The North Star Explorers

There are many waterfalls in the BWCAW but Johnson Falls is one of the more amazing ones. Johnson Falls can be found deep in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Visiting the Falls can be done in a day trip if you feel up to it. Although many people plan their visit to the falls in a multiple days trip into the BWCAW. The journey there is beautiful and an incredible experience in itself.

The mysterious Devil’s Kettle has drawn many people to Judge C. R. Magney State Park. We also were drawn in by the allure of Devil’s Kettle waterfall but found so much more. The waterfall resembles a giant cauldron, where nearly half of the Brule River disappears into. The question as to where the water disappears to has fascinated and inspired many people over the years.

Going to Naniboujou Lodge and Restaurant is like stepping back in time to the 1930’s. We stopped at Naniboujou for lunch after a morning hike to Devil’s Kettle waterfalls at Judge C. R. Magney State Park. The vibrant colors and patterns are eye catching and definitely get your attention. The dining room is an amazing piece of artwork. The beauty can be seen in photos but pales in comparison to being there and seeing it in person.

We drove to Charles A. Lindbergh State Park to enjoy a relaxing hike along Pike Creek during the early autumn season. The weather was perfect for hiking. The Park has seven miles of hiking trails that pass through a forest of large pine, oak, and aspen trees. We came across an adorable little owl near the top of a pine tree while hiking one of the outer trails. The highlight of the park for us was the hiking trails that follow the edge of Pike Creek. The bridges crossing the river along with the leaves beginning to turn colors made for a very picturesque hike.

We love seeing animals in their natural surroundings in the wild.  We have even made special trips into the wilderness to see less common wildlife, like moose.   We don’t usually make a habit of going to zoos, but for Father’s Day we decided to take the parents to Safari North Wildlife Park.  We were amazed with the experience and the size of the park was a lot bigger than we initially thought.