Northern Minnesota: Explore The Iron Range and the Arrowhead with Your Kids
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Explore the Area with Your Family!
This is a lens to help you explore northern Minnesota, specifically the areas of the Iron Range and the Arrowhead. These are all things I have done with my two kids on my own, or with my husband, kids, and sometimes even the dogs! All family-friendly, inexpensive (or free!) and fun.
As a part-time resident of the area for many years, I will point you to little known points of interest and fun things to do in the area. I know the Iron Range best, but many of my day trips with my family include the Arrowhead region as well. I will let you know if I am recommending an activity with first-hand knowledge, or if I've only heard about it. Have fun!
Relax, breathe deep, and prepare to enjoy northern Minnesota!
Don't miss the Land of the Loon Festival, June 20-21, 2009
Land of the Loon Ethnic Arts & Crafts Festival, Virginia, Minnesota
The Land of the Loon Festival in Virginia is everything a small-town festival should be. There's a parade, food, and shopping; there's singing and dancing, and lots of fun for the kids.It even features a giant loon called Ginny.
And, really, where else would you see an ecumenical polka service??
All the info on the festival
From the official website: The two-day festival kicks off the third full weekend in June on Saturday morning with an eighty-unit parade down Chestnut Street and Fifth Avenue in the historic heart of Virginia. Then the activities shift north to beautiful Olcott Park where the crowds sample the delicious ethnic foods, listen to the colorful music from countries around the world, browse among the hundreds of exquisite art and craft booths, and celebrate the weekend-long family entertainment hosted by Iron Range volunteers.
- Official Website of the Land of the Loon Festival
- All the news, times, venues, vendors-- everything you could want to know.
- 2009 Schedule of Events
- What's going on and when
- Entertainment Schedule 2009
- Who will be singing, dancing preforming magic, or playing the accordian for your entertainment?
Ginny, the World's Largest Loon
Ginny Riding in the Parade
Olcott Park, Land of the Loon Festival and the Virginia Area Historical Society Museum
Virginia, Minnesota
Olcott Park is a huge, beautiful old park with a long history. Situated on 40 acres in Virginia, Olcott is home to both the beloved Land of the Loon Festival in June each year, and the Virginia Area Historical Society Museum. Olcott Park on Amazon
Growing up in Olcott Park
I believe this was written by the daughter of the former groundskeeper of Olcott Park. Fascinating book; I have thumbed through it at the Mineview in the Sky giftshop, and really wish I had picked it up then!
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Things to look for in Olcott Park
Virginia, Minnesota
- The former "Monkey Castle"-- you might not be able to tell now, but this rock structure was home to an exhibit of monkies in the early 20th century, until expense and mean kids throwing rocks (!) caused the end of the monkies in Virginia!
- The beautiful stone fountain and courtyard. Easily 100 years old, this beautiful courtyard with a huge fountain has been the spot of many fun picnics with my kidlets-- eating sandwiches while watching the frogs swim in the fountain!
- Fabulous playground that combines old and new play equipment. Some of the older stuff is a little scary for parents-- not exactly up to today's safety standards!-- but it's still loads of fun! Check out the giraffe that kids can climb, and the "bouncy UFO"! Too funny. This is by far the biggest and best playground we've found in the area.
- The bandstand: while we've only ever seen things performed here during the Loon Festival, the bandstand is truly reminiscent of a bygone era. We have polka'd here, and watched magic shows, Irish dancers, and comedians! The spot for entertainment at the Loon Festival!
Iron Range Tourism Bureau
IronRange.org
The Iron Range Tourism Bureau does a really great job and has a fabulous website, including an interactive map! Check it out for planning your trip.Iron Range Tourism Homepage
Interactive Map of the Iron Range
Very cool!
Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary / American Bear Association
Orr, Minnesota
One of the most fun and fascinating places my family has visited. Just outside of Orr, about an hour north of Virginia, is a 350 acre wildlife sanctuary, with a viewing deck where every evening in the summer months you can view black bears close up! So exciting!View the American Bear Association Homepage for directions, photos, bear information and more.
Eli Wirtanen Pioneer Farm
Makinen, Minnesota
This is truly a gem! A real, preserved pioneer farm (a la Little House on the Prairie, only about 50 years later) that rests in a beautiful vale in the middle of nowhere!Self-guided tours mean there might be no one there while you visit, which is cool because you get to walk right through the log house and all the outbuildings, marveling at the pioneer way of life. A real hands-on adventure, you're allowed to touch and experience everything! Highly recommended!
Eli Wirtenan Pioneer Farm website
International Wolf Center
Ely, Minnesota
An exciting, world-renowned place where you can view an actual wolf pack, and learn about wolves in many different settings.There is a children's area with activities, and "stage"-type area where they brought in live wolf pups last time I was there, and a museum-like area with awesome taxidermy tableaus.
In an effort to keep the pack strong, new wolf cubs are periodically introduced. The Center has just added two new cubs, Aiden and Dinali.
International Wolf Center homepage
Aerial Lift Bridge and Canal
Duluth, Minnesota
The Lift Bridge is a thrill for young or old. Most of the day, it is used by traffic coming and going from the Point. But when a ship is entering or leaving the harbor, traffic stops, and the bridge lifts up into the air to allow the ship to pass under!Standing along the side of the canal and watching a huge cargo ship come through is amazing! Some links about the bridge:
National Register of Historic Places
The Minnesota Historical Society gives the full story of the lift bridge: built in 1905, repurposed in 1930, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The history of the lift bridge and the canal, plus pictures of the bridge 100 years apart, in 1907 and 2007.
Live Webcam: Aerial Lift Bridge and Canal,
Real-time view of the Aerial Lift Bridge and Canal, Courtesy of the Great Lakes Aquarium and the Duluth News Tribune. If you catch it at the right time, you'll see the bridge lifting for a ship to come through!
Northern Minnesota Stuff on Amazon
Backroads of Minnesota: Your Guide to Minnesota's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 12/19/2009)
Up North
Amazon Price: (as of 12/19/2009)
Biwabik's Honk the Moose
Biwabik, Minnesota
You cannot visit the Iron Range with your kids and not go see Honk the Moose in Biwabik! The life-size statue of the character from the beloved children's book (based on a true story!) stands right in the middle of town in the City Park, near the bandstand that was an important part of the story.Minnesota Public Radio Honk the Moose piece
Honk the Moose on IronTrail.org
Honk the Moose
Honk the Moose on Amazon
Honk The Moose (Nature)
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The Real(?) Honk the Moose
Is this a photo of the real Honk? You decide.
My kids and I were in the park in Biwabik having a picnic right next to the Honk statue, and a guy came up and was selling postcards of the "real" Honk the Moose. Of course I bought one!
Pow-wow with the Lake Superior Chippewa
Grand Portage, Minnesota
Attend a real native American pow-wow! The Grand Portage band of Lake Superior Chippewa sponsors this amazing event every year.Grand Portage Renedez-vous Days Celebration Pow-wow
Iron Man Statue
Chisholm, Minnesota
In tribute to the miners who made the region great, this GINORMOUS miner-dude stands on the side of the highway outside of Chisholm, across from the Ironworld Discovery Center.Iron Man is the third largest free-standing statue in the United States, after the Statue of Liberty and the St. Louis Arch. (photo from IronRange.org)
My "big guy" with the REALLY big guy!
Northern Minnesota Info
- The Iron Range and the Arrowhead on Answers.com
- Request a Free Iron Range Packet
- Fill in the form to receive a packet from the Iron Range Tourism Bureau. Many other brochhures also available.
- Minnesota North Shore Visitor Guide
- Minnesota North Shore Visitor Guide for Lodging, Dining, State Parks, Activities and Maps
Northern Minnesota, Late Summer Wildflowers
Reader Feedback
Tell me if my lens was helpful, if you know of more exciting places to add, or just your connection to northern Minnesota!
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Reply
- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Nov 7, 2009 @ 3:18 pm
- I'm originally from Minnesota and you're making me homesick! I'll be back next summer but until then I have your lenses to read.
Thanks for sharing
5* and lensroll to Visit the North Star State
Lizzy
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- aDeepBreath aDeepBreath Nov 2, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
- Thanks for taking me back to my childhood where I spent summer vacations on Lake Vermillion at Life of Riley Resort. I miss the beautiful starlight skies at night with a roaring campfire after have fresh walleye or northern pike for dinner that my brothers caught. I will have to see if I can still do my loon call!
Jody
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- luvmyludwig luvmyludwig Feb 25, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
- thank you for joining the squidoo skidoo group
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- Shelly Shelly Oct 16, 2008 @ 9:51 am
- That's probably the most beautiful lift bridge picture I've seen--and I've seen a lot since and have taken some myself. What fun! I've never even heard of "Honk the Moose"--well done Sue!
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- Tipi Tipi Sep 19, 2008 @ 7:43 am
- I was excited to see your related lens to MN. /kabetogama lens, is where I'm from. I would be real proud of having this lens in the SquidWhoForum group as well as your other lenses. Nice work! 5*'s
Thanks for creating it! I'll be joining your fan club.
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