Quick Trip to Banning State Park, a canoe ride, Kingfield Pizza Run and a Wedge History Walk

On my visit to Wisconsin last week I accidentally left behind my rain coat. I wasn't going to see my parents until Labor Day. With this rainy summer and a Boundary Waters trip coming up I was going to need it back. They happened to be in Duluth this weekend so we agreed to meet halfway. To make the drive a little easier I booked a campsite at Banning State Park. This is our first camping trip with our new car. No box needed.

I was in Cincinnati, so couldn't tag along.

Mac and cheese for dinner. I was worried with all the rain this summer the bugs would be terrible, but it wasn't bad at all.

We played a few rounds of catch-em stick-em.

Then popcorn before it got dark.

Meadow helped me with breakfast.

Then Blake and my parents met us at our campsite.

I didn't know the park had a charging station, score!

I consider this taboo, since we don't need the charge with our PHEV.

Theo volunteered to carry everything.

We did the Quarry Loop Trail.

Blake found all the caves to explore.

Theo's braver than me. He went exploring in all the caves with Blake.

We gave my mom a workout by spurring off onto the Hells Gate Trail.

I liked that this trail also gives you a history lesson of the old quarry.

After hiking we were hungry. We stopped at Doc's on 23 in Askov.

After the kids and I got home I introduced them to my favorite movie, Napoleon Dynamite. They didn't laugh as much as I did. 

I made it back home in time to go paddling with Brookie and Theo.

We started on Thomas Beach and made our way across Bde Maka Ska to Lake of the Isles. Meadow is too cool to go along on our adventures. 

The area between Lake of Isles and Cedar Lake is my favorite. It feels like you are far from the city.

It's rather dreamy.

I love the old bridges from the City Beautiful era.

We decided to get pizza after our paddle from one of our favorites.

Good Times Pizza. It's been over a year since we had been here last. 

Meadow's picture was still on the wall.

Good Times may not be fast, but we don't mind. Just make sure you purchase a few pies.  They're smaller than you'd expect.

They have some games there, but we brought our own card games. 

They sure make great tavern-style pizza or as I like to call it, cracker crust.

The next day was library day. Somehow we convinced Scott and Theo to come with.

The library is definitely their thing, but I'll tag along from time to time.

We were near an old school DQ. So why not treat the family?

Theo still had some money left on a gift card for the Hub Hobby Shop. He didn't find anything he really wanted this time.

At the library the kids could pick a free book to take home. I was surprised Theo picked Dog Man. AND read it when we got home.

I found an old book at the library from the 1970's of the history of the Minneapolis lakes area. In the back of the book was some self guided tours.

I just wanted to hang with my honey and get in a nice bike ride.  

The first tour we picked to go on is the Wedge.

At the time this book was written, this was one of the best preserved homes in the neighborhood.

And the oldest in the neighborhood.  

Not looking so good these days.

At least they kept some of the decorative accents. 

This home was built in 1895 by builder Henry Parsons.

A real Minneapolis beauty.

This home is the earliest and most expensive home on the block.

I just liked a few and took pics.

Love that this bookstore is just tucked into the residential area of the Wedge.

I never heard of this bookstore before. 

Garden goals right there.

This home hardly changed from Brooke's book.

Scott's worst nightmare.

(Shaking Fist) Creeping Bellflowers!

I love the double front porches.

I imagine this is what our porches looked like before it was enclosed in cedar shingles and metal storms.

The last home on the tour was built in 1902 for a member of the Gluek family.

Famous for their namesake beer.

Until next bike ride, folks.