Friday Photo Post: Gooseberry Falls in Winter

Photos by Connor Cashman

Doug and the boys recently stopped at Gooseberry Falls State Park on their way to Lutsen Mountains. It looks a bit different from the summer.

Friday Photo Post: Minnesota Snow

Photos by Tim Wilson on Flickr

It looks like we are going to have a white Christmas this year. The boys are thrilled and have been outside playing in the snow, building jumps on the sledding hill behind our house. Minnesota in winter can be a wonderful place, and I think these photographs show a part of that.

Dogsledding in Minnesota

Photo by MontanaRaven on Flickr

Dogsledding is a popular activity in Northern Minnesota. This winter, it is getting a little more attention because of the 25th anniversary of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon along the North Shore of Lake Superior. The race commemorates John Beargrease, the Ojibway man who delivered mail from Two Harbors to Grand Marais in the late 1800's. On January 27, 2008, 30 teams and about 4000 fans will gather in Duluth for the start of this 400 mile sled dog race.

If watching the race makes you want to go on your own dog sledding adventure, you can visit the nearby town of Ely (Ee'-lee), home of several sled dog trip providers. One of those providers is featured in a great Washington Post story about dogsledding at Wintergreen Lodge. Wintergreen Lodge has several trips to choose from, including a Photo Workshop and Lodge to Lodge Dogsled Vacation with Smithsonian Time-Life Photographer Layne Kennedy. Enjoy the experience of dogsledding while learning outdoor photography tips.

While you are in Ely, you can also visit the International Wolf Center. During the winter, the center is open for tours on weekends. Explore the exhibits, see the wolves and check out some of the daily programs about wolves. Interested in learning more? Consider an offsite field trip to learn about wolf communication or an extended learning vacation that includes dogsledding, such as Mush with Dogs, Howl with Wolves.

Just remember... dress warm!

*The above photo was taken at Montana's 2007 Race to the Sky. There weren't any Beargrease pictures or Minnesota dog sled pictures shared under a creative commons license on Flickr.

Rock Jumping at Quarry Park and Nature Preserve

This weekend was warm and sunny with temperatures in the 80's. It was likely our last shot at summer activities, so we drove the boys up to St. Cloud where we visited Quarry Park and Nature Preserve in Waite Park. Opened as a park in 1998, the land was previously owned by local quarry companies and contains 30 abandoned rock quarries, most filled with water. There are several grout piles as well. These large hills of unwanted quarried rock (the large boulders were considered too small) are restricted to rock climbers with permits.

We went specifically for the granite quarry called Melrose Deep 7. A short half mile walk from the parking lot, the swimming hole is usually filled with 116 feet of water (it was down 3 feet when we visited).


Popular with students at St. Cloud State University, the main attraction is the chance to jump or dive from the rock walls lining the swimming hole. Doug and the boys braved the cold water and jumped off several times, but I decided to sit back with Doug's parents and watch the show.

There were several ledges, for all different levels of skill and bravery. Some of the college students were doing crazy flips and dives off the highest ledge, but the boys stayed on the lower ones.

Not interested in jumping off rocks? The park also allows scuba diving in four of the quarries. Divers must be certified and dive with a buddy. "There are various underwater hazards such as tree snags, abandoned quarrying equipment, and loose rock piles."

If scuba diving isn't for you, you can try rock climbing in designated areas, hiking, mountain biking, or trout fishing. In the winter, the trails are open for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, with four miles of lit trails for use after dark.

*permits are required for scuba diving and rock climbing

**Watch a fun video of the quarry from DesperationKry on YouTube

North West Company Fur Trading Post

Voyageur's canoe

This weekend, Doug and I took the boys to the 2007 Fall Gathering at the North West Company Fur Post in Pine City, Minnesota. One of the Minnesota Historical Society sites, the fur post is a replica of John Sayer's post from 1804. The guided tour was entertaining and informative, with costumed volunteers re-enacting different activities and sharing interesting facts about life at the trading post for the Ojibwe, traders and voyageurs.

Fur Post

Living quarters for an assistant clerk

The building itself contained four rooms of living quarters for the paid staff and a store for trading. The comfort and size of the rooms varied depended on who lived there.

Trading camp

Other things we learned:

*How men's fashion created a world market for beaver hats.

*The changes that trade goods made to the life of the Ojibwe people.

*Where the trade goods came from all over the world and how many beaver skins were required to purchase the different items.

*The ingenious method used by the Ojibwe to heat their wigwams, including rock foundations heated by the cooking fire and moss insulation between the double layer of birch bark walls.

*In the spring, the voyageurs who stayed at the post transported the furs collected over the winter to larger posts such as Grand Portage or Fort William, where they met the supply boats from Montreal. News, furs and trade goods were all exchanged during this gathering before the different groups returned to their posts.

*Voyageurs would paddle their canoes for 14 to 16 hours a day, averaging one stroke per second, with one short rest per hour. They were also required to carry two 90 pound packs during a portage.

We had a great time, and I highly recommend a visit to this historic site.

Guided Tours of Fort Snelling

One of the benefits of having children is being able to chaperone field trips to interesting places. Two years ago, when my youngest son was in third grade, I went along on a trip to Historic Fort Snelling, a restored military outpost from the 1820's.

Fort Snelling offers a living history program with costumed guides. During our guided tour, we heard from the schoolmaster, a doctor, soldier, wash woman, blacksmith, store keeper, and Colonel Snelling's wife. They answered our questions and told us interesting stories about what it was like to live at Fort Snelling during the 1820's.

Located near the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, Fort Snelling is a do not miss if you are in the Twin Cities and have any interest in history. The Minnesota Historical Society website has a calendar of special events to help you plan a visit.

Friday Photo Post: North Shore, Minnesota

Hiking in Tettegouche State Park

View of Shovel Point from Palisade Head road

These photos were all taken by my son, Connor, during our camping trip in Northern Minnesota. The last shot made me laugh when I saw it on our computer. I didn't know he had taken it like that, so it was a fun surprise.

Related Posts:
Camping at Temperance State Park
Hiking in Tettegouche State Park
More State Parks on the North Shore of Lake Superior

From other Blogs...

Brule River, Judge C.R. Magney State Park
photo by Connor Cashman

This week I did a search of other blogs writing about the North Shore of Lake Superior. For more stories about this beautiful place:

1. Minnesota's North Shore by The Static Noise Journal
2. One Short Trip to the North Shore by Blissful Creativity
3. Hiking the North Shore-Day 1 and Day 2 by The Tiny Mite
4. Up North: Day 1 by Feeling Minnesotan
5. Duluth and Minnesota's North Shore by Midwest

For other travel articles, check out the section marked From Other Blogs in my sidebar.

More State Parks on the North Shore of Lake Superior

Gooseberry Falls

There are many state parks along the north shore of Lake Superior. We've hiked most of them several times over the years. I mentioned Temperance State Park and Tettegouche State Park in earlier posts, here are some of the other parks we like to visit.

Gooseberry Falls: Usually our first stop as we drive up scenic Highway 61, Gooseberry Falls State Park is a popular place to climb over rocks around the upper, middle and lower falls. It is a short hike to the main falls area from the parking lot at the visitor's center. Depending on the water level, you can climb all over the falls themselves. There are longer hikes along the Gooseberry River if you really want to stretch your legs. You can also drive down to the beach and enjoy a picnic lunch and hunt for agates.

Split Rock Lighthouse

Split Rock Lighthouse: Although Split Rock is close to Gooseberry Falls, we usually save it for the last day so we can visit the rocky beach early in the morning before we drive home. The Minnesota Historical Society offers guided tours of the lighthouse and other buildings. You can hike or drive down to the beach from the lighthouse. There are several miles of hiking trails in the park and the paved Gitchi Gami State Trail section between Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse is now complete and open for biking, skating and hiking.

Palisade Head

Palisade Head: Located within Tettegouche State Park, Palisade Head is just south of the entrance to the park at mile marker 57 on Highway 61. This is a great place to stop for scenic views of the cliffs above Lake Superior. Drive the narrow winding road to the top, then walk around the rocky edges. Be careful, there aren't any fences and it can get very windy.

Cascade River

Cascade: Another spot with parking right off Highway 61, Cascade River State Park has a nice trail on the west side of Cascade River. Less than a mile from the parking lot is Cascade Falls and the Cascades, but you can follow the river for several miles past that on the Superior Hiking Trail. After your hike, walk across Highway 61 and climb down to the beach where you can relax and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Devil's Kettle

Judge C.R. Magney: Further up the North Shore, past Grand Marais, is Judge C.R. Magney State Park. This is the first year we visited this park and found the trail to the Devil's Kettle waterfalls to be a little challenging with a steeper trail and many stairs. It was worth it, though. Most people turn back after seeing the Devil's Kettle, but if you are still feeling energetic, you can continue hiking along the Brule River.

Hiking in Tettegouche State Park

High Falls 2007

The Minnesota State Parks along the North Shore of Lake Superior have miles of excellent hiking trails. One of the more dramatic hikes we enjoy is to the High Falls and Two Step Falls of the Baptism River in Tettegouche State Park. If you are staying at the park, you can start your hike from the campground, otherwise you can drive up to the nearby trail center and start your hike from there.

Baptism River 2005

We usually take the bridge across the river, but this year the water was low, and we were able to walk across by stepping from rock to rock. We were also able to stand at the edge of the High Falls. The last time we did this hike, the boys had to stand further away because of higher water levels.

High Falls 2005

From the top of the High Falls, you can hike down to the base of the falls, continue down to Two Step Falls, and then cross the river again to return to the trail center. The loop around the falls is about 2 miles, but it can be strenuous.

Base of High Falls 2007

There are a total of 23 miles of hiking trails, including 12 miles of the Superior Hiking Trail, inside the park. Another trail head is located off Lax Lake Road (402). From there, you can hike around several inland lakes. You can also park down by the visitor center off Highway 61 and walk to the beach at Lake Superior or enjoy the hike out to Shovel Point, which includes several scenic overlooks.

Beach at Tettegouche State Park 2005
Shovel Point in the background

Related posts:
More State Parks on the North Shore of Lake Superior
Camping at Temperance State Park

Camping at Temperance State Park

I recently took our three boys camping at Temperance River State Park, along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Doug was supposed to come with us, but scheduling conflicts occurred, and I was faced with the decision of canceling the trip or taking the boys on my own. I decided to go for it, and I'm glad I did because we had a great time.

One of the reasons is our campsite. This is the view from our tent. We were very close to Lake Superior, and it was so nice to fall asleep to the sound of waves hitting the shore. In the morning, the beach was deserted so the boys had the lake to themselves when they went swimming while I got breakfast ready.

Our days were spent hiking and climbing over rocks in several of the State Parks in the area. The water was very low, so we were able to go all over the different waterfalls. At night, we sat around the campfire, eating dinner and talking about our day.

You can access the Superior Hiking Trail from parking spots outside Temperance River State Park right off Highway 61. When we hike at the park, we follow the trail along the river for a few miles, then return to our campsite. You can also take a short walk from the parking lot down to the beach at Lake Superior.

Related Posts:
Hiking in Tettegouche State Park
More State Parks on the North Shore of Lake Superior

10 Things to do at the Minnesota State Fair

"Twelve Days of Fun Ending Labor Day" Every year, the state fair is the unofficial end of summer vacation in Minnesota. What to do at the fair is the topic of many conversations across the state, including the list below.

1. Eat food. Choose from pronto pups, deep fried cheese curds, roasted corn on the cob, Sweet Martha's chocolate chip cookies, ice cream from the dairy building, mini donuts, just about anything on a stick, and meals from different dining halls. *tip-share food whenever possible so you can taste more of these treats.

2. Visit the barns and see the horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and other farm animals. You can also visit the Miracle of Birth center to see animals giving birth. *tip-visit the barns early in the day when they smell the freshest.

3. The Coliseum has horse shows, bull riding and a rodeo.

4. Watch Police K-9 unit demonstrations and pet surgeries at the Pet Center. Purebred dogs are also showcased; you can see them up close and ask the owners questions about the different breeds.

5. Walk through the DNR (department of natural resources) building and visit the fish pond to see what fish can be found in Minnesota lakes.

6. Learn something new in the Agriculture/Horticulture, Education, and Progress Center buildings.

7. Appreciate arts and crafts in the Fine Arts and Creative Activities Buildings. I like to see the amazing quilts that people make.

8. Go on carnival rides and try your skill at carnival games on the Mighty Midway. *tip-buy discount tickets at local Cub grocery stores before the fair starts.

9. Enjoy the talent shows and free concerts scattered throughout the fairgrounds.

10. Attend a concert in the bandstand.

These are just a few of the things you can do at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. If you have any other suggestions, please add them in the comments. For more information and other activities, visit the Minnesota State Fair website.

Minnesota Humor

I see a lot of those emails that get passed around, making fun of people who live in Minnesota, and I smile because sometimes they are so true. For a glimpse of life in Minnesota, here are some of my favorites:

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TRUE MINNESOTAN WHEN:

* "Vacation" means going up north past Brainerd for the weekend.

* You measure distance in hours.

* You know several people who have hit deer more than once.

* You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again.

* You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.

* You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them.

* You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

* You don't go to bed without watching the weather forecast.


From Jeff Foxworthy:

If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through l8 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by, you might live in Minnesota.

If you’re proud that your state makes the national news 96 nights each year because International Falls is the coldest spot in the nation, you might live in Minnesota.

If you have ever refused to buy something because it’s "too spendy", you might live in Minnesota.

If you know how to say Wayzata, Mahtomedi, Edina and Shakopee, you might live in Minnesota.

Friday Photo Post: Northern Minnesota Sky

This was a great evening to be down by the lake. We sat on the dock and watched the sky change as the clouds shifted and the sun went down. It felt like we were under a painted dome ceiling. I tried to capture that with the top picture, but I don't think the effect comes across on the photograph. Hopefully you still get an idea of it.

From other Blogs...

On Brave New Traveler, Madeleine Somerville wrote a great review of Wanderlust and Lipstick by Beth Whitman. I decided to give the book a chance and ordered it from Amazon.

If you have a great travel story, Ian at Brave New Traveler has put together a list of online travel magazines that publish travel stories.

Traveling Stories Magazine is having a Summer Story Contest, with a prize of $50 for the story that gets the best ratings by August 31st.

Rolf Potts recently wrote some travel articles for the LA Times. They are all great reads, but my favorite was How much money for a dream trip?, where he encouraged saving money by living simply.

Are you looking for a festival to add to your travel itinerary? Go Budget Travel has a list of resources to help you find festivals and cultural events around the world.

The Guardian Unlimited takes a fresh look at the Midwest with an article about Minnesota.

The New York Times explores the last wilderness with an article about north-central Idaho. Another article in the Times gives tips on how to picnic in Central Park, New York City.

Happy Belated 4th of July

We've just returned from a vacation in Northern Minnesota. With the exception of one trip into town to check on email, I was without internet. And I survived. Who knew?! What did I do instead of surfing the web and writing for Rambling Traveler? Swimming, sunning, rollerblading, reading books, visiting with family and friends, and playing with the cutest nieces anyone could ask for.

David at Authorblog indicated an interest in what his American readers did to celebrate the 4th of July. We celebrated with several days of parades and fireworks displays. I love small town parades with the local fire trucks and high school marching bands. People in the parade know people on the street. On a hot day, the firefighters spray us with water, and it feels so good. Children come prepared with bags for all the candy that is thrown their way. Tootsie Rolls, salt water taffy, bubblegum, and lollipops were some of the favorites. Adults come prepared with chairs and blankets for comfortable seating.

This picture is of the crowd across the street from us at the parade in Nisswa. The lucky ones arrive early enough to find a good parking spot that saves a spot for the family along the parade route. Other people fill in the streets that get closed off for the parade.

*trivia* Nisswa comes from the Ojibwe word, nessawae, which means "in the middle" or "three". The town itself and Lake Nisswa are the middle of three interconnected lakes.

Now we are back home, and I've got many emails to check, a huge backlog of posts on my RSS reader, and my favorite, baskets of laundry to wash.

Friday Photo Post: St. Croix River

View of the St. Croix River dividing Minnesota and Wisconsin at Taylors Falls.

Interstate State Park at Taylors Falls, Minnesota

We visited Interstate State Park in Taylor's Falls this weekend. The Taylors Falls Queen, one of the excursion boats run by Wild Mountain, was docked at the park. They have 30 minute or 80 minutes daily excursions available. You can bring your own picnic lunch, or there is a snack bar on board to satisfy anyone with the munchies. Dogs are allowed on board as long as they are leashed at all times. Dinner, picnic and specialty cruises are also available.

Wild Mountain also offers canoe and kayak rental at the park's canoe base. You can paddle from the park to the Osceola Landing 7 miles away, or to William O'Brien State Park 17 miles away. The first trip takes about 2-3 hours, and the second one takes about 5-7 hours. There is a shuttle at both landings so you can return to your car.

Wild Mountain itself is about 7 miles north of Taylors Falls. During the summer, you can cool off at the waterpark or try out the alpine slides and go-karts.

We stayed at Interstate State Park this visit. For 2 1/2 hours we climbed all over the rocks, walked along the paths, and looked at the glacial potholes. We brought our 9 year old golden retriever with us and she impressed everyone with her climbing abilities.

If you bring a dog to the park, make sure you have bags to clean up after them. We also brought a traveling water dish for Gabby. It folds up and fits into our CamelBak* water pack, and when we stopped for a break, we filled it with water from the pack. We also had water bottles in the car so she could drink again before we left the park.

During our exploration of the park, we stopped to watch some rock climbers on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix River. There are opportunities to climb on the Minnesota side of the river, too. Climbing Central lists some of the different routes that are available.

Interstate State Park, Wild Mountain, and the historic town itself are all good reasons to visit Taylors Falls. About 40 miles away from Minneapolis and St. Paul, it is a good choice for a day trip or weekend escape.

*I was going to link to the camelbak site because I love their product, but the site requires flash player, and that irritates me. Instead, here is a link to CamelBak on wikipedia. We use our water packs whenever we go hiking. They are a great way to stay hydrated, and we can pack trail snacks, a small first aid kit, rain jackets and a camera inside the pockets and webbing.

Lake Harriet in Minneapolis

Kayaks for rent at Lake Harriet

Bike path at Lake Harriet

The Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis

During the last week of school, Doug took an afternoon off work so we could spend some time together before the boys were home on summer break. We decided to go rollerblading around "the lakes". The Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis includes Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake and Brownie Lake. It is one of 7 districts included in the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. The above picture is a view of the Minneapolis skyline from Lake Calhoun.

With limited time, we decided to only skate the 3 miles around Lake Harriet. The skating/biking path is separate from the walking/running one, and goes through a wooded park as it circles the lake. The path also goes past the Lake Harriet band shell, a popular summer concert venue. Next to the band shell are food concessions at the refectory.

All the lakes are connected by 13.3 miles of paths, including 3.2 miles around Lake Calhoun and 2.6 miles around Lake of the Isles. If you go, be sure to also take some time to drive by the incredible houses that line the different parkways around the lakes.