Grand Rapids, MN Road Trips

Generations of American kids probably think Judy Garland grew up in Kansas with Auntie Em and Uncle Henry. Nope! She grew up in Grand Rapids as one of the Gumm kids. Ahhh! So that's why there's a yellow brick road outside the Old Central School.

Forest History Center, 2609 County Rd 76, ☏ +1 218 327-4482. Jun 8-Labor Day: Tu-Sa 11AM-4PM. Sep-May: M-F 9AM-4PM (visitor center and gift shop only). A recreation of a turn of the 20th century logging camp. $8 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children 6-17, free for children under 6. Itasca County Historical Society, 10 NW 5th St, ☏ +1 218 326-6431. Su-F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-4PM. Housed inside the Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids. Home to the Little Gem's Gift Shop, The Itasca Museum, Judy Garland exhibit, and The Karjala Research Genealogy and History Center. Judy Garland Museum, 2727 S Hwy 169, ☏ +1 218 327-9276, toll-free: +1-800-664-5839. Oct-Mar: F-Sa 10AM-5PM. Apr-Memorial Day: M-Sa 10AM-5PM. Memorial Day-Sep 30: 10AM-5PM daily. Located inside Judy Garland's childhood home.

1 Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program, 720 NW Conifer Drive, ☏ +1 218-327-5781. The Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program offers lessons in violin, viola, cello and bass for all ages. The Itasca Symphony Orchestra performs three times a year at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids. 2 UPM Blandin Paper Mill Tour, 121 Third St. NW, ☏ +1 218 327-6302. Each summer, visitors can tour a large commercial paper mill to see how glossy magazine paper is produced. See mountains of logs piled up in the yard waiting their turn to be mashed into pulp. See enormous super calendar machines that press pulp into flat, smooth printable surfaces before being spun onto rolls the size of boxcars. Tours are offered regularly, but only at certain times on certain days between early June and the end of August. Call ahead to inquire. 3 Grand Rapids Speedway, 1336 Fairgrounds Rd (Itasca County Fairgrounds), ☏ +1 218 326 4437. Fun local stock car track running various classes of cars, enduro and demolition derbies. Cheap, loud and dusty. Draws racers from Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. (updated Sep 2025) Itasca County Fair - mid-August, small, traditional county fair with livestock shows, a carnival midways, music, crafts, and lots of sugary, greasy food

1 Forest Lake Restaurant, 1201 NW 4th St (From Hwy 2, turn north on 11th Ave. If your car plunges into the lake, you went too far), ☏ +1 218-326-3423. Local favorite for generations. Serves regional specialties like walleye and wild rice soup. (updated Sep 2022) 2 Pasties Plus, 1405 NW 4th St (just off Hwy. 2), ☏ +1 218 398-2994. Pasties are light pastry dough wrapped around a meat and vegetable filling. (updated Sep 2022)

Brewed Awakenings Coffeehouse, 24 NE 4th St, ☏ +1 218 327-1088. 6:30AM-6:30PM.

AmericInn by Wyndham Grand Rapids, 1812 S Pokegama Ave, ☏ +1 218-212-1842. Best Western Plus Grand Rapids Mn, 2309 SW 1st Ave, ☏ +1 218-301-0345. Timberlake Lodge Hotel, 144 SE 17th St, ☏ +1 218 326-2600, toll-free: +1-866-800-2200, [email protected]. $109+.

The Rapid [1] provides mass transit throughout the area.