Munsinger Gardens and Clemens Gardens are two distinct, adjacent gardens on the banks of the Mississippi River northwest of the intersection of University Drive and Kilian Blvd near SCSU. Both showcasing the most beautiful parts of a Minnesota summer,
Munsinger Gardens on the lower east bank of the Mississippi River was originally the H.J. Anderson sawmill during the 1880s. The low river banks made this site ideal for the sawmill. In 1915, the City of St. Cloud acquired Riverside Park and what was to become Munsinger Gardens. Joesph Munsinger, the first Park Superintendent for the City of St. Cloud, was the catalyst for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration involvement. His passion led to the Park Department’s first greenhouse. The city named the “flower part of Riverside Park” for Munsinger in 1938.
As for the garden on the top of the hill, it was created by a wealthy businessman by the name of Bill Clemens who lived across the street. Bill’s wife Virginia suffered from multiple sclerosis and drew comfort from the view of the gardens. Bill purchased what would become the Clemens Garden and donated it to the City of St. Cloud. He also donated the funding to create what is now the Virginia Clemens Rose Garden. They donated millions to create a seven-acre European style park adjacent to the existing one, so Virginia would have an even better view from her window. Created in the tradition of the great gardens of Europe, the Formal Garden was the first of six. The others include the Rest Area Garden, the White Garden, the Perennial Garden, the Treillage Garden and finally, the Virginia Clemens Rose Garden that was inspired by Mrs. Clemens great love of roses; her middle name was “Rose”. A life-size statue of Virginia Clemens depicts her in her wheelchair with her husband behind her, his hand on her shoulder. The statue faces the nearby rose garden. Serving as an incredibly elaborate memorial, there are 1,100 roses including floribundas, tree roses, hybrid teas, shrub roses, and grandifloras. Notable mentions; the Renaissance Fountain (pictured) with Cranes, features a replica of a sculpture of Hebe, cupbearer to the gods.
The most colorful time to visit the gardens is usually the end of July, but they’re open from late May to late September.
In 1988, the current 
One of the best parts about the Governor’s Fishing Opener is seeing the hidden gems of the host community. The first of many for the St. Cloud area is the Quarry Park and Nature Preserve in Waite Park. 
The granite quarries opened over 100 years ago, seeking out the Saint Cloud Red Granite, a stone you can still see in the architecture of the Landmark Center and the James J. Hill House in St. Paul. 
Quarrying operations in the park ceased in the mid-1950’s. The park for decades was known in St. Cloud as an unregulated party spot called Hundred Acres Quarry. In 1992, Stearns County purchased this site from Cold Spring Granite Company and became the largest in the Stearns County Parks system. The park opened on January 1, 1998. 
It is open year-round with so much to do and places to explore! Granite reflecting pools, two swimming quarries, scientific and natural areas, mountain bike paths over billion-year-old bedrock, trout fishing, picnic areas, hiking trails, geocaching, a really cool derrick exhibit, rock climbing, cliff jumping (crazy-popular), three designated quarries for scuba diving (In central Minnesota… right?!), scenic overlooks, cross country ski trails, snowshoeing – and thats not even all! 
I took the guided tour, seeing the crystal clear, cold water while I pored over my copy of ”Quarry Quest, the History of Stearns County Quarry Park and Nature Preserve” written by a quarry-obsessed, retired Stearns County Commissioner named Mark Sakry, soaking up the granite quarrying history, politics, plant and bird lists, old articles and personal stories. I highly recommend making your way to the park and learning a bit of its history. What a stunning place!
It is my personal belief that that only way to make it through mid-weekdays, happily, is by chocolate. You may disagree, and that’s okay; more chocolate for me. Speaking of, I give you Mademoiselle Miel in St Paul.
With Valleyfair opening soon it seems like the perfect time to tell you about their brand-new ride. Located just next to where the Enterprise, now retired, was. Soaring in at a whopping 230 feet, the North Star is the second tallest ride in the park, with the Power Tower in first at 275 feet. Easily recognizable with its instagram-worthy red, white and blue motif, NS brings you up 20 stories and spins you up to 40mph. It’s the only ride of this type in the upper Midwest. Helpful note: If you sit on the outside, you’ll feel the wind and the spin. If you sit on the inside and look in, you will feel like you’re in a helicopter, reporting the late-breaking traffic news OR like you’re circling Godzilla. I, for one, totally loved the Godzilla-like seat. For those that think, NO WAY! Give it a chance. I went on it twice, no problem. And, with a name like “North Star”, paying homage to the north star state, I can tell you from my own experience, it’s worth checking out!