Minnesota Adventure Weekends

Plan a weekend of hiking, cycling, climbing, and paddling! Whether you’re a novice or an experienced adventurer, you’ll find a variety of outdoor pursuits to enjoy in Minnesota—from camping along the North Shore to canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to biking near the Root River. There’s no need to spend hours researching the best destinations or go on long, expensive trips. This book is for hikers who love to climb, paddlers who love to pedal, and anyone else whose idea of unwinding is an action-packed weekend in the great outdoors. With a dozen exciting trips to choose from, you’ll know where to stay and which adventures are truly weekend-worthy. The full-color guide features trip descriptions to the best destinations for weekend adventure, including opportunities for hiking, cycling, climbing, and paddling. Tips on lodging options, restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops further aid in the planning. Whether your next outing is for individuals, couples, families, or large groups, get maximum adventure out of your weekend with Minnesota Adventure Weekends!

Explore Minnesota’s state parks and state recreation areas with this all-in-one guide. When you consider a visit to Minnesota’s state parks, you might imagine hiking, bicycling, camping, fishing, swimming, bird-watching, or simply relaxing beside a babbling river. Of course, you’re right. The beautiful parks are perfect escapes for your favorite outdoor activities—but there’s so much more to do. Minnesota’s state parks offer a multitude of unique experiences and new adventures! Discover them all in Minnesota State Parks by Anne Arthur and debut author Signy Sherman. Wade across the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park. Explore an open mine pit at Hill Annex Mine State Park or an underground mine at Lake Vermillion-Sudan Underground Mine State Park. Immerse yourself in history at Fort Snelling State Park or Fort Ridgely State Park. See the bison herd at Blue Mounds State Park. Tour the cave at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. You’ll also have opportunities to try everything from archery to snowshoeing, stay in a cabin or yurt, or even go scuba-diving (if you have the training and equipment). This comprehensive guide spotlights all 75 state parks and state recreation areas in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Each entry includes full-color photography, a map, and the details you want to know—including a park overview and descriptions of the trails, campgrounds, and interpretive programs. Plus, the authors’ tips help to ensure that you maximize the fun. Inside you’ll find Guide to all 75 state parks and state recreation areas Maps that show hiking and biking trails at a glance Expert tips from the authors Nearby attractions that help you make the most of your vacation, road trip, or weekend getaway Get outside and connect with nature. It’s as easy as finding a nearby state park. Use Minnesota State Parks to choose the destinations that are right for you, or begin your journey to visit them all!

Make traveling with kids a fun experience for everyone with this handy guide to great family getways. You'll find exciting activities and attractions throughout the state of Minnesota-from urban to rural, historic to modern, natural to human-made-for kinds of all ages. There are rainy day activities and great winter escapes, day trips and weekend excursions. This is the ultimate guide for parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Don't even think of leaving home without it! Book jacket.

A wordless picture-book journey through the Boundary Waters, canoeing and camping with a family as they encounter the northwoods wilderness in all its spectacular beauty It's a place of wordless wonder: the wilderness of the Boundary Waters on the Minnesota-Canada border. Travel its vast distances, canoe its streams and glacial lakes, take shelter from rain under a rocky outcropping (or in your tent), camp in its vaulting forests as stars embroider the darkening sky. Is this your first visit? Or is it already your favorite destination? Come along--join a family of three as their journey unfolds, picture by picture, marking the changing light as the day passes, the stillness before the gathering storm, the shining waters everywhere, rushing here, quietly pooling there, beckoning us ever onward into nature's infinite wildness one summer up north.

With natives as your guides, this series leads you down the road less traveled. Travel from the Twin Cities into the northermost reaches of the state—the North Shore, Boundary Waters, and Canadian border; then explore the scenic byways that follow the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix rivers, wander the southern prairies and through the lake districts. Included are details of lesser-traveled roads and regions, sites to see, tours, parks and trails, and historical information. About the series: Whether you need to get away for a weekend or longer, want to explore your home state or make plans for free time in an area you don’t know well, take to the road with a Backroads & Byways book. You’ll discover the most interesting places to visit on and off the beaten path. Destinations will appeal to foodies, history buffs, families with kids, couples, adventurers, hikers, bikers—in short, everyone. With itineraries appropriate for visits of differing durations and in different seasons, tips for comfortable accommodations, great food, and good shopping too, look to Backroads & Byways for the most interesting and diverse short trips available.

When ATHENA PEREZ stood on the scale, it repeatedly blinked "error." She was somewhere near 500 lbs. The exact number she'll never know because the scale was only able to measure weight up to 450 lbs. But, contrary to popular belief, food wasn't the issue. It was anger, guilt, embarrassment, shame, grief, resentment, and fear. Athena would have to face those feelings to understand her path and cultivate a relationship with the unlikeliest of entities: God. PRAISE FOR LIFTING THE WAIT “A brave book. Many may have seen her video story but Athena Perez's new memoir Lifting the Wait - a story of triumph and finding a belief and love of self (and God)...it is absolutely incredible to read what she has overcome. The story is told in such a raw and captivating manner that it pulls you in wondering how one person lived through so much chaos! Athena tells it like it is, and you find parts of your own story to relate to, no matter how different her struggle might be from your own. The other piece is a real truthfulness in how food can become something it's not to so many of us. Overeating and obesity isn't something many can talk about with authority and really share what it is like. It was so refreshing to read something that resonated in so many ways even though Athena's story is so different than mine. I was obese for 20+ years and for anyone who suffers from disordered eating habits or loves someone who does, you will relate to this story. We are not alone. Athena, by bravely sharing her story, shows us that we don't have to be ashamed of our weight, our past, or stalled by our limited thinking. And that no matter how many times we've been let down, the only way out is through. We can, no matter our past, find trusted communities, coaches, counselors, fellowship, friends, and triumph that ultimately put you on the path to an "anything is possible" future. Athena's book shows us there is hope and calm beyond the chaos”. — JEN PENDLETON, author of JenXJourney Blog “This book is an incredible story of Athena’s struggles and perspective (many of which are more than most of us have ever had to endure) and the victorious story of how she emerged on the other side of it mentally empowered, healthy and as an inspiring role model who has learned to navigate the very difficult battles of life. Her story is gripping from the very beginning and provides guidance and inspiration to anyone; not just those that have had weight struggles. A must-read! — GEOFF WESTMORELAND, Attorney, Athlete “Lifting the Wait is the most impactful book I have ever read! I could not put this book down! It was incredibly relatable to me through the fascinating stories. It also provides the lessons Athena, one incredibly strong woman, had to learn so she could gain peace and understanding. These lessons become blueprints for the reader to examine their own life and find that same thing; those ah-ha moments. This is a must-read!” — SCOTT SWITZER, Host of the Clydesdale and Friends Podcast, Athlete

This updated 2nd edition of the popular Backroads of Minnesota (2002) comes in a new portable size, making it easy to tote in your car and head out to a new destination in beautiful Minnesota. Have you driven on the Gunflint and Arrowhead trails? Have you circled the whole of Mille Lacs? Have you gone birding on the western prairies, or wound around the bluffs of the Mississippi River from Red Wing to the Iowa border? Have you experienced the forgotten corners of the Twin Cities metro area? Backroads of Minnesota takes you on 31 routes covering all corners of the Land of 10,000 Lakes: routes that lead you to the state’s most scenic natural areas and sites that capture the state’s colorful history. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend getaway, Backroads of Minnesota will lead you deep into the soul of the state, beyond the common tourist attractions.