“Easy to get to, hard to leave” is the Alexandria Lakes–area motto, and it’s an apt one. Alexandria itself has been around for more than 150 years and was named after the town’s first postmaster. The abundance of lakes makes it a valued tourist attraction. One of Alexandria’s claims to fame is the story of its being the birthplace of windsurfing back in 1960, when Al Seltz and Lewis Whinnery experimented with the then-new technology of fiberboard to see how it would work with pleasure boats and surfboards. Another claim to fame, although one hotly disputed, is that it’s the home of the infamous Kensington Runestone (see below).
To See and Do
MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC SITES 
Runestone Museum (320-763-3160; runestonemuseum.org), 206 Broadway Street, Alexandria. Open daily in summer; Mon.–Sat. in winter. Adults $8; seniors 65 and older $7; and students $5; a family rate is capped at $20. The highlight of this museum is the highly controversial Kensington Runestone, discovered in 1898 but thought to date back to 1362. The 200-pound stone is carved with runes and, if authentic, would indicate that Scandinavian explorers had arrived in the Midwest far earlier than previously supposed. However, that point is hotly disputed by a variety of experts. Nevertheless, the Runestone Museum is an interesting place to visit, not just for the Runestone itself, but also for an extensive collection of other historical artifacts and a pioneer village.
Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum (320-759-1114; legacyofthelakes.org), 205 W. 3rd Avenue, Alexandria. Open daily late May–Oct. Closed holidays. Adults $10; seniors 65 and older $8; active military members, veterans, and students 5–17 $5; and children under 5 free; a family rate is capped at $25. You don’t need an ocean to have a maritime museum. This set of exhibits includes numerous rare wooden boats, vintage yachts, and toy boats, and fishing and fishing club memorabilia. There’s also an exhibit focused on the history of Minnesota-made boats, as well as one about the extensive resort history of the area. The museum offers many events, including classes and live music, during the summer.
Historic Knute and Nicolina Nelson Museum (320-762-0382; dchsmn.org), 1219 Nokomis Street, Alexandria. Open Mon.–Fri. for guided tours. Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for ages 11 and under. Housed in the former home of statesman Knute Nelson, the DCHS has extensive collection of photos and slides about the communities in the Alexandria Lakes area.
Sinclair Lewis Boyhood Home (320-352-5201), 810 Sinclair Lewis Avenue, Sauk Centre. Open Tues.–Sun. Memorial Day–Labor Day. Adults $5; students 6–17 $3.50; children under 6 free. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons. Sinclair Lewis, the Nobel Prize–winning American novelist who skewered Sauk Centre in his novel Main Street, spent his formative years in the home that is now a museum. In spite of—or perhaps because of—the attention, Sauk Centre has guarded Lewis’s legacy in this carefully preserved home (a National Historic Landmark), as well as in the Sinclair Lewis Interpretive Center on I-94 coming into town. To cap things off is the annual Sinclair Lewis Days (see Special Events). Today Lewis’s boyhood home is a beautiful piece of nostalgia, whether or not you’re a fan of his work. Kids who haven’t read his works will enjoy the old-time ambience of the home, including some dangerous (by today’s standards) heating methods.
WINERIES Carlos Creek Winery (320-846-5443; carloscreekwinery.com), 6693 County Route 34 NW, Alexandria. Open daily. Winery tours, tastings, and, during the summer, plenty of special events. Carlos Creek was Minnesota’s first federally designated Viticulture Area.
Green Space and Outdoor Activities
GOLF Geneva Golf Club (320-762-7089; genevagolfclub.com), 4181 Geneva Golf Club Drive, Alexandria. Geneva Golf Club has a 27-hole championship course designed by Joel Goldstrand, as well as a well-regarded dining room (see Where to Eat).
HIKING AND BIKING Central Lakes Trail (centrallakestrail.com). This 55-mile paved trail winds from Fergus Falls to Osakis and is open to nonmotorized vehicles in the summer, although snowmobiles are allowed in the winter. There are few road crossings, making this a particularly safe trail for families. The Central Lakes Trail connects in Osakis to the Lake Wobegone Trail (see page 201).
PARKS Rune Stone Park (320-762-2999; co.douglas.mn.us/Kensington-runestone-park), 8965 County Route 103, Kensington. In conjunction with the Runestone Museum (see To See and Do) is this park, the former farm of Olaf Ohman, the man who discovered the Kensington Runestone. A memorial marks the spot where he discovered the controversial slab, and other historical buildings have been moved onto the farm for visitors as well. There are picnic shelters, a playground, indoor toilets, and nearly 8 miles of multiuse trails.
Lodging
The Alexandria Lakes area has a nice mix of bed-and-breakfasts and resorts of all sizes and amenities.
BED-AND-BREAKFASTS Cedar Rose Inn (320-760-7694; cedarroseinn.com), 422 7th Avenue W., Alexandria. This 1903 beauty is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and resides in what was known as the Silk Stocking District and offers four spacious rooms with private baths, some of which have whirlpool claw-foot tubs. Located near shops and antiquing opportunities. Rates start at $120.
Lake Le Homme Dieu Bed and Breakfast (320-846-5875 or 1-800-943-5875; llbedandbreakfast.com), 441 S. Le Homme Dieu Drive NE, Alexandria. On the shores of Lake Le Homme Dieu, this bed-and-breakfast offers easy access to the Central Lakes Trail. There are four rooms with private bath; amenities include an outdoor hot tub and access to the lakeview living room. Children 12 and over are welcome. Rates start at $145.
CABINS 
Shady Lawn Resort (320-763-3559; shadylawnresort.net), 1321 S. Darling Drive NW, Alexandria. Open Memorial Day–Labor Day. Eight cabins along Lake Darling, with plenty of children’s amenities and fishing options. Rates start at $120.
Canary Beach Resort (320-554-2471; canarybeachresort.com), 17405 County Route 28, Villard. Canary Beach has been welcoming visitors since 1920 and offers eight cabins and two larger “dens” along an 800-foot groomed sandy beach. Rates start at $119.
Brophy Lake Resort (320-762-8386; brophylakeresort.com), 1532 Brophy Park Road NW, Alexandria. There are 13 cabins here, and they are far more deluxe than usually expected from a small resort. Most of the cabins are on Lake Brophy, but a few are on Mina Creek, which connects to the lake. Rates start at $130.
Westridge Shores Resort (320-886-5434; westridgeshores.com), 6907 MN 114 SW, Alexandria. Eleven cabins on Lake Mary, and ice fishing houses available for rental during the winter. Guests can make appointments (kids, too) to try their hand in the on-site pottery studio. Two-night minimum stay. Rates start at $125.
Where to Eat
DINING OUT 
Geneva Grill (320-762-7092; genevagolfclub.com), 4181 Geneva Golf Club Drive, Alexandria. Open Mon.–Sat. for lunch and dinner, Sun. for brunch and early dinner during golf season. Located at the Geneva Golf Club (see Green Space and Outdoor Activities), the grill offers steak, prime rib, walleye, and pasta. Expensive.
The Garden Bar on Sixth (320-759-2277; thegardenbaronsixth.com), 115 6th Avenue E., Alexandria. Open Mon.–Sat. for lunch and dinner. This cozy bar and bistro has dozens of wines by the glass and a solid beer list as well, plus a menu of foods easy to pair with either. Steaks, chicken, seafood, several veggie sautés and salads, and a list of starters that could be used to create a meal on its own. Moderate/expensive.
La Ferme (320-846-0777; lafermemn.net), 613 Broadway Street, Alexandria. Open Tues.–Sat. for lunch, Thurs.–Sat. for dinner. This is a chef-owned farm-to-table restaurant focused on local ingredients whenever possible, which means the menu changes regularly. Items might include grilled chicken, duck breast, pastured beef, and sizable sandwiches. Moderate/expensive.
EATING OUT Jan’s Place (320-763-3877), 612 3rd Avenue W., Alexandria. Open daily for breakfast and lunch. Hearty plated breakfasts; soups and sandwiches at lunchtime. Inexpensive.
Northwoods Café (320-763-3700; facebook.com/Northwoods-Cafe/100196716711411), 903 3rd Avenue E. Open daily for breakfast and lunch. Classic diner food with enormous, delicious portions, and a friendly staff. Inexpensive.
Pike & Pint Grill (320-763-7468; pikeandpint.com), 110 30th Avenue W. Open daily Handcrafted food and regional craft beer, with a gluten-free menu available. Try the hand-pressed burgers or any of the meat options, but don’t ignore the extensive seafood menu. Moderate.
The Brass Lantern (320-763-4818; facebook.com/TheBrassLanternAlexandriaMN), 3015 MN 29. Open daily for breakfast and lunch. Full breakfast menu and a large lunch selection of sandwiches, salads, burgers, homemade soups and chili, and a salad bar. Inexpensive.
Mi Mexico (320-759-5686; mimexicoalex.com), 401 N. Nokomis Sreet. Open daily for lunch and dinner. A good mix of authentic and Americanized Mexican dishes to choose from, along with a robust cocktail menu. Inexpensive/moderate.
Entertainment
Theatre L’Homme Dieu (320-846-3150; tlhd.org), 1875 County Route 120 NE, Alexandria. Open summers only. Tickets start at $25. A local theater that also hosts touring shows, Theatre L’Homme Dieu has been keeping summer visitors and residents alike entertained for 50 years. A mix of comedies, dramas, and musicals make up each season, including such productions as The Church Basement Ladies and a tribute to Glen Campbell. Fridays are Food Truck Fridays, where local food trucks sell food.
Special Events
July: Sinclair Lewis Days (320-352-5201), Sauk Centre. This annual celebration of the life of Sauk Centre’s most famous and possibly most contentious former resident occurs in late July. A week of events includes a 5K run, horseshoe and softball tournaments, street dance, live music, and the crowning of Miss Sauk Centre.