Arriving in Grand Rapids, Minnesota saw our 3 day, 1223km/760 mile partnership with the US 2 E highway come to an end. Aside from the great sweeping views of North Dakota and Minnesota it offered us, it made for an easy straight drive. As we entered the state, it quickly became very clear why Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. To be precise it actually has 11,842 lakes and it seemed that every lake we drove past had people out on it enjoying the views, the fishing and the serenity. In Grand Rapids we had dinner at the Pickled Loon Saloon on Pokegama Lake with beautiful sunset views and great people-watching as folks arrived at the restaurant in their pontoons from their lake houses.
From Grand Rapids we headed to Lake Minnetonka for a two-hour cruise on the paddlewheeler Lady of the Lake. A stone’s throw from Minneapolis, Lake Minnetonka is Minnesota’s ninth largest lake. And we have to admit that as beautiful as the lake is, the lake houses we passed were what grabbed our attention. From the aged and graceful to the new and modern these houses, complete with manicured lawns and private moorings, are magnificent.
Heading into Minneapolis we made a stop at Minnehaha Falls. The Falls, which are located in Minnehaha Park, drop 16 meters/53 feet into a gorge before running into the Mississippi River. Minnehaha Falls gained fame in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic 1953 poem Song of Hiawatha:
“Hark!” she said; “I hear a rushing, Hear a roaring and a rushing, Hear the Falls of Minnehaha, Calling to me from a distance!”
The Park itself was so pretty to walk through and this was clearly agreed upon by the crowds of people walking, jogging and cycling through the park and savouring Labor Day weekend.
Next up was the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Garden is located in Parade Park and features over 40 pieces of art, all positioned throughout the garden around the main centrepiece, Spoonbridge and Cherry.
The Garden is just near the Basilica of St Mary. Consecrated in 1941, St Mary’s is America’s first basilica and joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Anyone visiting Minneapolis needs to make a visit to the Mill City Museum. It is built within the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, the flagship mill of what was to become General Mills. This museum is awesome – it gives a fantastic overview of how Minneapolis came to be the city it is today in the cinematic tour Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat. It also offers a quirky elevator tour of the “Flour Tower”, which demonstrates what made Minneapolis the flour milling capital of the world up until 1930. The staff are knowledgable and friendly and the observation deck gives an amazing view of the Mississippi River and St Anthony Falls.
We finished our Minnesota chapter with a visit to Mall of America. With 555 shops to choose from, we managed to exceed our daily step count without even going near the 18-hole miniature golf course.
Wisconsin, we’re on our way to you ☺️
S&P