Credited with bringing United States farmers together, Oliver Kelley played an important role in Minnesota and national agriculture. A visit to his family’s historic 1860’s farm was the last summer visit on our 6th Grade Minnesota History Pass Tour. The Oliver Kelley Farm is located just outside Elk River, MN. and gives a glimpse into…
Tag: minnesota
Minnesota State Capitol
Constructed in 1883, the Minnesota State Capitol building is actually the state’s second official meeting place. The original capitol building was destroyed by fire in 1881. Our visit to the prominent and important Minnesota State building was part of our State History Tour. We recently learned all sixth graders are eligible for admission to Minnesota…
Minnesota History Center
Our resident sixth-grader was delighted to learn recently that he is eligible for admission to all Minnesota Historical Society sites for FREE this academic year. The 6th Grade Minnesota History Pass gives all sixth-graders free admission to more than 15 historic sites across the state. To kick off this season of soaking up Minnesota history,…
Minnesota Pizza Tour
Mommy Baggage and the boys have been across the state sampling pastries at donut shops, ordering up flavorful scoops at ice cream parlors and dining on delicious burgers and fries at various drive-ins around Minnesota. This year we decided to chow down on the best slices of pizza our home state has to offer. Here’s…
Minnesota State Parks
About five years ago, we purchased Minnesota State Park passport books for our two boys. Each year, we travel to a few new parks with the goal of seeing all 71 Minnesota State Parks and several State Recreation Areas (so far we’ve covered around 60 of them). I’ve outlined our time at the parks we’ve…
North Shore State Parks
Beyond the ever-popular Gooseberry Falls State Park are several other rugged and picturesque parks to explore. Cascade River, Temperance River, Judge Magney and Grand Portage are some of the finest state parks Minnesota has to offer. North Shore State Parks give adventurers opportunities to chase rum-colored waterfalls or hike to superb viewpoints of Lake Superior….
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…
Drive-In Movie Theater
Sitting out under the stars watching a favorite film at a drive-in movie theater is a great way to send off summer. There are fewer than a dozen drive-in movie theaters left in Minnesota, so we decided to check one out to experience movie-going from decades gone by. We chose the Long Drive-In near Long…
Wonderful Wabasha Street Caves
Since the 1840s the Wabasha Street Caves have played various roles in the history of St. Paul. The caves have been used to mine silica, grow mushrooms and served as a getaway for gangsters and ghosts. To explore the wonderful Wabasha Street Caves history and all their many uses, we took a Saturday morning historic…