The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota

The biggest ball of twine in Minnesota is in Darwin, about an hour and a half west of Minneapolis. Really. The ball is inside a plexiglass pagoda to protect it from the weather and the visitors. I have always wondered what it smelled like. I hate to think I may never know. The allure of …

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Thousand Islands National Park, Ontario, Canada

I try to visit National Parks during any trip, and my trip to Ontario was no exception.  After checking a map, I found that except for Rouge National Urban Park, Thousand Islands was really the only park I was passing near.  So I took the bus to Kingston from Toronto, rented a car, and checked …

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Disneyland, California – Fun for Kids, but What About Adults?

I’ll be honest. I didn’t expect to love my Disneyland adventure. This was my first experience with a Disney park. As a child, I had never gone, and as an adult I expected it to be fun for the children. While I expected my children to love the trip, I didn’t expect that I would …

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When One Ecosystem Isn’t Enough – The Montreal Biodome

A lot of Montreal’s charm lies in the outdoors.  It is a green city, and perfect for outdoor adventure if you are visiting in the summer.  But if you visit in the winter, or there is rain in the forecast, it is smart to have an inclement weather plan.  The Biodome is perfect for this. …

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The Denali Road Lottery – Denali National Park

Denali National Park is hard to explain in words. It is huge, gorgeous, natural, thrilling, amazing…. I hear the words “once in a lifetime” connected to Denali pretty often. But after being there, I really hope that isn’t true. It is a place I want to visit over and over. I think that’s how a …

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The Quirky Story of the Littlest Skyscraper in Wichita Falls, Texas

On the surface, Wichita Falls is not an interesting city. It is one of those places you go through on your way to somewhere else. Even the highway was built to accommodate a swift and smooth passage. It is elevated above the city and is a pain to get back on if you dare to …

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Spring in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Oklahoma

The beauty of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is not something you expect from Oklahoma. Nestled in the Wichita Mountain range, you can find herds of bison, Texas Longhorns, elk and deer freely roaming the Refuge. In fact, I would say you can find an abundance of wildlife there. This is 60,000 acres prestige land. …

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Independence Mine State Historical Site and Hatcher’s Pass, Alaska

In the Mat-Su valley of Alaska near Palmer and Wasilla is a beautiful mountain pass named after miner Robert Hatcher. Hatcher’s Pass is a great skiing destination for locals during the winter, but in the summer people come for the hiking and the history. For like I said, Hatcher’s Pass was named after a miner …

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What is a Sugar Shack? – A Journey into Traditional Quebec Culture

I loved visiting Quebec.  Montreal and Quebec City were lovely cities, and they were full of charm.  But, they were cities.  They had a lot of history evident, but life had moved on.  Most parts of the cities were as modern as any other city, and you had to go into the “Old Town” if …

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