Kayak the Winnebago Video

Here is a video my wonderful boyfriend made from our kayak the winnebago adventure.  Hope you enjoy watching us being silly together.   Its great when you meet someone you can have fun with just being goofy!

Rhythm & Boom

Ryan and I went to Madison for 4th of July this year and saw the best fireworks I've ever seen.  We had such a great time hanging out around State Street, drinking carnival smoothies, and people watching at Warner Park.  Maybe it'll become an annual event for the 4th of July?

Take A Hike: North Shore Lake Superior

Tyler Forks Canyon

Just got back from a weekend in the exciting North Shore of Lake Superior.  With many resorts, campgrounds, and things to see and do it is sure to be a trip the whole family would love.  We started our trip by stopping at Copper Falls State Park just south east of Superior, WI off of Hwy 13.  There are numerous trails, but we took the 1.5 mile loop from picnic parking lot to see parts of the Bad River and Tyler Forks where they merge together to form Brownstone Falls plunging into a canyon.  



Lakewalk




From there our next stop was Duluth, MN, home of the Grandma's Marathon.  I discovered if you are planning on staying in Duluth you should plan on making reservations somewhere because there is always something going on in this exciting tourist city it seems.  The main downtown has lots of shops, then cross over the interstate towards the lake and walk around Canal Park to see boats in the harbor, tons of restaurants and shops, and a beautiful Lakewalk trail covering 4.2 miles of lakeshore.  The Lakewalk begins at Canal Park and ends at 26th Avenue.  There are places to rent bikes and kayaks in the area in case you didn't bring your own.  You can also get around by horse carriage rides if you choose.  Duluth also has a beautiful rose garden at Leif Erickson Park which is a great place to walk around or have a picnic.  We had a great Italian dinner at Bellisios located in the Canal Park area near the lake.  You can also head South on I-35 to Spirit Mountain and take the Alpine Slide, or go to Lake Superior Zoo.  

Canal Park Duluth



After touring Duluth we headed north on Hwy 61 and took the scenic lakeshore drive.  First stop was Gooseberry Falls State Park.  A short walk from the parking lot brings you to the beautiful Upper and Lower Falls.  This is a great place for doing some rock skipping and swimming in the falls.

 

Gooseberry Falls





Keep heading North on Hwy 61 you will next see Split Rock Lighthouse.  A beautiful short walk along the rocky shoreline which gives you a beautiful view of this lighthouse sitting atop a steep rocky ledge. 



Before reaching Tettegouche State Park you will see a small sign saying Palisade Head which is a popular stop prior to the main park entrance.  Once reaching the park walk to the lake to get a view of Shovel Point, or cross the Hwy and take the trails away from the lake to High Falls. 

Temperance River State Park has some good swimming within short walking distance from the Highway. There were lots of people have fun jumping into the canyon and sliding down the small rapids. 



The city of Grand Marais is the final stop on the North Shore tour.  This is one of my favorite cities along the lakeshore.  It reminds me of what a small town in Maine might look like with boats in the harbor, lighthouse, tourist shops and restaurants, fishing and kayaking all available.  We stopped for a fire stone grilled pizza at Sydney's and enjoyed the 360 degree panoramic views from their rooftop seating.  They are most famous for their frozen custard which was one of the best I've ever had!

Split Rock Lighthouse



So if you are looking for a place to go one of these weekends, visit Duluth and the North Shore of Lake Superior!



Sydney's Rooftop Restaurant





Temperance River State Park





Grand Marais, MN

The Windy City

The windy city of Chicago is always a reminder to me of great friendships and good times.  Rarely can someone find a friendship that lasts a lifetime.  So often people, life circumstances, and feelings change causing broken or lost friendships.  Many friendships don't last because people are unwilling to handle another persons quirks, oddities, and imperfections over time.  In true friendships you are stretched to appreciate each others differences.  But even though it is inevitable you may not always see eye to eye, a greater benefit comes from knowing you are loved despite imperfections and differences.

I just got back from my annual girls Chicago weekend and am reminded of how blessed I am to have such lifelong friendships.  The four of us have been friends since the 4th and 7th grade.  We have experienced and shared the fun of middle school, drama of high school, the emotions of dating and breaking up, the joy of finding true love and getting married, sadness of moving away, and the excitement of getting pregnant.  With each step of our lives moving forward, our friendships and time together have changed, yet we still make time for each other. Each one of us different in many ways, yet bonded together and most importantly sharing in our love for Christ.  Thank you girls for your lifelong friendship and for loving me for who I am!