Only in a Minnesota gift shop

Itasca hike

The second half of the hike was just as pretty, but we were joined by more mosquitoes than I have seen in a long time. Maybe ever. They were especially attracted to John, which is entirely the opposite of what usually happens. The mosquitoes usually love me and leave John alone.


These mosquitoes couldn't get enough of John. Interestingly, they even left Gemma alone while John was carrying her. Amelia did a GREAT job on mosquito duty. Any time she saw a mosquito on daddy's back, she was supposed to smack it. She found this job endlessly hilarious- I don't think she even took advantage of her smacking privileges. By the time we completed the second half of the hike, John's back was covered in mosquito carnage.

Itasca hike

There was some great scenery on the first part of our hike!

How Gemma hikes

You can't just walk, can you?

How busy am I?

I am slowing working through my reading pile. This national geographic just made it to the top of the reading pile.

After the headwaters

It seemed to be a shame to only stop at the headwaters when there was a whole state park to explore!

We found a short 1.6 mile trail and set off after resting our feet on the front step of the lodge.

Itasca state park

The kids loved this area. Even though 2 of our 3 ended up falling in the water, they loved wading in the water, squishing their feet in the sand, chasing little minnows and examining bugs/rocks. Amelia, in particular, was in love. We finally had to drag her out of the water. She spent most of the rest of the week asking to go back.

We ended up crossing at the rocky divide, crossing the small steam and again on a wooden plank bridge.