Itasca State Park

So we spent a few days up at Itasca state park (you can click on the pics to see them bigger). It is a very nice park and just huge.  The morning after we got there we went hiking first thing.  Well, Keegan actually went biking...

We walked down to the head of the Mississippi River and had a lot of fun.  It was beautiful and we got to walk on the log bridge over the river.

Later that morning we rented a motor boat and went careening around Lake Itasca.  It was fun.  We got to see some dead fish, a dead beaver, and some lilies in bloom.  Yeah, lots of dead stuff.  We saw Beaver dams and got to walk in the island in Lake Itasca.  It was a little unnerving when we got back from hiking on the island to find our boat has relocated itself, but it hadn't gone too far so it was all good.

In the afternoon we went to the beach.  I don't have pictures of that because, well, we were too busy making sand castles and getting wet.

The next day we got up and did the Wilderness Drive.  We stopped to do some hiking and Keegan was fascinated by the burnt trees.

Then we went to see the largest white pine in MN. Below is Keegan standing with the sign talking about the White Pine...he is such a goof ball.  There are a few more pictures below of this big tree.

After that it was off to see the largest Red Pine in MN.  The White Pine was more impressive...but what can you do...

After that we drove to the observation tower.  I am not fond of heights so I opted to stay on the ground.  Keegan and Lyle went up.  I could hear Keegan start saying "Daddy I am nervous" about half way up.  By the time they got to the top he was almost in tears.  Still Lyle got a couple good pictures.  You can see them below.  In the one of the ground, I am the tiny speck sitting on the picnic table.

Then we got a picture of me and Keegan standing in front of the tower.  Keegan was now in all-out tears because daddy slipped on the last flight of stairs coming down and they both took a little (but not serious) tumble.

After all this it was time to go back to the campsite.  We found a cool catepillar on a tree.

After nap we got up and went to go see the Douglas Lodge.  We hiked out to the Honeymoon Cabin, and old wood cabin.  Here we are hiking...

And here is the cabin...

All in all it was a busy and exhausting weekend.  Of course we had a ton of fun!  Hope that everyone else had fun this Memorial Day weekend too.