'''Saint Cloud''' is a city in Central Minnesota with a population of 63,000. Although it may have few attractions to draw the tourist, it is a nexus of medical advances, particularly in orthopedics (St. Cloud Orthopedics Associates, for example). A "College town" as well, as it is home to St. Cloud State University and St Cloud Technical College. The College of St. Benedict and St. John's University are located nearby.

Get in

By car

About an hour northwest of Minneapolis - Saint Paul via Interstate 94.

By train

'''Amtrak''', [http://www.amtrak.com]. Amtrak's ''Empire Builder'' service, which runs between Chicago and Seattle/Portland, stops in Saint Cloud. The train station is located at 555 E St. Germain Street.

By bus

  • '''Greyhound''', [http://www.greyhound.com]. Bus terminal located at 510 S 1st St.
  • '''Jefferson Lines''', [http://www.jeffersonlines.com]. Buses serve the terminal used by Greyhound listed above. There is also an additional stop at St. Cloud State University, at the Atwood Center at 720 4th Ave S.
  • By plane

    [http://www.stcloudairport.com/ St. Cloud Regional Airport] ({{IATA|STC}}) is about four miles east of St. Cloud's central business district. Northwest Airlines makes daily connecting flights to and from Minneapolis/St. Paul.

    Get around

    St. Cloud is laid out with its primary traffic artery (Division Street) running roughly E-W. Crossing arteries (roughly N-S) are called "Avenues," and are numbered as either "South" or "North" of Division Street. For example, a location "nmm 6th Ave S" would be expected to be located in the nth block south of Division street, on a N-S crossing street roughly six streets from the (Mississippi) river. Arteries roughly parallel to Division are called "Streets," and designated either "North" or "South." For example, a location "nmm 10th Street S" would be expected to be located on the n-hundred block west of the river, on an E-W street roughly 10 block-lengths south of Division. The word "roughly" is definitely applicable in the above. A similar scheme applies east of the river, but the directional system is more complex.

    See

  • '''Munsinger Gardens and Clemens Gardens''' Kilian Boulevard Southeast [http://www.munsingerclemens.com/] extensive flower gardens dating from the 1930s
  • '''Stearns County History Museum''', 235 33rd Avenue South. ''+1 320'' 253-8424 [http://www.stearns-museum.org/]
  • Do

    '''Parkwood 18''' 1533 Frontage Road North, Waite Park, ''+1 320'' 253-4328, an eighteen screen movie theater

    '''St. Cloud State Husky Hockey''' - NCAA Division I hockey at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. SCSU plays in the always rugged WCHA. Call 1-877-SCSUTIX for information.

    Events

    '''Granite City Days''' formerly the Wheels, Wings, and Water Festival, held every summer

    Buy

  • '''Crossroads Center''', 4101 West Division Street, ''+1 320'' 252-2856 [http://www.crossroadscenter.com/] a shopping center anchored by Target, Sears, JC Penney, Marshall Field's, and Scheels All Sports.
  • '''Herberger's''', 600 W Saint Germain Street, ''+1 320'' 251-5202 [http://www.herbergers.com/home.jsp] department store, founded in St. Cloud
  • Eat

    Restaurants: Many, both typical and upscale.

    Drink

  • '''DB Searles Bar and Restaurant''', 18 5th Av., (320) 253-0655. A unique bar and restaurant located in historic downtown has four floors of great entertainment and fine dining. Street level you will find a cozy pub with high tin ceilings, original woodwork, tons of charm. The Stadium Sports Bar on 2nd floor hosts live bands several nights a week. The third and fourth level hosts a newly renovated restaurant for fine dinners six nights a week and lunch on Saturday.
  • Sleep

  • '''Fairfield Inn St. Cloud''', 4120 2nd Street South, ''+1 320'' 654-1881, Fax: ''+1 320'' 654-1881, [http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/STCFI].
  • '''Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites''', 4322 Clearwater Road, ''+1 320'' 240-8000, [http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hd/stcld].
  • '''Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites''', Division Street & 37th Ave, ''+1 320'' 253-9000, [http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/stcmn].
  • Stay Safe

    Saint Cloud is an overall safe city. It is a college town, so there's always a lot of college-aged people walking around the city, even at night. The south side around St. Cloud State is safe to walk around day or night, but traveling in groups at night is recommended. The south side, past the National Hockey Center, has recently had trouble with car thefts, so take caution. The neighborhoods around campus are safe too, but will get rowdy Thursday-Saturday nights while school is in session with parties. Generally, these neighborhoods violate noise restrictions during these times rather than taking part in other crime. Police patrol has recently been stepped up. Downtown is safe during the day, and even at night, but caution is necessary after dark as the downtown area fills with bar-goers. If you use common sense and travel in groups, you'll have no problems in Saint Cloud.

    Get out