Though you might not picture Minneapolis, MN, with its metro population topping 3.6 million, to be a haven for nature-lovers, that’s one of the best aspects of Minnesota: the state embraces and celebrates its natural beauty.
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Located in St. Peter, about a twenty minute drive from Mankato, MN, is Gustavus Adolphus College, home to the Linnaeus Arboretum. This botanical wonderland was founded in 1973 by a botany professor at the college, Charles Mason, and his wife, Harriet Mason. The area is unique in that it incorporates all three of the major ecosystems in Minnesota: tall grass prairie, deciduous woods, and coniferous forest, allowing you to observe a wide variety of flora and fauna. With 130 acres, the arboretum gives plenty of room for you to wander, bring a picnic, or read on a bench surrounded by cascading blooms.
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If you know me, you know there are two places I love going an inordinate amount: zoos and botanical gardens. My love for plants and animals is unsurpassed (I might be trying to turn my apartment into a greenhouse—sorry Kayla). So when I discovered that there was an escape into flora and fauna in St. Paul (Minneapolis' lesser-know twin city) that was both a zoo and a botanical garden—and not only that, it was also free—I just had to go.
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For any of you who have eczema—especially an eczema that you can't hide with clothing or makeup—know that you aren't alone. Know that someone else understands the anxiety over staying at a hotel or walking into a Bath & Body Works. Know that someone else understands the sleepless nights and four-times-the-recommended dose of allergy medication. Know that someone else understands the itch or what it feels like to watch your own skin slough off no matter how much lotion you put on it. And know that you are worth more than your skin.
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Located off of US 41 just outside L'Anse, MI (about an hour away from Marquette), there's an unassuming turnoff to a parking lot filled with cars. Today, our adventure crew consists of Kari, Kayla (her sister and my friend/now roommate!), and Kari's newest addition to the family, Kindi, a precocious 4-and-a-half-month-old lab/border collie mix whose name means "squirrel" in Swahili (even though she was actually named after a gorilla at the Louisville Zoo). A battered map shows that "Canyon Falls" is located on a single, straight-shot trail about a mile away.
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I can't believe I've been home a whole summer, and this is the first time I'm getting out to Red River Gorge! (I guess that's what happens when you work the old 8-5 Monday through Friday and spend every weekend wedding venue shopping.) Luckily, I had a day free during my last weekend in Kentucky, and what a better way to spend it than heading out to the Gorge. We decided to bring along Ryan's parent's puppy, Daisy, and try out a new trail: Pinch 'Em Tight.
Read More![Thoughts On: [What It's Like to Be a Writer]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586c18e4b3db2bcdc451ed9d/1532959281468-03EXEU3PFGB67R5PTIV7/designation-write-typewriters.jpg)
Ever wonder what life is like in the noble profession of creative expression? What it's like to be a member of that wonderful community which your parents always kindly remarked would leave you poor and destitute? Well, here's five thoughts on what it's like to be a writer.
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In the higher education system, colleges are composed of two separate yet equally important groups: The students who pay to be there and the professors who teach them. These are their stories...
These are actual things my students said to me last year. Enjoy—and kids, learn from their mistakes.
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In the end, I came up with a list of five venues that fit my vintage mansion aesthetic and don't threaten to plunge me and my family into bankruptcy. I hope this helps someone out there in the same position I was in!
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Now, I get tons of questions about having Pyrenees because one, giant white fluff balls attract a lot of attention, and two, they require a little extra work, since there's so much extra of them. I've written about what you should know about Pyrs and what life with these babies is like, and you can read those posts here. But in honor of this blisteringly hot June and July weather, I decided to give you a glimpse into specifically what my summers look like with my giant fur babies.
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Grand Teton National Park is named for Grand Teton, the highest peak in the Teton range. The origins of the name are peculiar, dating back to 19th-century French-speaking trappers, who are said to have called the range les trois tétons, or the three teats, due to their shape. Americans anglicized the spelling and shortened it to Tetons.
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This first stop isn't really in Yellowstone, but it's a strange sight for those who make the drive from Wapiti or Cody to the East Gate. For some reason it reminded me of Howl's Moving Castle, while Ryan told me it reminded him of the Weasley's house (the Burrow) from Harry Potter. One thing we could all agree on: it was a weird-looking building.
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