Get our free mobile app

There is no shortage of cool attractions to see in Minnesota, but the best free attraction is just a hop, skip, and jump away from Rochester.

That's the word, anyway, from the LoveExploring 'Best Free Attractions In Every State' survey. And, can you guess which attraction gets the nod here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes?

If you said the SPAM Museum over in Austin, ding, ding, ding... we have a winner! That's right, the museum, only 41 miles southwest of Rochester on I-90, dedicated to preserving the history of the meat we love to eat here in Minnesota is this year's Best Free Attraction!

Explore Minnesota
Explore Minnesota
loading...

According to MSN, "The institution is a loud, proud celebration of the canned meat, which was first invented back in the 1930s. You'll learn all about the history of SPAM®, including its key role in the diets of troops during the Second World War, and pore over a huge store of SPAM® memorabilia. Free guided tours are available over the weekend and upon request," the site says.

READ MORE: This MN Pizza Place Was Just Named One of the Best in the US

I'm almost ashamed to admit I've never been to the SPAM Museum, even though I do love me some SPAM! ExploreMinnesota, the state's tourism website, has a few facts about Minnesota's favorite meat:

  • Since opening in April 2016, the new SPAM Museum in downtown Austin has welcomed more than 224,000 visitors from all 50 states and more than 70 countries.
  • 780 cans of SPAM travel around the museum on a conveyor belt, and it takes one can 18 minutes to make the full loop.
  • The Austin production facility makes 350 cans per minute.
  • SPAM comes in 15 flavors, including black pepper, garlic, hickory smoke, jalapeno and chorizo, all available at the museum gift shop for $3 per can.

And while we're talking about food, keep scrolling to check out all the amazing Minnesota restaurants that have been featured on the Food Network!

Listen to Curt St. John in the Morning
Weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5

All 37 Minnesota Restaurants that Have Been Featured on the Food Network

Many Minnesota restaurants have been featured on the Food Network over the years. Some have closed now, but I checked out the Food Networks website, the Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives website, and TVFoodMaps.com to find all of the Minnesota restaurants that have been featured on their channel in the past and found these 37 (in no particular order) that are still open.

More From Quick Country 96.5