Spring Getaway: St. Cloud

Tuesday, June 18
Departure time: 8:30 a.m.
Return time: 5:00 p.m.

From illuminated manuscripts to formal gardens, a wonderful day is planned for you. Begin the day with a visit to St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville. Tour the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library which has the largest collection of microfilmed medieval manuscripts in the world. The Library is the home of the acclaimed hand-written and illuminated St. John’s Bible. Learn about the making of this Bible and view some of its gorgeous pages. The Library also has a charming gift shop.

After lunch in the Great Hall, tour St. John’s Benedictine Abbey, a beautiful, contemporary structure designed by renowned architect, Marcel Breuer. View the largest stained glass window in the world and a magnificent bell tower.

During the afternoon, visit the Munsinger and Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud. They are two distinct, adjacent gardens on the banks of the Mississippi River. Munsinger gardens are informal, with many shade-loving plants. It dates back to 1915 when the city purchased the site of an old sawmill to become a park. The Clemens garden consists of six gardens including The Virginia Clemens Rose Garden, the White Garden, the Treillage Garden, a Rest Area Garden, a formal garden and a perennial garden. The gardens include a Renaissance Fountain, historic log cabin, gazebo, lily pond, and gift shop.

Join us for a wonderful tour – we may not “tiptoe through the tulips,” but we are going to “stop and smell the roses!”