Up North to Park Rapids and Back

I had a job back up in Park Rapids, Minnesota, so we made a weekend out of it. As we tend to do we stopped at Revel Brewing for beer, kombucha, root beer and pizza.

We got the small pizza on accident, but it would do.

Looking back from previous times we've been here the pizzas used to be bigger.

I think we just ordered the larges in the past. My bad.

This year Theo has suddenly discovered he likes reading. When he finds a book he wants at the bookstore we have to say yes.

I booked a Hipcamp in nearby Nevis. The owner messaged me that it wasn't available so we could use their main cabin instead. That would work. It had major grandma vibes.

It was also immaculately clean.

The 70's headshots really added to the charm.

The kids loved the recliner chairs.

We went to Shingobee Recreation Area where we'd previously sledded on our last trip up here.

We somehow always find ourselves on the North Country Trail.

It was a great weekend for the last bit of summer.

For dinner we ended up at Bullwinlkles on 34. We were all super hungry after a small lunch followed by a hike.

I guess Theo was satiated.

The kid were disappointed that there was a VCR and no TV.

Kind of strange, but a OK.

The chairs were also massagers.

This felt so much like one of Brooke's grandma's places.

We made pancakes at the cabin (I think this really, really should be called a cottage) before heading back home.

The kids and I played outside while Scott practiced using his new camera.

I love when I catch Theo deep in thought. I wonder what he was thinking about.

Wish I could have seen inside the side cabin.

We took a pitstop at Sanchez Burritos in Little Falls for lunch.

It's nothing special, but it's a nice option on the way back. We've stopped here a few times.

Then we stopped by Lindbergh State Park to knock off another hiking club trail.

Somehow the kids were in good spirits on a hike.

The kids produced a radio show along the trail, which might have distracted us from the hiking club trail sign.

Theo and I played by the creek while Brooke and Meadow backtracked to find the sign.

We never found the sign. I always see people posting on the MN Hiking Facebook group that they missed the hiking club trail sign and always wondered how people miss it. I guess it is possible.

We finished off the weekend with ice cream and a walk at St. Cloud's Munsinger Gardens.

I loved how this was arranged.

And whatever flowers these were.

St Cloud gets a bad rap, but Munsinger Gardens are beautiful.

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