Things to do in Alexandria

Start downtown at the Runestone Museum (206 Broadway, $12 adults), home of the Kensington Rune Stone, and the 28-foot Big Ole statue across the street. Then get outside: Lake Carlos State Park is 10 miles north on Highway 29 and 2 miles west, and the paved Central Lakes Trail runs 55 miles from Osakis to Fergus Falls with no fee. In summer, add the Legacy of the Lakes Museum and Carlos Creek's winery and brewery; as of November 2026 the lake museum is closed until May 21, 2027, and the winter calendar shifts to holiday light walks and markets.

Alexandria is the county seat of Douglas County, which Explore Alexandria says has more than 300 lakes. This guide is for a weekend in the area in any season. It covers what each stop is, its hours and price where the operator publishes them, and what changes in winter. For the Brainerd side of lakes country, see things to do in Brainerd.

Alexandria attractions compared

The Runestone Museum and Big Ole

Runestone Museum

The Runestone Museum at 206 Broadway is built around the Kensington Rune Stone. According to the museum, the stone was found in 1898 in the roots of an aspen tree on the Olof Öhman farm near Kensington, 15 miles southwest of Alexandria, and its runic text is dated 1362. Whether it is authentic has been debated for more than a century. The museum says the Smithsonian's position is that the stone "needs more research," and that it tries to present the evidence objectively.

The museum also has a Native American exhibit and a recreated Civil War era fort. Explore Alexandria says the Fort Alexandria replica stands about 2 blocks from the original 1863 stockade site.

• Winter hours: November 1 to March 31, Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. In winter only the indoor exhibits are open.
• Summer: the outdoor campus opens, weather permitting, with historic buildings; the Viking ship replicas are in the agricultural museum building there, so they are a summer-only stop.
• Admission: adults $12, seniors (65+) $10, veterans $7, college students and teachers $10, family $25, under 5 free. The home page labels these "Summer Rates"; the Plan Your Visit page lists the same prices with no season.
• Contact: 320-763-3160.

The museum's own pages do not agree on hours. Its Runestone page lists the winter hours above (Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Its Plan Your Visit FAQ says "Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am - 4:30 pm," and its home page shows Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as summer hours. Call before a late-afternoon visit.

Big Ole

The museum says the 28-foot Big Ole statue was made for the New York World's Fair in the 1960s and traveled there with the rune stone for the Minnesota Pavilion. It stands across the street from the museum in Big Ole Park, and the museum foundation maintains it. Per Explore Alexandria, his shield reads "Alexandria: Birthplace of America." The Central Lakes Trail passes right behind the statue.

To see where the stone was found, the museum points visitors to Kensington Park, a Douglas County park on the site of the Öhman farm.

Lakes and trails

Lake Carlos State Park

The DNR lists "Fishing on Chain of Lakes" among the park's highlights and says Lake Carlos is 150 feet deep in places. The park has 14 miles of hiking trail and 9 miles of horse trail, a swimming beach and two boat accesses on the lake. In winter there are 6 miles of groomed classic ski trail (a Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required), 9 miles of snowmobile trail that connects to the Douglas Area Trail Association system, and snowshoeing anywhere off the groomed ski trails. Snowshoe rentals are at the ranger station.

As of the DNR's October 28, 2026 update, the ranger station is on winter hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), water is off in the campgrounds except one year-round spigot near the visitor center, and docks are out for the season. The park's four camper cabins stay open in winter, Thursday to Sunday.

Vehicle permit: $7 one-day permit (the DNR also sells an overnight permit at the same price, valid through 4 p.m. the next day) or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR permit page. For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay. For campsites, cabins and reservations, see the full Lake Carlos State Park guide.

Central Lakes Trail

The Central Lakes Trail runs 55 paved miles on a former railroad line between Osakis and Fergus Falls, passing through 10 communities including Alexandria. Its website says it is open to walking, running, biking, in-line skating and wheelchairs, closed to motorized use except snowmobiles in winter, and that "No fees are charged." At Osakis it connects to the Lake Wobegon Trail, which runs 48 miles to St. Joseph, for about 130 miles of paved trail in all.

Museums, winery and winter fun

Legacy of the Lakes Museum and Gardens

The Legacy of the Lakes Museum at 205 3rd Avenue West covers Minnesota lake traditions: wooden boats (Chris-Craft, Gar Wood, Century and Hackercraft among them), grand lake resorts and fishing history. As of November 2026 it is closed for the season and reopens May 21, 2027. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, students and teachers, $7 for ages 5 to 17, $5 for veterans and active military, and $25 for a family. The Legacy Gardens next door are open daily from dawn to dusk and are free. Its next classic boat show is July 10, 2027.

Carlos Creek

Carlos Creek, at 6693 County Road 34 NW, describes a 190-acre property with the Carlos Creek Winery tasting room, 22 Northmen Brewing Co. and Stoke Pizza, which it describes as hand-crafted, wood-fired pizzas. It calls itself "MN's largest winery." Its one-hour winery tours run in summer and include two wine samples. As of November 2026, its Visit page posts these hours: the winery tasting room and Stoke Pizza, Monday and Tuesday noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; the 22 Northmen taproom, Monday and Tuesday noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Its summer food truck and spritz truck are listed as closed for the season. Phone: 320-846-5443.

Andes Tower Hills

Andes Tower Hills is a ski, snowboard and tubing hill 15 miles west of Alexandria, at 4505 Andes Road SW in Kensington. As of early November 2026 its site says snow guns are ready and it starts making snow as early as the end of October, but no opening date is posted. Call 320-965-2455.

Holiday events, as of November 2026

Explore Alexandria's holiday guide (posted November 6, 2026) lists:

Explore Alexandria's Christmas in Alexandria page gives Christmas in the Fort as Friday, November 27 in its details but "Friday, November 28" in one heading; November 27 is the Friday. The Runestone Museum's home page also lists a November 27 holiday closure, so confirm with the museum (320-763-3160) before you go.

Before you go

• Visitor center: Explore Alexandria is at 203 Broadway (320-763-0102).
• Winter closures: the Runestone Museum's outdoor campus and the Legacy of the Lakes Museum are closed until spring. Big Ole, the gardens and the trail stay open.
• Museum hours: call the Runestone Museum to confirm closing time, since its own pages differ.
• State park permit: see the DNR permit page for prices and where to buy.
• Ski season: check the Andes Tower Hills snow report for opening day.

Related guides: Lake Carlos State Park · Things to do in Brainerd · Brainerd restaurants · Lakes country guides · Minnesota in winter

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Sources

• Runestone Museum, The Runestone (winter hours, address): https://runestonemuseum.org/runestone/
• Runestone Museum, Plan Your Visit (pricing, FAQ, Big Ole): https://runestonemuseum.org/home/plan-your-visit/
• Runestone Museum, home page (exhibits by season, rates): https://www.runestonemuseum.org/
• Explore Alexandria, About Alexandria: https://explorealex.com/about/
• Explore Alexandria, "Kick off the Holiday Season in Alexandria, Minnesota" (Nov. 6, 2026): https://explorealex.com/kick-of-the-holiday-season-in-alexandria-minnesota/
• Explore Alexandria, home page (visitor center address and phone): https://www.explorealex.com/
• Explore Alexandria, Christmas in Alexandria: https://explorealex.com/christmas-in-alex/
• Explore Alexandria, Tinsel Taproom event: https://explorealex.com/event/tinsel-taproom-2/2026-12-02/
• Andria Theatre, A Christmas Carol: https://andriatheatre.org/show/a-christmas-carol/
• Minnesota DNR, Lake Carlos State Park: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00211
• Minnesota DNR, Vehicle permits: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html
• Central Lakes Trail, About the Trail: https://www.centrallakestrail.com/about/
• Central Lakes Trail, home page: https://www.centrallakestrail.com/
• Central Lakes Trail, "The Off Season For Bikes Is Go-Time for Sleds": https://www.centrallakestrail.com/the-off-season-for-bikes-is-go-time-for-sleds/
• Legacy of the Lakes Museum, home page: https://www.legacyofthelakes.org/
• Carlos Creek, Visit Us and home page: https://carloscreek.com/visit/
• Andes Tower Hills, home page: https://www.andestowerhills.com/