Pella Iowa

 Pella has a Dutch heritage with an inviting show of tulips still visible when I stopped by 12 May 2021.

Near the square are the attractive Scholte Gardens.

...where you will see some interesting statues.

The old windmill has some good views of the town.

Vermeer Windmill-Pella Iowa/ G Sutton 2021

Pella Iowa/G Sutton 2005

There are several interesting buildings or shops near the town center.

Opera House/ G Sutton 2021

This is the second Opera House- construction began 21 July 1900 see history

Pella is worth a stop and I would recommend Tulip time- the festival is the first full weekend of May.

For more information, see www.visitpella.com

The Vermeer Windmill is an 1850s-style grain mill built in the Netherlands and added to Pella in 2002 click for more information.

My 2021 photos were take with my Pixel 4 Google phone

The older 2005 photos were with a Sony DSC T1

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Visiting Minnesota- Places to See

 

Minnesota offers many beautiful places to enjoy nature. I visited a few and posted some photos and videos in a few blogs. So, the purpose of this page is to provide links to the places I have seen.

Duluth - Trails and Hikes

Duluth- Lake Superior Railroad Museum

Voyageurs National Park

Rainy Lake - Tilson Bay area

White Bear Lake

Big Falls Minnesota

Big Falls Minnesota

 

I couldn't resist stopping to see the Big Falls.

A nice spot but hardly "big."

Before leaving the small town is this tribute to an early Scot-- Uncle Dan Campbell.

So, if you are heading south toward Minneapolis from Voyageurs National Park and avoiding the Interstate for a while, take a look.

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Trails and Walks by Duluth Minnesota

St Louis River from Superior Hiking Trail/ G Sutton/ 2021

 There are miles of trails and paths around Duluth. I hiked part of the Superior Hiking Trail and at one point had an excellent view of the St Louis River. On the drive to the parking area I passed a Spirit Mountain Recreation resort, which appeared closed at the time.

Hiking Trails near Duluth

Below the mountain are places are public access points to the St Louis River.

North of Duluth, you can walk for miles along the shore of Lake Superior--and I did.

North of the Canal area/ G Sutton 14 May 2021

Some scenes along Lake Superior

For those who enjoy watching the waves on large lakes, here is a video.

So, if you enjoy hiking or simple walks, there are miles and miles available here.

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White Bear Lake Minnesota

 White Bear Lake is a pleasant area on the East side of St Paul. I stopped on my way to Voyageurs National Park.

There's a nice beach area.

There's an attractive natural area as well.

Overall, my brief visit to White Bear Lake was enjoyable. If you find yourself stopping here, I hope you enjoy the lakeside trails.

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Rainy Lake - Tilson Bay Minnesota

 After leaving Voyageurs National Park, I stopped to walk the trails at Rainy Lake-Tilson Bay.

The trail by the boat ramp has an outdoor toilet. It was a nice walk but I was glad for a trekking pole and hiking shoes in the rocky up and down areas.

I came across this deer and captured it on video as I walked toward it.

On the other side of the road is a Bog Walk- not really my thing but I took a look.

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Voyageurs National Park Minnesota

 More Water Than Land

I drove to Voyageurs National Park up highway 53 from Duluth. There are two visitor's centers enroute to my stay at International Falls, which is west of the Rainy Lake center. I found the park map board helpful.

My first stop was at Ash River

...where I hiked to Beaver Lake among other points of interest. The top photo is of Beaver Lake. Below is a closeup.

There are a lot of birds, squirrels and chipmunks. I didn't get good shots of birds. But I did get this creature crossing my path.

Here's a video showing the lake by the visitors center along with boaters and people fishing. I was also videobombed by mosquitos.

The next stop was Kabetogama Lake. I hardly saw anyone but there were plenty of trucks and boat trailers.

On the second day, I hiked at the Rainy Lake area.

Unfortunately, I was too early in the season for a boat tour of the park. However, with sunshine and 80 degree temperatures it sure felt like summer. And the mosquitos were out in force.

Along a trail at Rainy Lake

Notes

Voyageurs National Park is unique because of the vast areas of water. I wish I was there when boat rides were available. There's also a variety of winter activities. Learn more at the Park Website.

I'm glad I had plenty of insect repellent and sunscreen.

Trekking poles and waterproof shoes or boots are important on trails.

Most pictures were with my Pixel 4 phone but I use a Lumix DMC ZS 100 for zoom shots.

The trail maps and signs were helpful.

I like the National Parks' Book for more information.

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