1000 Lakes

When you hear the phrase "Land of 1000 Lakes", what comes to mind? Well if it is the great state of Minnesota, you may have already known that this is the nickname of this wonderful part of the American experience. Minnesota is nestled up near the Canadian boarder and represents one of the great undiscovered secrets for sightseeing and vacation fun in this country.

When you decide to book Minnesota as your vacation of choice, you are showing some shrewd knowledge of Americana that not many have taken the time to learn about. Because Minnesota is one of the most beautiful states in the union both for beautifully tailored modern city scenes and for breath taking outdoor adventure as well.

The twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are nestled into the Minnesota landscape quietly producing one of the most diverse and sophisticated city experiences in all of America. While you might not have been looking, Minneapolis and St. Paul have quietly developed some pretty serious claims to fame including…

* The classic situation comedy The Mary Tyler Moore Show had its fictional location occurring in Minneapolis. The scenes of snow falling and the way people cope with such a climate became a subplot for that show.

* The wonderful radio variety show A Prairie Home Companion originated and is still often broadcast from St. Paul, Minnesota. This wonderful, one of a kind show often gives loving lampoon the quirks of the Scandinavian and Lutheran cultures that are well ensconced in Minnesota life.

* Minnesota is the only state to ever elect a professional wrestler, Jessie Ventura as governor. And he did a pretty good job.

* The exciting rock musician Prince is a product of the Minneapolis music culture.

There is a lot to see and enjoy in the rustic Minnesota landscape and in these modern cities that make up the urban centers of this wonderful state. You might be tempted to save your trip to Minnesota for the summer time. But you may want to actually change that plan as Minnesota can provide some experiences in the dead of winter that are not to be missed.

Ice fishing is a Minnesota specialty and one you may want to book a guide to enjoy first hand. There is nothing like sitting in a heated shack out in the middle of a frozen over lake and fishing through a hole to bring up a big catch for making a memory that you will be telling people about for years to come.

Then when you head into town, be sure to be in Minnesota when Minneapolis holds their annual Ice Festival. The entire city turns out to admire magnificent ice sculptures that the talented artists create right there in the middle of the city. But any statue they make will pale when you watch with wonder as the workman in Minnesota construct the mammoth Ice Palace that you can wander through just like a castle in old Europe. You will marvel as that Ice Palace actually can be heated and people can book rooms and stay over in it once the wizards that make this marvel happen do their stuff. And to think, if you come back in six months, that amazing structure will melt away like yesterdays ice cream cone.

You can see that overlooking Minnesota as a destination of choice for unique sightseeing and vacation excitement is not a mistake you want to make. We have only scratched the surface of the great fun you can have on your trip to the great white north. So make your plans to get up there and enjoy this very unique place with their rich Scandinavian Lutheran culture. And who knows, maybe you will learn how to carve out a small sculpture from the ice in your refrigerator before you leave.