3. Visit Big Ole and the Kensington Runestone

Getting a photo with Big Ole should always be on the to-do list! Ole stands guard at Big Ole Central Park at the trailhead of the Central Lakes Trail. Even if you’ve visited him before, it’s time to come back and check out his new look! Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of what Big Ole represents is present on his shield which reads: “Alexandria: Birthplace of America.” This claim holds merit with the discovery of the Kensington Runestone. Discovered by a farmer in 1898 in the tangled roots of an aspen tree, the Runestone remains to be a hot topic of controversy among researchers and experts. The runic artifact suggests that a group of Scandinavian explorers visited the area in 1362, much earlier than the voyages of Columbus. You can take a look at the actual Runestone and gather more information, including how these explorers may have gotten here, by visiting it in person at the Runestone Museum, which also has new things to discover each time you visit. You can also visit the site where the artifact was discovered at Kensington Runestone Park!