The cruise takes you out on Jackson Lake to Elk Island surrounding by breathtaking views of the Tetons. As the boat docks, you can smell the coffee brewing and the pancakes cooking.
You are greeted by a fun and friendly staff. The food is ready as soon as you arrive. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, trout, potatoes, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, and yogurt. And you can go for seconds! They don’t miss a beat; everything you need is at the tables. Once you finish eating, you can explore the island.
Then back on the boat for a relaxing ride to the marina.
We highly recommend taking the breakfast cruise! Honestly, I wondered if they would be able to pull off good food on the island, and it exceeded my expectations. It was a treat eating breakfast outside surrounded by such grand views! Jackson Lake Lodge is a class act, and this was a fun, unique experience.
Welcome to Explore Local Together Episode 4! If you’re visiting from the podcast, thank you for listening. If not, please join us! At Explore Local Together, we share local gems in Minnesota, the Midwest, and Road-Tripping the USA. Below, you will find links throughout the blog post to click and listen to the podcast while you read.
On Episode 4, we’re talking about the Minnesota National Park systems, including the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and Voyageurs National Park. We love National Parks and we’re thankful for these protected areas in Minnesota and across the country. (Did you know there are over 400?!) You can explore pristine beauty, experience pretty much every kind of recreation, and learn about everything from the wildlife to history.
Voyageurs National Park – Photo Credit: NPS/Mark Miller – Park Ranger
National Park Week is in April every year and runs special events for a week. It kicks off with a free-entry day and is followed by nine days of celebrations, each with a theme. Additionally, this is a great way to learn more about each park and about the National Park Service’s programs to preserve natural and cultural heritage and provide recreational opportunities. You can join the fun in person or online at nps.gov.
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
The river was Minnesota’s first to be designated in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, managed by the National Park Service and designated in 1968. The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway includes the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers and makes over 200 miles of clean water among wild and scenic beauty. From the heavily wooded banks, bluffs, cliffs, and pinnacles, and ever-changing landscapes, there is so much beauty and wonder to take in.
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Things To Do
Exploring the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway also includes the St. Croix Scenic Byway, State Parks, hiking, and historic towns with plenty of local gems to discover. Of course, this is what our podcast is all about and we have some other great blogs for you to explore. Read more about Taylors Falls HERE and find our St. Croix Valley itinerary HERE.
Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours offers authentic paddlewheel excursions on the St. Croix 7 days a week, May through October. Cruises are a great way to see the river and include a narrated tour of the history and rock formations. There are family-friendly tours throughout the day but our favorite is the sundown cruise. The Boats include the Taylors Falls Queen and the Taylors Falls Princess, both featuring enclosed lower levels and open upper decks to enjoy the fresh air and views.
Tip: Go early and hang out on the Red Rock Patio, where you can enjoy a charcuterie board and wine while taking in the views. You can also order ahead and have the food waiting onboard. Plus, watch their calendar for live music events!
The third week of April is also National Volunteer Week. If you’re interested in getting involved in preserving the St. Croix, check out the Wild Rivers Conservancy. Their mission: a thriving watershed, forever accessible, scenic and wild.
Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park is in Northern Minnesota near the Canadian border, with over 218,000 acres (40% is water!) and also borders the million acres of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Voyageurs National Park – Photo Credit: NPS/Mark Miller – Park Ranger
Voyageurs National Park offers something for everyone including canoeing, camping, fishing, hiking, houseboating, shopping in surrounding towns, birding, photography, and is a Dark Sky certified park. This park is special because you can truly escape the crowds and spend time alone among nature if that’s what you choose. There are many ways to enjoy this treasure of a park.
We are partnering with Ruff Start Rescue and Best Friends Animal Society to feature one adoptable dog each month. We are passionate about rescue dogs and have two of our own, the Explore Local Together mascots, Allen and Carol.
Ace has been in rescue since May 2022. He is a Mixed American Staffordshire Terrier and American Bulldog and is a little over 3 years old.
He is all about the good vibes—treats, lap snuggles (he’s convinced he can fit on any lap even though he weighs 96 pounds), family car rides, and yard shenanigans. He loves relaxing, walks, playing with toys and chewing on bones. He’ll do best in a home with older kids (maybe above 10) and is not the biggest fan of cats. He has lived with dogs in the past and have done well.
Do you think Ace could be the pup for you?! Visit Ruff Start Rescue HERE plus check out their volunteer opportunites.
Let’s Explore Local Together!
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Hiking is our favorite activity while visiting Sedona but there is so much more! Here is our list of things to do in Sedona besides hiking. Enjoy!
Chapel of the Holy Cross is stunning. It’s a definite must stop with breathtaking views. Depending on what time of year you are visiting, it can get very busy. We always make sure to get there early when the chapel opens to avoid big crowds. You can light a candle for someone you love, shop in the chapel store, or just sit for a quiet moment. If you park at the lower level, there is a golf cart driver that will take you to the top or you can get in a short strenuous hike. You can also book a tour through the Sedona Trolley Company.
Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park is the perfect location to relax and take a deep breathe. It’s a place for meditation and spiritual renewal. The 14 acres located next to Thunder Mountain is considered holy to the native peoples. This beautiful 36-foot stupa gets its name from Buddha Amitabha, the Buddha of Limitless Light. Peace Park is free and runs off donations. It’s such a special spot, I visited this park almost every day while in Sedona.
Posse Grounds Park is Sedona’s first park. 78 acres to explore and enjoy! There are trails, a dog park, skate park, softball fields, tennis courts, bike skills park, basketball court, sand volleyball court, picnic tables, a multi-use grass field, and our favorite…the fitness trail.
Of course, so much shopping! Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village offers many unique shops and restaurants. You can spend a full day walking around, shopping, eating, and people watching. We really enjoyed sitting on the Oak Creek Brewery patio and drinking their locally brewed beer. I also loved stopping at Sedona Candle Magic shop and watching them make the candles (See below). A couple other favorite shopping locations are Hummingbird House and the Hillside Sedona Shopping Center.
My favorite shop to buy crystals is Mystical Bazaar. The staff is so helpful and friendly. They also offer aura photos, psychic readings, and beautiful jewelry.
There is a huge artist market too! I found great gifts here.
I also always find the local farmer’s markets when traveling. It’s a great way to enjoy fresh food and local shopping. The Sedona Farmer’s Market is open in the winter and summer seasons.
Last but not least, treat yourself to a massage at Therapy on the Rocks or one of the many spas in Sedona.
Here is a list of the best ten restaurants near Zion National Park’s east entrance. These are our favorites, but there are many more. Keep an eye out as you road trip through Utah’s small towns; you will stumble across hidden gems! We usually stay in Kanab, Utah, while visiting Utah’s National Parks and enter Zion on the east side, on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive/Mount Carmel Highway. The restaurants below are within 15 to 45 miles of the park. I started with the closest.
Top 10 Restaurants near Zion National Park’s East Entrance
The Shop Coffee Co. is located on scenic Highway 89 between Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park in Orderville, Utah. They have the BEST sandwiches. When we leave Minnesota and start driving towards Utah, it’s all I think about. 🙂 They use fresh baked sourdough from local @blessthismessblog. All the ingredients are always so fresh! We were surprised since it’s at a Sinclair gas station but trust me….stop here! They also have coffee (obviously), soup, salads, bowls, toasts, smoothies, treats, and an adorable gift shop. My fave sandwich is The Mechanic.
Archies Food to Die For is a food truck in Orderville, Utah. The french fries and chicken fingers are fantastic and can be made gluten free. The homemade dippings sauces are amazing and the food is cooked to order!
The Rock Stop is a must stop! You can’t drive by this building and not check it out. 🙂 The Rock Stop is also located in Orderville, Utah.
Best Kanab, Utah, Restaurants
The Cave Cafe is a food truck serving grilled paninis, smoothies, and açaí bowls! It is located at the Moqui Cave, which is an ancient history museum. You can see dinosaur tracks!
Angel Village Cafe at Best Friends Animal Society offers a $5.00 vegetarian lunch buffet every day from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Look at that view! Side tip: sign up for a tour of the sanctuary.
Peekaboo Canyon Wood-Fired Kitchen offers vegetarian and vegan options. Peekaboo is our favorite spot to dine al fresco for lunch. Fantastic pizza, mushroom burgers, and salads. They are now offering brunch! The dogs love the tented patio for the nice shade.
I dream about Sego Restaurant all year and Chef Shon’s deep fried soft boiled egg. It is heaven! Chef Shon is magical in the kitchen and Sego is such a special place from the food to the service. It’s our date night go-to. They have the best charcuterie boards and we love the social style of dining.
Vermillion 45 is a casual French/Italian bistro. The food is spectacular! We have come to expect the unexpected in Kanab and Vermillion 45 fits right in. We love the casual vibe, open kitchen, and dog-friendly patio.
If you want a quick homemade sandwich, ice cream cone, or malt, check out The Soda Fountain in Kanab Drug. They have a super cute gift shop too!
Wild Thyme has the best bowls! And try the Kanab Cowboy Ribs. Yum.
A couple of extras:
Willow Canyon has the best coffee in Kanab, and you can pick up any hiking gear needs.
Vermont is truly something special to see in the fall. The colors are glorious especially the amount of bright red maple trees. They seem to be in high definition as you drive the curvy country roads and around every next turn is a spectacular view. Enjoy our list of best places to visit in Vermont.
Best Cities to Visit in Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
First stop, Burlington. Burlington is our kind of town. It’s the perfect size, not too big and not too small. It is walkable and dog-friendly. Plus, it is located on Lake Champlain offering panoramic lake views. We stayed at Hotel Vermont and wished we could have extended our reservation. Our advice, stay at least two nights in Burlington! We loved the downtown location yet close to nature. You can walk to Battery Park by the lake and then head to Church Street in the middle of town.
Hotel Vermont is an independent hotel and authentic Vermont, including the locally made flannel robes in the rooms. Their onsite restaurant, Juniper, is awesome. I got the charcuterie and salad to go. Plus, there is a great patio in the back of the hotel with hanging lights, a fire pit, and music.
Jay, Vermont
Next, we drove up to Jay, and visited Jay Peak Resort. The views from Jay Peak are incredible! This is a great spot to stay with the whole family and is so much more than a ski resort. Jay Peak offers skiing, snowboarding, a huge water park, championship golf, ice haus indoor arena, athletic fields, hiking, mountain biking, spa, arcade, indoor climbing gym, a movie theater. Even after all that, I’m sure I’m forgetting things. Plus, it’s a wonderful spot for lunch by the bonfire.
Stowe, Vermont
After visiting Jay Peak, we made our way down to Stowe, Vermont. I loved Stowe so much, I dedicated a full blog post about it HERE. The fall colors seem unreal and impossible to capture which is what makes it magical. We highly recommend this drive. Below are Stowe highlights.
In Stowe, we stayed at Sun and Ski Inn and Suites. This is a great location, walking distance to restaurants, activities, and the recreation path. The Sun andSki Inn and Suites offers so much fun, they are the only hotel in New England that has a bowling lounge, indoor pool, and miniature golf. We appreciated that they are dog-friendly with a huge open grassy area in the back for dogs to play and river views.
Views from the back…
One of our favorite things about Stowe is the Recreation Path. It’s a 5.3 mile path that runs through the village up to Top Notch Resort on the mountain side. It’s great for exercise, to walk the dog, to visit restaurants and shop, and views.
There are many other options for dog-friendly hikes. Below are views from Smugglers Notch which we highly recommend, the fall views will take your breath away. Stowe offers delicious food, breweries, and plenty to see and do including finding the covered bridges. All of this and more on the dedicated Stowe post HERE.
Waterbury, Vermont
A couple of must stops just minutes from Stowe, in Waterbury, are Cold Hollow Cider Mill and Waterbury Center State Park. Go to Cold Hollow get an apple cider slushy with a side of fresh, warm, apple cider donuts and then head over to the state park for a picnic. The 90-acre day-use state park is located on the Waterbury Reservoir in the Mount Mansfield State Forest. The way the colors of the trees were reflecting in the water was so beautiful.
I’m still dreaming of this day and the apple cider slushies.
Cold Hollow Cider Mill is filled with amazing gifts, maple syrup, honey, and there is a hard cider tasting room. You can also shop online including ordering their apple cider donuts! I’ve ordered since we’ve been back in Minnesota and it’s so nice to have a taste of authentic Vermont.
Other best places in Vermont and stops in Waterbury Center are Ben & Jerry’s Factory (super busy so expect to wait in line), Danforth Pewter of Vermont, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Cabot Farmers’ Store, and Smugglers’ Notch Barrel House Tasting Room.
Quechee and Woodstock, Vermont
Our last stop in Vermont, was the Quechee/Woodstock area. We stayed at the Quechee/Pine Valley KOA. This is a beautiful location next to the Quechee Gorge (great hiking spot) and 10 miles to Woodstock. The KOA owners go above and beyond including awesome decorating!
We got up early to go visit the iconic Sleepy Hollow Farm, Sugarbush Farm, and Vermont Flannel in Woodstock. On our way to Sleepy Hollow Farm, we went under the Taftsville covered bridge. It looked so cool on this spooky, foggy, morning. Same with Sleepy Hollow Farm which has become a social media sweetheart. There are so many beautiful homes/farms to capture but this one really gets the attention, when we arrived there were at least 10 photographers there with their tripods ready to go. The main house was being worked on when we were there, it was also still very foggy, so I took a bit of a different angle. The Sleepy Hollow Farm has interesting history so make sure to click it to read more. It was once owned by Aerosmith guitarist, Joe Perry. The whole area is worth driving through.
I loved Sugarbush Farm and doing the cheese and maple syrup tasting. It all was so good!! I recommend adding this to your itinerary.
On our next trip, we will definitely stay in Woodstock for a night. The town is absolutely adorable. But, what Vermont town isn’t? 🙂 You can’t really go wrong and it’s so easy to day drive the state. We had breakfast at Mountain Creamery and I can’t say enough about this cute unassuming off the highway spot. Look at that piece of ham! The bread was gluten free and was the best I’ve tasted. Make sure to stop at F.H. Gillingham & Sons too for any grocery needs – they also sell individual cans of beer if you want to try a variety of local beers!
We can’t wait for our next visit! Please let me know your best places in Vermont.
Life is short, never stop searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️
It has been far too long since we visited the North Shore in our home state of Minnesota. As with most of the country, it’s been sweltering in Minneapolis, so we couldn’t wait to feel the cool air by beautiful Lady Lake Superior. And, the best part, I got to visit my long-time friend, Sara, with Urban Wild Media. We hit the popular spots on our way to Grand Marais and found some hidden gems too.
We’ve never been to the New Scenic Cafe or the world-famous Betty’s Pies, so those were both high on our list! We enjoyed the burrata with roasted tomatoes as an appetizer from the New Scenic Cafe. The cafe is so cozy and they also have tons of outdoor seating, which is really nice when traveling with our dog, Allen. He loved all the space to walk around and stretch his legs.
Then it was off to Betty’s for some burgers. We didn’t get any pie. I know, I know, we’re crazy, but we will try it next time. The burgers were fantastic and they offer gluten-free buns. Thank you, Betty! We laughed so hard when we saw the staff wearing t-shirts that said “I’m not Betty” – I’m sure they get asked that question ALL THE TIME.
Things to Do and See on the North Shore Minnesota
We tried stopping at Gooseberry Falls along the North Shore, but it felt too busy and chaotic with the dog. So, we headed to Iona’s Beach to see the pink/red rocks (watch for Iona’s Beach at mile marker 42). Then, Sara recommended that we drive up to see the Palisade Head overlook. We are so glad that she did! It is technically in Tettegouche State Park but has its own turn-off and signage, so keep a lookout for that – it can sneak up on you. This is a definite must-do. The steep hill going up to the overlook is fun and exciting; you can either walk or drive -it’s only about 1/2 mile. The views are spectacular.
We were so excited to arrive in Grand Marais, our final destination for a few days. This was the first time visiting for both of us. In fact, before this trip, the furthest we had driven up the North Shore was Lutsen. We fell in love with Grand Marais. Again, I know, I know – who doesn’t, right? We stayed at the Best Western Plus – Superior Inn. This location is excellent, everything we needed was within walking distance, and the lake views are unbeatable. Allen loved our little patio.
View of Artist’s Point
The first night we had trouble finding food-to-go. Across the country, the restaurants are short-staffed, so if they are slammed, don’t expect to-go food. A reminder to think ahead and be respectful, hospitality teams are working so hard and doing their best.
These are always the fun moments that I remember because we end up doing something different. The Cook County Co-op is right next to the Best Western. We went there for some snacks (local insider tip from Sara – they have the best cookies!), and then we remembered that the hotel offers a nightly happy hour with pizza, salads, and more. They even have gluten-free crusts. This pizza was delicious!!
Grand Marais Things To Do
The next day, we explored the town, and Sara took me to some of her favorite spots. Did you know that this lighthouse was constructed and first lit in 1922? There is so much history here and a lot to learn about Minnesota’s roots. I loved the views of the Sawtooth Mountains from the lighthouse. Well, I should say ALL the views. The town, Lake Superior, each direction offers a beautiful view. The town is filled with charming local shops and art galleries. Plus, so many unique historic buildings and fun murals.
Of course, I had to stop at World’s Best Donuts. They have yummy gluten-free muffins and one of the best gluten-free trail cookies I’ve ever tasted. Plus, they make cute tail waggin’ dog treats! I was over the top excited when I saw that Java Moose had huckleberry lemonade. If you read my Glacier National Park blog post, you know how I feel about huckleberries. 😉
A few other favorite restaurants – Gunflint Tavern (awesome ribs and mouthwatering mashed potatoes) and Sydney’s for frozen custard (Thank you, Sara!). Next time, I want to try the wood-fired pizza at Sydney’s – it looked amazing.
Before we left the next morning, I had to get one more cup of Alakef Coffee (locally roasted in Duluth) from Java Moose and take in this beautiful sunrise over Lake Superior. I miss her and Sara already!
