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LAKE IDA | MAP & DIRECTIONS | NEARBY SITES OF INTEREST | SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Nearby sites of interest
Alexandria, home to KAPALO Retreats, LLC, is a great place to visit year-round. Visit the Chamber of Commerce building near the Kensington Runestone Museum for more information about fun special events every month in our community.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Alexandria offers a point of entry to the 55 mile-long paved Central Lakes State Trail system. Bike, walk, run, or skate the trail, only minutes from KAPALO. Bring your own bike or pick one up for a day at the local Bike and Fitness Company.
- Visit any of the State Parks in the area, all within a few miles of KAPALO. Start at Inspiration Peak (Sinclair Lewis' coveted vista) or explore Lake Carlos State Park. Nearby you can take in beautiful panoramic views at Seven Sisters and Ordway Prairie, both which are Nature Conservancy sites.
- Your choices for recreation are wide open during the balmy months of spring through autumn. A golfer's dream, Alexandria boasts 12 gold courses, including Tom Lehman's course. Nearby Osakis hosts an annual 5K run to give your competitive streak an outlet. Riding stables, just minutes from KAPALO, are open to adults and children, providing hours of equestrian fun. And speaking of children, Erickson's Petting Zoo opens its 90 year-old farmstead to kids of all ages.
- If spectator events are more your thing, don't miss the summer-long races at Viking Speedway, named 2005 EISSOTA Track of the Year. Ogle your favorite treasures at the Vintage Car Show or the Minnesota Lakes Marine Antique Boat Museum in Alexandria. Or head down to see some REAL baseball at the historic Knute Nelson Stadium. Cheer on the local Beetles collegiate baseball team for a taste of exciting Northwoods League play.
- Winter is when the real fun begins. Grab your trail map from the Chamber of Commerce and hit the snowmobile trails, or take a lift to the tops of glacially cut hills in nearby Kensington, with 15 downhill runs for skiing as well as areas for bombing the hill in snow tubes. If you're pining for summer, polish up your rock climbing skills at the indoor New Heights Climbing Wall in Alexandria.
- For the finer things in life, visit the largest Minnesota winery, Carlos Creek Winery, which hosts entertainment and wine tasting year-round. Come in autumn for the famous Grape Stomp Festival, featuring live music on several stages, and craft vendors galore.
- For a dose of culture, don't miss Alexandria's Theatre L'Homme Dieu, a professional summer theatre featuring drama, musical and comedies. Or for lively community productions, head to the AAAA Theatre downtown.
- When in town, shop your heart out in historic Alexandria at over 20 antique shops, or do some damage at the Viking Mall, with over 40 merchants to meet your every whim.