Sweeping prairies with swaying grasses dominate the landscape of southwest Minnesota. Our family scanned those horizons for buffalo and slept in a tipi to experience all the offerings of five southwest Minnesota state parks in just two days. Our trip was part of our quest to visit all the state parks. After this trip our…
Tag: camping
Banning State Park
To start the summer adventure season we made a last-minute decision to reserve a camper cabin for one night at Banning State Park. We are on a mission to visit all of Minnesota’s state parks and Banning was a park we knew we wanted to spend more than just an afternoon visiting. An added bonus…
Sibley State Park Winter Camping
An estimated 9.7 million people visit Minnesota State parks each year, the vast majority of them in the warmer months between April and November. While the colder months bring lower temperatures and lower attendance rates, a stay at one of the state’s 67 parks is well worth it. We bundled up and made our way…
Yurt Camping at Glendalough State Park
One of the heaviest things you carry into the backcountry is your tent. The thought of unloading that burden while on the trail in exchange for a reliable and weatherproof structure is appealing. Enter yurt camping. Yurts are circular, canvas-covered structures that provide the convenience of a sturdy shelter but still allow for a “roughing…
Yurt Camping at Cuyuna Country Recreation Area
Winter in Minnesota can be brutal. We try to make the most of it by plugging into winter activities like skating, skiing and even camping. Another way to take advantage of winter in Minnesota is to camp in a yurt. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area offers yurt camping year-round (no electricity, water or sewer; heat…
Snowshoeing at Jay Cooke State Park
The lure of a fresh few inches of snow drew us to northeastern Minnesota to cut the first tracks for some snowshoeing at Jay Cooke State Park. We planned a VERY quick, one night stay at one of the park’s camper cabins. The state park camper cabins have electricity and heat, but no running water…
Interstate State Park
June 2019 Every summer our family packs up a tent and several tubs of gear and finds a state park to explore. This year we chose Interstate State Park near Taylor’s Falls, MN on the St. Croix River. The idea of exploring glacial potholes and floating in a canoe appealed to us and was just…