Not far from the Twin Cities is this quintessential 19th-century European village, home to Carleton and St. Olaf colleges, the mill that produces Malt-O-Meal cereal, and a history involving the infamous Jesse James bank robbery.
To See and Do
MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC SITES 
Northfield Historical Society Museum (507-645-9268; northfieldhistory.org), 408 Division Street. Open daily; guided tours offered mid-Jun.–Labor Day. Adults $5; seniors 65 and older $4; students with ID $3; children 6–12 $2; children under 6 free. The First National Bank, famous for its Jesse James connection, is part of this museum. Many of the bank’s fixtures are original, and other exhibits highlight the infamous bank robbery as well as non–Jesse James parts of Northfield’s history. The museum’s gift shop hearkens back to the general store days of the late 1800s while carrying a wide variety of local books.
Northfield Arts Guild Gallery (507-645-8877; northfieldarts guild.org), 304 Division Street. Open Tues.–Sat. Free admission. The Northfield Arts Guild is part visual arts and part theater, with art classes and exhibits in the gallery. Local and national artists are displayed in a wide variety of mediums.
THE ARCHER HOUSE RIVER INN
Flaten Art Museum (507-786-3556; wp.stolaf.edu/flaten), Dittmann Center, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, St. Olaf College. Open daily when the college is open (closed school breaks and summer). Free admission. St. Olaf’s art collection encompasses both US and European artists, with an emphasis on textiles, ceramics, and sculpture.
THE NORTHFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
TOURS Outlaw Trail Tour (northfield.org/content/outlaw-trail). Take a self-guided tour of the route the James-Younger gang took on that fateful day in 1876. Brochures and maps are available from the Northfield Chamber of Commerce. Large groups and tour buses can request a tour guide from the chamber.
Historic Sites and Points of Interest Tour (1-800-658-2548; visitingnorthfield.com). It’s not the most exciting name for a tour, but this self-guided venture takes visitors through the beauty and charm of Northfield, with its century-old buildings and architecture. Brochures and maps are available from the Northfield Chamber of Commerce. Large groups and tour buses can request a tour guide from the chamber.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS Goodsell Observatory (507-646-4000; carleton.edu), Cassat Hall, 139 Olin Drive, Carleton College. Open the first Friday evening of each month (hours vary by season), weather permitting. Free admission. The sky through the telescope is almost as beautiful as the stately architecture of the observatory building itself. Hope for clear skies—on cloudy nights the observatory is closed.
ST. OLAF COLLEGE
Green Space and Outdoor Activities
Cowling Arboretum (507-646-5413; apps.carleton.edu/campus/arb), MN 19, Carleton College. Open daily. Carleton’s Cowling Arboretum has 800 acres of wooded trails along the Cannon River valley. The trails are open to hikers and bikers, and in the winter to cross-country skiers, but be sure to stay on the trails; protected flora and fauna are being studied by Carleton students and are off-limits to visitors.
Lodging
Archer House River Inn (507-645-5661 or 1-800-247-2235; archerhouse.com), 212 Division Street S. This is the place to stay when in Northfield. The grand old inn, with its cheerful red exterior with white trim, has 35 impeccably decorated and maintained rooms and suites filled with antique furniture, many with river views. Room sizes range from “cozy” (small) to two-room suites. Three restaurants are on-site (Chapati Cuisine of India, Smoqehouse, and Tavern of Northfield; see Where to Eat), although breakfast is not included in the surprisingly reasonable rates. Rates start at $80.
Magic Door Bed & Breakfast (507-581-0445; magicdoorbb.com), 818 Division Street S. This bed-and-breakfast’s location, just out of the hubbub of downtown, gives it a quiet ambience, while its romantic décor makes it a wonderful getaway. The three guest rooms all have private baths and are beautifully decorated with vibrant but tasteful colors. The Summer Suite has a gas fireplace and whirlpool tub. Rooms come with robes, flat-screen LED TVs, and afternoon fruit and cheese trays and complimentary water, beer, wine, and sherry. Not only is a full breakfast included, but so is a glass of wine or beer in the afternoon; a “bottomless” cookie jar is left out for guests. Rates start at $90.
Where to Eat
DINING OUT Reunion (507-366-1337; reunioneatdrinkgather.com), 501 Division Street S. Open daily for dinner, Fri.–Sun. for lunch. This chic bistro offers wood-fired meats, including several beef options, Duroc pork chop, chicken, and walleye, along with pasta, avocado toast, fried pepper rings, and a meat and cheese plate, among other great choices. Live music happens frequently, and the craft cocktail menu is fun. Moderate/expensive.
EATING OUT Chapati Cuisine of India (507-645-2462; chapati.us), 214 Division Street S. Open Tues.–Sat. for lunch and dinner. In the Archer House River Inn (see Lodging), this restaurant’s huge menu has choices for both novice and experienced Indian-food enthusiasts. Servers will consult with you as to your preferred level of spiciness. Moderate.
Tavern of Northfield (507-663-0342; tavernofnorthfield.com), 212 Division Street S. Open daily for all three meals. Located at the Archer House River Inn (see Lodging), the tavern has a wide-ranging menu including pasta, steaks, flatbreads, and sandwiches. Moderate.
Kahlo (507-321-1884), 306 Division Street S. Open Mon.–Fri. for lunch and dinner, Sat. for brunch. A changing menu of Mexican specialties with some serious authenticity. Inexpensive.
The Contented Cow (507-663-1351; facebook.com/TheContentedCow), 302 Division Street S. Open daily for happy hour and dinner. A British pub with an extensive beer list. The meat and cheese plate plays well with beer, or try the pork and sage stew. Inexpensive.
Smoqehouse (507-664-1008; smoqehouse.com), 212 Division Street S. Open Mon.–Sat. for lunch and dinner. Located at the Archer House (see Where to Stay), Smoqehouse has an extensive barbecue menu, and a beer list to match. Moderate.
Entertainment
Northfield Arts Guild Theater (507-645-8877; northfieldartsguild.org), 304 S. Division Street. The theatrical arm of the Northfield Arts Guild (see To See and Do), this group produces several plays each year, staged in a former church down the street from the guild’s art gallery. The company also auditions new plays and conducts staged readings.
THE NORTHFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
Special Events
September: Defeat of Jesse James Days (djjd.org), Northfield. Held annually the first weekend after Labor Day. When your town has something as exciting as this in its history, it’s best to have a festival, complete with dramatic reenactments. This popular event is built around the Jesse James shootout, and there’s also a parade, golf tournament, antique tractor pull, vintage base ball, a rodeo, square dance, steak fry, 5K and 10K races, and a bike tour. Plan ahead and reserve hotel rooms early if you’d like to stay in the area.
November–December: St. Olaf Christmas Festival (507-786-2222; Christmas.stolaf.edu), 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, St. Olaf College, Northfield. Held in late November or early December, this annual tradition beganin 1912 and has become a premier event for the state. Several college choral ensembles and the college orchestra put together a magnificent program of Christmas carols and hymns, which are performed live (as well as broadcast on public radio and TV). Purchase tickets well in advance, as they usually sell out quickly.