Midwest Travel Writers

If you followed my tips for storing your camping gear over the winter, then all of your gear is safely stowed away, and it’s time to start getting your camping gear ready for spring. Your sleeping pad (or pads, in my case) is another important piece of gear to ready for camping season. This is also a good time to make sure you still have the repair kit for your sleeping pad or a good time to order a new one. As you can see, if you properly store your camping gear at the end of the season, then preparing your camping gear for spring camping trips is a piece of cake!

Subscribe to the Thrifty Minnesota newsletter for all the latesr deals, tips, and more! Spruce up your spring wardrobe, too, with a huge selection of items that start at just $0.99. Disclaimer: Offer is valid on black, blue, green, pink and yellow tags, up to $100 purchase on Friday, 4/2 – Saturday, 4/3. Hi, I'm Chrysa, and I'm here along with my friends Kristi and Laura to share fun and thrifty ways for you and your family to enjoy all the awesome things Minnesota has to offer!

Mankato – Minneopa State Park is known for live bison as well as waterfalls that are easy to access Voyageurs National Park – Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and Voyageurs National Park (VNP) are new places certified by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) in 2020. Voyageurs National Park also joined the ranks as a newly certified International Dark Sky Park, offering primetime night sky viewing. The Twin Cities – not just the Mall of America, which we’re known for, but so many museums, attractions, and parks…I’m part of a “Hiking Minnesota” Facebook group where I’ve learned about hidden waterfalls, caves and canyons right here in the Twin Cities.

Today’s guest is Ciara Rounds, Global Media & Public Relations Representative for the South Dakota Department of Tourism. It’s a state that isn’t defined by one thing – though there is something that people tend to focus on when considering a South Dakota vacation… I-90 stretches the width of South Dakota and with five National and State Scenic Byways covering hundreds of miles make it the perfect road tripping state. South Dakota has 56 State Parks and recreation areas and 6 National Parks Service sites, so there is a lot of opportunity for wide open spaces and outdoor adventure.

So that used to be the story that people would kind of think negatively about Michigan because the only thing they’d ever heard were bad news stories coming out of our biggest city, a city that had gone through, you know, decades of challenge and transition because of a change in the world economy. At the same time, the rest of the state probably was a little bit ahead of Detroit in kinda, you know, getting ready for that next, who we are. Where the lower peninsula, a lot of people like to go to the UP to experience the out of doors temporarily and then kind of go back to their city environments later. It’s the kind of place you need to be there for at least a couple of nights to kind of get the sounds of life out of your mind, to really take in the sounds of the clip plops of the horses as they’re carrying people down the roads.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Visitors to the three units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park find the dramatic scenery and recreational opportunities awe-inspiring. The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world’s largest scrap metal sculptures constructed at intervals along a 32-mile stretch of two-lane highway in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of North Dakota. North Dakota is the ONLY state in the country to have a National Park named after a president, Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Opening Spring 2021 Heritage Landing in Bismarck will feature a full restaurant and bar and a 4,000-square-foot deck overlooking the Missouri River and the dock for the Lewis and Clark Riverboat in Bismarck.

Instead of packing the car all the way to the top, use a cargo bag to keep your camping gear up on the roof and out of the way. Speaking of throwing random herbs on the fire, forget marinating your steak for hours before you cook it over the fire. You brought the ham, the cheese, the eggs…well, apparently the eggs didn't find your sweet 4×4 off­-road action as fun as your family did. That doesn't sound like a good time, and while it might make for a good family story, you'll be miserable in the meantime trying to figure out what to do.

The Loveland Castle near downtown Loveland, Ohio, has a remarkable history along with claims of being haunted. With the Loveland-Miami bike trail, plenty of cafes, and the ever-popular Whippy Dip, it is easy to plan a fun day exploring this small town. The Loveland Castle, also known as Château Laroche, is on the Little Miami River banks in Loveland, Ohio. With the Loveland Whippy Dip, Loveland Sweet Shoppe and a Graeter’s all within walking distance the hardest part of your day will be deciding which ice cream to indulge in!

Today's podcast is brought to you by my book Planning the Ireland Vacation of Your Dreams, a step-by-step guide to planning YOUR perfect vacation in Ireland. Read: Everything You Need to Know About Car Rental in Ireland with special attention to step #6 and Car Rental Check the drive times to your first night's lodging from the airport and your final night's lodging to the airport. If you want to join an Ireland tour unlike any other, be sure to check out my Traveling in Ireland Tours!

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