The Harkin Store, a Minnesota historical site on the outskirts of New Ulm, is a nice diversion if you happen to be driving along the scenic Minnesota River Valley. It’s a picturesque remnant of a town that vanished around the turn of the twentieth century. When the railroad bypassed the community of West Newton, the Harkin [...]

I tried to look on the bright side when our toddler decided my day was going to begin at 3:00 a.m. At least there wasn’t any chance of turning off the alarm at 6:00 and sleeping through the bright-and-early Rainbow Foods Easter egg hunt! We’re personal friends of their Easter Bunny so I had promised [...]

Back in March, I peered into my crystal ball and saw myself on the verge of taking the blogosphere by storm. The first order of business, then? Running out to buy that Minnesota Historical Society membership. I had a feeling it would prove to be a smart purchase if I had designs on hitting up [...]

[The Minnesota State Parks Series chronicles the ever-expanding Kingston family's quest to complete the State Park Passport Club challenge.] TourDad teased me mildly on our way out to Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. How, on the day in 2003 we decided to take the State Park Passport Club challenge, I had boasted we’d polish the 72 [...]

Many of my favorite memories of playing with my children involve observing how they interact with the natural world. They love to feed and touch animals, have an innate desire to climb fences and jump off rocks, build things, dig in a garden and all those other great and (mostly) self-directed activities. Our summer trip [...]

High marks for the Stearns County History Museum. They do an admirable job of mixing what could be perceived as dry history lessons with exhibits and activities that appeal to children. Because let’s face it, the kids aren’t that interested in Stearns County History, unless, of course, we’re talking about the period in history when [...]

The annual Archaeology Day at the Sibley House Historic Site in Mendota is a perfect example of a touring compromise. TourDad and I, for instance, enjoy poking around historical residences and learning about the early days of our state. Sometimes that will interest our children as well. But often they simply want to, as three-year-old Olivia [...]

[The Minnesota State Parks Series chronicles the ever-expanding Kingston family's quest to complete the State Park Passport Club challenge.] If we had been able to take the tour of Charles Lindbergh’s boyhood home before checking out the museum, we might have made it through. Instead, I didn’t even make it past the front porch (baby [...]

 [The Minnesota State Parks Series chronicles the ever-expanding Kingston family's quest to complete the State Park Passport Club challenge.] “Can you find the atlas?” I called to Andy in the back of the van. “How far away is the lighthouse?” I must be one of the last of a dying breed: someone who still checks [...]

 [The Minnesota State Parks Series chronicles the ever-expanding Kingston family's quest to complete the State Park Passport Club challenge.] Technically, Fort Ridgely near Fairfax, Minnesota, hasn’t been an active military garrison for almost a century and a half. Built in the 1850s, the Fort’s purpose was to protect the new settlers and their land in [...]