• Big Adventures

    Crazy Horse Memorial

    Earlier this year I got to go on a little trip to South Dakota. I got to go see Strugis, Mount Rushmore, Wall Drug and the Crazy Horse Memorial Monument, which isn’t far from Mount Rushmore. It is currently still under construction but is open to the public to come and view. Construction started in 1948 on the privately owned land by the sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Korczak was commissioned by the Lakota elder, Henry Standing Bear to memorialize, honor, and bring remembrance to Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse was is one of the most well know Native American warriors, most famously know from the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. Construction…

  • Quick Trips

    The William’s Company Store

    The William’s Company Store is a charming deli, ice cream, and coffee shop as well as a boutique/gift shop. It’s located in Ottertail, MN and is locally owned and run by Marnie and Dan Whitehead. They have some very unique things for sale in their store from kids toys, baby clothes, to local lake themed decor, soaps, kitchen gadgets, and jewelry. And let’s not forget the above mentioned ice cream, coffees/teas, smoothies, wine and beer, and their deli. My personal favorite is an Iced vanilla Chai Tea that Marnie got me hooked on (thanks for that one Marnie). Dan and Marnie moved up here from the the twin cities area…

  • Big Adventures

    Mount Rushmore

    The Midwest has far more than just cornfields and cows. South Dakota is home to many wonderful sites to include a grand national monument, Mount Rushmore. Now for those of you that don’t know the significance of Mount Rushmore, here’s a little overview of it’s history: the person who conceived the idea of Mount Rushmore was a historian by the name of Doane Robinson and he came up with this idea to promote tourism in South Dakota. The came up with this idea in 1923 and a year later got a sculptor by the name of Gutzon Borglum on board. the construction started in 1927 and ended in 1941 and…

  • Small Adventures

    The Headwaters and end of the Mighty Mississippi.

    The Mississippi River is the longest river in the United States, and is the 4th longest in the world. The Headwaters of the Mississippi is located in Itasca, MN and the end if it is 100 miles down stream from New Orleans at the Gulf of Mexico. One of my favorite places to go hiking at is Itasca State park. It has numerous biking and hiking paths to enjoy starting at their different entrances, North, East, West, and South. But if hiking isn’t your favorite pastime and you want to just see the headwaters and swim, go through the North entrance and it is just a short walk. Itasca is…