Voyageurs National Park

 Hi, Nana!

Sweet, sweet words of greeting from my daughter-in-law, Courtney, who promptly handed me my third grandchild. Coen, who now weighs 34 pounds at 17 months of age, is a bruiser! I put him down before I pulled a muscle, took his hand, and walked to a grassy area to blow on dandelions. 

I've been waiting months to hold this little hand.

The California Kids, as I call them, flew into Minneapolis and met us on the road to “Up North.” Kristi is still with us, so two-thirds of my adult children, one-fourth of the grands, and half of the kids-in-law are with us for the trip to Voyageurs National Park in International Falls, MN.

After checking in at our campground we headed for the park, which is primarily a water park. No, not the Florida kind of water park. This park is almost entirely connecting lakes, islands, and more lakes. If you want to get from one shore-side restaurant to another, it can be an hour drive by car, or 10 minutes by boat. 

The US-Canadian border divides the many lakes in Voyageurs National Park.

The Voyageurs official sign is at a boat ramp.

Granite cliffs.
Notice the waterline, indicating a time when the lake level was higher.

Our Captain. 
Kyle and Courtney have graciously asked that Coen's face not be placed on the Internet.
Thanks, Kyle, for helping me with this photo.

Captain and First Mate.

Beautiful scenery and calm waters.

First Mate "on watch."

The Loon is the Minnesota state bird. 

One island had a home for sale. Asking price for the island, house, dock, and boat house was $345,000. Boat and/or snowmobile to reach the island not included.

Also on the tour was the Kettle Falls Hotel, a former brothel and still-working inn, with quite a history. This bullet hole in the door (with the bullet still imbedded) conjures up many imaginative tales, does it not?

Our boat guide suggested the Kettle Falls Hotel resembled the hotel in The Shining.
He has a point.

Using the phone's flashlight we could see the bullet in the hole. 

We also walked some trails near the four visitors centers. These few land-based trails were short hikes, and pretty. Pretty buggy, that is. Insect repellent was not optional.

Kyle is such a good dad!

After the boat tour we stopped at one of those shore-side eateries. "Nelson's" served Walleye, a fish I had never tasted. It was very mild and really good! 

We soon had to leave the California Kids and head west across North Dakota. Theodore Roosevelt National Park was awaiting us two days hence.