Amy C. Rea - Explorers Guide Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes

AN EXPLORERS GUIDE

Minnesota
Land of
10,000 Lakes

Copyright 2012 by Amy C. Rea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages.

Explorers Guide Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes
ISBN: 978-0-88150-954-0

Interior photographs by the author unless otherwise specified
Maps by Erin Greb Cartography, The Countryman Press
Book design by Bodenweber Design
Composition by PerfecType, Nashville, TN

Published by The Countryman Press, P.O. Box 748, Woodstock, VT 05091

Distributed by W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110

Printed in the United States of America

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DEDICATION

To my brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Diane Frickstad, in hopes
theyll spend many happy hours exploring our wonderful state.

And my sincere thanks and appreciation to Lisa Sacks and
Justine Rathbun of Countryman Press, for their thoughtful and detailed
editing and copyediting, and boundless patience.

EXPLORE WITH US!

WHATS WHERE

In the beginning of the book, youll find an alphabetical listing of special highlights, with important information and advice on everything from antiques to weather reports.

LODGING

The prices range from low off-season rates to higher summer and holiday/event weekend rates, double occupancy.

DINING

The dining listings are broken into two categories: Dining Out, which is more formal (and pricier), and Eating Out, which is more casual (and less expensive).

Average prices refer to a dinner consisting of an entre, appetizer or dessert, and glass of wine or beer (tax and gratuities not included).

A NOTE ON PRICES

Please dont hold us or the respective innkeepers/restaurant owners responsible for the rates listed as of press time in 2012. Some changes are inevitable.

Minnesota has a general sales tax of 6.875 percent, although local government units are able (with state approval) to levy additional sales taxes for various reasons; in Hennepin County (home to Minneapolis), for example, the sales tax is 7.275 percent, part of which funds the new Minnesota Twins Target Field stadium, and in Minneapolis itself, the sales tax is 7.775 percent.

KEY TO SYMBOLS

Maps

M innesota is a land frequently misunderstood. For those who get their knowledge from popular media, Minnesota appears to be a land inhabited by those wacky gals from the Mary Tyler Moore Show, except for the one corner of Minnesota populated by rock stars as glamorized by Prince in Purple Rain. The rest of the state? Garrison Keillors Prairie Home Companion and the Coen brothers classic Fargo tell the rest of the story: funny accents, hats with ear flaps, church suppers, fish soaked in lye and served at Christmas dinner, a whole lot of snow, and backyard wood chippers.

As usual, the truth is that the stereotyped images are somewhat true, but not the whole picture. Are there still people in small towns in Minnesota who talk like those people in Fargo? Sure. And while Mary Tyler Moore no longer throws her hat on Nicollet Mall, there is a sculpture immortalizing that very action. Prince? Still a Minnesota music icon, but far from the only one.

Personally, I love these images. They do represent certain facets of Minnesota. Perhaps what they best represent is the diversity inherent in the state, where a lively metro area provides excellent access to the arts, pop culture, major league sports, dining, and shopping. For those who want more of an outdoor experience, the state has not 10,000 lakes, but more than 15,000, all with opportunities for swimming, fishing (year-round; ice fishing is nearly as popular as open-water fishing in summer), boating, and water sports. Campgrounds abound throughout the state, as do resorts of all types and prices, from small, rustic mom-and-pops to historic bed & breakfasts to hotels and resorts that represent the height of luxury.

In a region where the seasons are clearly different, Minnesotans have turned each season into a reason for celebration, with each offering its own activities and festivals. If ice fishing isnt your cuppa, perhaps a visit to St. Pauls Winter Carnival would be more enjoyable. Or a getaway to one of Minnesotas thousands of cabin resorts. Once there, its your choice: Enjoy hearty winter outdoor activitiessnowshoeing, anyone?or curl up with a good book in front of the fireplace or woodstove and listen to the peace and quiet of a snowy day.