Vacation-in-place

One of the things that always takes me by surprise is how excited others are about the Twin Cities, where I live. I had tended to take the area for granted, in part, because it is no fun to even travel around the area during the long bouts of nasty weather. And, of course, most of these excited newbies visit during the halcyon summer months. But I gradually learned a valuable lesson; one that in this time of dreadful gas prices, seems valuable to share -- that we can learn a great deal about the town we live in by digging in during our free time, researching and experiencing some of the places and events that visitors brag about. In my case, it is a simple thing -- studying the Mississippi River, with its locks and bridges, and its different ports in Minneapolis and St. Paul, that are the focus of attention this year. We have followed the flooding events, viewed the herd of barges moored along the river from South St Paul all the way down to Winona, where they stayed until the flood waters farther down had receded. There is a great deal to learn and experience, and at very little cost -- especially considering that day trips frequently take us to that area. So dig in and look around and discover the gems for you and your family to experience without spending much in gas.