Side trips from Minneapolis - "up north." - Conference Countdown - Minneapolis, Minnesota vacation spots in conjunction with SLA annual conference - Column

Information Outlook, Feb, 1999 by Jerry Baldwin

Our state's Office of Tourism promotes Minnesota as a vacation wonderland with "thousands of places to stay and things to do." But, ask any Minnesotan where they're headed on vacation or just a weekend and you'll usually get one of only two destinations, "To the lake!" or "Up north!" For outsiders, given our 15,000 lakes, the first destination may seem a little vague, and the second, considering our latitude, ironic.

To understand the answers, one needs to appreciate that "to the lake" and "up north" describe not so much destinations, but a state of being. While more than half of Minnesota's population lives in urban areas, most of us consider it an unnatural existence, endured only for purposes of commerce. Any and every excuse is taken to escape, if even only for a short weekend, to our natural state, in both senses of the phrase.

As a result, we really do have thousands of places to stay, but most of them are really the same place. It's a place with a small cabin, or maybe a tent, perched on the edge of a clear, blue lake or shimmering stream, surrounded by tall, green pines filed with twittering and chirping birds, and with small, cute, furry critters skittering to and fro in the nearby underbrush. There's not a concrete tower, asphalt parking lot, or smoke-belching diesel for miles. The only thing disturbing the tranquility is the occasional sharp slap of a fish jumping in the water or the call of a loon on the opposite shore at dawn and sunset.

There are dozens of state parks, and hundreds of private resorts and campgrounds within a few hours drive of Minneapolis that meet the description. They all provide excellent places for introverted librarians to prepare for, or wind down from, the intense mingling at SLA's conference.

Of course, we aren't all introverts, and the conference may serve to whet our appetite for new vistas and experiences. In that case, there's no better experience than heading north on Minnesota's Highway 61, made famous by our own Bob Dylan's revisitation.

Leaving the Twin Cities, short side trips from Highway 61 lead to some of the state's best scenery. State parks, including Interstate, Wild River, St. Croix, Jay Cooke and several others are popular destinations. All offer campgrounds and hiking trails and include a mix of other services including bike and canoe rentals, nature programs, interpretive exhibits, etc. Minnesota's state parks are very popular, so if you plan on camping you'll want to make reservations a couple months ahead of your trip. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-246-CAMP.

Three hours north of the Twin Cities, approaching Duluth, the first glimpses of Minnesota's most spectacular scenery, the North Shore of Lake Superior, come into view. Duluth itself is a worthy destination. The city is often likened to a small San Francisco because of its scenic harbor, hills and steep streets. Spectacular views of the harbor and its famous lift bridge can be seen from Skyline Drive. The city takes pride in its history as a center of transportation. The local railroad and maritime museums are worth a visit, as is the public library, designed to resemble the ore boats that sail Superior.

From Duluth, for nearly 150 miles to the Canadian border, Highway 61 hugs Superior's North Shore. Small towns dot the route and their names reveal much about the area. Castle Danger, Beaver Bay, French River, Lutsen, Grand Marais - each has its own history and attractions. It's nearly impossible to drive this route without stopping to explore the towns and state parks along the highway. Waterfalls at Gooseberry Falls, Tettegouche, Temperance River, and Cascade River state parks are right on the highway and make great stops for a little leg stretching. Split Rock Lighthouse, with its shear, rock cliffs along with The Palisades are a favorite stops for photographers.

Near the border, Grand Portage National Monument is an excellent site to learn about Minnesota's early fur trade and the area's Native Americans. And, right at the border, lies Grand Portage State Park, with an easy trail leading to Minnesota's highest waterfall and views of Canada on the opposite side of the river.

Heading back to the Twin Cities, especially if you're traveling with kids, you'll want to take in other learning opportunities by heading inland to Ely, MN, one of Charles Kurault's "perfect places," and its International Wolf Center. Nearby, Soudan Underground Mine State Park and Iron World Discovery Center in Chisholm, MN explain our rich mining heritage. Or, you might want to do any of thousands of other things in our glorious North Country. For more ideas, check the links available from http://sla99.westgroup.com/.

Baldwin is a 1999 Conference Local Arrangements Committee member. For more information, contact Baldwin at jerry.baldwin@dot.state.mn.us.