Exploring Minnesota by Snowmobiling: Plan Your Adventure

Given our usually bountiful snowfall, it isn’t surprising that snowmobiles were invented in Minnesota. Their creators figured it would be a great way to get around. They probably had no idea it would be so much fun, or spark the development of one of the country’s most extensive trail networks.

There are now close to 20,000 miles of snowmobile trails in Minnesota. This vast grid of trails is made possible through a funding partnership between local snowmobile clubs, the state and trail users. The local clubs groom and care for thousands of miles of trail, and welcome visiting snowmobilers to tour their part of the state’s enticing web of trails.

What trails to take?

Trails wind from north to south, and poke into all corners of the state. They traverse rolling countryside and meander through forests, over rivers and past lakes. Where to start?

To help make this choice more manageable, there’s Minnesota Snowmobiling Destinations, a magazine-style guide to snowmobiling in the state. Ten major snowmobiling systems are described. For a copy, contact the Minnesota Office of Tourism.



What about maps?

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a series of large maps showing the snowmobile trail networks in each quadrant of the state: northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest. The maps are available free from DNR or the Minnesota Office of Tourism. For maps on individual snowmobile trails, contact local chambers of commerce.


Where to stay?

Snowmobiling Destinations includes information on motels, hotels and resorts that cater to snowmobilers. The Office of Tourism can also provide information through its Journey travel planning service,

What about snowmobile studs?

Snowmobiles equipped with metal traction devices are not allowed on any paved public trail, but can use all other snowmobile trails. A $13 annual sticker is required for any snowmobile with metal studs registered in Minnesota. It’s available from the DNR License Bureau and other license outlets.

Visiting from out of Minnesota?

To help Minnesota groom its trails, snowmobilers visiting Minnesota from other states and Canada are required to purchase a $16 Snowmobile State Trail Sticker, available from DNR. through various license outlets. It can be purchased with a credit card from the DNR. (Minnesotans support trail funding through their snowmobile registration fees.)

How’s the snow?

The Minnesota Office of Tourism has reports on snow depths and trail conditions across the state, available from first snowfall to spring thaw. Call the Office of Tourism for snow depth reports.

Links/for more info:

    Minnesota Office of Tourism: 800-657-3700; 651/296-5029 in Twin Cities area


    Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: 888-646-6367 (from MN); 651/296-6157

Minnesota's Trout Streams Among Best in Country

"Southeastern Minnesota may be the least well-known fly fishing mecca in the United States," declares the "Trout Unlimited's Guide to America's 100 Best Trout Streams." 

This beautiful corner of the state, hilly bluff country with creeks winding through picturesque valleys, is no secret to avid fly-fishermen (and women) from Minnesota. But their inclusion in this national guide to trout fishing gives them the broader recognition they deserve.

Brown, brook and rainbow trout are found in the south fork of the Root River, near Preston and Lanesboro, and the Whitewater River east of Rochester. Trout Creek Run, between St. Charles and Lanesboro, holds brown and brook trout and is "one of the prettiest trout streams anywhere," according to the book. Concise descriptions of each give details on where, when and how to fish these streams.

Brook trout are native to the area. Brown trout, now the most common to southeastern Minnesota streams, were introduced more than a century ago. Some streams are stocked with rainbow trout.

Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources also provides information on fishing these streams, including maps. Check the web site at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing.html for lots of other fishing information, or call 651/296-6157 or 888-646-6367 (from Minnesota).

Franken On Trump: ‘It’s Going To Be A Challenging Time’

As shockwaves of President-elect Donald Trump reverberate around the country, Sen. Al Franken says he is skeptical, but hopeful, for what’s to come.

Alan Stuart Franken was born on May 21, 1951. 
He is an American comedian, politician, and writer.
He is currently the junior United States Senator from Minnesota.
He became well known in the 1980s as a performer on the television comedy show Saturday Night Live.
After several decades as a comedic actor, he became a prominent liberal political activist.
Franken was elected to the United States Senate in 2008. Franken is a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), an affiliate of the Democratic Party.

The Minnesota Democrat says he’s willing to work with Trump on infrastructure, mentioned in the Republican candidate’s victory speech, but hopes Trump will come to terms with some of the rhetoric used throughout the campaign.

“Hopefully, going forward, he said in his latest statement he wants to be the president for everybody. And if he wants to do that, I think he might have to change some of what he says,” Franken said.

Franken said he was disappointed by Tuesday’s election results, but hopes he’s proven wrong about Trump.

“This is going to be a challenging time, but it’s a time for us to work together on accomplishing things we agree on,” Franken said. “The democracy will survive.”

He also discussed the protests occurring throughout the country.

“There is a right to protest in this country and as long as it’s peaceful, its people’s right to do,” he said.

John Gorka returns to Nisswa for Nov. 18 concert

John Gorka returns to Nisswa Friday for a Grassroots Concerts performance at 7:30 p.m. in the Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar.

After his 1987 Red House release “I Know” introduced Gorka to the public, his wit and honesty have made him one of the most beloved artists currently carrying on the folk tradition.

A native of New Jersey, Gorka started his career in the 1970s at Godfrey Daniels, a neighborhood coffeehouse in eastern Pennsylvania.

He now lives in Minnesota and he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

In addition to his 11 critically acclaimed albums, John released a collector’s edition box featuring a hi-definition DVD and companion CD called “The Gypsy Life.” Windham Hill released a collection of John’s greatest hits from the label “Pure John Gorka.”

This will be his eighth appearance in the nonprofit Grassroots Concerts series.

For more about John, go to www.johngorka.com

The Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar is located in the Journey Church in Nisswa.

Grassroots Concerts are made possible by a grant provided by the Five Wings Arts Council with funds through the Minnesota State Legislature. Grassroots Concerts is a  nonprofit under the Internal Revenue Code.

Concert general admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12 with listening attention, when accompanied by an adult.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for seating preference.

Minnesota Facts

•     Number of rivers and streams: 6,564 (92,000 miles).
•     Major rivers: Mississippi River, Minnesota River, Red River, St. Croix River.
•     Number of lakes (over 10 acres): 11,842 (4,967,510 acres).
•     Largest Lakes: Lake Superior (borders north eastern Minnesota); Lake of the Woods (straddles Minnesota's border with Canada); Red Lake, Mille Lacs Lake, Leech Lake.
•     Number of recreational boats per capita: one boat per every six people, more than any other state.
•     Number of individuals who go fishing: 2.3 million

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Explore Winter on Snowshoes

This traditional form of winter transportation just got trendy. A variety of new types of snowshoes are now readily available for purchase or rental. Who’s strapping them on? Just about anyone who enjoys winter and wants to take a walk in–that is, on–the snow.

They’re relatively easy to get the hang of, and folks of all ages–from small children to seniors–are trying them out. They can be used just about anywhere there’s deep snow, except ski and snowmobile trails, and many parks and resorts have designated special trails or snowshoe areas.

Eighteen Minnesota State Parks rent snowshoes, and about 90 resorts and B&Bs have them available for their guests. Along the Gunflint Trail, there are nine trails specifically for snowshoeing, totally 25 miles. Several Gunflint Trail lodges offer snowshoe rentals, lessons, and guided treks.

Giants Ridge ski area near Biwabik has added the four-mile Sleeping Giant snowshoe trail, which leads to the top of the Laurentian Divide with spectacular views. Snowshoe rentals and instruction are available. Snowshoe Country Lodge, near Isabella, focuses on this sport, providing snowshoes and guided tours.

For more information, call the Minnesota Office of Tourism, 800-657-3700 or 651/296-5029.

MN Governor Taxed Wealthy, Raised Minimum Wage & His State's Economy Is Great

Now, MN State’s Economy Is One of the Best in the Country

When Minnesota governor Mark Dayton took office in Jan 2011 he inherited a $6 billion budget deficit and 7% unemployment rate.

During his first four years, Gov. Mark Dayton raised the state income tax to 9.85 percent on individuals earning over $150,000, and on couples earning over $250,000 when filing jointly - it was a tax increase of $2 billion. 

He will raise MN minimum wage to $9.50 per hour by 2018.

Gov. Dayton added 170,000 new jobs to Minnesota’s economy!

Minnesotans have income that is $10,000 larger than the U.S. average.

Gov. Dayton transformed Minnesota’s economy into one of the best in the nation.

CTZN Collective will be live in Minnesota next week

Members: Kareem Manuel, Decipha

Genre: Hip Hop

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Website: http://www.ctznmusic.com/

 

 

Live in Minnesota next week

Minnesota Cleaning Services

Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Minnesota

 Address: 3459 Washington Drive, Suite #109 Eagan, MN 55122
 Phone:   (651) 379-4000 Rochester:   (507) 424-3824
  
Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Minnesota and Rochester MN are full-service commercial cleaning.
The Master franchise services the greater Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rochester areas. 

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Two Bettys Green Cleaning Services - Adventures in Green Cleaning

Two Bettys Green Cleaning Company provides high quality eco-friendly green cleaning services. Two Bettys is locally owned and serves residential and small commercial clients by providing a unique brand of individualized service that is always dependable and discreet.

Serving Minneapolis, St. Paul, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park and Edina, Minnesota

Address: 3702 E 34th St. Minneapolis,, MN 55406

Phone: (612) 720-8768 

Email:  info@twobettysclean.com 

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Click Click Cleaners

Click Click Cleaners is a owned and run by two local women. Both busy moms who understand the need for balance in this crazy world.

 

Phone MN: 507-494-8740

Email: clickclickcleaners@gmail.com

 

Take a Fall Break in the Twin Cities

Every summer, visitors throng to the Twin Cities area for its wide array of shopping, museums, arts, zoos, amusement parks, and other entertainment. But when the calendar flips to September, there’s a whole new season of fun. The arts and theater season begins that month, with the stages full of new productions. There’s also a full schedule of special events, like the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee and new exhibits at area museums.

And, there are some extra days off in the fall to take in all of this. Labor Day weekend, the fall school break in October, Veterans’ Day and the Thanksgiving holiday weekend are all good times to visit the Twin Cities area, but any fall weekend is a good time to treat yourself to a big city getaway.

The Stage is Set

Every fall, the curtain rises on a new season of theater productions in the Twin Cities. The city is known for its great theater, and it’s worth a trip to town just to take in a play. Combine a trip to the theater with a weekend of shopping and sightseeing, and you’ve got an entertaining autumn break.

A favorite with local theater buffs is the Jungle Theater. Last winter it moved across the street to a new home in a renovated 1920s storefront. With only140 seats, the auditorium provides an intimate theater experience with an ample stage. The original Jungle playhouse opened in 1991 and its first production quickly sold out. Its productions–a mix of classic and contemporary plays, from comedy to cutting edge-- always get rave reviews from its audiences.

This fall, the Jungle will stage “Lobster Alice,” a new comedy by Kira Obolensky. It’s a romance based on surrealist artist Salvador Dali’s real-life visit to Hollywood in the 1940s, and plays Sept. 17 through Nov. 7.

The Cities’ best known theater is the Guthrie, near downtown Minneapolis. This fall it’s debuting a new musical “Martin Guerre,” by the creators of “Les Miserables” and “Miss Saigon,” running Sept. 17-Nov. 7. The play tells the true story of a 16th-century French soldier. This run will be the North American premiere of “Martin Guerre,” before it heads to Broadway.

For more lightweight musical fare, there’s “Cole Porter’s Can-Can” or “Forever Plaid” at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, on the southwest edge of the Twin Cities area. The Broadway musicals “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Cabaret” are coming to the Historic State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis, with “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” playing at the Ordway Music Theatre in downtown St. Paul.

 

Bring the Kids

Fall is an especially good time for a family visit to the Twin Cities, as well. New seasons begin at the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis and Stages Theatre Company in Hopkins.

The Minnesota Children’s Museum in downtown St. Paul is one of the best of its kind in the country. This fall, two special exhibits add to the kid appeal. At the “The Big Adventure” exhibit, children can try out a climbing wall, crawl through dark tunnels, or take a virtual flight in a kid-sized airplane. At the hands-on “Seuss” exhibit, kids can step into life-size scenes from “The Cat in the Hat,” “Green Eggs and Ham,” and other Seuss classics.

A series of free family concerts Saturday afternoons at Orchestra Hall spotlights some celebrities among the younger set, especially kids aged 2-8. The Family Music Series includes Craig & Co., Sept. 25; The Wiggles, Oct. 16 (very big with pre-school Australians); and Joanie Bartels, Oct. 16.

Halloween is a very big deal in the Twin Cities area. Spooky World, at Canterbury Park in Shakopee throughout October, sets the mood with several haunted houses, a Creepy Hollow hayride, the Terror Theatre, and Booville children’s play area. At nearby Valleyfair, costumed characters, a haunted house, Halloween stories, and other entertainment will give the amusement park a “spooky” air on Halloweekends. These run Sept. 11-12 and 18-19, plus the Friday evenings of Sept. 10, 17 and 24. And the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley has special Halloween weekend events Oct. 23-24 and 30-31. 

Don’t Miss the Boat

One way to get out and enjoy a beautiful fall day while you explore the Twin Cities is to climb aboard a boat excursion. The Padelford Packet Boat Company has excursions leaving from Boom Island Park near downtown Minneapolis and Harriet Island across from downtown St. Paul on weekend afternoons in September. Both trips feature skyline views, fall color along the riverbanks, and a bit of the area’s history.

At Lake Minnetonka west of Minneapolis, an important piece of the lake’s history was rescued from the lake bottom. A 1906 streetcar boat, sunk years ago after it was retired from service, has been meticulously restored and is back in service as an excursion boat. “Minnehaha” boat trips leave from Excelsior and Wayzata.


There are also boat trips on the scenic St. Croix River, leaving from Taylors Falls, Stillwater and Afton. For more information on Twin Cities area boat excursions, and for a guide to the Twin Cities area, call the Minnesota Office of Tourism, 800-657-3700 or 651-296-5029.

Strokes On The Rise in Minnesota Among Women Ages 41-64

According to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota report women aged 41-64 in Minnesota experienced an increase of strokes by 24%.  

Strokes among females of this age group are “one of the fastest growing diseases among all Minnesota members under age 65.”  
Also strokes “topped the list of fastest growing major diseases.’”

Diabetes was a close second for women age 41-64 with an increase of “20.5%, compared to 17.9% among males in the same age group.”  
An interesting stat was the spike in the number of women having obesity surgical procedures done.  
A remarkable 121% increase with nearly 242 patients per 100,000. 

Hypertension, arterial disease in which chronic high blood pressure is the primary symptom, among men under 40 increased by 23.8%.  
Is this due to stress?
Anyone with ideas let us know your thoughts.

Minneapolis and St. Paul

The Twin Cities - Minneapolis and St. Paul 

 
are the two major metropolitan areas that hug the shores of the Mississippi River and form the state's center of government and business and the region's cultural epicenter. 

With their business districts separated by a mere 10 miles of interstate highway, these "twins" share a growing economy, a hardy population with an undying love of the outdoors, and a natural wonderland of lakes, rivers, and parks. 

Named "Gateway to the Land of 10,000 Lakes," these sisters cities are a great base camp for outdoor enthusiasts.

Though the cities share much in common, they have distinctly different characters. 
The differences are the result of the citys' different formations. 
St. Paul's early years were defined by shady characters and under-the-table dealings. 
While the city's Summit Avenue played host to F. Scott Fitzgerald and railroad magnate James J. Hill, gangsters such as John Dillinger, Baby-Face Nelson, and Ma Barker planned their out-of-town crimes from St. Paul's best neighborhoods, restaurants, and clubs. 
However, St. Paul's criminal beginnings soon gave way to a more orderly municipality when the city became the capital of Minnesota.

St. Paul now feels more like a village with its narrow, winding streets lined with historic buildings. 
A slow-paced, conservative city, St. Paul boast lovely classical architecture, including the beautiful St. Paul's Cathedral, City Hall, and the State House.

Minneapolis, on the other hand, had a much quieter beginning as a center for trade. 
It became a prime location for the flour industry and eventually grew into the state's business and transportation center.

In Minneapolis, the quaint, small-town feel of St. Paul is replaced by the vibrant recreational and cultural offerings of a booming metropolis. 

Downtown Minneapolis is dotted by glittering skyscrapers with a network of Skyways. 

Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, and Lake of the Isles offer a beautiful backdrop for activities from rollerblading and biking to archery and sailing.

Somewhere in the Twin Cities, both residents and visitors are sure to find whatever they're looking for - be it big-city culture or small-town charm.