Betsy-Tacy Mankato info!
 

I'm interested in travel to Mankato, MN sometime in October. My main question is whether it is possible to get to Mankato by public transportation in any form (train, bus, airport limo???) I would be flying in to, I would suppose, Minneapolis, but I would rather not drive. I'd also appreciate any further info or tips on the area, especially from Maud Hart Lovelace fans. Thanks!

Mankato is located about 70 miles from Minneapolis. Your only option, if you don't want to rent a car, is to go via Greyhound. You'll need a car to tour the city, so I'd advise you to rent a car. If you plan to stay at a motel in Mankato, I would suggest either the Holiday Inn, Fairfield Inn or Carlson Inn & Suites. My mother read all of the Betsy-Tacy books. Send me an e-mail and I'll forward it to her. I'm sure she'll be happy to write you back and give you all the information you need.

Mankato is like a cold Brownsville, TX. It's a mecca for fans of buffet dining and strip mall shopping. There are literally NO good restaurants in Mankato unless your idea of cuisine is Old Country Buffet (I've lived here for the past 10 years--trust me). <BR> <BR>It's the only town I've ever seen whose local university makes no cultural impact on the community whatsoever. <BR> <BR>Be forewarned: Mankato is a vast cultural wasteland (and yes, I'm moving away this summer thank God).

My friend is from the Mankato Area and frequently takes a airport shuttle bus or the like from Mpls. Airport to Mankato. She is in MN right now so I can't ask her what it is called but I will when she returns on 6/12 and get back to you. I know it goes every so many hours from MSP to Mankato and it isn't Greyhound.

Betsy-Tacy ?

I'd have to agree that Mankato is a wasteland, at least as far as cultural attractions and restaurants. The town seems to attract the "strap on the feedbag" farm crowd and that spells doom for any culinary possiblities. <BR> <BR>Avoid anyplace near the mall on the weekend. The town is overrun with rubes off the farm from sunup Saturday through dusk Sunday. A real fun crowd. ("Look, ma, there's one a them Arby's res-too-rawnts...shucks, you think mebbe it's too spicy for us'n?) <BR> <BR>Also, the comment about Minnesota State University being completely closed off from the town is right on. You could spend years in Mankato and never know there was a school there. A real shame.

I can't help at all with Mankato, but I remember Betsy and Tacy (and Tib!) fondly from my childhood. They are characters in a series of books taking place in this area. What a kick to have the memory triggered!

Mankato is a horrible town, devoid of all but the most uninspired cultural "attractions" I've ever seen. <BR> <BR>The tourism brochure had to stretch to find anything beyond city parks to recommend. I asked some long-time locals to offer suggestions for fun things to do and they were literally stumped. <BR> <BR>The only thing these people do for fun is go to the mall, but if your idea of a happening mall is something other than boarded-up storefronts and the filthiest mall food court I've ever seen, then you're going to be disappointed. Plus the mall was packed with sullen teens whose favorite word was either "f*ck" or "c*nt" depending on which direction you turned. Not someplace you'd want to bring your children. <BR> <BR>The locals were equally stumped about places to eat. Greek? No such thing. Italian? Closed down years ago. French? No way. Mexican? Yes, but it's a sh*thole. German? No. Asian? Yup, two sh*tty buffets featuring greasy onion rings(!) and soupy entrees. There is not ONE ethnic restaurant in this town of 40,000 that is not a buffet (and then we're only talking about two lousy Asian joints). <BR> <BR>Mankato is a travel nightmare. I can't figure out how this town can be so close to the Twin Cities and yet be so devoid of any positive influence from them.

I had to laugh when I saw this topic. I have lived in Mankato for 12 years and it's true this town has some serious curtural shortcomings (can you believe NO art museums, NO theaters showing independent films, NO sidewalk attractions and NO ethnic restaurants?). I, too, am stumped when somebody from out of town asks me what to do (I usually suggest a trip to the Twin Cities). <BR> <BR>It's really quite a shame, and I get the sense that most people in this community have simply given up, and accepted the idea that they have to drive 80 miles to the Twin Cities to get ANY culture. <BR> <BR>I've pondered this situation since we moved here, and I think a lot of it has to do with the hamfisted city government, and the ineptitude of the local convention and visitor bureau. I have a friend who works with the CVB on their marketing and she says they are terrified to do anything new and interesting, preferring instead to focus on laughably outdated concepts like "crazy days" (which is ironic, since there is no downtown retail, few local merchants, and the chains refuse to participate!). <BR> <BR>I'm no expert on these matters, but I would think that Mankato needs to generate some connection to its university. Granted, MSU is definitely a commuter school, but there are some artists, actors, singers and dancers there. However, other than the typical small town college theater offerings ("Annie" and "Brigadoon" again?!), you would be hard-pressed to make a connection between this school and its surrounding community. It's like there's an iron curtain around MSU and people on both sides are afraid to cross the line. <BR> <BR>Mankato is also lily white, and I think that accounts for the lack of ANY decent restaurants and the complete void of cultural diversity. You won't find any ethnic festivals, shops, restaurants or events in this town. <BR> <BR>It is the adsence of culture and diversity that makes us think seriously about leaving Mankato, primarily for the sake of our two children. We would dearly love for them to have cultural opportunities, but I don't think anything of significance will develop here anytime soon and that forces us to look elsewhere.

Mankato sucks donkeys. I went to college there for two years and it was absolute hell. NOTHING at all to do other than bars and the mall. <BR><BR>If you have to go someplace in Minnesota, my advice is to avoid Mankato and try someplace like Red Wing or Stillwater.

Charming, Tim. Your loss is obviously Mankato's gain.

Wow! I didn't expect to see this topic again. I'd guess I won't want to spend too long in Mankato; my interest is in tracing some of the various influential books of my childhood that were placed in different Midwest locations. The Betsy-Tacy series, one of my favorites as a kid, takes place in fictional Deep Valley, which is Mankato. The books are still available and I recommend them much more highly than anyone seems to be recommending the city:-)<BR>Thanks for all the help and the interesting comments.

I lived in Mankato about 10 years ago and visit friends there every couple months. I would agree Mankato kind of a dry hole when it comes to events and things to do, expecially for kids. There's a pretty good park in town. (I think it's called Sibley Park.) But otherwise, I can't think of how I'd spend a day there. Not much culture. And there really are NO good restaurants. Thta's for sure.

Sibley Park? Wasn't there a character in the Betsy-Tacy books whose last name was Sibley? I loved Betsy-Tacy books as a child and now have my 9 year old daughter hooked on them. Is there any "Betsy-Tacy" things to do in Mankato? By the sounds of previous posters, probably not!

I used to live on Center St. in Mankato about six houses down from the spot where Betsy, Tacy and Tib lived and played (actually the author, her family and friends). <BR><BR>The city of Mankato has, in all its glory, managed to put exactly one small, stone bench at the site to commemorate the books and their author. <BR><BR>I think this indicates how with-it Mankato is. On the other hand, you'll be greeted on one end of town with a GIANT XXX bookstore sign that's fun to explain to the kids. <BR><BR>I'm sooooo glad we moved!

I had the misfortune of working there during an interminable one-year stretch that ended this spring. Mankato is so completely devoid of culture it's almost funny--unless you live there. They don't even have a decent neighborhood bar in which to drown one's sorrows. The town is just one endless suburb wannabe--Red Lobster is the cultural lowlight. <BR> <BR>Ugh. Avoid at all costs!

I can not believe all the attacks on my home town- Mankato. While I have not lived there since i was 17 years old I still go back to visit twice a year. For a town of 30,000 people its a great place to live. It is not Minneapolis, culture wise, but what cities of 30,000 people are. <BR> <BR>Mankato is a crime free, pretty place with hills and woods. People are great and very friendly. It lacks many of the social problems found in other towns. It is the type of place where kids play out side and have the run of the town as early as age 10. Schools are great, community sprit is great and there are a number of great malls/shopping. <BR> <BR>I currently live near Washington DC and would love to work and live in Mankato again, but towns of that size have few executive positions. <BR> <BR>In my mind Mankato is the nicest town of its size in the USA.

I also live in a culturally devoid town in the Midwest and would love to move, but can't due to my husband's family business being located here, so I feel like I'm in prison waiting for parole. But I do resent the implication that all people who live in a small town or rural areas are uneducated hicks who come to town to belly up to the buffets to get more bang for their buck. That's like saying that everyone who lives in the eastern mountain states are hillbillies, people who live in large cities are all snobs, etc. Whatever happened to common courtesy? Are you one of those people who preach racial, religious, or lifestyle tolerance? Take a look at yourselves. And also...when you make fun of rural people or farmers, "Don't talk with your mouth full". Where do you think that wonderful food in your great restaurants comes from?

im not supised to read these thing about Mankato.. i had been there since 1984 and it is a bad town where their is nothing too do..i went to high school their and it sucked. to many fast food place and the mall were we went. i think Mankato saucks. if i had too move their i would die.

I am stunned at all the hate on this thread. I was born in Mankato, moved away with my parents as a teen. Sure it is no cultural mecca but I have been to "ethnic" cities like Cape Town and Bombay, I will take Mankato any day.