Category
- Art 1
- Bike Rides 7
- Boondocking 2
- Capitals 1
- Food on the Road 1
- Hikes & Trails 3
- History & Architecture 1
- History & Culture 6
- Kayaking 1
- Museum 1
- National Park 3
- Nature & Outdoors 16
- Photography 5
- Sculptures 1
- Shorelines & Water 1
- Travel Journal 15
- Van Life 36
- capitals 11
- hike 1
- historic sites 3
- parks 3
- photography 3
- trails 2
Sioux Falls: Falls Park and Biking the City Loop
I spent the day in Sioux Falls, starting with the roaring cascades at Falls Park and then riding the paved bike trail that loops around the city and finishing up with spectacular images of the sky.
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Prairie and Corn Palace
In De Smet I followed the trail of Laura Ingalls Wilder—from schools and the courthouse to the Ingalls Homestead—before heading to Mitchell to discover the Corn Palace, an auditorium covered in corn murals and steeped in history.
Quiet Towns on Labor Day: Ellendale and Redfield, SD
Crossing into South Dakota on Labor Day, I stopped in Ellendale and Redfield—two small towns where history lingers in opera houses, train stations, and quiet streets.
Chase Lake and Frontier Village
My trip to Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge didn’t go as planned—the main access road is closed until further notice due to unsafe conditions. I made it within a few hundred yards of the refuge only to find the road underwater, so no bird photos this time. Instead, I turned south to Jamestown, where Frontier Village and the World’s Largest Buffalo turned out to be a quirky mix of prairie history, roadside attractions, and a concrete beast that’s been watching over travelers for more than 60 years.
Knife River Indian Villages
Two reset days in Dickinson gave me time to regroup before heading north to Knife River Indian Villages. Walking among the mounds where Hidatsa earthlodges once stood, I could almost picture the families who lived here, farming, trading, and gathering along the rivers. The history was rich, the reconstructed lodge gave it shape, and the trails made it real. My day wrapped up with a not-so-smooth attempt to book a campsite at Lake Sakakawea.
Drive to Walford City
A long day’s drive across North Dakota took me from quirky roadside Americana — the W’eel Turtle in Dunseith, built from more than 2,000 discarded car wheels — to the oil-and-farm country near Watford City. Along the way I saw the stark contrast between the state’s two economies: endless fields of corn, soybeans, and sunflowers on one side, and oil rigs punching into the prairie on the other. By evening, I rolled into the north side of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ready to settle in for the night.
Lake Metigoshe Park
Exploring Bottineau brought me to some of North Dakota’s quirkiest and most memorable stops—from the star-aligned concrete pillars of Mystical Horizons to the giant snowmobile-riding mascot, Tommy the Turtle, and finally to Lake Metigoshe State Park, where the trails, showers, and scenery each left their own impression.
Journey to the Northwest Angle
A quirk of history and a cartographer’s mistake led me to the Northwest Angle—the furthest point north in the contiguous United States. Reaching it meant crossing the border twice, mailing a card from the northernmost post office in the lower 48, and stopping at Jim’s Corner to check in with U.S. Border Control. Quiet bays, endless trees, and a haze hanging in the air gave the whole place a muted, dreamlike quality—like stepping into the forgotten margins of the map.
A Day in Grand Marais
A day on Minnesota’s North Shore brought roaring rivers, billion-year-old cliffs, and the artsy harbor town of Grand Marais. Between museum history lessons, unexpected conversations, and the best pizza I’ve had in years, it was a mix of natural beauty, small-town charm, and quirky encounters—wrapped up with a traffic jam at the gas pump.
Drive To Twin Falls
A routine laundry stop in Chippewa Falls turned into an unexpected history lesson from a mustachioed local who could recite Wisconsin’s past like an open book. From there, the back roads led through small-town diners, cappuccino breaks in Chetek, and a chance meeting with a globe-trotting park ranger at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. By nightfall, the day wrapped up with dinner by the river and planning for tomorrow kayak trip.
Chippawa Falls and Leinenkugel Brewery
An afternoon walk through Chippewa Falls turned into a full day of small-town charm. From a tour of the historic Leinenkugel Brewery to a scoop of Dulce de Leche at Olson’s Ice Cream, the day was filled with unexpected moments. A stroll past century-old architecture led to reflections on the past, a fascinating historical plaque, and dinner to close out the day in classic Wisconsin style.
A Day at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is a week-long celebration of aviation, featuring everything from military flyovers and vintage aircraft to hands-on workshops, tech talks, and flight demonstrations. With thousands of planes on display and countless events happening across the grounds, it's a must-see for aviation enthusiasts—even a single day offers a glimpse into the scale and energy of the world’s largest airshow.
Cherry Pie, Starlink Apocalypse and Devil’s Lake
What started as a quiet morning with a shower and coffee turned into a series of small detours — from cherry pie confusion to a Starlink outage, changing weather, and a campground that was harder to find than expected. Not the day I planned, but memorable in its own way.
Exploring Fish Creek, WI
A full day exploring Fish Creek, WI—from panoramic views atop Eagle Tower to a rain-soaked boat tour, coffee and dad jokes at Blue Horse Café, a delicious dinner, and an unforgettable Wailin’ Jennys concert. This charming Door County Wisconsin town offers natural beauty, local flavor, and friendly conversations at every turn.
Wausau, WI
What started with a dead battery in the quiet woods near Bayfield quickly turned into a full, satisfying day. After a quick jump-start, I found a great coffee shop, explored two standout galleries, wandered downtown Wausau, and ended the day with a cold beer and live bluegrass at a lively local taproom.
Bayfield: Museum, Restaurant and Trails
Today was supposed to be a kayaking day around the Apostle Islands, but heavy rain and wind had other plans. I spent the day exploring Bayfield on foot—visiting the Maritime Museum, walking the Big Ravine Trail system, wandering the historic streets, and learning about the town’s roots at the Carnegie Library. A blackened trout lunch, a double chocolate ice cream, and time photographing the trails rounded out a quiet, weather-shifted day. By nightfall, I was back in the woods, falling asleep to the sound of rain on the van roof.