
Best in July and August
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Chippewa
National Forest
Spend a day visiting America’s
oldest national forest. Start with a 20-minute drive and self-guided tour of the historic
log Chippewa Forest Headquarters.
(Open year around). Next drive to Norway Beach Visitor Center (open
seasonally) for a one-hour
tour. On to Cut Foot Sioux Station to view the historic Turtle
Mound. Head north to the ancient trees of the Lost Forty and the remains of Civilian
Conservation Corps Camp Rabideau. Enjoy a
sack lunch under the pavilion. Return to Bemidji, freshen up for
dinner.
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