Advertisement
Published: February 20th 2019
Edit Blog Post
Before visiting the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” I didn’t really know what to expect from the 22nd most populous state, which was the 32nd to be admitted into the Union. Like many Midwestern states, Minnesota is sparsely populated, with 60%!o(MISSING)f its residents living in Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area. The remainder of this outdoor-savvy county consists of western prairie and virgin deciduous forests, which is always the perfect setting for road trips. Did I mention the lakes?
Spirit Mountain rush
At only 9 miles from Duluth, this adventure park overlooking the urban area offers a bucketful of fun activities beginning with a scenic chairlift which works as a ski-lift in winter, a zip line, and a summer alpine coaster. If you’re an avid fan of off-road biking, there’s a downhill mountain bike course, which you can use along with the chairlift. However, not even that compares with the sheer adrenaline rush of the alpine coaster. There’s a brake lever you can use to control speed, but even with that, there’s going to be some serious screaming. With $12 per ride, I’d definitely recommend taking an all-day wristband for $45.
North Shore Drive
Gooseberry Falls State Park is
just another reminder that the best things come free. Its crisscrossing hiking trails and the white noise of countless waterfalls will let you unwind all the senses. If you visit in July, you can join many youngsters taking a dip in the water. If you choose to paddle or simply want to cross from one bank to the next, you better get a pair of water shoes, as the stones in these creeks can be a bit rough to walk on. Following a scenic lakeshore route from Gooseberry Falls to Split Rock, I couldn’t shed the feeling of driving along the ocean. While Lake Superior doesn’t look like an enclosed body of water, the peaceful way the sunlight reflects off the surface reminded me of a large bay. Built after a disastrous storm in early 1900 when 29 ships were lost, Split Rock Lighthouse is the prime landmark in the area. Perched on a rock edge, it made an
ideal vantage point for some of the amazing shots of the beach below.
A word to the wise
Even if you take time and effort to plan your road trip perfectly, keep in mind that you won’t be able to control everything that happens, especially if driving through sparsely populated areas such as northern Minnesota. Unlike the state and condition of your car, you can’t account for other drivers, deer, squirrels, and rabbits, and knowing when to find the nearest
auto glass repair shop takes out much of the stress from the equation. With all the GPS-enabled gadgets you’d think that is ridiculous that someone gets lost, and that’s just what happened to me. While your navigation app may lead to a city address with pinpoint accuracy, once you hit the backroads, you better check out the Department of Transportation website for every state you’re visiting to see if there are any closed roads, construction, or storm damage.
Grand Rapids
In order to reach the birthplace of Judy Garland, I had to go back to Duluth and take the Route 2 to Grand Rapids. An alternate and more adventurous detour by Highway 53 leads through wide reaches of northern Minnesota lake country. Judy Garland’s home has been converted into a really cute museum full of weird memorabilia, and now it hosts education exhibits and special events. A nearby
town of Crosby has a population of little over 2000, but it makes up for in history and natural beauty. While in this part of the country, I couldn’t miss visiting Paul Bunyan Land in Brainerd. If nothing else, this theme park dedicated to the legendary giant lumberjack and his Babe the Blue Ox is a perfect place to get a cup of Hot Chocolate or Holiday Cider over a bonfire.
My great Minnesota tour took me along the North Shore, from Duluth to Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock, further west to Great Rapids, only to loop southeast again through Brainerd for the Twin Cities. If you set your sights to such an outdoorsy country, make sure to do your deal of hiking, riding, and kayaking, especially if you’re planning on tasting some of the high-calorie Scandinavian- and German-influenced local cuisine delicacies.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.512s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 11; qc: 49; dbt: 0.112s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb