Monthly Archives: August 2018

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

St.Paul MN, August 11

Since our retirement in 2013, we have been usually spending most of the summer in Minnesota. Our condo in Saint Paul offers us 7th floor patio views of downtown Saint Paul and the Mississippi River valley to enjoy with our breakfast and/or dinner. Right across the street are walking and biking trails that can take us over to Minneapolis and beyond. With family nearby for spontaneous or planned gatherings, free concerts somewhere (usually near a body of water), tours at nature centers and local gardens, professional theater just a 10-minute bus ride away and numerous opportunities for civic engagement, what is not to like in “staying put” for the summer in the Twin Cities?

As we delight in staying in our condo, we are so pleased to know that we actually live in a national park. Yes, our condo, across from Crosby Farm Regional Park, is part of the 72-mile Mississippi National River and Recreation Area that stretches from Dayton to Hastings. This National Park is a partnership park with local and regional parks along the river corridor. And yes, we live in that national park corridor!

The spring and prairie flowers at Coldwater Spring

One section owned by the National Park Service is Coldwater Spring near Minnehaha Falls. This area had been an important gathering site for Native Indians and then a water supply for the soldiers at Fort Snelling. It is gradually returning to its forested, native flower beginnings, and is just gorgeous. Throughout the season, park rangers or other guides lead tours on specific topics at Coldwater. We took a twilight tour by an author who has written a book about the history of Coldwater (at one time as one of the regional federal Bureau of Mines testing sites).

In addition to visiting national parks, we enjoy exploring national wildlife centers/refuges. There are several in Minnesota (one right near the airport) and this month we stopped by the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and traveled its 10-mile auto tour through its wetlands.

Fun at historic Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake MN

We celebrated Ed’s birthday (not a multiple of 5)this month with a gathering at one of his sister/brother-in-law’s home; my sister had also taken us to the MN History Theater to see “Glensheen”, a story about a double murder in a Duluth lumber baron’s mansion, (excellent) as a birthday gift. We also hosted an Evergreen couple from Nebraska who were here for a family wedding and took a long weekend with our Minneapolis daughter/daughter-in-law and their Houston nephew to Grand View Lodge in Nisswa (central lakes region of the State).

Wabasha Street Caves

It is always a treat for us when we “finally” experience something in Saint Paul that has been here for a long time and that we had not yet visited; a tour of the Wabasha Street Caves was such an outing. These sandstone caves over the years have been the site of a thriving prohibition speakeasy, a mushroom farm, a cheese storage area and now an event center that provides tours on Sundays.

The Bell Museum; our area’s newest gem

We have been involved with voter registration events with the Saint Paul League of Women Voters, attended a discussion with our mayor on suggestions for the upcoming budget and always appreciate an opportunity to participate at our city councilwoman’s monthly morning coffee or happy hour. Ed volunteers with the National Park Service at 2 of its locations and both of us are volunteering weekly at the newly opened The Bell Museum (natural history). It is stunning. Primary election is this Tuesday, August 14 and Ed is working all day as an assistant election judge. GET OUT AND VOTE!

The Mississippi River, a working river; viewed from our walk along the river in Lilydale.

Chris and Ed. Saint Paul MN August 11, 2018