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Category: Minnesota

Travel guides, information, photographs, and stories about the American state of Minnesota, with ideas for an urban vacation in Minneapolis, a wilderness escape in one of many state parks, a jaunt along the North Shore, and more throughout the state.

Making duck decoys Voyageurs at Grand Portage Monument Minnesota

Really old-fashioned duck decoys, Grand Portage Rendezvous

Posted onSeptember 27, 2015March 21, 20262 Comments

When I think of old-fashioned duck decoys, I think of carved wood floats that may or may not be painted to more accurately portray the ducks they are intended to draw in. However, when I Read More …

CategoriesLake Superior (North Shore), Minnesota, USA

Main Street West Concord Minnesota

A quiet Saturday in West Concord, Minnesota

Posted onAugust 27, 2015March 21, 20262 Comments

I’d expect Saturday to be a busy time in a small town, but that wasn’t the case when we stopped by West Concord, Minnesota, on our way to Rochester from Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. Read More …

CategoriesMinnesota, USA

Fall at the tower in Kathio Mille Lacs State Park

Fall colors in Mille Lacs Kathio State Park

Posted onAugust 26, 2015March 21, 2026Leave a comment

Fall is in the air again this week, so it seems like a good time to take a virtual visit to Mille Lacs Kathio State Park in north central Minnesota. I use links to improve Read More …

CategoriesMinnesota, USATagsMinnesota state parks

fish shacks along Lake Superior's North Shore in Minnesota

A stormy afternoon at the Stony Point fish house

Posted onAugust 24, 2015March 21, 20262 Comments

The Stony Point Road intersects Scenic Highway 61 (the old road, not the new bypass) about 10 miles north of Duluth. It’s a quiet road that lacks big tourist attractions. What it offers instead is Read More …

CategoriesLake Superior (North Shore), Minnesota, USATagsLake Superior

Grand Portage Rendezvous on the shores of Lake Superior

Posted onAugust 19, 2015February 26, 202315 Comments

Imagine for a moment that the year is 1797. The USA is a young adult, a country still developing both politically and geographically, still deciding who she is and how much land she wishes to Read More …

CategoriesLake Superior (North Shore), Minnesota, USA

photo of Native American dancers at the Grand Portage Powwow in northern Minnesota © Cindy Carlsson at ExplorationVacation.net

Grand Portage Powwow

Posted onAugust 16, 2015March 5, 20211 Comment

Each summer the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa holds a powwow with drumming, singing, and dancing. (There are also sporting events, bingo, traditional foods, and more.) While some portions of the powwow are Read More …

CategoriesLake Superior (North Shore), Minnesota, USATagsNative America, traditional culture

Moody Round Barn Chisago City Minnesota

Moody Blue Round Barn, Chisago City, Minnesota

Posted onAugust 15, 2015March 22, 2026Leave a comment

Yes, the barn built by Charles Moody in 1915 really is both blue and round. I use links to improve your experience using this website. Some may be affiliate links that pay me a small Read More …

CategoriesMinnesota, USATagsNational Register of Historic Places

great_hall_Grand_Portage_Minnesota_

Grand Portage National Monument, Minnesota

Posted onAugust 13, 2015March 22, 2026Leave a comment

Grand Portage (the Great Carrying Place) is an 8.5 mile trail that links the Pigeon River (and the Canadian northwest) to the shore of Lake Superior. The trail bypasses a series of waterfalls, including the Read More …

CategoriesLake Superior (North Shore), Minnesota, USATagsLake Superior, National Register of Historic Places, US National Parks

link to post with text sailboat and lighthouse with text" Sailing Lake Superior - Bayfield, to Grand Marais" on ExplorationVacation.net

Sailing across Lake Superior to Grand Marais

Posted onJuly 19, 2015May 20, 20264 Comments

We are fortunate to have friends who invite us up to Bayfield, Wisconsin, to sail on their boat. Usually we spend that time sailing within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, visiting the islands or hanging Read More …

CategoriesApostle Islands, Lake Superior (North Shore), Minnesota, USA, WisconsinTagsLake Superior, sailing and cruising

Above Illgen Falls on Lake Superior’s North Shore

Posted onJuly 1, 2015May 20, 20265 Comments

A photography class last weekend brought me to a section of Tettegouche State Park that I’ve not visited before: the Baptism River above Illgen Falls. I use links to improve your experience using this website. Read More …

CategoriesLake Superior (North Shore), Minnesota, USATagsMinnesota state parks

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Use Rakuten for travel (and get cash back)

Use Rakuten for travel (and get cash back)

Are you familiar with Rakuten, the online shopping app that gives you cash back when you make a purchase? Did you know you can use Rakuten to book travel? Well, you can! Read More ...

Minnesota State Park Overview and Travel Guide

Minnesota State Park Overview and Travel Guide

Minnesota has more than 70 state parks and recreation areas, Read More ...

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