Hiking, Lists, Midwest, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, New

2023 Minnesota Hiking Trails Wish List

Posted on January 9, 2023

Do you have a hiking bucket list this year?
Let me know what trails are on your list in the comments!

Do you have a hiking bucket list?

I love having goals, and my love of goals means there’s nothing more exciting than having a themed bucket list or two (…hundred). On a quest to complete at least 10 new trails this year, I’ve compiled a small but mighty list of my bucket list hikes for Minnesota.

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or wanting to get into it, I recommend adding the following hikes need to your list, too! I’ll add photos of the hikes as we complete them!

1. Oberg Mountain

Superior National Forest | Tofte, MN

2.3 miles | Loop Trail

Are you ready for a trail that offers both the most beautiful view of Lake Superior and one of the best fall views along the North Shore in Minnesota? On the Oberg Mountain loop, you’ll get to experience both the astonishing views of Lake Superior and one of the most picturesque lakes in the state, Oberg Lake. Visiting in the fall season gives you the most scenic fall color views in the Midwest.

One of the most popular trails in Minnesota, Oberg Mountain will not disappoint. Generally considered an easy-to-moderate hike, this trail is friendly to both beginners and advanced hikers alike.

Trailhead address: Superior Hiking Trail Oberg Mountain Loop, Tofte, MN 55615

2. Crosby Lake Inner

Crosby Farm Regional Park | St. Paul, MN

2.5 miles | Loop Trail

Would you have guessed that Minnesota has slot canyons? No need to go all the way to Moab if you don’t want to, there’s one right over in St. Paul!

To access the slot canyon, you’ll start at Crosby Farm Regional Park. The 2.5 mile Crosby Lake Inner Loop trail will lead you there. Plan for an hour or so, and feel free to bring the whole family (including your leashed four-legged friends)! Note the trail is pretty uneven and not ADA accessible.

Be sure to bring your binoculars and get ready for some awesome birding along the way.

Trailhead address: 2595 Crosby Farm Rd, St Paul, MN 55116

3. Kadunce River Wayside Trail

Grand Marais, MN

1.1 miles | Out and Back Trail

Minnesota also has gorges! Follow alongside (or on the riverbed in the fall when the water level is low) the Kadunce River around 1.1 miles to a stunning waterfall in northeast Minnesota. This may be a short hike, but the views and differential experience of hiking inside a gorge is rare in Minnesota and should be taken advantage of.

Seeing the varying foliage and vantage points within this hike (as there are two options: alongside and on the riverbed) will make this hike unforgettable.

Trailhead address: Superior Hiking Trail Kadunce Riv Spur, Grand Marais, MN 55604

4. Lost Forty

Chippewa National Forest | Wirt, MN

1.9 miles | Loop Trail

This beautiful interpretive trail will take you amongst Minnesota’s oldest trees. The Lost Forty is one of Minnesota’s best kept secrets. It’s a Scientific and Natural Area protected by the Minnesota DNR. The only reason this exists is because, during the logging era, a land surveyor accidentally missed adding these 40 acres to a logging planning map. Thus, the state’s oldest (over 240 years), biggest (115″ circumference), and tallest (120′ high) trees reside in the special area within the Chippewa National Forest.

This area is so special, I can’t wait to go back in time on this hike.

Trailhead address: 47.766335, -94.084050

5. Carver Rapids

Ney Nature Center | Henderson, MN

4.4 miles | Loop Trail

This 4.4 mile loop is a combination of pieces of all of the trails within Ney Nature Center, located in southern Minnesota. Here you can see historic farm grounds, forests, hills, and varying terrain, a river, and peaceful gardens.

I’m looking forward to this trail because we love history! It will be awesome to read all of the interpretive boards and view the historical farm buildings along the way.

Trailhead address: 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, MN 56044

6. Sugar Loaf Bluff

Winona, MN

1.2 miles | Out and Back Trail

Located in the driftless region of southeastern Minnesota lies the town of Winona, home to towering Sugar Load Bluff. Due to its steep hike, this trail is considered moderate difficulty. The views from the bluff are spectacular and overlook both the city of Winona and surrounding picturesque valleys and hills.

I’m excited about this trail because my family and I went on this for my mom’s birthday when we were kids, and it was one of my favorite memories growing up.

Trailhead address: 825 E Lake Blvd, Winona, MN 55987

7. Silver Creek

Jay Cooke State Park | Carlton, MN

3.4 miles | Loop Trail

Jay Cooke State Park is arguably one of the most popular and beautiful state parks in the state of Minnesota. Silver Creek is Jay Cooke State Park’s designated hiking club trail, and is certainly one of its most popular as it takes hikers over the most beautiful suspension bridge for unforgettable views of the St. Louis River.

What draws me to this trail is its terrain diversity: from paved to over the suspension bridge, rocky near the river, and rolling hills.

Trailhead address: 780 MN-210, Carlton, MN 55718

8. Loon Island Trail

Lake Shetek State Park | Currie, MN

1.4 miles | Loop Trail

Lake Shetek State Park is located in southwest Minnesota. The Loon Island Trail starts with a sand causeway and loops around an island within the state park. This trail is considered easy due to its flat and consistent terrain. Be sure to bring swimming gear so you can hop in the beautiful lake after your hike!

I love that this trail will take you through a diverse landscape: sandy beaches, wooded forests, and by cattailed wetlands.

Trailhead address: 44.108503, -95.697676

9. Bass and Dry Lake Loop

Superior National Forest | Ely, MN

6.3 miles | Loop Trail

Located in the beautiful Superior National Forest in Ely, MN, is Bass Lake and Dry Lake. This trail offers beautiful views of pristine Minnesota lakes and rocky landscapes. This trail is considered to be moderate to strenuous, as there are many hills and rocky terrain, but note it’s worth the challenge to see the amazing views! Along the way, you’ll run into five scenic lookouts and three opportunities for a designated restroom.

What excites me about this trail is that you can take a dip in the water once you reach the waterfalls! And, as someone who is just recently getting into backpacking, there are three non-reservable sites along the trail to camp at: one on Dry Lake and two on Bass Lake, all within 0.5 miles from each other.

Trailhead address: 1548 Echo Trail, Ely, MN 55731

10. Dakota Trails Loop

Whitewater State Park | Altura, MN

4.2 miles | Loop Trail

Whitewater State Park is located in the southeast corner of Minnesota. Known for being a “bluffy” area of the state, hikes around here are some of the most scenic you’ll find in Minnesota. Being in bluff country also means the trails are typically a little steeper and challenging too.

What I’m most excited about with this trail is the diverse scenery to be experienced: overlooks, rivers, beautiful trees, limestone formations, and flora variety.

Trailhead address: 19041 MN-74, St Charles, MN 55972

Download this bucket list here!

Bonus: Kawishiwi Falls

Superior National Forest | Winton, MN

1 mile | Loop Trail

Love waterfalls too? You will LOVE the hike to Kawishiwi Falls in the Superior National Forest. It’s a short but sweet 1 mile mellow hike to view this spectacular and massive waterfall.

Trailhead address: 444 Fernberg Rd, Ely, MN 55731

Bonus: Superior Hiking Trail Sections

Northeast Minnesota

Thru-Hiking Trail

The Superior Hiking Trail is a scenic 300+ mile trail in northern Minnesota. Hikers have the option to complete the SHT by way of thru-hiking, section hiking, or day hiking. Hikes range anywhere from 4.8 to 11.8 miles, giving us a wide range of options to choose from.

The exciting part about having any section or day hike of the Superior Hiking Trail on this list is that the possibilities are endless! Oberg Loop, mentioned above, is part of the Superior Hiking Trail as well, but I’m really excited to continue researching and add another bit of the SHT to my list this year.

Are you doing any part of the SHT this year? Let me know where in the comments!

Blogmas, Midwest, Minnesota, Twin Cities

Indoor Recreation Activities for the Wintertime | Blogmas 2022

Posted on December 4, 2022

Blogmas 2022 - Post No. 4

December 4th! Blogmas Day 4. Today’s post is about Indoor Recreation Activities for the Wintertime. Something that is definitely needed on the days the temps dip below zero, especially for us, as we get antsy and bored if we have to sit at home multiple days in a row.

So if you get antsy like we do, here are a few indoor recreation ideas for those extra cold days.

Indoor Recreation Activities for the Wintertime

Indoor Rock Climbing

Today, Eric and I went indoor rock climbing at the Minneapolis Vertical Endeavors. The Minneapolis location is bouldering-only, which is usually our favorite type climbing, so it felt so good to be moving like that again!

Here are some Minnesota local rock climbing gyms for you to check out:

Vertical Endeavors (multiple locations around Minnesota + Illinois)
Minneapolis Bouldering Project in Minneapolis
Minnesota Climbing Co-Op in Minneapolis
Albert Lea Rock Gym in Albert Lea
Roca Climbing & Fitness in Rochester

Curling

Curling is another amazing workout of a recreational activity that’s done indoors. A surprising workout, this activity will warm you up as soon as you get started. And there are quite a few curling centers around Minnesota:

The best way to try curling is through a Learn to Curl class, so check your local curling center’s schedule for their open times!

Ice Skating / Ice Hockey

Anyone else who grew up in Minnesota grow up on the ice as well? Or is that just us? And we love it.

If you live anywhere that has consistently cold weather, you’ve likely walked or driven by an outdoor ice skating or hockey rink. Here in Minnesota, it seems like we have one on every corner, and that’s great! We are the State of Hockey, after all 🙂

But on the days where it’s way too cold to be skating outside, indoor ice skating and ice hockey rinks are prime. And if you live in the Midwest, there’s a good chance you have an indoor rink in your area too. Be sure to check out your local rink’s schedule for Open Skate times to be able to drop in and skate inside to stay warm when the weather outside is frightful.

And many more...

There are so many other recreational activities that take place indoors too, such as…

Bowling
Swimming
Track
Basketball
Tennis / Racquetball / Pickleball
Dance classes
Yoga

Just to name a few! Community Centers, Parks & Recreation Departments, Recreation Centers, and Fitness facilities are all great resources for indoor recreation and non-recreational activities to keep you busy throughout the winter.

Want more wintertime activities? Check out these posts:

Blogmas, Lists, Midwest, Minnesota, New

Our Midwest Winter Wish List | Blogmas 2022

Posted on December 3, 2022

Blogmas 2022 - Post No. 3

It’s December 3rd – Day 3 of blogmas! Today I’m sharing our Midwest Winter ’22-’23 Wish List – a list of some things Eric and I would love to do this winter season! Hopefully there will be something on the list that you’d like to do too (or to try if you haven’t already). If you have a list too, I’d love to see it!

I spent a majority of the day messing with optimization again, mostly focusing on images this time. I had a realization midway through that Facebook users get different views from their links that vary based on whether a person profile or a Page profile shared the link. For example, if a person profile (such as my personal Facebook account) shares a link, then the image is shown to the left of the link preview and is vertical. And if a Page profile (such as the VolkmanAdventures Page) shares a link, then the image is shown on top of the link preview and is a completely different size (and is horizontal). Eye. Roll. In my opinion. Why can’t they just both be the same? Due to this, I made the decision to update the featured images of the last five blog posts from vertical to horizontal, so now there should be some consistency and formality regardless of whether a person or a page shares any links. Yay!

Winter 2022-2023 Wish List

Skiing at Big Powderhorn Mountain (Michigan)

We have the Indy Pass again this winter season and wow how they have grown this year! They’ve double their resorts within the Midwest region here, giving us Minnesotans even more opportunities to explore the snowy areas around us. And top of our wish list this year is Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort in Bessemer, MI.

Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and around a 4hr 45min drive from us here in the Twin Cities. Not too terrible of a drive as it goes through the beautiful northern part of Wisconsin, with plenty of parks and places to stop along the way.

Eric and I have been to Big Powderhorn in the past, and it instantly had risen to the top of our “Favorite Places to Ski and Snowboard” lists. (Oh! I don’t have a post on that yet!) Therefore, we can’t wait to get back there – which will hopefully be this season.

Check out their page, here!

*Update: Since this post went live, we now have plans to go! 🙂

Snowshoeing at Afton State Park (Minnesota)

Snowshoeing is something we haven’t done all that often as of yet, but is something we’re growing fond of! Once of the best Minnesota State Parks south of Duluth to visit in the winter season is Afton State Park in Hastings, MN.

We have been to Afton State Park once many years ago, and it was during the winter season. We didn’t have snowshoes at the time and definitely wished we did! This park offers multiple trail options, and over 10 miles of those trails can be used my snowshoers as well. Plus, you can snowshoe off trail in this park to add even more miles to your trek, which is pretty cool!

See the Willow River Cascades Frozen at Willow River State Park (Wisconsin)

Frozen waterfalls are so so SO beautiful! Eric and I stopped at a frozen waterfall last January – at Cascade River State Park in Lutsen, MN and instantly loved them. We were lucky enough to be driving in the northern Wisconsin area a few months later and was able to see another frozen waterfall again, this time at Amnicon Falls State Park in South Range, WI.

So we want to see even more!

There’s a park just across the border in Wisconsin that has been on our bucket list for a while, and it happens to also have an amazing and large cascading waterfall. I can’t even imagine how amazing these falls are in the winter.

The park is called Willow River State Park and it’s in Hudson, WI. Willow River SP is a popular park with miles and miles of scenic trails and a gorgeous river that carved through sandstone to create Willow River and Little Falls Lake.

Go Skiing Somewhere We've Never Been

We LOVE skiing and snowboarding. It’s been a big part of our history since we’ve been together, and we try to get out as much as we can each season.

And though we have been to many of the slopes around us here in Minnesota, there are so many more that we can’t wait to try out!

If you’re looking for new places to ski or snowboard this season, here are a few places in the Midwest that caught our attention:

Powder Ridge Winter Recreation Area in Kimball, MN
Granite Peak Ski Area in Wausau, WI
SnowRiver Mountain Resort in Wakefield, MI
Mount Kato Ski Area in Mankato, MN
Loch Lomond Ski Area, Thunder Bay, ON

Snowshoe Once per Week

As mentioned earlier, we’re relatively new to snowshoeing, having only done it a handful of times over the past few years. We’ve learned that it’s a hidden gem of an activity that provides quite a workout each time.

And best of all, snowshoeing can be done anywhere! As long as you have snow, the world is your oyster. You don’t even need a designated trail. In fact, you can even help with other trails, like fat tire bike trails, by going out on the trail first to start packing the snow after a fresh snowfall.

Because it’s such a good workout and so easy to do in your own backyard (or anywhere with snow), I couldn’t not add this to my winter wish list.

Winter Hike the Superior Hiking Trail (Minnesota)

Winter hiking is a new love of ours. We’ve found that hiking in chilly (not freezing haha) weather is much more refreshing, comfortable, and energizing than hiking on a hot summer day. So we’re thrilled that winter weather hiking season is now here! Another big goal of ours is to hike the Superior Hiking Trail, so why not do both at once?

The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) is an incredibly scenic route that spans 310 miles, with one end at Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton, MN, and the other end at the Canadian border where it connects with the 4,800 mile North Country Trail.

I’d love to hike the SHT in its entirety (over time), and hiking it in the winter sounds like the best, not to mention the least buggy, time to do it.

Blogmas, Lists, Minnesota, New

5 Fun Family Activities for this Holiday Season | Blogmas 2022

Posted on December 2, 2022

Blogmas 2022 - No. 2

It’s December 2nd, and therefore blogmas Day 2! Today’s post is about fun family activities for this holiday season.

I spent most of my after-work hours attempting to optimize this website’s performance, which I hope is making your site experience much better! There was an annoying JavaScript issue that slowed my site speed down by like 500% and it was gross. And took forever to figure out.

Anyways, on to blogmas installment No. 2! Technically a day late due to not getting home until 10pm from running errands, then falling asleep with only one paragraph left to write, but better late than never! Not off to a great blogmas start haha! I’ll get the timing right for tomorrow 🙂

5 Fun Family Activities for this Holiday Season

1. Write and Send Santa a Letter

One of the most fun childhood memories I have from growing up is writing a letter to Santa and sending it to him up in the North Pole. There was just something so fun about writing a letter telling Santa how good we were throughout the year and our wishes for the next year. AND he even wrote back! How cool was that?

He’s still at it even all these years later, too. And here are the steps! Along with his address:

North Pole Postmark
Postmaster
4141 Postmark Dr
Anchorage, AK 99530-9998

2. Christmas/Holiday Market

Christmas and Holiday Markets are so beautifully decorated, and provide many options for entertainment for families looking to get into the holiday spirit. With delicious treats, drinks, and activities, there’s a little something at each market for everyone! And, as a bonus, you can also get some holiday shopping done simultaneously haha! Here are some ideas for markets to visit around Minnesota:

The Dayton’s Project in Minneapolis, MN
European Christmas Market in St. Paul, MN
The Winter Markets at Viking Lakes in Eagan, MN
Minneapolis Craft Market at Holidazzle in Minneapolis, MN
River Hills Merry Market in Mankato, MN

Don’t forget to check your local events to find one in your town, too!

3. Bonfire with S'Mores and Apple Cider

Ahh, the smell of burning firewood. A cozy reminder of the fall and winter months, and truly one of the best seasonal activities for families. Bonfires are warm and provide a great opportunity for campfire drinks, like hot apple cider and hot chocolate!

The only thing that’s missing from the warmth of the fire and beverages, is a nice campfire snack, like s’mores! Between picking out the ingredients, heating up the marshmallows (not to mention the laughter that comes from accidentally catching them on fire), and putting together the s’more itself, these sticky snacks are a fun experience for all ages!

Bonfires and s’mores can both be made at home, or you can find a bonfire event in your local community!

4. Visit Santa and his Reindeer

Once Santa sends a letter back, how exciting would it be to see him in person? There are lots of fun opportunities to visit Santa around town throughout December, and many of those events have reindeer too!

Oftentimes Santa’s helpers are there to help with taking photos and are there to teach others about the lives of the reindeer up at the North Pole (including what they and the other helpers do in the off-season). These are fun and educational for everyone!

5. Drive / Walk through a Holiday Light Show

Holiday light shows are such a fun experience for the whole family! With multiple light show events throughout Minnesota, there are endless options for entertainment. Here are a few places to check out:

The Kiwanis Holiday Light Show in Mankato, MN
Winter Lights at the Arb in Chaska, MN
GLOW Holiday Lights in St. Paul, MN
Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, MN
Celebrate the Light of the World in Willmar, MN

Best of all, if you walk or drive around your city’s neighborhoods there are fun free light shows put on by the community! Our favorite free light show is put on by a couple of houses in a neighborhood down the street from our old house.

Looking for more winter ideas? Check these two posts out:

Lists, MicroAdventures, Minnesota

Minnesota Spring Bucket List

Posted on March 27, 2022

Fresh air and physical movement are so incredibly important for our wellbeing. Spring is a beautiful time of year here in the midwest where the snow is melting, the birds are flying back, and flowers and trees are coming back to life.

Spring can also be a weird time where the ground is mushy and it’s raining a lot, making it a difficult season to think of things to do! And I would love to offer some spring activities for you to try. Keep this list close if you’re still deciding how to spend your spring days – there’s a free download at the end of the post!

Hop outside with these spring activities!

PLANT A TREE
GO ON A NATURE WALK OR HIKE
HAVE A PICNIC
ATTEND AN OUTDOOR CONCERT
SPLASH IN THE RAIN
PLANT A VEGETABLE GARDEN
GO ON A BIKE RIDE
FEED THE DUCKS (PROPERLY)
DRAW WITH SIDEWALK CHALK
ATTEND A FARMERS MARKET
PUT UP A HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER

CLEAN UP A LOCAL PARK
GO GEOCACHING
GO FISHING
VISIT A WATERFALL
PLAY A YARD GAME
EXPLORE A NEW PARK
PLANT A FLOWER GARDEN
GO DISC GOLFING
FLY A KITE
GO TO AN ART FESTIVAL
VISIT A MAPLE SYRUP FARM

What are your favorite spring outdoor activities? Let me know in the comments!

Click here for free download!

Lists, MicroAdventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, New

These 6 Parks have the Best Winter Activities around Alexandria

Posted on January 31, 2022

Disclosure: Though Explore Alex graciously comped our weekend, the following thoughts and opinions are our own and are not in any way influenced by these factors.

Welcome to Alexandria and Douglas County in Minnesota!

Located north east of the Twin Cities by about two hours is this beautiful micropolitan. Nestled within 300+ lakes, more than 500 miles of recreational trails, and over 25 parks (two of which are State Parks), there are endless recreational opportunities for all types of explorers!

Here are a few ways you can enjoy winter at six of their local parks:

Andes Tower Hills

Andes Tower Hills started in 1980, and has been an amazing addition to the community, hosting over a million skiers over time, ever since. Their mission statement includes “To offer a family friendly relationship building environment that creates positive long-lasting memories,” and you can feel that as soon as you walk in the door. If you can, try to speak with Tom “Hollywood” Anderson for a few moments – his father and uncle started Andes Tower Hills in 1980 – he was such a joy to speak with, and taught us so much about the facility and surrounding area.

With 15 downhill runs, there are options for all abilities! There are also four chairlifts equally spread throughout the hill, so we never felt like we had to wait to go up. Our favorite runs were Big Ben, Serendipity, Hawaiian Cruise, and the Big Dipper.

Throughout the week, the facility hosts hundreds of school groups and other groups seeking to learn how to downhill ski or snowboard, too. Likewise, they receive a lot of visitors from North and South Dakota due to its central location and proximity to those states. Due to their ever-increasing popularity, the chalet has recently doubled in size, allowing for even more visitors to rent, locker, eat, shop, and warm up inside.

If you prefer something else, Andes Tower Hills also offers snow tubing (and Neon Nights Tubing), snowshoeing, and nearly 10 miles of cross-country trails!

Man & Woman at Ski Lift

Big Ole Central Park

When you come to Alexandria, you have to visit Big Ole, an iconic 28-foot tall Viking statue on the south shore of Lake Agnes. According to the plaque that stands beside him, Big Ole was originally “created to accompany the Kensington Rune Stone to the New York World’s Fair in 1965.”

Big Ole Central Park is in the heart of the city, and a beautiful place to start your visit! In the snowy months, take the opportunity to snowshoe around the park, or stop by while snowmobiling on the Central Lakes Trail which goes through the park. In the summer, visit the Alexandria Farmers Market, have a picnic with lake views, or play a game in the green space.

Winter in Alexandria

View down Central Park

Trail Map

View of Lake Agnes from Park

Glacial Lakes State Park

Though we didn’t visit Glacial Lakes State Park on this trip, we did stay here back in 2017. I wanted to ensure this park was included on the list because we would recommend it! Learn more about our previous visit here.

We enjoyed this smaller Minnesota State Park, especially for its ease of access and navigation. The trails were a great mix of level and steep, depending on which way you went (unfortunately a trail map wasn’t available at the time at the ranger station or online, so I do not know the names), and always had great views and areas to explore.

There are also signs around the park to give you its history, so our plan when we return to this park is to check out all of the glacier-formed kettle lakes and continue to learn about the history of this area.

Winter activities include hiking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.

Glacial Lakes Sign

Glacial Lakes Boots On Firepit

Glacial Lakes SP Canoes

Glacial Lakes SP View From Top Of Hill

Glacial Lakes SP Mardys Trail

Glacial Lakes SP Cabin

Glacial Lakes SP Signalness Lake

Kensington Rune Stone Park

Welcome to Kensington Runestone Park, one of Minnesota’s greatest hidden gems. This 300+ acre farmland-turned-county park provides endless opportunities for recreation all year long!

Here in the snowy months, you can explore the visitor center, cross-country ski, fat tire bike, sled, and snowshoe. In the warmer months, you can explore the visitor center, bike, mountain bike, run, picnic, or play at the playground.

We spent the day fat tire biking and checking out the visitor center. Our fat tire bikes were from Jake’s Bikes, and we were lucky enough to have Jake deliver them himself. You can tell the passion for biking that Jake has, and we learned a lot about the area and the sport by speaking with him beforehand. It was our first time on a true fat fire bike trail, so we stayed on the Olaf Ohman and Bifrost trails, which are the two beginner-most fat tire/mountain biking trails in the park. What a challenging and exhilarating sport! We’re excited to try it again someday.

Not only are there ample recreation opportunities, but this park is also the site of one of Minnesota’s greatest mysteries – the Kensington Runestone, discovered in the late 1800’s. More about this can be learned within the visitor center, which is heated and open year round.

Fat tire bike in snow by lake

Eric & Elissa by Bike Trail Map

Inside the Rune Stone Visitor Center

Lake Carlos State Park

This State Park holds a very special place in our hearts as Eric has been camping here annually since ~2007 with his “second family,” and I started joining them whenever possible within the last 10 years too!

Lake Carlos State Park is a great nature retreat for those seeking adventure in the Great Outdoors! It is nicely secluded on the north end of Lake Carlos, and offers many outdoor activities, no matter the season.

The wintertime activities the park has to offer are snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Snowshoeing is open to the entire 1,231 acre park. There are 6 miles of groomed ski trails, and the 9 miles of snowmobile trails that are on the park connect to Douglas County trails so you can make an entire weekend from activities solely in the park if you want!

We took advantage of the good snow conditions while we visited, and strapped on the snowshoes to see what winter sights we could catch. It turns out there was lots to see, and we just barely scratched the surface. There were also many fish houses out on the lake, not far from the park.

In the summer, the park has a swimming beach, horse trails, and lots of boat parking for your summer camping getaway!

Lake Carlos sunset on ice

Elissa snowshoeing

Restroom building

Noonan Park

When you think of winter in Minnesota, you can’t help but think about pond hockey. And what better place to play than Noonan Park! During the cold months, the pond freezes over and is home to both ice skating and ice hockey, as well as ample snowshoeing and winter hiking options. In the summer, you can experience beautiful flower gardens with a lively pond, a playground with an awesome playhouse (the “Duck Inn”), and walking trails all around.

The Douglas County Historical Society shared that Noonan Park was given to the city by Philip and Mollie Noonan (a successful local businessman) with the agreement that the space would remain a public park. The Noonans paid for the initial landscaping and took care of the park from 1937 until it was donated to the city in 1943.

Duck Inn at Noonan Park

Ice skating rink at Noonan Park

Have you been to the Alexandria or Douglas County area? What parks would you recommend visiting?

MicroAdventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, New

Mankato River Ramble – a Great MN Cycling Experience

Posted on October 27, 2021

It finally happened! Eric and I have been wanting to participate in a MN cycling event for years! We were even signed up for two, but life happened and we weren’t able to.

That is, until the Mankato River Ramble came along.

What an invigorating experience!

First greeted by the energetic and motivating volunteers, I was directed toward a large event check-in tent at Land of Memories Park. After checking in, I enjoyed some refreshments, snacks, and amazing live music before hitting the trail.

This is the first time I’ve ever done an event like this, so I was feeling a little nervous.

Though I did the smaller of the trails, called the “Minneopa Falls Loop,” it was one of the most diversely scenic 12 mile bike rides of my life. We rode through beautiful hills, to a waterfall, to a ski hill, and around through town.

And I’d love to share my 3 favorite views and experiences with you!

Stop 1 - Minneopa State Park

Biking distance from Land of Memories Park = 3.3 miles.

This was the most difficult part of the entire ride, so lucky for me it was in the beginning. If I’m being honest, I actually almost gave up on the way here! But I’m glad I didn’t because it was an easier ride once we got to Minneopa SP.

Eric and I bike often, but never in such hilly places, so I really had to fine-tune my gear shifting abilities fast. I have an older road bike that doesn’t shift as smooth as others, but once I figured those gears out, the rest of the ride was much more pleasant.

Minneopa State Park is one of southern Minnesota’s best kept secrets. Just 5.9 miles from downtown, be sure to have this beautiful park on your itinerary. Visit in the summer or fall to view the free-roaming bison, visit in the spring to see the stunning Minneopa Falls, and visit any time of year to experience their nearly 5 miles of hiking trails and endless snowshoeing opportunities.

Stop 2 - Mount Kato

Biking distance from Minneopa State Park = 4 miles.

The stretch between Minneopa State Park and Mount Kato were the most scenic parts of the ride. First following the South Route Trail adjacent to CR 90 (Hawthorn Rd), you will then connect with the Red Jacket Trail. Be ready and make sure your brakes are good as you head toward the end of the South Route Trail, however, because you do not want to be caught off guard by this frightening 5.1% incline. The breeze through your hair during this segment feels amazing, though!

For fans of outdoor recreation, Mankato has a great skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and biking mountain right outside the city, aptly named Mount Kato. The mountain consists of 19 trails of varying difficulty, from the bunny hill to difficult black diamonds. There are 4 terrain parks for practicing your skills, and 8 chair lifts to get you back up to your favorite runs as quick as possible. Open in both winter and summer seasons, you’ll be able to take advantage of the mountain no matter when you visit!

Stop 3 - Sibley Park

Biking distance from Mount Kato = 3.7 miles.

One of the last stops along the Mankato River Ramble route is beautiful Sibley Park. You first ride in from the northeast corner of the park, by two softball fields. You’ll notice multiple park benches along the Minnesota River to your right. Don’t forget to take a rest break and soak in those river breezes.

As you ride the trail south past the park shelter, you’ll notice an old log cabin with a sign in front of it that says “Ott” catches your eye. This quaint cabin was moved to Sibley Park in 1931, but was actually constructed in 1857 by George Ott Sr., who was one of the first settlers of the area.

Following the Minnesota River Trail through Sibley Park, you’re met with one of the most beautiful gardens in the Mankato area. One could spend hours wandering around Sibley Park and see something new around every turn. Visiting in the spring means catching the hundreds of flowers blooming. And visiting in the fall, like I did, provided equally as beautiful views as the trees change color.

Back at Land of Memories Park

Biking distance from Sibley Park = 1.7 miles.

I’m not in the greatest shape – actually, in the worst shape of my life – but it felt so invigorating and accomplishing to participate!

If you’ve never done something like this before, I would strongly encourage you to do so. Doing something that’s on your bucket list (especially if it’s been on there a long time) gives you that extra motivation to just try it out!

You’ll feel such a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, I bet you’ll want to try it again with something else – or maybe that’s just me 😉

How have you pushed your boundaries and tried something new recently? Let me know in the comments!

P.S. You probably noticed Eric wasn’t able to attend – this is because he broke his foot on a motorcycle trip a few weeks beforehand, but he was there in spirit and promised he’ll be ready for next year! 🙂

Itinerary, Minnesota, New, Twin Cities

Self-Guided Northeast Minneapolis Brewery Tour

Posted on September 30, 2021

Northeast Minneapolis is an eclectic area known for its art, restaurants, and – you guessed it – breweries! Minnesota has over 180 breweries, and 33 of them are in Minneapolis, making it a wonderful place to meet up with friends and try something new!

Join us as we take you to five of those breweries on a beautiful summer day. All within 2.9 miles of each other, this makes for the perfect walking (or biking!) tour of the city.

At-A-Glance Stats –
Fair State Brewing Cooperative to Sociable Cider Werks = 0.7 miles
Sociable Cider Werks to Indeed Brewing Company = 0.6 miles
Indeed Brewing Company to Able Seedhouse + Brewery = 0.3 miles
Able Seedhouse + Brewery to HeadFlyer Brewing = 0.9 miles

Fair State Brewing Cooperative

Our first brewery tour stop is Fair State Brewing Cooperative! With 20+ beverage options, this is a great stop to try something new! There’s something here for everyone, especially if your group likes different types of drinks.

Can’t decide which to get? Describe what flavors you like to the amazing bartender, who will perfectly match you with an awesome drink!

I can’t talk about Fair State Brewing without mentioning something that’s really special about them. The co-op was creating with collaboration and giving back in mind. How amazing is that? Here’s a blurb from their website:

“In 2016, we launched our community engagement arm, Fair State Cooperates. Each month we partner with a different nonprofit organization selected by our Member-Owners. In our partnerships, we raise funds through beer sales, awareness through social media, and involvement through volunteerism.”

Our suggestions –
The Roselle (kettle sour with hibiscus)
Big Doinks (IPA)
Fruityboom Frozen Slush (Mango Dreamsicle)
Non-alcoholic cold press

Pro Tip! Bring snacks or food and plan to sit outside in the beer garden!

Sociable Cider Werks

Ready for a cider? Stop number two brings us to Sociable Cider Werks! Here you can choose from 15+ types of beverages, including non-alcoholic options. Be sure to wander around and check out all of the fun vintage bicycles and bicycle parts. The spacious outdoor deck and patio are the perfect place to relax.

Our suggestions –
Squoze (guava)
Pinch Flat (hibiscus rose)
Training Wheels (scrumpy apple)

Pro Tip! Take a Tap Room tour on Saturdays - free if you bring a donation in the form of a canned food item!

Indeed Brewing Company

Welcome to Beerland at Indeed Brewing Company and Taproom! Feel free to wander around and take it all in. There are plenty of seating options both indoors and outdoors – shaded and sunny! Don’t forget to check out the gear shop for some great merch options too.

Our suggestions –
Strawberry Fields (sour)
Day Tripper (pale ale)
Pink Rabbit Pils (pilsner)

Pro Tip! Be hungry and ready for the best chicken you'll ever eat at the onsite food truck, Revival!

Able Seedhouse + Brewery

Note: This brewery has unfortunately now permanently closed.

Stop number four previously brought us to the beautiful Able Seedhouse + Brewery! Their values focused on the environment and the arts, and you could really see and feel that throughout this brewery.

Suggestions were –
Raspberry hibiscus wheat ale
Mosaic Ain’T So (American IPA)
Non-alcoholic Northstar Kombucha (cherry elderberry)

Pro Tip! Onside food truck Animales Barbeque Company is the perfect pairing to Able's amazing beer selection!

Headflyer Brewing

Our last stop on the Northeast Minneapolis Brewery Tour takes us to HeadFlyer Brewing. What a great atmosphere and way to end the day. Chill out on their deck or patio to chat, play a game, or reflect on all of the great places you visited today.

Suggestions –
Oh Baby Baby (kettle sour)
Hawaiian Sophie (pale ale)
Rye-U-Mah (malt forward ale)

Pro Tip! Play a game on their giant, handmade cribbage table!

How to, Minnesota, New

Vintage Ski Boat Restoration

Posted on May 5, 2021

I have always been a huge fan of 80’s and 90’s vintage ski boats. I remember regularly seeing the same old ski boat on my hometown lake as a child. The owner the boat kept it super clean and in original condition. It had simple graphics on the side with a mid-engine, direct shaft drive, and a very low profile in the water. I would see it year after year growing up and loved everything about it. I of course knew very little about brands and types of boats at that age, but my dad knew exactly what it was; it was a Ski Nautique made by Correct Craft. This type of tournament ski boat is what slalom skiers typical own, as they have tons of towing power, and are very light and maneuverable which lends itself very aptly to skiing.

The boat

As fate would have it, last fall we stumbled across a seemingly fantastic deal for a vintage Ski Nautique. It was the 2nd model Ski Nautique ever made, and the smallest hull at only 17’ 6” length (plus the swim platform on the back) and about 6 ft wide. The power plant however is a 351 cubic inch V8 engine. From the pictures I could tell the interior was in rough shape from sitting in the rain and snow, but the exterior looked excellent. I really wanted this boat even if I had to put some time and money into restoring it.

When I contacted the seller, it was clear he was not ‘boat guy’ and had come to own the boat through the purchase of a cabin property. He told me he had dropped it off at a boat dealership to have serviced. It needed a couple things when he got it earlier in the year. The trailer received new tires the motor got a fresh 4-barrel carburetor. When I heard the effort that was already put into it, I decided the price was right, assuming I would need to put another $1000-$1500 into it for the interior, plus my time. So I made the deal and promptly started making a list of what it all needed. Mainly, it needed new floor and carpeting, upholstery would be a bonus. I made sure the stringers (think of them as the “bones” of the hull) were solid, to avoid a complete teardown of the boat was needed.

The restore

First things first, I needed to rip all the old carpet and rotten floor out. Before I could do this though, I had to unbolt and take out the three seats and engine cover. The floor was so rotted out the engine cover wasn’t actual bolted to anything anymore, so it lifted right out. As I was taking out the “hardware” holding the seats to the floor, I noticed they were almost completely rusted away. Typically, all hardware in marine application should be made of stainless steel to avoid rust and corrosion, but there was plenty of hardware that was not done correctly by a previous owner. As I was pulling things out of the boat, I was happier and happier that I was going through so much trouble to do a complete restore, as opposed to only fixing the floor as originally intended.

Once I got all the seats out of the way I took what was left of the rear floor out. As I was shoveling out the debris, I found I large chipmunk nest that was packed to the brim with acorns and other goodies. I filled my 2-gallon Shop Vac multiple times with dirt, debris, and wood particles. Once cleaned out I assessed what I would need to fix the floor. I would need to do some fiberglass work, as well as use a piece of treated plywood for the main rear floor. The last step I did as part of the cleanup was removal of the original carpet. It was only lightly glued on, so it came out really easy, but it was old and falling apart so it was dirty and nasty taking it out.

With the boat cleaned out and with more working space, I took this opportunity to test out and fix any electrical accessories that needed it. I went down the accessories on the dash, with only about a 50% success rate. The bilge pump and horns didn’t work, and when I tried out the blower it turned on but sounded like the pulse setting on a blender. When I tore the blower assembly apart, I found more remnants of chipmunks, with the blower hose packed to the brim with acorns. I cleaned it out and checked the blower off the list. The bilge pump wiring needed to be replaced at the pump, which was an easy fix. That just left the horns, for which the problem was in the horns themselves. To fix, I opened up the horns, and with some playing around with the little set screw in them, as well as adding some WD-40, I was able to get them operational again.

The existing plywood flooring was really damp, so as I worked on replacing the floor, I had a dehumidifier and fans running for several weeks. I wanted to keep the internal wood as dry as possible to avoid rot. To get the plywood to sit level and at the right height I needed to cut some tabs out of the adjoining floor, as well as needed two layers of plywood. Because I didn’t have any existing floor pieces to model this off, I had to take my best guess on what exactly it should look like. I added the port hole in the plywood pieces and moved on to fiberglass. I have worked with fiberglass enough to be dangerous, and honestly this part took no time at all, except for waiting for it to cure completely. I used extra plywood to make mounts on the left and right sides and used decking screws to get everything secure. The back wall of the boat that sits behind the bench seat was rotten on the bottom so that also got replaced with treated plywood.

Originally, I thought I could salvage most of the vinyl and upholstery on the seats because the only real bad spots were on the two front seats. I did a complete 180 on that thought as I tore further into the seats while taking them apart. I found the name of a local upholstery shop and called them up. There was a two-month lead time on the seat skins so in the meantime I got to work on rebuilding the seats. I cut new plywood for the seats wherever there were rotten boards and kept a pile of hardware that I knew I needed to replace. The foam of the seats was all in pretty amazing condition, especially considering the shape of some of the seat boards. I took a trip to the hardware store with my assortment of crusty hardware, and the employees helped me replace everything with brand new shiny stainless steel. There was only one piece that I couldn’t get at the hardware store. It was more of a specialty hinge, and luckily, I have a great friend that sourced an exact match for me.

After rebuilding the seats, things were nearing the finish line as I waited for the seat skins to be ready. I started on the exterior of the boat and trailer to freshen them up a little bit. The trailer got new carpet on the front bunks, and it was missing a guidepost on one side, so I took the remaining one to a metal shop near me to have a replica created. I then purchased padded guides to go on the posts, and as a bonus they even say the name of the boat on them! As for the outside of the boat itself, I decided I didn’t like the dingy rope that was in the bumper all the way around, so I replaced it with a nylon UV-treated winch rope this is blue in color, and in my opinion really makes the other colors pop. The teak was faded and dull, so I freshened it up by applying multiple coats of linseed oil over a couple weeks to allow to soak in. Linseed oil is recommended for teak and the difference it made is astounding. Lastly, I touched up any black in the lettering that was chipping with auto detail paint.

I was able to pick up the seat skins in March of this year, so I promptly got to work putting them on. My dad made his career out of car and boat upholstery, so he gave me some industry tips and tricks, as well as let me use his pneumatic stapler. The stapler definitely saved my hand some pain, as I imagine I put in well over 1000 staples total, which would’ve been a nightmare otherwise! I went with a different color scheme on the new seats, with much less blue, keeping it as an accent. I think this really modernized and cleaned up the look of the boat overall. I added 1-inch foam as I put on the covers and it was a lot of work and time, but with plenty of staples, hand cramps, and a few choice curse words, I was able to complete them. If I do say so myself, even though this was my first upholstery job I think it turned out great.

The Maiden voyage

Overall, I am so happy with how the boat turned out, and I am equally happy that I chose to put my blood, sweat, and tears into the restore. I estimate the total hours I spent on the boat was well over 80 hours, and I calculated a little under $1500 in materials to do the job. It will be so rewarding being able to go out on the lake for years to come and enjoy the initial effort I put into. I feel connected to the boat since I know it so well from the rebuild. The best part about this experience is, all that’s left now is to just enjoy the boat!