VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK, MINNESOTA Page 4

At this point about Minnesota which has so much to see and do, I will try to keep my comments short and you can Google the place I mention if you want to know more or just ask me.

Lake of the Woods/Northwest Angle & Islands - A vacation to this remote Minnesota land up in Canada Territory can be relaxing taking in the sights, a boat ride with a guide to a 200 year old historic Fort St. Charles (a French Voyaguers post) & other islands OR dawn to dusk fishing for Northern Pike, Muskie, Walleye, etc. The artifical lure's are 6" long with 40 lb. line. 130 people live there and they have a 1 room school house (approx. 16 kids) from the Angle & surrounding islands coming by boat or snowmobile. Northwest Angle Resort owner built most of the town.

Grand Rapids - Judy Garland's birthplace home with a Festival June 25-27, 2009 where you may see a real live Munckin. Her museum downtown is filled with her momento's and the Carriage from the Wizard of Oz. Don't miss the Forestry History Center with characters in costume as it was in the early 1900's. They actually logged in the winter, sometimes 40 below zero, because the horses can pull 10 times their weight on ice. 300 camps in the Minnesota forest, seventy men in a camp earning $25 a month. By 1929 they had harvested all the original pine trees and floated them down the Mississippi River to St. Louis most to be used to build wagons heading out to open up the west.

Lost Forty - Chippewa National Forest - Blackduck, Minnesota
The original government survey 1882 described this 144 acres as part of Coddington Lake. This mapping error caused the virgin red & white pine of the area to be left behind by the loggers. These trees up to 350 years old and between 22 and 48 inches in diameter. Old growth is valuable for bald eagles, hawks, red squirrels, weasels, etc. A one mile self-guided trail winds its way through the majestic pines.

Avenue of the Pines Scenic Byway - 40 miles through Leech Lake Indian Reservation & Chippewa National Forest past Lake Winnibigoshish(Paul Bunyan country). Laurentian Divide, a rise in the land that determines which way running water flows. North-into Hudson Bay & South -eventually into the Gulf of Mexico. South to Mille Lacs Lake named by French Fur Traders meaning thousand lakes. Second largest lake in Minnesota. 132,510 acres and 76 miles of shoreline. Home to all of Minnesota's symbols: bird, Loon; flower, Ladyslipper; Rock, Superior Agate; Grain, Wild rice and Fish, Walleye. Mille Lacs provided the granite for the Statue of Liberty restoration.

McGregor - Wild Rice Festival (Wild Rice Hot Dish & Wild Rice Soup) the 1st Sat. of June (was anyway). Gigantic Craft Show & Flea Market. Wild Rice grows in the water in Minnesota and harvested by boat and was the Native American's main dish.

Marcell - Corn Festival with free roasting ears, fresh tomatoes & watermelons.

Calumet - Tour of Hill Annex Mine, the only intact natural iron ore mine in the world that visitors can tour. Pit mine 500ft. deep with 326 ft. of water in it. Started in the late 1800's and closed 1978. 700 million tons removed.

Hibbings - Hull Rust Mine (open pit) still operating.

I could go on & on about all the things in Minnesota to see & do. All wonderful. However, I should mention one "little bitty" negative side Mosquitos. With all those lakes and still water it is a perfect breeding place. You just need alot of repellent. Check up there and they know the best thing to use. Have fun. I'll give you a Wild Rice recipe next time. If I can find Minnesota Wild Rice in Kansas. Jeanette