In late August, I took a little over a week off work to drive to Minnesota for a small vacation. I detoured through Indianapolis to pick up Brandon from recurrent training and then continued on north. We hit up the Minnesota State Fair and I got to see the North Shore for the first time, which was super exciting (for me). Here is a glimpse into the trip, in photos.
Working early on little sleep and then driving far (Denver to Independence, Mo.) meant I needed to stay awake. This photo is of me the most caffeinated I’ve been since probably high school.
Well played, random Indiana sign. This actually makes sense.
Norske Nook, in Osseo, Wisc. Supposedly really good pie. I was disappointed in said pie.
Across this bridge and into Minnesota.
At the State Fair. Seen eating a dough-sant, the Minnesota version of a cronut. Super tasty.
Brandon’s face after trying my breakfast sausage (in pancake batter) on a stick.
From the top of the Giant Slide.
Deep-fried pumpkin pie. Quite possibly the best thing I ate at the fair that day.
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minn.
World’s largest hockey stick in Eveleth, Minn.
On Shagawa Lake in Ely, Minn. Brandon spent a lot of his youth fishing for walleye on this lake.
With my delicious walleye sandwich for dinner at Grandma’s in Duluth, Minn.
Being a nerd at Split Rock Lighthouse.
Dinosaurs at the lighthouse light … playing their own form of Wipeout.
View at lunch near Two Harbors, Minn.
Sign at Black Bear Casino in Minnesota. Silly snowmobilers …
Driving a tractor at the in-laws’ house.
With the Herb Brooks statue just outside the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.