With the excitement of a birder spotting a rare warbler, my daughter and I quickly sunk to our knees on the edge of the Big Bog boardwalk to study our botanical target: insect-eating pitcher plants. They carried enough of creepy-crawly “eew” factor to convince my 10-year-old daughter, Kylie, to road trip an hour north of …
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Top 10 Things to do in Lutsen and Tofte, Minn. Photos & feature by Lisa Meyers McClintick Looking for one of Minnesota’s most scenic spots and best destinations for adventures? Point the car north and buzz up the North Shore along Lake Superior for a guaranteed great getaway. One of our favorite places to stay …
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Discover Southern Minnesota’s wildflowers The trill of a red-winged blackbird swaying atop cattails instantly takes me back to growing up on the southern still-rural edge of the Twin Cities. April and May offered a daily scavenger hunt for new clusters and carpets of spring wildflowers. Bloodroot emerged first, poking through the musty leaf litter beneath …
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Head south on the Great River Road Craving a Minnesota or Wisconsin road trip to celebrate the welcome end to winter? Let spring blossoms inspire your route. Some of Minnesota’s most stunning views can be found along the 17-mile Apple Blossom Scenic Drive each spring. This byway, tucked above the Mississippi River Valley in …
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Thousands of once-endangered trumpeter swans spend their winters on the Mississippi in Monticello, Minnesota. Swans use winter as their social & courting season. The trumpeting sound of Monticello’s swans Here’s a glimpse of the thousands of trumpeter swan that winter on the Mississippi River in Monticello, Minnesota, December through early March. Even better, you can hear …
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Haley Entner and Dayna White of St. Cloud enjoy cross-country skiing at St. Cloud’s Quarry Park & Nature Area. Frost flocks Haley Enter on a super-chilled morning. Minnesota’s Quarry Park offers unique ski trails Story & Photos by Lisa Meyers McClintick On a mid-December morning, the air bites so frigidly, even the snow seems to …
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Grand Superior Lodge’s BLU ice bar takes inspiration from the Split Rock Lighthouse. Lake Superior helps keep it cool. Minnesota dreams up icy frolics & February fun By Lisa McClintick Costumes add to the fun of the Pout Plunge that’s part of Walker’s Eelpout Festival. Take warm welcome of Minnesota Nice, nip it with winter …
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A.G. Thomson House blends history & comfort Trip Advisor listed Duluth’s A.G. Thomson House Bed & Breakfast at the top of its 25 Best B&Bs and Inns in the United States this week. It was among two Midwest winners for the 2012 Travelers’ Choice award. Fleur-De-Lys Mansion in St. Louis, Mo., another great choice, also …
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Enjoy the Midwest’s tastiest ice cream Barb at Pumphouse Creamery One of the best parts of summer is seeking out the Midwest’s best ice cream stand, shop, parlor or drive-in. Grab a crispy, crunchy cone, pile it high with dense, sweet ice cream or tangy, refreshing sorbet. It’s one of the most luscious (and cool) …
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Watch “Tonight Show” clips NBC sent an Aussie to the Eelpout Festival in Walker, Minnesota, last month. At the end–after he jumped into frigid Leech Lake–he gasped “You owe me, Jay Leno.” Indeed. I’m guessing taking that polar plunge in a kangaroo costume soaks up extra icy water. He should have gone for the offer …
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