Some people hop planes to get their fix of the ancient. What the cave-painting scouters and ruins-climbers might not realize is that they could find an equally stunning historical site just two and a half hours southwest of the Twin Cities, in Comfrey. There, half-covered by prairie grasses, is a rock outcropping that carries more than 4,000 images, dating back 7,000 to 9,000 years and marking the beginning of Minnesota's recorded history. The carvings, known as the Jeffers Petroglyphs, depict thunderbirds and bison, turtles and arrowheads, and tell the parables, prayers, and history of the Native Americans who left them behind. A nearby visitors center, open May through September, offers presentations about the site and helps explain how and why Jeffers is one of the oldest continuously used sacred sites in the world. To experience some of the best of small-town Minnesota — think thrift shops and fresh pie — take your time on the drive to Jeffers and back, and stop in at the not-too-distant Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum or the Pipestone National Monument along the way.