I think we can all agree that life can be unpredictable these days so it’s nice to have something to count on. Every year we all look forward to those days off at the beginning of each spring. Some people take it as a restful break from the normal routine while others use it to experience new things! No matter if you’re looking for a nice relaxing staycation or a time of adventure and excitement, the Willmar Lakes Area has a variety of fun attractions for you and your family to experience this spring!

Outdoor Recreation
Whether there’s snow on the ground or not, you’ll love exploring the trails at Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center on their fat-tire bikes. Make sure to call at least 24 hours in advance to book your bike rentals. If the fat-tire bikes aren’t your cup of tea, you can always enjoy the trails by walking and taking in the many sights and sounds of spring. You’ll also love the many scenic trails and expansive natural beauty at Sibley State Park.

Biking is another great way to explore the many parks and trails in the Willmar Lakes Area. Some of our favorite biking trails include the Glacial Lakes State Trail, the Eagle Lake Trail, Robbins Island trails and the beautiful road route around Green Lake. Bring your bike and explore the Willmar Lakes Area or participate in one of our area’s biking events. Don’t have a bike? Rent one from one of eleven BikeWillmar bike share hubs.

Need the kids to wear off even more energy? Then take them to the Destination Playground at Robbins Island Regional Park in Willmar. There they will get to enjoy 19,000 square feet packed with swings, merry-go-rounds, and draw bridges, all on a soft rubbery flooring. The fully-enclosed and accessible playground offers a safe and fun place for children of all ages and abilities to play and interact while the surrounding area provides seating and gathering areas for families. And if you’re family loves disc golf, don’t forget to pack your discs so you can enjoy the long and short holes, wide and narrow fairways and hilly terrain at Robbins Island Disc Golf Course. This 18-hole disc golf course is set between two lakes and offers a challenge through a beautiful park filled with scenic terrain, trails through forested oak hills and grassy knolls.

Indoor Fun
If you happen to have a rainy or snowy day during your stay in the Willmar Lakes Area, don’t worry; there’s still plenty of options to keep your family having fun and staying busy. Head to Alley on Ash in New London for an afternoon or evening of bowling with your family all while enjoying their delicious burgers, pizzas and variety of beers! The Willmar Lakes Area is also home to two great theatres;  Spicer Cinema 4 and Golden Ticket Cinemas Kandi 6.  At Spicer Cinema 4 they offer four screens with stadium seating featuring the best quality picture from new digital projectors and premium digital sound. They also boast the lowest concession prices around with delicious family recipe popcorn that is second to none!

If you’re traveling with young ones, you’ll want to check out The Village Children’s Museum where your kids can enjoy hands-on exploration of cultural and academic exhibits including plenty of space for physical activity. And for those that love history, be sure to make a stop at the Kandiyohi County Historical Society to see the variety of exhibits that depict the many years of history that has taken place in Kandiyohi County. The kids will love to explore the Great Northern Steam Engine #2523 that was built in 1916 and is now on display outside of the museum.

Unique Opportunity
Bring the whole family to discover treasures at West Central RockHounds, Minnesota’s only indoor gem mining experience! Located next door to Dunham’s and across from Joann’s in Uptown Willmar, this unique rock shop offers the opportunity to mine your own gems and minerals by sluicing through a bag of rough. They also offer lapidary services (rock cutting and polishing), gifts, novelty items and more! Come see what gems await you!

Springtime Events You Don’t Want To Miss
Every spring the Willmar Lakes Area hosts a variety of events that the whole family will love. Starting off in March, you can enjoy walking or running a 5K when you register for the St. Patrick’s Day Red Beard Run. Not only do the top three finishers get an award, but there are also awards given to the person with the best beard and the one that has the best St. Patrick’s Day outfit. In April, you can always look forward to an amazing production put on by community members at The Barn Theatre. The production for April 2022 is Clue: The Musical.

April also brings the Home & Outdoor Living Expo. During this two-day expo, the Willmar Civic Center is full of the best local businesses and vendors highlighting the latest trends and innovations from home building, remodeling and décor to landscape design, party vendors to green energy, boats and docks, storage buildings, outdoor fun and adventure. Lastly, the whole family will enjoy the Earth Day Celebration at Prairie Wood Environmental Learning Center. This fun and educational experience takes place each April at the farm site at PWELC. Booths, exhibits, and kid’s activities offer information about water quality, energy efficiency, land management, and much more.

With fun for all ages, we invite you to make new Spring Break memories in the Willmar Lakes Area!

So go ahead and book your stay at one of our hotels in the area or at one of our beautiful resorts. And don’t forget to make a list of all the delicious restaurants you’d like to stop at during your stay in Kandiyohi County!