Fosston, Minnesota, is a small town of 1,500 people near the headwaters of the Mississippi River and the transition between the northern Boreal forests and the prairies. It holds several awards, including the National Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA award and the 2007 Governor's Fit City award. The area provides visitors with a wide-range of outdoor activities geared towards the hook and bullet crowd. Within 60 minutes, visitors can see two state forests, several National Wildlife Refuges, 28 lakes and almost 24,000 acres of public hunting land. The town has limited lodging, but several options are nearby.
The Super 8 Fosston is on the outskirts of town near the medical center and Melland Park. Motel amenities include free high-speed Wi-Fi, free continental breakfast and winter vehicle plug-ins. It offers pet-friendly and nonsmoking rooms. The state snowmobile trails run next to the hotel's property. Several restaurants are nearby, including A&W, Dairy Queen and two family-style restaurants. For a shopping experience in a converted barn, visit You Ask For It about one mile east of the hotel on Colombia Road.
Approximately 20 miles away in Clearbrook, the Piper's Inn offers singles, doubles and suites. It features a free continental breakfast. The drive to Clearbrook from Fosston takes you past several lakes and the Little Pine State Wildlife Management Area. Visitors to Fosston and Clearbrook should visit the Wes Westrum Baseball Museum in Clearbrook. It celebrates the 50-year career of player, coach, manager and scout Wes Westrum. Its highlights include 100 feet of glass display cases, which are full of memorabilia. A large mural depicts Willie Mays' "Greatest Catch" that helped the Giants win the 1954 World Series.
About 20 miles away, the Inn at Maple Crossing offers guests a lakeside experience. Its 16 distinctly decorated rooms range from Amish-style simplicity to the eye-catching business of a Victorian-style bedroom. All rooms include a free hearty breakfast for two in the inn's dining room, which also does lunch and three-course evening meals. Make a reservation for the evening meals and Sunday's chicken dinner with lemon meringue pie -- a specialty for decades.
Just 17 miles away in Bagley, the Dutch Mill Motel features 11 rooms with air conditioning and high-speed Internet. It allows pets in the rooms. The motel has an on-site tanning facility, and it's near the state snowmobile trail. Because it is on Highway 2, Dutch Mill is the easiest motel to drive to other than the Super 8 in Fosston. Nearby attraction include Lake Lomond, which is within the cities borders, and the Mississippi River headwaters.
