Lisa McClintickAdventurous, creative, hands-on travel in Minnesota and beyond.

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minnelisa

Award-winning freelance writer/photographer, “Day Trips From the Twin Cities” author, teaching artist, sketchbooker, gardener & master naturalist.
Mother Nature was working the disco ball tonight!! Mother Nature was working the disco ball tonight!! Incredible northern lights! Best colors we’ve ever seen—and right in our front and backyard in St. Cloud, Minnesota. #northernlights #auroraborealisphotography #auroraborealis #centralminnesota
Have you ever noticed these hairy organisms hangin Have you ever noticed these hairy organisms hanging off Minnesota’s boreal forest trees? It’s one of several varieties of old man’s beard lichen. Read on for more details from This Week in Nature in the Star Tribune. #lichen #oldmansbeard #thisweekinnature @startribune #mnnature
I will dearly miss the two-hour drive to my parent I will dearly miss the two-hour drive to my parents’ home in Nevis now that they’re moving. We loved watching the Central Minnesota landscape roll by along U.S. Hwy 10 and Minnesota Hwy 64: cows and pastures, rivers and bald eagles, wetlands and swans, pine forest and roadside flowers. Last week the tamarack was in its agolden glory, looking spectacular in the angled sunlight. #mnroadtrips #tamarack #fallscenery #exploreminnesota
The tomatoes have continued to ripen nicely—whew! The tomatoes have continued to ripen nicely—whew! It will be great to add the yellows from golden Jubilee and dark Cherokee tomatoes to spaghetti and chili this winter. Any favorites you’d suggest we grow next year? I gravitate to colorful, sweet, beefy varieties. #tomatoseason #lastoftheharvest #gardenersofinstagram
The joy of Halloween when you’re still a toddler i The joy of Halloween when you’re still a toddler is you don’t have to explain who or what you are for the evening. You can be a clown-nosed, wand-waving butterfly-winged princess who’s wearing a dinosaur shirt underneath it all. And that’s cool. And pretty dang adorable. #halloweenwithtoddlers
Anyone have favorite tips and tricks for making us Anyone have favorite tips and tricks for making use of green tomatoes? We have two boxes in the house that we’re trying to ripen for winter sauces and chili. It was sad to have so many that couldn’t ripen on the vine. Overall, though, it was a wonderful growing season. We’re grateful for beans, tomatoes, a few cukes, herbs, and lots of flowers. #greentomatoes
I’ve always been drawn to bright fall leaves and c I’ve always been drawn to bright fall leaves and collecting them like a kid doing a school art project. This year was even more fun as I paid attention to the shapes of leaves. I pressed them, traced them onto flexible plastic, cut them out and used as a template for cutting leaves from felt. They also work great for nature journaling. A fun fall project! 🥰 #felting #wetfelting #fallleafcollection #fallleafart #mnartist #teachingartist #maple #redoak #whiteoak
Fall leaves add to the root beer color of northern Fall leaves add to the root beer color of northern rivers. You can thank tannins for that. It can be rather beautiful. Think of it as Mother Nature’s loose tea for wild rivers. @startribune #thisweekinnature #cascaderiverstatepark #cookcountymn #mnwaterfalls #tannins
New work inspired by Minnesota’s landscapes using New work inspired by Minnesota’s landscapes using homemade felt, premade felt, beads, and embroidery floss. #mnartist #wetfelting #felting #stitching
It was a wonderful morning for nature journaling a It was a wonderful morning for nature journaling at Avon Hills Folk School. A hike through the woods always inspires with the many colors, textures and foliage, while the sense of camaraderie and sharing of stories offers more warmth and energy than a jumbo cup of coffee. @avonhillsfolkschool #fallhikes #arthike #coloredpencilsketch #sketchbooking #leafart #mnarts #folkschool
It’s story season! I’m doing something different t It’s story season! I’m doing something different this fall and offering a Saturday packed with writing and organizational tips. Then on Monday nights in November through early December and/or January and February we’ll focus on sharing stories one chapter at a time for anyone who wants accountability to keep writing, a place to talk through challenges, and a welcoming supportive group to share your stories with. Come join us! Register with @paramountartsmn. #amwriting #memoirwriting #writinggroup #whatsyourstory #centralmnarts
It was fascinating to learn more about queen bumbl It was fascinating to learn more about queen bumblebees this year and how new ones emerge in late summer. I was so excited to see my first queen bee during a Master Naturalist workshop at St. John’s Abbey Arboretum in August and then to find one in our own garden in late September. Bumblebee colonies perish each fall, and our garden seems sadly quiet without them. Only the new queens tuck in to survive winter so they can start a brand-new colony in the spring. That’s a hefty responsibility. Special thanks to Minnesota’s bee expert Heather Holm for the interview for the Star Tribune This Week in Nature feature. Be sure to check out the new Minnesota Native Bees website or look for her growing number of books. Swipe to read more. @beesnativeplants @minnesotadnr #queenbees #bumblebees #nativepollinators @startribune #thisweekinnature
Weltenburg Abbey, which has been brewing the world Weltenburg Abbey, which has been brewing the world’s oldest dark beer since 1050, sits on a gorgeous wild section of the Danube River known as the Narrows. Beautiful striped cobblestones lie along the riverbanks below Jura limestone cliffs. This Benedictine community includes a tavern, the Klosterschenke Weltenburg, in a lovely courtyard where trees shade the tables and fall chestnuts periodically thunk onto the tables. I can rarely finish a 12-ounce can of beer, much less Germany’s hefty servings, but something about their brew tasted so delicious on a perfect sunny spring day in 1989, I drank enough to get my first buzz when visiting with fellow study abroad students. It’s the setting more than the beer—the combination of scenery and timelessness of the abbey—that has drawn me back more than once. This time it was a perfect place to connect with Bob’s childhoood friend, Kasey. The traditional food they serve is delicious. We savored gulasch with pretzel dumplings, roast pork with potato dumplings and pumpkin soup, plus apple strudel and steamed sweet dumplings for dessert. Never turn down the vanilla sauce. @weltenburger @visitbavaria #altmühltal #danube #weltenburg
We didn’t have castles on our Germany agenda a wee We didn’t have castles on our Germany agenda a week and a half ago, but when you’re in a river valley, chances are you’ll see them. And who can resist a castle? Burg Prunn dates back to 1200. We loved the views just outside of Riedenburg in Bavaria. #visitbavaria #burgprunn #altmühltal #visitgermany
Just over a week ago, we were still in Germany, cr Just over a week ago, we were still in Germany, cruising past the beautiful villages and rolling farm fields of Bavaria. Here’s a look at the Altmühltal River Valley town of Riedenburg as I catch up on photos. This would be a fantastic destination for bikers who love to follow scenic trails. It’s along the Altmuhltal River. @visitbavaria @visitgermany.official #riedenburg
There’s nothing terroristic or anti-American about There’s nothing terroristic or anti-American about a gathering where people come with walkers, dogs, kids holding signs that say “Be Kind,” and even women spinning yarn (“Spin yarn, not lies”). The sheer depth of signs and sentiments made the St. Cloud protest feel like a massive conversation among frustrated, angry and disheartened people seeking hope, sanity and change through unity. #nokings #protestsigns
Our second vacation rental was in Essing, a small Our second vacation rental was in Essing, a small village wedged between the valley’s castle-topped cliff and a canal that connects the Danube and Main Rivers. It was especially beautiful during an after-dark stroll. @visitbayern @visitgermany.official #essing #altmühltal
On Tuesday when we drove from near the Austrian bo On Tuesday when we drove from near the Austrian border to the Altmühltal in Bavaria, cloud banks created some cool scenery, especially along the Walchensee. We tried to stay on quieter roads as much as possible for the villages, livestock, and crops from sugar beets to hops. @visitbayern #cloudbanks #walchensee #visitgermany
My German host brother’s son, Tobias, paints scene My German host brother’s son, Tobias, paints scenery for Theater Regensburg. We enjoyed seeing sets in progress for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and another show that needed an ice berg. He took us on a tour of Regensburg with its beautiful cathedral and riverfront along the Danube. #regensburg #danuberiver #visitgermany
On our last day in Mittenwald, we headed back to t On our last day in Mittenwald, we headed back to the Leutasch Geisterklamm gorge, but we took a longer hike in from just over the border in Austria. It was beautiful to see fall colors and glacier blue waters and a little scary to see the gorge bottom far below our feet! #leutaschklamm @visittirol @alpenwelt_karwendel #visitgermany @#geisterklammleutasch #gorgehike
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You may still be eating leftover domestic turkey, You may still be eating leftover domestic turkey, but here’s a look at the growing number of wild ones that may be wandering into your backyards, across urban roads or roosting in trees. That latter scenario would freak me out if, say, I startled one after dark and it tumbled down in front of me. When our son was not even 2, he was following me in our family’s woods as I looked for wildflowers. He found himself face to face with a turkey the same height as he was and bolted back to my side, jabbering in panic and not knowing the word for the huge creature in the woods. Jabbering and gobbling sound a lot alike, so I figured out what he saw before I spotted the turkey. We’re grateful he still loves the woods despite the surprises. #wildturkey #turkeycomeback #backyardturkeys #thisweekinnature @startribune
When November looks a bit drab, you just have to l When November looks a bit drab, you just have to look a little closer and find it in the details. Snowflakes arrived this morning! #novemberweather #beautyinthedetails #snowflakes #minnestagrammers #raindrops #naturalist
I was honored (and a bit nervous) to get my first I was honored (and a bit nervous) to get my first illustration-only assignment this fall. Working with an elder with the University of Minnesota Extension Service and the story’s writer, we depicted the elements of a four directions medicine garden (Thatúye Tópa Phezúta-Ozúpi). It’s shaped like a turtle, with the sacred plants —cedar, sage, tobacco and sweetgrass—aligned to the four sacred directions. I truly enjoy learning about Indigenous cultures and traditions. You can find the Extension story and read more through the link in my bio. #fourdirections #sacredmedicine #nativegarden #illustration @umnextension
Keep your ears and eyes on the skies to enjoy the Keep your ears and eyes on the skies to enjoy the unique sound of tundra swans! A big flock flew over our yard in St. Cloud last night. It’s a higher-pitched “whistle” than the trumpeters that can be seen in Minnesota year-round. The tundra swans head south from the Arctic, follow the Mississippi River, and then veer to the mid-Atlantic states. @startribune #tundraswans #mnwildlife #backyardbirding #migration #birding
Whether you’re looking for holiday fun, winter get Whether you’re looking for holiday fun, winter getaways or planning your 2025 destinations, check out Day Trips from the Twin Cities. This gift that can keep on giving helps you find the best lodging, eateries, parks and quirky places that define communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. If you already have a copy, thank you for your support! 🙏 If you’d consider leaving a review online, I’d be grateful! I poured a lot of passion into these pages. @exploreminnesota @travelwisconsin #daytrips #weekendgetaways @visitmankatomn @newulm @experiencerochmn @visitstcloud #minnesotalife #minnesotagirl #midwesttravel #midwestliving
We were awake before the crack of dawn Oct. 24 to We were awake before the crack of dawn Oct. 24 to watch the sandhill cranes at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. There were about 12,500 cranes counted that week. Here’s a surprise: even with our crazy winds and cold rain yesterday, bird counters estimated 22,197 cranes were still at the refuge and hadn’t headed south. The Wildlife Drive is open until Dec. 1, and there are some designated viewing areas off county roads for mornings and evenings when cranes are heading overhead to and from fields and roosting areas. Turn on the volume in the video to hear how they sound. 🙂 @sherburnenwrfriends @usfws #sandhillcranes #cranemigration #mnbirding #exploreminnesota #cranemigration2024 #mnmasternaturalist
It has been fantastic to see an ever-growing numbe It has been fantastic to see an ever-growing number of nationally successful books written by Indigenous authors. Each one, whether literary, suspense, mystery, historical, or even horror, brings cultural insight, fresh perspectives and overlooked tragedies and injustices to light. With 574 federally recognized tribes, we have immeasurable stories and voices yet to be heard. Minneapolis’s Birchbark Books has long championed these stories and is owned by the prolific and much-lauded literary legend, Louise Erdrich. If you’ve read her book, “The Sentence,” which uses the bookstore as inspiration, you have another compelling reason to visit. The bookstore staff helped me pull together this list of standout Indigenous stories perfect for the long, cold nights ahead. You can see the full story and read USA Today’s Native American section at the link in my bio. The feature begins on page 45. I’ve read quite a few of these titles. Have you? Which are your favorites? @usatoday @birchbark_books #indigenousauthors #indigenousbooks @louise_erdrich #fallreads #nativeamerican #nativeamericanheritagemonth
Some of you were lucky to enjoy the Indigenous Foo Some of you were lucky to enjoy the Indigenous Food Lab’s pre-Colonial cuisine at the Minnesota State Fair this summer. I felt lucky to write about this organization founded by Chef Sean Sherman (@the_sioux_chef) for USA Today’s Native American special section. The organization’s wide-ranging efforts include inner-city gardens and foraging, training indigenous chefs, supporting small businesses who supply indigenous ingredients, and projects such as adding a weekly indigenous meal to a school lunch menu on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. These efforts seek to break away from unhealthy diets of government commodities and move toward food sovereignty, a goal that reaches beyond nourishing the body. As Linda Black Elk said, “It’s reconnecting with ancestors, your culture, and your spirit.” Read the story on page 31 and view the entire Native American section at the link in my bio. @usatoday @indigenousfoodlab #foodsovereignty @mahpiyalutaredcloud @natifs_org #indigenousfood #nativecuisine
Minnesota may be gray and chilly this time of year Minnesota may be gray and chilly this time of year, but moody skies and infamous gales make it a dramatic time to enjoy shipwatching on Lake Superior. It’s the world’s biggest freshwater sea (by surface area) and you can get an up-close view along the canal at the world’s most inland seaport: Duluth, Minn. You can read more at the link in my bio. @startribune #greatlakes #lakesuperior #shipwatching @canalpark #galesofnovember #edmundfitzgerald @visittheusa @exploreminnesota @visit_duluth
I’m working the polls on St. Cloud’s South Side Tu I’m working the polls on St. Cloud’s South Side Tuesday, from 6 am to 9 pm. I’m not sure this T-shirt is deemed politically neutral enough—and I didn’t plan ahead and purchase it—but I’m loving the Schoolhouse Rock vibe. I’m wishing I had something smile-inducing for an anxious day. Too bad I’m not into festive fingernails. #vote #electiondayattire #overthinkingthings #votetshirt
If you’re looking for a warm, feel-good story to r If you’re looking for a warm, feel-good story to read on a slushy day, grab a seat around the hearth at The St. John’s Pottery in Collegeville, Minn. Here, Master Potter Richard Bresnahan shares what he learned apprenticing in Japan in 1970s, creating his own style using only indigenous materials and leading a life of environmental stewardship. He shares that wisdom with students, apprentices and guests who visit the studio at St. John’s University, share cups of tea and leave feeling the sense of community he has created. It’s been an especially eventful stretch as the Johanna Kiln, the largest wood-fired kiln in North America, fired up in October. The 10-day event requires about 17 cords of wood for the three chambers that can collectively hold close to 12,000 pieces of pottery. It can take two months just to load the kiln, which only fires up every two years. Read the full story @projectoptimist or click the link in my bio. @csbsju #stjohnspottery #johannakiln #ecomutualism #landstewardship #japanesepottery #artapprenticeship #biophilia
In honor of Halloween and all things spooky, it se In honor of Halloween and all things spooky, it seemed fitting to feature some of the creepier things you might find in the woods of Minnesota: dead man’s fingers, witches’ butter and dog vomit slime. @startribune #mnoutdoors #thingsyoufindinthewoods #freakyfungi #mnmasternaturalist #slimemold
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