Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes

(Originally posted by Sandra on Facebook on September 9, 2026)

A Real Time Update

The past two weeks we have been taking the scenic route from Minot, ND. Our goal: the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to join the Airstream Caravan that started this whole journey. We made it to Michigan today (September 8th) nearly 40 days into our journey. We are at Keweenaw Peninsula hoping to get a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis that is visible tonight—but is unfortunately blocked with low clouds at the moment. Fingers crossed the skies clear up so we can watch the show.

Minnesota: the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Since my last post, we have been making our way through Minnesota.

We rode our e-bikes on the many miles of paved trails throughout Itasca State Park. We watched sunsets, visited historic lodges, and literally walked across the Mississippi River. (At the north end of Itasca Lake a small stream begins its 2,000-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico.)

Sandra riding her e-bike away down a narrow paved trail walled in by green maple and pine at Itasca State Park — One of the many paved bike trails through Itasca State Park

Tom and Sandra at the wooden headwaters marker at Lake Itasca, its carved text reading “Here 1475 ft above the ocean the mighty Mississippi begins to flow on its winding way 2552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico” — The Mississippi headwaters marker at the north end of Lake Itasca

Looking down at two hiking boots on a long flat log laid across the shallow, rock-lined stream at the Mississippi headwaters — Crossing the “mighty” Mississippi

August 30th–September 1st

We checked off our third national park of our journey, Voyageurs National Park. Our campsite sat atop the side of a granite ridge overlooking Kabetogama Lake. The resort we stayed at, Pines of Kabetogama, is owned by a lovely couple, Jason and Sara. Sara ran the front end, while Jason served as captain for our experiences on the lake.

Tom and Sandra standing beneath the brown National Park Service sign reading “Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center, Voyageurs National Park” — The Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center, Voyageurs National Park

View from the water of Pines of Kabetogama — log cabins and a row of kayaks along the shore, with Belle parked on the granite ridge above the treeline — Our campsite on the granite ridge above Pines of Kabetogama, seen from the lake

The first full day, we spent eight hours (55 miles) visiting the islands that are nearly 3 billion years old. We talked about the early Voyageurs and their interactions with the Ojibwe people. We also talked about the logging history in the area. While touring around we observed many nesting eagles and eaglets, as well as other fowl. There are many Common Loons that inhabit the area during summer months.

An interesting stop on our tour was Kettle Falls. The dam sits between Lake Kabetogama and Rainy Lake in Canada. While at the top of the dam, we were standing in the US but looking directly south into Canada. This is only possible at 5 points across the US.

A wooden observation deck at Kettle Falls with a compass rose inlaid in the planks, its needle pointing toward the pines across the water — Standing in the United States, looking due south into Canada

Our final evening in the park, we took the twilight cruise to enjoy the lake at sunset.

The sun dropping to a low wooded shoreline across Kabetogama Lake, orange and gold streaking the sky and laying a bright column on the water — Sunset cruise on Lake Kabetogama

September 2nd and 3rd

Our third stop in Minnesota was at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. Again there were miles and miles of bike trails that led us along the North Shore of Lake Superior to the many beaches along the shore.

Deep blue-green Lake Superior breaking onto a red pebble beach, with a low rust-colored cliff and pines along the far shore — Lake Superior on the North Shore, near Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Our final stop of the day was to the Split Rock Lighthouse. The buildings on site were beautifully restored and maintained.

Split Rock Lighthouse standing on the edge of its sheer cliff above the blue expanse of Lake Superior — Split Rock Lighthouse on the cliff above Lake Superior

Looking down the black iron spiral staircase inside the lighthouse tower, the curved walls lined in glazed white brick with a small wood-framed window — The spiral staircase inside the Split Rock Lighthouse tower

Before leaving the North Shore, we stopped at the world-famous Betty’s Pies for breakfast. We bought a bumbleberry pie to carry with us into Wisconsin.

Tom and Sandra beside the oval “World Famous Betty’s Pies, Two Harbors Minnesota” sign with its painted slice of cherry pie — Breakfast at Betty’s Pies in Two Harbors, Minnesota