Favorite Places

A small bed & breakfast with a “One Million Acre Front Yard”.  That’s what they call the boundary waters at the Blue Heron just outside Ely, Minnesota.  It is near the end of the road so you definitely feel like … Continue reading →

From the park’s parking lot, go to the left along the shore for some spectacular scenery and generally cool breezes from the lake. Up at the top you can watch rock climbers scramble up and down a cliff. The trail … Continue reading →

A sandbar between Taylors Falls and Marine on St Croix: We have spent many hot summer days canoeing (or just floating) down this stretch of the St Croix river in a rented canoe that you can get for cheap at … Continue reading →

The “other” bluff in Red Wing is friendlier to those who don’t like to hike. A scenic drive takes visitors to the peak and a fantastic view of Red Wing. This bluff has been converted to a more traditional park … Continue reading →

Possibly the most recognized feature of Red Wing is the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.  There are two main trails to navigate it.  The south side trail has steps to assist novice hikers; the north side has beautiful views of … Continue reading →