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.

I worked in mankato at a company called cwc,. and it was the worst 3 year of my life. Theres nothing to do in that town, except go to the mall and watch the foulmouthed country kids spew all their garbage. A real backwards community, thats for sure.

Always interesting to see this topic reappear and to see how little of the replies relate to the question asked.<BR><BR>Met Mrs. Lovelace and her husband (also an author - That Dodger Horse is one book of his that I remember) years ago. My grandmother was one of her lifelong friends.

A dubious destination. Mankato lacks culture, variety and warmth. But it does have lots of greasy fast food restaurants, buffets, and obscenely overweight citizenry.

I can't believe there's a thread about Mankato, my hometown! I am sorry to see all the negative posts, but I think in many ways the town deserves it. <BR><BR>I left in 1995, after college, and I couldn't take another minute in that place. There are a lot of nice people in Mankato, but that's part of the problem. Most visitors never see or meet them. What you get, mostly, is a horde of rubes coming in from all the small towns within 100 miles of Mankato. And when I say rubes, I'm talking about the kind of fiercely uneducated and uncultured farm folks whose idea of a weekend getaway is to stay at the Mankato Super 8 and go to the mall for 10 hours to shop for a new clip-on tie. These idiots are killing Mankato, since the retail trade and cultural offerings are geared to this lowest-common-denominator demographic. <BR><BR>Mankato is sold to visitors as some kind of "cultural" mecca for all of southern Minnesota, but that's a joke. There is no culture in Mankato, unless a mediorcre mall is your idea of high art. There are no significant museums, theater is limited to the local schools (Brigadoon, anybody?), and the restaurant scene is nonexistent (lots of dreadful buffets and fast food, though). The town gets a few of the second- and third-tier performers on tour (REO Speedwagon was a recent headliner!), and the "sights" can be seen in one short, 10-minute drive through town.<BR><BR>The best bet when you come to Mankato is to keep driving until you can't see the fast food strip in your rear-view mirror anymore...

I am sorry to say many of these comments about Mankato are right on. I lived there from 1968 through 1998 and it was a source of sorrow to me to see Mankato become nothing more than a suburb wannabe. What was a beautiful, vibrant river town thirty years ago has become the cultural dump of Souther Minnesota. The town has de-evolved from a classic midwest town to a city that exists solely to service the shopping needs of the surrounding 15 rural counties. The previous post suggested that Mankato is populated with rubes and I have to agree that--on weekends at least--they pour into town and drag the collective local IQ down by 50 points. Mankato becomes filled with ignorant, sullen people who shuffle mindlessly from one store to another, from one buffet line to the next. Meanwhile, Mankato has lost any semblence of culture to these throngs (who's got time for art or history when there's shopping to do?). The downtown area--once a vibrant and interesting city center--has turned into a wasteland, populated by bars and various superflous low-rent retail shops. The park system has not improved significantly since the 1940s, and there is a single, musty, vacant museum in town, hardly worth a look. If you want to spend some time in Southern Minnesota, try New Ulm. While it, too, is losing its identity like Mankato, at leats it isn't in the same rush to sell out to the rubes.

Mankato always looked like so much fun in Little House on the Prairie.

I live in a town about 11 miles from Mankato and sometimes I wish I was a lot farther away than that. My husband and I no longer do business in Mankato because to go to the mall or the grocery store or the library or the doctors office is to subject yourself to the most vile, filthy behavior you can imagine. I don't know what it is about the kids in that town but they use every four-letter word you have heard, and then some. The town has nothing to offer, really, because there are no good cultural attractions. The parks are overrun with drunk teenagers and garbage and vandalized facilities (where is the park budget?!). The local civic center used to host some nice events, but now it's all bad country music and 70s rock bands. The civic center has been vandalized, too, with grafitti everywhere and things on the walls that you can't print here. Walking downtown or going to your car in the evening is interesting because of all the bars and drunks milling around (where are the police?). Mankato used to be a nice town, but no longer.

If you're a Betsy-Tacy fan, you'll enjoy seeing Mankato. I did the whole B-T tour thing as part of a convention visit, but I'm sure the maps and brochures are available at the public library or from the major hotels.<BR><BR>There are some artifacts and other items on display at the library and Tacy's house is now owned by the Betsy-Tacy society. You can drive around and see many of the sites from the books. Tib's house, Betsy's house, the bench, the old library, Carney's house complete with sleeping porch, Lincoln park, etc. You can also visit Maud's grave.<BR><BR>This is a small town and you can drive around, park, get out, walk places, take pictures, stand in front of houses for pictures, whatever.<BR><BR>Enjoy!

I think Mankato is fighting a losing battle with growth. There is no plan to the sprawl and, as a result, it is starting to feel like a second-rate suburb there now. I agree that cultural attractions are sparse. The restaurant scene is abysmal (fast food is definitely king there--NO ethnic restaurants!). And I had to laugh at the comment about the gutter talk at the malls. I am simply shocked at the behavior of the local teens and college students. I keep my kids away from that place at all times. It's incredible what passes for acceptable public behavior in Mankato--worst I've seen in 20 years of travels. Unless you HAVE to go to Mankato, consider just about anywhere else. It's a depressing, scary place to be.

What I find scary about Mankato is the lack of diversity. Everyone is white!<BR><BR>Though there is basically no crime and people do not need to worry about their kids out at night or about locking their doors. Also the schools are good because there are no language issues.<BR><BR>Funny how that worked out???

Mankato never wanted to be a real city. It was a farming town, had a few jobs an businesses to support agriculture. Then came the University, which added some culture to town. But beyond that, nobody in Mankato is trying to make it a sophisticated, cultured city.<BR><BR>If you visit, here is what you'll get: A midwestern town that has growth into a small city. A slower pace. Good people who are glad you came. And a nieve but geniune belief by the people that there is no better place to live. You'll go away unimpresses by the town, but impressed by the people.

If my recent experience in Mankato is any indication of how "impressive" the people are, then this place is as bad as all the previous posters suggest. Mankato is a truly awful place to be.<BR><BR>I visited my aunt and uncle over the Easter weekend and was astounded at the crude level of behavior of the people in every public place we went to. The air was filled with profanity at all times by people of every stripe ("Git me a ****ing pack of smokes, mother****er!" was typical of what we heard). Illiteracy of unimaginable proportions is everywhere (if you think parts of the south are backward, visit Mankato sometime and see how the local schools are doing!). <BR><BR>Also, I was astonished at the mean-spiritedness of the place. People were rude, offensive and seemed to take pride in their ignorance and poor conduct. <BR><BR>I live about 200 miles from Mankato and I am thankful for the distance. I don't plan to return anytime soon!

"If you visit, here is what you'll get: A midwestern town that has growth into a small city. A slower pace. Good people who are glad you came. And a nieve but geniune belief by the people that there is no better place to live. You'll go away unimpresses by the town, but impressed by the people."<BR><BR>Bullshit. As a resident of a nearby town, I can tell you with 100% certainty that while you might find such qualities in the small towns around Mankato, you will find nothing remotely impressive about the town or its people. Mankato has turned into one big trailer park during the past 10 years. I have no idea where these people came from, but the Mankato is overrun with hoardes of stupid, mean people. We'll drive 25 miles out of our way to avoid it!

I am amazed at the number of postings regarding Mankato. I always thought it was such a nice town. It can not be a Rochester or Madison Wisconsin but name me another town in the state around its size that is nicer.<BR><BR>Is Austin, Albert Lee, Worthington, Wilmar better towns, and why?

"Is Austin, Albert Lee, Worthington, Wilmar better towns, and why?"<BR><BR>Nice use of language. I was going to add my two cents to the pile, but I think your moronic post sums up Mankato better than anything I could have written. <BR><BR>They must have one hell of a school system there.<BR>

I think the poster was asking if there were better towns around 30,000 people in the midwest than Mankato. Regardless if he should have said Are vs Is, his question still stands.<BR><BR>I think Mankato Minnesota is a very nice town for a city of 30,000 people in the midwest.

I do business in Mankato for a pharm. company and it is my LEAST favorite city in the Midwest, bar none. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing to do in that town. There is no art, no music, no theater, no history, no walking, no sports, no parks, no nothing. I HATE Mankato and can't imagine how anybody could live there.

No parks in Mankato???<BR>How about Mineopa State Park? A beautiful waterfall and Sibley Park, a beatiful spot on the river.<BR><BR>No culture: The college is full of cultural opportunities.<BR><BR>Mankato is a beautiful town on a river with lots of trees and hills. Have you driven out to Mount Kato beautiful drive, or along Glenwood Avenue, beautiful.<BR><BR>Mankato is one of the nicest towns of its size in the state!

Well, interest in this topic may well be waning, but since I just returned from a brief trip to Mankato and surroundings, I'll add my two cents anyway.<BR><BR>While the above descriptions of Mankato as a cultural wasteland covered with big chain stores and restaurants are right on, I witnessed no vulgar behavior in the mall, on campus or elsewhere and overheard no expletives. Maybe I just got lucky, but I have a feeling some of the posters exaggerate. Everyone I spoke to was polite, even friendly, and spoke grammatically. They all said no one locks their doors at night in Mankato, which also suggests that milling drunks, etc. are not a widespread phenomenon.<BR><BR>Indeed, and sadly, there is nothing to do in Mankato. The tourist interested in local history has to be self-motivated, for there is little effort to publicize it. The downtown area looks to be a poor echo of its former self. Minneopa State Park looks grand, but that's about it.<BR><BR>St. Peter, just north of Mankato, is loads more charming, and the campus there, Gustavus Adolphus, while small, is attractive. There is even a cool coffeehouse, the River Rock Cafe, right on the main drag. The whole town is tidy and quaint in spots, although I'm told the tornado of 1998 tore down a lot of the old trees. There isn't much to do here, either, but St. Peter is at least blessedly free of the neon shopping hell.<BR><BR>Northfield--that's the town for me. It's commutable to Mankato; that is, it's an hour's straight shot, which is fine if you're used to an urban crawl. It's 45 minutes from the Twin Cities. It boasts two colleges, a vibrant "downtown", 2 or 3 ethnic restaurants, and an absurdly well-educated population. Downside? Housing prices are much higher than Mankato/St. Peter, but you get what you pay for, and the market is far from stagnant. <BR><BR>We encountered a couple of born-and-bred Mankatoans who resented our decision to settle in Northfield instead...I wasn't brave enough to say this to their faces, but I think they should ask themselves what it is about their town that would attract anyone today. And hey, if Mankato is happy to be the chain-shopping mecca for miles around, if that has saved it from boarded-up ruin, then I say right on.