Park Rapids, MN (State #10)-Itasca State Park

We stayed at Itasca State Park for two weeks. This park is BIG. It is Minnesota's oldest state park and has more than 32,000 acres and 100 lakes. And one of the coolest things is that within the park are the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

The kids can now say that they have WALKED across the Mississippi River!

It was also a fun area for the kids to play and swim.

We had a nice campsite with just the right amount of shade and close to the bathrooms and showers. The showers were soooo warm which was awesome after 5 weeks of tepid showers in Michigan.

There was a playscape nearby and a bike path that led to the bike and boat rental, the swim beach, a bigger playscape and eventually to the headwaters. The bike path is 6 miles long and runs from the lodge to the headwaters but a good portion of it was closed while it was being resurfaced. It was scheduled to reopen while we were there but the date was pushed back to a few days after we would leave. Of course!

The kids and I took a hike with the park interpreter to see one of the fire towers that remains in the park. It wasn't too far and then we got to climb to the top. The view from the top was fabulous (forgot my camera, again) but it was also a bit scary! The tower steps and sides were made of metal see-thru grate type stuff which although it was completely secure and safe, my mind had trouble with it. The steps got narrower and the landings got smaller the higher we went and before we reached the top, Jordan and I were ready to run back down. But we kept going!

The interpreters talked to the kids about safety, had them recite a pledge and then once they climbed the tower, they were inducted into the Ancient and Honorable Order of Squirrels! Ha ha

The park interpreters offered various programs daily and they even had programs for the 5 and under age group which is great and quite unusual in my experience. We participated in the minnow races

and since one of the companion Christmas trees for the US Capitol will be chosen from Itasca State Park this year, the kids got to color a decoration which will be laminated and hung on the tree in Washington, DC. How cool!

After we finished coloring and after Jordan talked the interpreters ear off about our travels and where we are from and how the next time he comes to Austin he should come visit (her instructions were that we live in the house by the circle), we went to check out the visitor's center. The kids really liked it and it had several fun things for them to check out. They had the best time putting on a puppet show from inside this tree.

Later, we checked out the Peace Pipe Vista (I tried to find out why it was called this but no luck)

and spent some time at the beach area.

BUT the best time was had fishing! We rented a row boat each weekend and went out on Lake Ozawindib. Jordan and I went a couple times and the boys went out each evening and morning, getting up at 5:30!

They caught northern pike, bass and sunfish.

Jacob had a fantastic time and cannot stop talking about it.

Have any of you ever heard of an ice fishing trailer?? Since we live in Texas, the thought of ice fishing doesn't cross my mind much but I never dreamed there was such a thing! While walking through the campground one day, we noticed a trailer that sat right on the ground and was called Ice Cabin. So later, I got online to check it out. Very Cool!

During our second week, a couple with one pulled in right next to us and we got to check it out! The husband built this one himself. They have electric jacks that lower them to the ground (or the ice).

According to them, most cabins will have wall bunks that fold up and down for sleeping. He built these bench sofas that jack knife into beds. And you can see the ports that open in the floor to drop your line through.

They fish through the night by putting bells on the poles. They also talked about the loud cracking sound of the ice that can startle you from sleep. He said that it was the sound of ice FORMING. Well that could be true but I am not totally sold on that yet!

One last fun thing we did was to go to Evergreen Fun Center. It was a small amusement park where we got to drive power wheels, ride bumper boats, test our skills at making it through laser light mazes without setting off alarms, jump and flip on trampolines and race go karts.

It was a fun evening and for the three hours there, we were the only family! No waiting in lines!

Next, we are headed to Minneapolis!