Experience history and pioneer life through a road trip to the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites. Here are the best places to visit.
Our best tips, tricks and reviews to help you plan your own Little House on the Prairie Road Trip to Pepin, Walnut Grove, De Smet, Burr Oak.
Recently, I rounded up my little pioneers, loaded into our (station) wagon and headed west for a Laura Ingalls Wilder road trip. We were searching for open spaces, free government land, and....okay, I'll stop now.
Where to stop and what to see when retracing the steps of the pioneer family, from Pepin, Wis., to Mansfield, Mo.
Our best tips, tricks and reviews to help you plan your own Little House on the Prairie Road Trip to Pepin, Walnut Grove, De Smet, Burr Oak.
List of historic sites and museums related to Laura Ingalls Wilder and Little House on the Praire.
Recently, I rounded up my little pioneers, loaded into our (station) wagon and headed west for a Laura Ingalls Wilder road trip. We were searching for open spaces, free government land, and....okay, I'll stop now.
From the childhood home of a great American author to a national museum, we recommend taking these off-the-beaten path weekend trips.
As promised, I am blogging about Little House on the Prairie today! Last month, I read The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure about her travels to all the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites around the midwest. I was very excited about this book because I had been to those places too! In 1997, I took my Granny on a trip along Highway 14, The Laura Ingalls Wilder Highway across Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota to see the places depicted in the Little House books. Our first stop was Pepin, WI and the site of" The Little House in the Big Woods". The woods are no longer there!! Everything must have been cut down long ago. I always imagined a "Black Forest" style forest, but it looks awfully a lot like prairie here now. And the cabin is only a replica. We stopped to pick up rocks along Lake Pepin just like they do in the books! And Wendy McClure did it too in her travels. Next stop was Walnut Grove, MN and "On the Banks of Plum Creek". Not much to see here now, but the town does a Wilder Pageant and a Pioneer Festival every year in July. Walnut Grove gets a lot of visitors because of the 70's TV Show starring Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon. In the book, Walnut Grove is not even mentioned. Supposedly Laura explained, "At the time, I did not realize I was writing history." Our last stop was DeSmet, South Dakota and the site of "Little Town on the Prairie". They have a Pageant that is held every year during the last weekend in June through the first two weekends in July. The Ingalls lived in the surveyor's house as depicted in "The Long Winter". At the Homestead site, there are 5 cottonwood trees that were originally planted by Charles Ingalls. One is in the foreground of this postcard photo! Laura lived on this homestead from age 13-18 and it was in DeSmet that Laura met and married Almanzo Wilder. The homestead that she and Almanzo established (in the book "The First Four Years") is just 1.4 miles North of DeSmet and a historical marker there honors Rose Wilder Lane, their daughter. My Granny and I had a wonderful time visiting all these places and I highly recommend it as a family vacation destination! We flew in and out of Minneapolis, MN and had a rental car and stayed in Bed and Breakfasts the whole time, but there are also lots of camping options as well, and motels like Super 8 and Days Inn along the way. When I would take my Granny on vacation, I would create a scrapbook for her with all the photos and postcards and brochures that we picked up along the way. So that is how I have all this information at my fingertips today. We did the trip in August and missed all the pageants. I had a book called Laura Ingalls Wilder Country by William Anderson to help me plan the trip.
Tucked away in the Ozarks, the historic home and museum of Laura Ingalls Wilder offers some insight into the life of the author of the Little House books.
By far the best book I've read about Laura's life was Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Woman Behind the Legend by John E. Miller.
Are you a fan of the 'Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder? Start planning your trip to DeSmet, South Dakota and try living like Laura!
Tucked away in the Ozarks, the historic home and museum of Laura Ingalls Wilder offers some insight into the life of the author of the Little House books.
Explore 11 historic houses in Iowa that offer fascinating tours and rich historical
The kids and I started reading "Little House in the Big Woods" last week for the first time. They're really enjoying heari...
Remember the Laura Ingalls "Little House" books and tv show? Visit De Smet, SD, where she lived, to see the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum.
From the Big Woods of Wisconsin to the “Land of the Big Red Apple” in Mansfield, MO. Follow the journey that lead Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family to each little house. Measuring approximately 17″ X 22″
Laura Ingalls Wilder's new memoir, Pioneer Girl, will offer an even grittier view of frontier living.
These Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum visits take us back in time to the pioneer days on the prairie, and in the big woods of the north!
You will love this NEW Laura Ingalls Wilder Unit Study containing quick facts about Laura's life and her books, favorite quotes, & more!
Every fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" series has imagined living in at least one of Laura's nostalgic little houses. Here's how to visit each one of the sites of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series.
While much of Minnesota is characterized by woods and water, the southwest corner of the state has a special appeal of its own. Picturesque farmsteads, towering wind turbines and charming small towns give visitors a distinct vibe that can't be found anywhere else. First-time visitors may be surprised to discover all there is to see and do in this region. In no particular order, here are six unique attractions you can only find in southwest Minnesota.
From ancient petroglyphs and underground caves to Scandinavian and Dutch culture, there are so many things to see on an Iowa road trip!
Our best tips, tricks and reviews to help you plan your own Little House on the Prairie Road Trip to Pepin, Walnut Grove, De Smet, Burr Oak.
By far the best book I've read about Laura's life was Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Woman Behind the Legend by John E. Miller.
These Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum visits take us back in time to the pioneer days on the prairie, and in the big woods of the north!
Hard-to-find annotated “Pioneer Girl” is part gritty memoir, part Laura Ingalls Wilder encyclopedia. It’s the first time her truly true story has been published, 85 years after she wrote it in pencil
If you're interested in visiting the Ingalls homes in Burr Oak, Walnut Grove, and DeSmet, find out my recommendations for them!
A tour of the Almanzo Wilder farm, including the original farmhouse, was engaging and full of information!
These Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum visits take us back in time to the pioneer days on the prairie, and in the big woods of the north!
By far the best book I've read about Laura's life was Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Woman Behind the Legend by John E. Miller.
Laura Ingalls Wilder fans come to De Smet, South Dakota to experience Laura’s life firsthand. With its many Laura-related sites and activities, De Smet offers a unique chance to explore Laura’s legacy in her hometown.
Come spend a night at the Ingalls Homestead in De Smet, South Dakota, where you can sleep in a wagon. Or make it a day trip and ride a pony or twist some hay, just like Laura did.
From ancient petroglyphs and underground caves to Scandinavian and Dutch culture, there are so many things to see on an Iowa road trip!
Every fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" series has imagined living in at least one of Laura's nostalgic little houses. Here's how to visit each one of the sites of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series.
If you have ever gone camping with kids, you know a little preparation can go a long way! Check out our Tips for Camping with Kids!
List of historic sites and museums related to Laura Ingalls Wilder and Little House on the Praire.
Cover illustration by Garth Williams for the book The
These Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum visits take us back in time to the pioneer days on the prairie, and in the big woods of the north!
Pioneer author Laura Ingalls Wilder is considered an iconic American Legend thanks to her series of “Little House” novels that were published between
