Connecting community through adventure, history, innovation, conservation and storytelling. We’re on a mission to build a community of impact. Everyone has a story to tell; we’re here to share it. Life is an adventure. Join us.
SAILING SUPERIOR LESSONS OF THE LAKE
BECOMING AMERICAN A JOURNEY TO CITIZENSHIP
BACKPACKING THE POWWOW TRAIL
YEARS OF OUR
Find adventure on Lake Superior’s North Shore. Hike or bike hundreds of miles of trails, paddle a scenic waterway, and more. Scan the QR code to to download our free Visitor Guide and plan a naturally unforgettable adventure.
Who better to capture the spirit of Midwest adventure than those who live it daily? In celebration of our milestone 30th issue, we’re shining a spotlight on a few digital storytellers who bring our region’s magic to life through their unique perspectives. From breathtaking farmland vistas, from hidden culinary gems to picture-perfect getaways, these creators invite us all to see the Midwest through fresh eyes. Consider this your invitation to follow along as they continue to explore the places we call home.
Taylor’s mission to find the best coffee, brews, stays, and views across the Midwest began after creating her own A-frame Airbnb, Hilhaus. Her content inspires audiences to explore the region even with kids in tow, proving family life and adventure go hand in hand.
Zach, a fifth-generation farmer from West Central Minnesota, shares authentic day-to-day experiences of modern agriculture on Instagram and YouTube (Millennial Farmer). His storytelling builds the connection between farms and consumers while showcasing the technology and environmental stewardship that defines today's farming landscape.
Ralph guides followers on culinary journeys from neighborhood dives to fine dining establishments across Minnesota and beyond. His authentic recommendations highlight what makes each place special, making him the trusted source for food lovers seeking their next memorable meal.
Here’s your chance to share yours.
The Boundary Waters
The Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota is an over 1.1 million acre wilderness nestled against the border of Canada. A truly unique landscape, this canoe country boasts vast amounts of interconnected freshwater in the form of lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands – the Superior National Forest, which surrounds and encompasses the Boundary Waters, contains over 20% of the freshwater in our entire National Forest System.
Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota is a 1.1 million-acre Wilderness nestled along the border of Canada. A truly unique landscape, this canoe country boasts vast amounts of interconnected freshwater in the form of lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands – the Superior National Forest, which surrounds and encompasses the Boundary Waters, contains over 20% of the freshwater in our entire National Forest System.
The Boundary Waters is both America’s favorite Wilderness, and it’s most threatened.
In the Wilderness area, this water is so clean that paddlers often dip their cups in the middle of lakes and take a drink.
Join Save the Boundary Waters in the movement to protect this Wilderness from toxic copper mining. All are welcome, and all voices are needed to save our country’s sacred, wild spaces – for everyone, forever.
Speak loudly for this quiet place.
Join Save the Boundary Waters and speak loudly for this quiet place by getting involved in the movement to protect this irreplaceable Wilderness from proposed toxic copper mining. All are welcome, and all voices are needed to save our country’s sacred, wild spaces – for everyone, forever.
Scan the QR code or visit our website to take action to protect the Wilderness: SavetheBoundaryWaters.org
Scan the QR code or visit our website to take action to protect the Wilderness: SavetheBoundaryWaters.org
By NATHAN CARLSON
There’s something undeniably transformative — and yes, even a bit scary — about stepping into the unknown. Whether it’s wandering through the bustling streets of a vibrant city or paddling across the uncharted edges of the many gorgeous and serene lakes that surround us, exploring new environments awakens both body and mind. It sharpens our senses, offering fresh sights, sounds and textures that bring the world into focus. Physically, it builds endurance and strength; mentally, it cultivates resilience, creativity and a deep sense of wonder. In a world where routine often takes the lead, embracing the unfamiliar — whether on an urban adventure or a lakeside escape — offers a powerful reset, reconnecting us with nature, ourselves and the exhilarating thrill of discovery.
In today’s world, success is often measured by how comfortable and predictable life has become — secure jobs, stable routines and familiar surroundings create a sense of control. While luxurious bedding, smart home technology, mood lighting and cozy everything provide a feeling of safety, they can also lead to stagnation, limiting personal growth and dulling our sense of curiosity. We were meant to be curious and explore throughout our lives! Over time, the comfort we work so hard to build can become a cage, keeping us from experiencing the thrill of the unknown. Exploring new places and trying unfamiliar things inject energy and excitement into life.
Exploring the unknown has profound effects on the brain, enhancing cognitive function, emotional well-being and personal growth. When we step outside our comfort zone and experience something new, our brain releases dopamine, the “feel good” neurotransmitter associated with motivation and reward. This boosts our sense of excitement and curiosity, making us more eager to learn and explore further. You can start as big or as small as you’d like.
Navigating unfamiliar environments also engages the hippocampus, the brain’s center for memory and spatial awareness. This strengthens neural connections, improving cognitive flexibility, problem-solving skills and mental resilience. I have the belief, from my experiences in life and work as a coach, that mental resilience —the feeling that no matter what goes on externally, you maintain an inner peace — is the most important skill to master.
Beyond cognitive benefits, exploring the unknown reduces stress and enhances emotional well-being. New experiences can lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and increase mindfulness, as the brain is fully engaged in the present moment. Facing uncertainty and overcoming small challenges also build confidence, making us more adaptable in everyday life. Trying something new provides a sense of accomplishment.
Ultimately, whether it’s wandering through a new part of the city or venturing into untouched wilderness, stepping into the unknown rewires the brain for growth, creativity and a deeper appreciation of the world around us. It gets our juices flowing!
For those living in an urban environment, exploring the unknown doesn’t always require escaping to the wilderness — it can be as simple as shifting perspective and seeking out fresh experiences. Here are a few ways city dwellers can embrace adventure and discovery:
Walk or bike through an unfamiliar neighborhood, noticing the architecture, street art and hidden gems along the way. Explore being aware and present in all forms. You can take this symbolic route through anything that’s unfamiliar. 1
TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE.
TRY A NEW CUISINE.
Visit a restaurant that serves food from a culture you’ve never explored, or challenge yourself to cook a dish with ingredients you’ve never used.
Strike up conversations with people outside your usual circles — to hear unique stories and perspectives. I would not be sitting here writing my third article for Lake and Company if I had not randomly engaged with a stranger on a patio in Minneapolis who just happened to be the owner.
GO TECH-FREE FOR A DAY.
Leave the GPS and smartphone behind and navigate using instinct, landmarks and curiosity. It is my belief, with no actual proof other than I have zero sense of direction and am completely reliant on GPS, that the part of my brain that handles navigation and sense of direction is underdeveloped due to being from Duluth, where everything is either “over the hill” or “by the lake.” I will pass on giving my own advice here for safety reasons.
EXPLORE URBAN GREEN SPACES.
Visit lesser-known parks, rooftop gardens or riverwalks to find nature tucked within the city’s chaos.
EMBRACE THE NIGHT.
Walk the city after dark to see how its energy shifts — observe the lights, sounds and late-night culture. I do this all the time; I find so much peace in these lights and sounds of the city at night.
For those living in a lake/rural environment, exploring the unknown often means looking at the familiarity with fresh eyes and seeking new challenges in nature. Here are a few ways to embrace adventure and discovery:
1
PADDLE BEYOND THE USUAL.
Instead of sticking to familiar shores, kayak or canoe to hidden coves, uncharted islands or other parts of the lake you’ve never explored.
2
NIGHTTIME ADVENTURES.
Experience the wilderness in a new way by taking a moonlit paddle, stargazing from a remote dock or hiking under the stars to heighten your senses. Our world is so beautiful at night.
TRY A NEW OUTDOOR SKILL.
3
Challenge yourself with survival skills like fire-starting without matches, building a shelter or fishing with handmade gear. Think NEW here, something you’ve never done before.
4
CAMP IN AN UNFAMILIAR SPOT.
Instead of the usual camping sites, set up camp in a new location — perhaps on a beach, a floating raft or deep in the woods. Let’s think about something new!
HIKE OFF THE BEATEN PATH.
Venture beyond the well-trodden trails and explore deeper into the woods. There are many paths everywhere, both metaphorically and physically. Don’t be afraid to take them.
By stepping outside their comfort zones and embracing the unknown, those in rural lake environments can uncover new wonders in the places they call home.
Whether in the heart of a bustling city or along the quiet shores of a remote lake, exploring the unknown offers a powerful way to break free from routine, challenge us and awaken our sense of curiosity. While comfort and stability have their place, they can also lead to stagnation if we fail to push beyond our comfort zone. No matter where we live, stepping into the unfamiliar fosters personal growth, deepens our connection to the world around us and reminds us that life’s greatest moments often come from discovery.
I want you to have a long list of adventure stories from your life that make you think I DID THAT to fondly reflect on when you are old and gray. At our core, we are wild animals, designed to discover and to roam free. Keep building the life you love, but don’t forget to travel off the beaten path now and then. You never know what wonders are waiting just beyond the familiar.
Spend time alone on the water or in the woods, free from distractions, to build self-reliance and connect deeply with nature. There is so much to be learned by being alone with our thoughts. In my experience, this scares people the most. I can assure you that you are fully capable.
Whether it’s a daring expedition or a simple moment of discovery or self-reflection, we’d love to hear your stories. You can email them to us at hello@thelakeandco.com We can’t wait to read them!
“Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
–Hellen Keller
CELEBRATING THE UNKNOWN … and those bold enough to explore it.
Sometimes you have to take the leap in order to find your next adventure. You have to take risks. Move with confidence. Act with courage. Be bold. Trust.
The path to the edge is rarely straight. It has ups and downs, sharp turns, rocky obstacles. You won’t see what’s coming next, but you have faith in action, trusting that it will be worth it. And it certainly makes for a good story.
At Lake and Company it’s always been about the stories. And we’ve always enjoyed the mystery of where the stories — the adventures — can take us. Yeah, we’re on a mission. It’s far more than just lakes. Derived from the land of lakes, we celebrate the unknown and support collaboration, community, the importance of nature and the history behind it all. Our mission is simple: We build communities of impact. No matter your location, you’ll find us as your home base for adventure. A place where you can connect and flourish with like-minded people and brands, and hopefully we can do our small part in making the world around us a little better.
Our features are from the people, for the people — stories of journeys big and small, life lessons, outdoor adventures, travel tips, inspiring brands, environmental issues and scenic destinations — with the intent of helping inspire and connect the masses. We collaborate with local artists, photographers, business owners, destinations and seekers to help share what makes our lifestyle so special. We’re committed to the journey, to the unknown, to what drives us and brings us together.
For us, 2025 has been a year filled with our own leaps, a lot of hope and true dedication to what our company was founded on. With this issue, our 30th, we celebrate 10 years. It’s been a journey, and every day we choose to be bold and gritty, and lead with warm hearts and, most importantly, a hunger for life. It hasn’t been easy, but rewarding beyond. My life is so full because of you and your willingness to share your purpose and passion in these pages. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey. It’s only getting better! In Good Company,
CROSBY STILLWATER
PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CREATIVE DIRECTOR
COPY EDITOR AND PROOFREADER
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SALES + ADVERTISING
DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS
PR + COMMUNICATIONS
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DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
SALES AND RETAIL
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Megan Kellin — megan@thelakeandco.com
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Anne Kelley Conklin — hello@thelakeandco.com
Justin Graddy — hello@thelakeandco.com
Jenni Mitten — jenni@jmediaco.com
Jessica Tok — jessica@thelakeandco.com
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Buffy Dege — buffy@thelakeandco.com
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Emily Hendricks — hello@thelakeandco.com
Mark and Katya Gordon
Chris Pascone, Nathan Carlson, MicahCarroll, Holli Busching, Mary Lower, Cyd Haynes, Sarah Barton, Christian Latuszek, Sarah Schroeder, Alex Shauer, Jen Veralle, Joe Henry, Alec Johnson, Alyza James, Robyn Frank, Alison Murrell, Kim Hayes, Cheryl Fosdick, Glenn Auerbach
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All of us at Lake and Company are passionately committed to celebrating the very best of lake culture and inspiring our communities to get out and explore the unknown.
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Join our community of like-minded individuals. Well-traveled risk takers. Adventure seekers. Out-of-the-box thinkers. Innovators. Entrepreneurs. The networking and collaboration opportunities are all part of the package.
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By CHRIS PASCONE
Photos by MARK AND KATYA GORDON
Exploring the unknown can take you to faraway places and far-out adventures. But what if the unknown is actually right out your back door? Many people live within a stone’s throw of Lake Superior, yet how many truly experience the lake from beyond the nearest shoreline?
Katya and Mark Gordon live in downtown Two Harbors, just steps away from Lake Superior’s gargantuan “wilderness.” The Gordons have made a living the last 15 years leading adventure sailing trips on Lake Superior, taking hundreds of new crew members to Superior’s every anchorage and inlet. In fact, the Gordons spend up to 100 days a year under sail in both American and Canadian waters. Here’s what they’ve learned about sailing Lake Superior’s wilderness on water.
The Gordons base their Amicus Adventure Sailing trips each season at the North House Folk School dock in Grand Marais, Minnesota. They lead aspiring explorers on adventure sailing trips from May to October. And they have a piece of advice for shoulder-season trips: “Bring down-filled sleeping bags for kids in the cockpit — Lake Superior is arguably the coldest place in the country in May.”
Their trips have romantic names like “Isle Royale and the Sleeping Giant” and “Lonely Island Tour.” Mark describes the Lonely Island route: “We cross to Isle Royale, then hit Passage Island, sail into Canada to the Slate Islands, down to Michipicoten Island, and then back. We traverse the better part of the lake on the return. That’s all open water, over 400 miles in all,” Gordon recounts, as if it’s a regular occurrence.
See, for the Gordons, overnight tripping on Superior is the norm. They do as many as 20 crossings a season to one of America’s most remote national parks — Isle Royale, a place many only dream of seeing in person.
But it’s not all romantic. The Gordons can spend hours talking about seasickness, freezing cold and heavy weather on Superior. So, what drives the Gordons into the unknown, and how have they become so adept at handling Superior’s moods?
“I think of Lake Superior as a very dangerous wilderness,” says Katya. “I know we have wilderness forest up the hill from Highway 61 too, but that’s a lot gentler wilderness. Superior is just absolute and immediate.”
The Gordons both stress about the level of commitment that Superior demands. For Mark: “Superior is very unforgiving. I’ve done thousands of miles of wilderness travel over the years. I’ve been to Hudson Bay three times by canoe, I’ve climbed El Capitan. But the steepest learning curve of them all is sailing Lake Superior. It’s the one thing that has stopped me in my tracks.”
This level of humility is compounded by the fact that the Coast Guard is often not a solution on Superior; the distances are simply too vast. “If you’re climbing a big wall, usually you can say, ‘OK, I’m going to come down now,’” says Mark, “and there’s a way that you can do that safely.” But there’s no sure way to get rescued 15 miles from shore on Lake Superior.
“You can’t just pull the pin and bail,” Mark explains. “We’ve called the Coast Guard before, but the response is ‘hopefully there’s another boat around that can help you.’ The Coast Guard is 80 miles away. You’re really on your own.”
a t e r
SUPERIOR IS VERY UNFORGIVING. I’VE DONE THOUSANDS OF MILES OF WILDERNESS TRAVEL OVER THE YEARS. I’VE BEEN TO HUDSON BAY THREE TIMES BY CANOE, I’VE CLIMBED EL CAPITAN. BUT THE STEEPEST LEARNING CURVE OF THEM ALL IS SAILING LAKE SUPERIOR.
Lake Superior’s wildness demands rare skills for freshwater sailing. Skills like navigating 60 miles offshore in the fog, provisioning fuel and water for up to 40 days on the water because the nearest marina is a hundred miles away, or sailing through the night. You’ll also need to find “all-weather anchorages” to survive whatever the weather does.
“You need to know how to do plumbing and electrical work and fix a diesel engine,” says Mark. “All those things are going to fail at some point when you’re out there. And no one’s going to be there to fix it for you.”
And it’s not just skills and mechanics. There’s also the adaptation to daily living on water, with no easy access to land: “On the Lonely Island Tour, we see only one trail in 14 days,” Mark explains. “That one is about three-quarters of a mile long on Passage Island. All the other places we go are just wilderness. So to get off the boat, you hop in the kayaks or the dinghy and explore.”
This adaptation also requires accepting “lake time.” For Katya, “the Lake Superior time frame is totally different.” Last October, the Gordons sat at Windigo on Isle Royale for nine days straight waiting for the south wind to shift so they could sail their 40-foot steel sailboat, Amicus II, to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to visit their daughters at college in Houghton and Marquette. The lake never did cooperate, and the Gordons sailed home to Minnesota instead. Even that was a stretch, given the forecast, and they were grateful to have made it back.
But if sitting and waiting sounds like the opposite of exploring to you, you’d be wrong. For Mark: “You know, that’s part of exploring Superior. I’ve been to Windigo a zillion times, and I never experience it the same way. It’s a lot of fun exploring the island itself.” The Gordons are probably the first people to ever spend nine days trail running (something they both enjoy) on Isle Royale.
So Lake Superior requires a redefinition of “explore.” A new way of looking at risks and rewards. “A lot of people think sailing’s a great idea, but if you look at the number of sailors versus the number of skiers or canoers,
it’s not much,” says Katya. “A lot of people get really scared once they get into it, with good reason.”
Superior forces you to find deeper dedication: “If you’re going to be serious about sailing on Lake Superior, it has to be your thing,” explains Mark. “You can’t go backpacking for three weeks every summer and become a really good sailor. It just takes time.”
And vigilance. “That’s why Mark is such a good sailor, because he’s vigilant,” says Katya. “I think most new sailors are not vigilant until they’re out on the water and the engine doesn’t turn on. Then they’re really freaked out.”
The Gordons not only keep a consistent logbook, where they record their course, wave and weather data, but also do an engine check every time they reach an anchorage for the night and check the bilge every hour. “When you check that every hour, you have a baseline. So if at 3:00 it’s dry, but at 4:00 there’s an inch of water in there, now you know ‘this came in in the last hour, not some time in the last 8 hours, or in the last two weeks, because I never looked,’” explains Mark.
Vigilance, dedication and commitment. Did we mention the weather? “You have not experienced cold until you’ve sat from midnight to 4 a.m. in May on the deck of a sailboat on Lake Superior in a strong wind,” Mark laments.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. Experiencing Superior’s wildness under sail is unique. For Mark, “At our business, Amicus Adventure Sailing, we don’t call ourselves a school. My passion is teaching how to live and cruise on a sailboat. It’s not so much about learning to sail but how to treat sailing as your vehicle to explore the world.”
Take it from the Gordons: the unknown is out there. And it could be in your backyard right now. Check out Amicus Adventure Sailing for the chance to explore Superior’s water wilderness, or Sea Change Expeditions to learn about the Gordons’ specialized educational trips for teens and young adults.
By ALEX SHAUER
rom a very young age, I was captivated by Lake Superior. Growing up in southern Minnesota, I thought the lake’s wild, dramatic atmosphere felt like a different world — one I looked forward to visiting every summer. My uncle lived on Park Point in Duluth and kept a fishing boat at a nearby marina. I’d get to tag along now and then, chasing king salmon as a kiddo with my sunglasses in one hand and a juice box in the other.
As I got older, my family took countless camping trips along the shoreline, from Two Harbors all the way up to Grand Marais. I’d count down the days until our annual March ski trip to Lutsen (what I thought of as the “real” ski resort, when all I’d ever known was the local ski hill). These experiences laid the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of the North Shore, a place that never stopped feeling like home even when I was far from it.
Stay Boreal began as a daydream, sparked by my unexpected love for hosting travelers in an upscale suite I had remodeled in the lower level of my home. That experience, paired with my affection for Lake Superior, led to an idea: to create a unique stay right on the lake — one that didn’t exist anywhere else along the North Shore.
There are plenty of cabins throughout the Arrowhead, most designed for larger families or groups. But I imagined something more intimate — cozy, modern and made intentionally for couples or solo travelers looking to reconnect with nature and with themselves. A quiet place to unplug, recharge and feel the pulse of the big lake.
Once I ran the numbers, I understood why newer boutique lakeside developments were rare. With the high cost of lakeshore property and the lacking availability, most cabins were built farther inland. But I was more interested in prioritizing the experience than chasing profits. Being on the shore was essential. So when the right piece of land finally came up for sale, we bet the farm — scraping together nearly everything we had for the down payment.
On October 16, 2023 — just three days after returning from our honeymoon — I kissed my wife goodbye and moved into a camper on the land we had just purchased near Tofte. Living apart so soon after getting married wasn’t easy. But in that little trailer, with the lake just beyond the treeline, I found purpose. As I began meeting neighbors, tradespeople and other locals, I felt a growing sense of belonging — not just to the land, but to a unique local community that values the place they live like no other.
Thanks to a rare, mild winter, I worked mostly solo from sunrise until long after dark. When daylight fades by midafternoon, setting up work lights and pushing through to exhaustion becomes second nature. Painful? Absolutely. But strangely addictive when you’re building your dream. Sweat equity was a must. I hired out only what I legally or logistically had to — dynamite work, well drilling, septic, and eventually drywall (for the sake of my sanity — those guys are on another level). Finding tradespeople in the Arrowhead is its own adventure. With more work than workers, contractors can afford to pick and choose. You either wait or do it yourself.
While I focused on the architectural design and layout, my wife, RaeAhna, became the creative force behind the interiors. She spent countless evenings — often long after the rest of the world had gone to sleep — selecting tiles, curating furniture and refining every element of the décor. Her goal was simple: to make each cabin feel like a warm invitation, a space that’s both relaxing and quietly luxurious. And she delivered. Every corner tells a story, every detail feels intentional.
If you know the North Shore, you know the deep roots of Finnish sauna culture. In recent years, saunas have become more than a tradition; they’ve become a canvas for creativity, a chance to blend architecture with atmosphere. Each of the cabins features a private sauna, designed not just for function, but also for inspiration.
The Järvi Cabin boasts a treehouse sauna, influenced by Scandinavian design and elevated 10 feet off the forest floor. From inside, a near-floor-to-ceiling glass wall offers a front-row view of Lake Superior — its moods, its movement and its mesmerizing horizon. The Kalliot A-frame Cabin features a custom barrel sauna, where the bench is positioned higher off the floor for both comfort and perspective. Also, facing directly out toward the lake through a full glass façade, users stay warm in the upper “heat zone” while watching waves crash against the shore, even in the depths of winter.
Each cabin takes full advantage of the incredible view, with a floor-to-ceiling glass front that draws in the natural drama of Superior — its dead-calm reflective sunrises, turbulent November gales and everything in between. So close to the shoreline, you can hear the waves crash against the rocky, jagged cliffs — steady and rhythmic, almost therapeutic.
And now, the most fulfilling part of this entire journey? Hearing from guests who say this experience gave them peace, helped them reconnect or gave them a moment to breathe. That’s everything to me — as a builder, a host and a creative.
Ice Skating on Spirit Lake
By JEN VERALLE AND GLENN AUERBACH
My father may not know this, but I inherited the idea of resiliency from him. From a very young age, I trudged behind him over frozen lakes of Southwestern Minnesota. Eventually we’d arrive at the house on the lake that promised warmth or a least a reprieve from frigid January temps that belied the sun’s rays. I remember a silence. Then the crackling of the surface ice of each augured fishing hole as we reopened for the business of ice fishing for the day.
There was an order to things. With all lines down, bobbers set, the tiny fish house stove could be lit. A sauna by no means as it barely just took the chill out of the air. Those winter Sundays were short on sunshine, edging into darkness by 5:00pm. I’d observe him, no signs of a shiver. I, on the other hand, likely chilled but unwilling to show it.
This environment suited him. In his element as he returned the hauled gear to its place on the sled, he would remain unfazed by the cold as we made our way back to the shore. I took my cues from him. Even at age eight, I knew not every human had this comfortable way with cold.
In my teen years, accustomed to warmth and comfort, I’d venture out less with him. The experience started to become too cold and uncomfortable for me. Somewhere along the way I thought I lost the cold tolerance gene. As it turns out, I just hadn’t flexed it for decades. Discovering sauna and cold plunge in 2019 drew out this dormant drive for resilience. I reclaimed this inherited idea of resilience and quickly became curious about pushing my body and mind to the edges of hot and cold.
Today, when I sauna and cold plunge I reconnect with my childhood. The sauna and fish house similar in structure and containing nostalgia that transcends to the present. The outdoor cold plunge always holding a moment of questioning anticipation – will I be able to breathe through it and embrace the cold? I know the answer is yes.
As I slide into the 44-degree water, I often envision the lake’s edge and horizon, crossing a boundary metaphorically and physically. Even at night, I can close my eyes and conjure up sunshine and pure joy in this experience. My deep, calm breathing signals to my body – I’m okay. A thermal layer of warmth folds around me in the stillness. Many moments later, I consciously move out of icy water to seek heat.
I feel a debt of gratitude that my father modeled this practice of resilience for me. I was born for this experience. If I can do this, I think, then what other capabilities of potential lie just beneath the surface for me? I am compelled to wade deeper to edge toward more wonder. Then I simply listen. There is so much to inherit.
Editor’s note: Jen and Glenn initially connected at the Sauna Village, Minneapolis, January 2023. Translucency in mind and spirit outside Darin’s North Up sauna. Reconnecting at Sauna Days, and soon to be more neighbor gatherings at Darin’s. We shared emails back and forth about sauna being a welcome space for sober folks, which eventually led to my recommendation of The Wedge; Evolution, Consciousness, Stress, and the Key to Human Resilience, by Scott Carney. How we can reprogram ourselves, by inserting a “wedge” between stimulus and our response to it. That space – that wedge – is of our choosing.
Part of my work today is to let people who struggle with substance issues know that sauna is a safe space"
GLENN: Hot cold contrast therapy is a mental and physical practice. The mental exercise is the ability to put a “wedge” between the stimulus of thermal extremes and our response to it. The physical component then becomes our controlled response to our environment (or stress, stressors). By learning these edges through heat and cold extremes, we condition ourselves for healthier responses. As we get strong in this practice, it can help us in other areas of life. Have you found this to be true and in what ways?
JEN: Definitely. I got sober in 2014. And although I didn’t know it, I was using this idea that Scott Carney names and identifies as the “wedge” to build resilience in my sobriety journey. I also didn’t have the benefit of sauna and cold plunge experiences in the first five years of my sobriety. I really didn’t have any safe social experiences I looked forward to for at least the first year of sobriety. Socializing meant being asked “Why aren’t you drinking?” and awkwardly having to explain my non-drinking while feeling waves of shame wash over me.
The mental exercise became critical for survival in social spaces, as I could sustain months of sobriety doing my own personal work and work with peers in groups like AA, only to have it completely fall apart in social experiences that blindsided me. In my experience, the stimulus was a party or bar/restaurant scene with alcohol at the center, everyone appearing relaxed with a drink in hand, the questioning looks, and my awkwardness and annoyance. The immediate, decades-long response to this environment and strong desire to belong, was to drink.
Eventually, I learned many tools to create space to rewire my thinking and patterns. The more success I had making it through initial awkwardness of evenings (and blissfully waking up sober the morning after!), the more I could soothe and calm myself in those critical, pivotal moments to pause and shut down the desire to drink.
GLENN: Jen, I have a sense at how challenging this “reprogramming” is and was for you. I have a few friends who have also chosen the sobriety path, including my wife for the most part. For her, alcohol is poison, as it gives her migraines. Not fair to compare to those where alcohol was a pathway to escape or a good time.
With deliberate cold and heat, for me, it’s like I can see my neural pathways rolling along. When I sauna and hit the cold, all doubt and noise goes away. I am connected as one: mind, body, spirit. We know that sauna and cold plunge experiences are a powerful tool to tap into listening to our minds and bodies. How does this resonate for you?
JEN: I can’t say enough how powerful discovering sauna and cold plunge in early sobriety would have benefited me. If you’ve heard of the term white knuckling it, that was me. I was on super shaky ground. The only truth I knew absolutely was to steer clear of alcohol – I was, after all, powerless over it, according to AA. But I didn’t understand what was happening in my mind and body while trying to achieve this feat. I didn’t breathe deeply or slow down to listen. It was like I was in a hyperactive state, fight or flight mode for a year.
Part of my work today is to let people who struggle with substance issues know that sauna is a safe space. It helps train the pause needed to distance yourself from your substance of choice. I profoundly felt the healing power of sauna and cold plunge during my first experience in spring of 2019 with Alex Troitzsch via Stokeyard at The Hewing Hotel (I wrote about it May 24, 2019, here: Anxiety Melts Away with Aufguss). No one asked why I wasn’t drinking. I could show up alone. Share as much as little as I liked. And be in community while trying to heal myself and pour on the grace we so rarely give ourselves.
I’ve wanted to create this for other sober folks for so long! Just recently I launched Sauna and Sobriety with Natalie Lang and Paige LaBreche in the Twin Cities. In a completely substance-free environment with amazing nonalcoholic (NA) beverages like Sauna Water — a Portage Brewery and Cedar + Stone Sauna collaborative creation — we’re modeling what connection looks like in social spaces that aren’t AA meetings to help people integrate sobriety into their lives in sustainable ways.
GLENN: That sounds amazing. When you talk about your experience, it sounds like you felt a relaxing vibe without feeling pressured to drink and maybe a social experience you hadn’t yet had. Awesome. I get that not drinking or having a healthy relationship with alcohol pairs well with sauna. I’ll be the first to say that a “cold one” – as in beer — tastes great between rounds. I have a Pavlovian desire for a beer between rounds. It has a lot of connotations and memories of good times past. But it is 100% related to the taste. Not the alcohol buzz. What’s your take on this?
JEN: Most of our experiences with alcohol are rooted in ritual. Alcohol is so pervasive in society and centered in experiences that its extremely hard to uncouple activities and alcohol or substances. This takes us right back to the “wedge” – the pause and the expansiveness to consider our rituals and perhaps consistently or occasionally make a nonalcoholic choice. At least, have it as an option. The NA beers of today are quite amazing! (looking at you NA Time NA Where by Ursa Minor Brewing and NA Tropical Fun Pants by Lupulin)
My TEDx Talk is about bringing elevated nonalcoholic options and an enthusiastic experience into our social spaces. There are so many amazing nonalcoholic beverages in 2023 that there’s absolutely no reason not to offer them. And bonus, not drinking pairs really well with wellbeing and productivity!
The response over the past few months, as I’ve been stocking my Yeti and bringing it to pop up sauna events (via the business I co-founded May 2022, Zero Proof Collective), has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s connecting with what people want now.
Follow me on Insta@sobernotsomber to see how it’s done. saunatimes.com/saunatimes-guest-posts/sauna-sobriety-aninherited-resilience/
By CHRISTIAN LATUSZEK
5:15 AM
Fifteen minutes before my alarm went off, I was already wide awake. The wind forecast from the night before hinted at potential waves — I couldn’t help but feel the pull. This is where my adventure begins.
Jumping out of bed, I made a carb-heavy breakfast and hit the road. My surf gear was already packed in the car. It was a crisp September morning, and as I walked up the alley to start my car, I took in the view of Canal Park and the iconic drawbridge from my perch on the Central Hillside of Duluth, Minnesota.
What a beautiful morning on Lake Superior
Good surf on the Lakes usually comes at a price — bitter cold, snow or howling winds. But today felt different. A few clouds decorated the sky, a light breeze drifted off the Lake and a brilliant red sunrise was creeping over the horizon.
There are probably a million ways to forecast surf on the Lakes, but I only know of a few. In my experience, wind direction and intensity are the biggest drivers. If the direction it’s blowing from is even a few degrees off, it could be totally flat. And if the wind isn’t strong enough, the result is the same — nothing.
BEFORE I KNEW IT, THE LAKE HAD PICKED ME UP, AND I WAS ON MY FEET, GLIDING.
I hope I don’t get skunked …
I’ve been fooled before. Times where the wind direction, air pressure and temperature, water temperature, and everything in between were “perfect” on paper — but the Lake had other plans. That’s how fickle the Lakes can be.
The drive didn’t take long, but when all I am thinking about is whether or not I’ll see a wave, it feels like hours. You know the feeling of waiting at the doctor’s office before they call your name or the final moments before tearing into a gift? It’s a package of angst, excitement and nervousness all in one.
if it’s flat? What if I’m wrong?
As I pulled onto the road where the waves should be, I spotted a lone parked car. Not normal for a Saturday morning at this break.
Oh no … did I totally mess this up? Is it flat?
It was bright enough to see the horizon, but the sun had yet to crest over the Lake. I parked my car, stepped outside and waited.
Then, sneaking toward me, were four distinct dark lines in the water. Before I knew it, the set of four waves broke about 75 yards offshore. They looked about chest high, with clean shoulders and the sunrise casting golden light on the curling lips.
I started to change into my suit as quickly as I could. It was warm enough for my 3/2 — 3 millimeters of neoprene in the torso, 2 in the arms and legs. Once winter comes, however, I will have to transition to my hooded 6/4 with 7mm boots and mittens to fight off the freezing temperatures.
I waited for a lull, then jumped in, board out in front. The Lake felt ... inviting. A stark contrast to the brain freeze I’m used to dealing with.
As I paddled out, the incoming ripples lapped at my surfboard. Being prone on a board is the closest thing to floating on the water itself. This, combined with the experience of feeling weightless on a surfboard, makes for a unique feeling I never had before surfing. Darkness enveloped me momentarily as I paddled through
the troughs of the waves, only to be met with golden sunlight as I crested the backs of the waves.
The fun thing about surfing the Great Lakes? The swell period is short — usually 4–10 seconds. On the ocean, surfers typically get much longer gaps between waves, giving them time to pick and choose. Here, you have to be sharp, ready and quick.
I settled into the takeoff zone and waited. From shore, it seemed like waves were coming in every 5 minutes. Now is the time for breathing slowly and being ready for what’s to come.
I saw the next set of bumps roll off the horizon and I paddled a little more to the left to position myself. I let the first and second wave pass; the third one seemed to be the one I wanted. When it got about 7 yards in front of me, I whipped my board around, sank the tail toward the bottom of the Lake, and started to paddle with my chest up toward the shore.
Before I knew it, the Lake had picked me up, and I was on my feet, gliding.
Taking a ride on a wave is an experience beyond words. Part flying, part floating, part connection — to the water, to the moment and to myself. As I cruised down the line, I caught a glimpse of the golden rays hitting the lip, igniting the wave in a shimmering blue-green that nearly hypnotized me.
And then the thought hit me. What if I wasn’t able to do this? This idea sent a shudder down my spine, and I was reminded of a time when surfing was nearly taken from me.
Surfing has taken me to incredible places. I learned how to surf while surrounded by the Great Lakes in Michigan. My first trip was to Puerto Rico. Then good surf took me to Costa Rica.
In May 2023, I made a connection to the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, shortly before I moved to the North Shore of Minnesota in the fall of the same year. Saltwater and sharks aside, what’s the biggest difference between the North Shore of Oahu and the North Shore of Minnesota? Oahu’s North Shore faces north, whereas Minnesota’s North Shore faces south and east.
During this trip I surfed at a spot on Oahu called Lanikai. It’s a popular break on the North Shore, and the surf was up. Many surfers were wearing helmets and body protection with 9- and 10-foot “guns” in their hands (surfboards intended to help you get on BIG waves and still be able to maneuver). I was out there on an 8-foot longboard — which was my first mistake. I stayed outside to avoid the most powerful waves coming through to the peak.
However, after spending time out there, a rogue set had come through, and I had to paddle out past it or else I’d get blasted.
I dug as hard and as fast as I could, but I didn’t make it. I was not in a position to ditch my board because there was someone behind me. I couldn’t risk hurting someone. So I held on tight and went over the falls of a double overhead Hawaiian wave. When I landed, it felt like my body was hit by a freight train. I heard my right knee pop while I was at the mercy of the water.
An eternity later, I found myself rising out of the water, gasping for air and frantically looking for the shoreline. I knew I was hurt. I had to get back to shore or I could be in serious trouble. After forcing my mind to calm down, I eventually made my way back to shore. I couldn’t bear much weight on my right leg without grimacing in pain. I knew I tore something in my knee.
The pain lingered for over a year after the initial injury, but I never explored surgery. I have experienced other injuries in my past where a doctor insisted upon surgery and only surgery, but I knew there had to be another option.
In my experience, physical training has changed my life for the better. It has allowed me to continue to live my life the way I want to, without limits.
Everyone is unique and has their own story. Surfing first put me onto this path of recovery through training — and now it’s my job as a coach to listen to clients, genuinely hear them and work with them on a solution that will get them back to doing what they love. This inspired me to further my education as a trainer and inspired me to begin to live in the gap between health care and fitness.
Community On, Around and In the Lake
Oftentimes, I show up to a surf spot alone, without knowing who else will show. Eventually, familiar faces arrive. Eric, Evan, Josh, Danny, Erik and others. We all travel from various places, even across state lines, to score waves.
When I made the move to Duluth in the fall of 2023, I didn’t have any surf friends. Just over a year later, there is rarely a time when I go in the water and I don’t recognize anyone. There have even been times where I know upwards of 20 others — maybe more — in the water, all sharing what the Lake has to offer.
For me, surfing goes beyond what it is physically. It is something that has given so much to me when my life was stressful and I didn’t have many answers. Seemingly, when I ride my board and sit in the water, the answer is right in front of me.
I am excited to continue to help others on their journey while I continue to explore mine. Every day as I commute to the gym through the Duluth metro area to Lincoln Park, I think of those I have been able to help reclaim their life through movement, and the feeling I get from it is one that continues to push me to keep moving forward. One step at a time.
That’s why training isn’t about reps and sets for me. It’s about building the resilience and ability to say yes to the things that make life worth living.
1 (7 oz) box ring macaroni, prepared as directed on box
1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
1 cup celery, finely diced
2 (6 oz) cans tuna, drained
3 Hard boiled eggs
1⁄4 cup onion, finely diced
1 cup Mayo
1 tsp salt
1 Pinch paprika Fresh parsley for garnish
Gently mix all ingredients together and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours.
Serve with a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc or a Helles
German style ale that is bright and light with a mild bready full bodied flavor.
By: TIM OLSON
Sometimes the shoulder seasons can be challenging, too warm and melty for snow sports, trails are mushy, and the water is too hard to get out the paddles. A great time to get your gear in order, as comfort and protection are integral to enjoying the outdoors. Some good layers can help you stay cool and dry as things heat up, and protect you from the elements. Here are some gear and food/drink inspirations you might want to layer into your experience over the next few months, as you head out on a trail or splash into the lake for some adventure.
FOOD – spring and summer months tend to keep you on the go with the extra hours of daylight and impending bevy of plans stacking up. Pasta salad to the rescue! A relatively easy creation that can stand alone in a bowl or sit alongside some fresh grillables on a plate. It serves well as a cold leftover for a quick snack or convenient nourishment before or after you head out on the trail or water. Make it in bulk for longevity and make it your way, versatility is the beauty. Ring salad is a favorite at our house - small pasta rings with hard boiled egg, tuna, mayo, peas, celery, onion, and some elbow grease are transformed into one of my wife's revered summer staples.
DRINK – with pasta salad on the table (or tailgate), it’s time to consider a formidable companion. There are a number of great options, but two come to mind. First up, Sauvignon Blanc - a “wild white” wine that is refreshing and interesting, with a crispness and acidity that stands up to food and compliments it with a range of fruit flavor. Option two, Helles - a German style ale that is bright and light, great for cleansing the pallet, while also imparting a mild bready full bodied flavor. Easy drinking before, during, and after some pasta. Give it a try and if offered another, chances are you’ll say “Hell-yes”!
Short for "King(Queen) Of the Mountain," KOM is a performance Merino blend sock designed for all you trail heads who have one speed... lightning fast. Bike harder, run faster, and climb higher!
FLORENCE MARINE
AIRTEX AND CORDURA
Proprietary blend of fabrics that provide a tough and breathable combination for long days playing outdoors.
Clarity in All Conditions with REVEAL Photochromic and Polarized Lenses. REVEAL adapts to changing light conditions in real time.
The chemistry between these three powerhouse women creates magic in every episode.
This season, the Empower Hour is evolving to bring you more powerful stories of the movers and shakers, trailblazers and unsung heroes make a difference in our communities.
Looking to escape for an hour or give yourself the gift of insight?
Welcome to The Empower Hour—where ambitious humans find clarity, courage, and community. Hosted by three entrepreneur moms who know the hustle and the heart of building dreams while raising the future, this is your space for real talk, bold stories, and unfiltered inspiration.
You’re not alone—you’re In Good Company.
Listen Here!
By SARAH BARTEN
Behind every Minnesota-made product is a story — a moment of inspiration, countless hours of dedication and hands that transform raw possibility into something real. For 10 years, Lake and Company magazine has been telling these stories, connecting our readers with the extraordinary makers who understand what makes Minnesota living so special. As we celebrate our milestone 30th issue, we’re honoring the journey that brought these makers from our pages to our storefronts, where their creations now grace our shelves and bring the spirit of Minnesota craftsmanship directly into the hands of our communities. And we shine a light on the magic behind the makers — the creative minds and hands that transform raw materials into treasures that speak to who we are.
These makers aren’t following formulas — they’re writing new ones. They are Minnesota’s creative heartbeat, each beating with a rhythm uniquely their own yet somehow in perfect harmony with our collective spirit.
Join us as we pull back the workshop curtain to reveal the magic behind the makers — a constellation of creators bound by craft, courage and an unshakable dedication to making Minnesota more beautiful, one creation at a time.
As diverse as these creators are, they share a common thread — the courage to create and the commitment to craft that defines Minnesota’s maker community. For a decade, Lake and Company has been honored to share their stories and showcase their work. Here’s to the next 10 years of adventure, craft and being in good company.
Mike and Christine Nelson transformed their camp counselor experiences into a gourmet marshmallow business that’s all about creating joy through better s’mores. Since 2014, their all-natural marshmallows have been bringing camp-inspired happiness to events, gift boxes and lakeside gatherings across Minnesota.
THE SPARK: “My wife and I both wanted something better than the current s’mores options, without all the junk! We also wanted to do something that brought joy to people, and the best s’more you’ve ever had definitely does that!”
DAILY DRIVE: What connects Mike to his creative work is family moments and flexibility. “To be able to have flexibility with my family, to travel when we would like and to show our daughters how they can create something.”
BEHIND THE SCENES: His favorite part of creation? “I get to create fun flavors of marshmallows and custom s’mores kits for corporate gifts!” And you might be surprised to learn: “I was a history major in school, focusing on Greek and Russian history. I thought I was going to be a teacher, then I started a s’mores company!”
MILESTONE MEMORY: “Everyone loved it, and most people didn’t even know you can make your own marshmallow. When we were able to bring so much joy to people with simply a better s’more, we knew we had something special.”
LAKE AND COMPANY CONNECTION: Their partnership has lasted several years, with Vanilla Bean marshmallows being the most popular product at Lake and Company. Mike notes, “Our most popular product on our website is our S’mores Kit, though.”
LOOKING FORWARD: “We will be launching limited-time flavors this year!” And Mike’s dream? “To be able to be ‘The S’mores Guy’ for the next 30 years!”
Favorite Minnesota lake: Gull Lake
Essential tool: Sugar!
Morning ritual: Wake up a couple of hours before our kids; coffee; Wordle; and organize my thoughts for the day.
Advice for aspiring creators: Start simply and focus on a niche.
Instagram: @northmallow Website: northmallow.com
Robin Frank transformed nostalgic family memories into a thriving cookie business that spreads joy with every bite. What began with lessons from her mother in the kitchen evolved into a beloved brand known for tiny treats that create big moments of connection.
THE SPARK: “I kept thinking and dreaming about what was meaningful to me. I kept going back to my mom and the time I used to spend with her in the kitchen baking. Specifically, how she taught me how to make cinnamon thumbs — these tiny cookies that everyone loved.” The moment of clarity came when sharing her vision with a neighbor: “She hadn’t even tried the cookies yet! But I could tell my story resonated with her. That’s when I knew it was going to be something special.”
DAILY DRIVE: “When you have your own business, creativity is the name of the game. Sometimes I dream a new flavor, or a new cookie, or a new way to package the cookies, or a new way to spread joy — and that gets my mind moving and my heart rate up a little bit. It’s the best part of the job! Someone once told me: ‘Don’t be the first, be the ONLY!’”
BEHIND THE SCENES: Her workspace in three words? “In my car, LOL — I always say my car is my real office. That’s where I always take the most important calls for some reason!” Her favorite part of creation? “I love dreaming about packaging and flavors and getting the flavors just right. It’s so fun to see people’s reactions when they first try our new creations too. It’s so gratifying.”
MILESTONE MEMORY: “I think having our product in the Grammy Awards VIP bags was pretty cool. Also, the cult following we have for our Margarita Pies is pretty cool to see. Oh, and building KIRBY — our cookie-mobile.”
LAKE AND COMPANY CONNECTION: While Robin isn’t sure exactly how long they’ve been partners, the collaboration has helped bring these tiny treats to more Minnesota cookie lovers.
LOOKING FORWARD: “I’m working on something more savory!” Robin continues to innovate while staying true to the personal connections that make Thumbs Cookies special.
Favorite Minnesota lake: Superior
Essential tool: My nose/palate
Morning ritual: The shower! I get my best ideas in the shower!
Advice for aspiring creators: Being SCRAPPY but looking CLASSY! I am always thinking about how we could do something with what we already have — and make it look different or unique but still classy.
Instagram: @thumbscookies
Website: thumbscookies.com
Alyza James transformed her family’s coffee legacy into a purposedriven brand that champions women at every step of the supply chain. With bold colors and an even bolder mission, City Girl Coffee blends quality brews with female empowerment, creating cups that carry meaning beyond the morning ritual.
THE SPARK: “Coffee had always been part of my life, but stepping into the business made me see it differently. I became passionate not just about quality coffee but also about the people behind it — especially women in the supply chain who often lacked recognition, resources and opportunity.” The defining moment came at an industry event: “At a breakfast hosted by the International Women’s Coffee Alliance, I heard a story about a woman farmer in Colombia being denied a loan simply because she was female. In that moment, I knew I had to build something bigger than coffee. That’s when City Girl Coffee was born.”
DAILY DRIVE: “Knowing that we’re not just roasting coffee — we’re creating something that can make a real difference. I’m driven by the opportunity to use my voice and platform to uplift women in coffee and, ultimately, to empower women everywhere to own their strength and their stories.”
BEHIND THE SCENES: Her workspace in three words? “Pretty, sunlit, inspirational.” Her favorite part of creation? “I love the storytelling behind the product — from sourcing beans grown by women farmers to crafting a brand that celebrates empowerment. Blending purpose with creativity lights me up. It’s more than coffee; it’s about creating something that connects people and sparks meaningful conversations.”
MILESTONE MEMORY: “Launching City Girl Coffee and seeing our first bag on the shelves. It was the moment my vision became real: bold, bright, unapologetically feminine — and mine.”
LAKE AND COMPANY CONNECTION: The collaboration between City Girl Coffee and Lake and Company is so natural that owner Megan Kellin, along with Robyn Frank, and Alyza are continuing to discuss business on the City Girl Empower Hour podcast. The trio has transformed their individual entrepreneurial journeys into a platform that amplifies stories of other changemakers while exploring leadership, innovation and social impact.
LOOKING FORWARD: “We’ve explored ready-to-drink options but have no immediate plans for widespread distribution just yet. For now, hopefully expanding our storytelling — more collabs, more content, more connection.”
Favorite Minnesota lake: Superior
Essential tool: My notebook for scribbled ideas, goals and gratitude.
Morning ritual: I love to incorporate my coffee into a protein smoothie, watch some of the Today show, and then set an intention to take into the rest of the day.
Advice for aspiring creators: Success is how you define it. Just because something didn’t go as planned doesn’t mean it wasn’t a step forward. Failure isn’t the opposite of success — it’s part of the path. Trust that you’re exactly where you need to be, exactly when you need to be there.
Instagram: @citygirlcoffee, @alyza_james
Website: citygirlcoffee.com
When uncertainty struck in March 2020, Alec Johnson found an unexpected path forward — crafting candles that capture the essence of beloved Minnesota places and experiences. The former residential designer has transformed a simple gesture for friends into a business that spreads warmth, both literally and figuratively.
THE SPARK: “I wasn’t just making candles; I was capturing emotions, memories and places in a form people could hold onto and revisit.” Within his first month, even strangers began seeking out his creations. “That’s when it hit me — I hadn’t just started a hobby, I’d started a business.”
DAILY DRIVE: “The idea that something I create might become part of someone’s most meaningful moments — whether it’s a cozy night in, a celebration, or a quiet reminder of home. That connection keeps me going.”
BEHIND THE SCENES: His workspace in three words? “Organized, intentional and inspiring.” His favorite creation moment? “When everything comes together. The moment when the scent is just right, the candle is perfectly crafted, and I know it’s ready to bring warmth and light to someone else’s life.”
MILESTONE MEMORY: A revelation during a hike at Gooseberry Falls changed everything. “Before the trip, I’d been experimenting with oils to create an outdoorsy scent. During the hike, I realized the smell of the forest was exactly like the oils I had been blending. That moment was a turning point — it inspired me to start creating scents based on the places I love.”
LAKE AND COMPANY CONNECTION: Partners since 2022, Alec remembers “seeing my candles displayed in Lake and Company; it felt like such a full-circle moment.” His bestsellers? “That’s a tough one! I would say my Weekend Getaway or Gooseberry Hike candles.”
LOOKING FORWARD: “I’m really loving this custom route. If you have a coffee shop, a cabin, a boutique hotel or really any business that connects with people one-on-one, I absolutely love making custom candles for their brands.”
Favorite Minnesota lake: Minnetonka or Cross Lake
Essential tool: My scale. Whether it’s measuring wax, fragrance oils, or the perfect balance of ingredients, precision is key.
Morning ritual: Coffee first
Advice for aspiring creators: Stay true to your vision and be patient with the process. It takes time to build something meaningful. Remember, every small step forward is still progress.
Instagram: @Alec.nosnhoj and @nosasota
Website: nosasota.co
Sarah Schroeder blended her professional design background with Minnesota pride to create a brand that elevates local identity through high-quality, sustainable apparel. What began as a side project in 2013 has evolved into a destination shop that celebrates women-owned brands from Minnesota and beyond.
THE SPARK: “The idea started when I was unemployed and attended a Trampled by Turtles and Atmosphere concert in Duluth. We saw so many Minnesota shirts! Some of the designs were great, but the quality of shirts needed some help. Then I thought, ‘I could do this.’”
DAILY DRIVE: “Being a designer is something that will always be with me. I looooove to design and create just about anything! Especially tangible items. Creativity is always going for me. Whether it is making a new design or even cooking or baking.”
BEHIND THE SCENES: Her workspace in three words? “Clean, tidy, organized.” Her favorite part of creation? “Getting inspiration. The creation wouldn’t be there without the inspiration.”
MILESTONE MEMORY: “We started doing some events and were selling out of our apparel. We also were contacted by other shops to sell in their stores. And we were one of the first Minnesota apparel companies to be out there and we were the only women-owned.”
LAKE AND COMPANY CONNECTION: What’s been flying off the shelves? “Any of our Eco Sweatshirts.” Their partnership goes back about eight years, with fond memories of braving the cold together: “When we were down at the Super Bowl at an outside event during the Winter Carnival. We were cold, but we had fun!”
LOOKING FORWARD: “We just rebranded our shop in Stillwater! Minnesota Made | Women Brands from MN + Beyond. We are more than just a brand. We are a destination. A lifestyle.”
Favorite Minnesota lake: Superior
Essential tool: Pinterest
Morning ritual: Taking a walk or just being outside
Advice for aspiring creators: Work hard. Be yourself. And most importantly: have fun!
Instagram: @minnesotamadeapparel
Website: minnesotamadeapparel.com
When Mitch Reaume traded his role as pastor for entrepreneurship in 2014, he wasn’t just changing careers — he was answering a deeper calling to use business as a force for good. Now, through Twin Cities Print and Northern Goods, he has become a champion for small businesses while celebrating Minnesota’s iconic landscapes.
THE SPARK: “I started exploring different ways to see business used for good in the world,” Mitch reflects. “Over time I fell in love with the small-business community and their grit and the care for their communities that so many of them embody.”
DAILY DRIVE: What gets him out of bed each morning? “My family and my employees don’t eat if I don’t do my job well. That responsibility to do right by my people is probably the thing that weighs heaviest on me and inspires me the most.”
BEHIND THE SCENES: His workspace in three words? “Organized chaos. Help!” His favorite part of creation? “Handing over the things we make to other small businesses, knowing we get to play a small role in making them money to help keep the lights on.”
MILESTONE MEMORY: “Sleeping on the floor in our flagship store in Grand Marais with my family the night after we closed on the building is a memory I’ll always have.”
LAKE AND COMPANY CONNECTION: What’s been flying off the shelves? “We’ve sold a lot of Northern Goods pint glasses through Lake and Company over the years but have also sold a ton of custom apparel and drinkware ... so it’s a bit of a toss-up.”
LOOKING FORWARD: “The two things that make me tick these days are seeing small businesses win and sharing our love of Grand Marais and the North Shore with others.”
Favorite Minnesota lake: Superior
Essential tool: Cellphone. Incredibly unsexy answer ... but it’s the truth.
Morning ritual: I wake up and make my wife and myself coffee every morning while trying to keep my unhinged toddler from wreaking havoc before 8 a.m.
Advice for aspiring creators: Ignore the internet. The thread that connects most creators is that they just keep going. It’s not about being the smartest or shiniest presentation. Just be genuine and keep going.
Instagram: @twincitiesprint, @northerngoodslife
Website: twincitiesprint.com and northern-goods.com
COLORADO – MOUNTAIN AND COMPANY STEAMBOAT SPRINGS START YOUR OWN STORE
We are all looking for unique and authentic adventures to share with family and friends, right? Fortunately, farm experiences across Minnesota await locals and travelers alike. From visiting a winery or picking a bouquet of flowers, to staying on a working farm or attending a fall festival, agritourism — where agriculture and tourism meet — offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a base camp for outdoor excursions, a chance for screen-free family time or a moment to relax and catch up with your inner circle, farm experiences create lasting memories.
For visitors, a trip to a farm is both entertaining and enriching, fostering a deeper connection to the land and our common heritage. For farmers, sharing their stories and way of life helps people learn more about how food and goods get to their homes and helps diversify the farms’ income. When people gather on a farm, good things can grow!
How do you know where to go? Minnesota Grown, a program of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, helps connect consumers with local food, goods and experiences. Its online directory at MinnesotaGrown.com lets you search for farm experiences by activity, location, driving route and more. This free tool is also available in several languages. Adventure awaits — where will the road lead you?
Local Food & Tastings
Spring is the perfect time to celebrate longer days and warmer weather. Minnesota’s farms produce an abundance of delicious foods and beverages, and many have tasting rooms and patios where you can sip and savor, surrounded by the beauty of our Midwest landscape. These make ideal spots for gathering, and many are familyfriendly. Enjoy local cheeses and meats, or taste wine, mead, spirits and cider — including both nonalcoholic and hard varieties — at a winery, distillery, creamery or cidery. Be on the lookout for goodies to take home for yourself or gifts for others. Several farms also offer seasonal on-farm dining experiences, from expanded tasting-room menus to elaborate dinners. And don’t forget about pizza farms!
As agritourism grows, farms are offering more unique experiences. Many farms give tours where visitors can see behind the scenes of farm life and learn more about where our food and goods come from. Workshops engage participants in hobbies like gardening, felting, soap making, wine making or raising your own chickens. Kids, and kids at heart, can get up close to farm animals, learning about their care and uses. Sunflower fields offer picturesque photo ops on late-summer days. And fall festivals offer hayrides, farm games, jump pads, corn mazes and corn pits.
For a truly unique getaway, farm stays provide immersive experiences and a respite from daily cares. Across the state are opportunities to stay on a variety of farms, including those that produce berries, honey, flowers, eggs and more. Some stays offer hands-on experiences, such as feeding animals, gathering eggs and picking produce, while others offer a more casual, observational approach. No matter what, expect plenty of chances to cuddle the resident farm dogs.
A quintessential agritourism experience is visiting a U-pick farm. Prepare to roll up your sleeves — picking is a hands-on way to connect with the land and where your food comes from. It’s also a great group activity. Go to enjoy the experience, or stock up to fill your pantry and freezer.
Mid-June into early July is the prime season for juicy, sweet and decadent strawberries. Other berry favorites, like raspberries and blueberries, ripen a little later, along with varieties rising in popularity such as Haskaps (also known as honeyberries), elderberries and aronia berries. June also marks the start of the season for the growing trend of pick-your-own flower bouquets.
August brings early apple varieties developed for our local climate, before September’s cool nights produce Minnesota’s signature Honeycrisps — better tasting when grown here than anywhere else — and dozens of other varieties.
As the leaves change and summer gives way to fall, what autumn bucket list would be complete without a trip to a pumpkin patch to pick your perfect jack-o’-lantern along with decorative pumpkins to make your home festive and welcoming? And to round out the seasons, winter features cut-your-own Christmas trees, with many tree farms providing bonfires, hot cocoa and other seasonal treats for a memorable outing.
While not technically on a farm, a visit to a farmers’ market lets you connect with multiple farms at once! Farmers and producers can share their passion for what’s in season and how to use it, and other vendors may offer baked goods, hot foods and gifts featuring local ingredients. Even when it’s not growing season, you’ll find meats, cheeses, honey, maple syrup and more at markets around the state. Stop by to stock up on the freshest local goods for your getaway, or make the market part of your weekly routine.
Whether at home, on vacation or away on a day trip, you have the opportunity to make lasting memories with a farm outing right around the corner. To ensure the best experience, call ahead or check your destination’s social media pages for current hours and seasonal updates. Get ready to experience the beauty of life on a farm.
Sometimes what seems like an ending is really just the beginning. I sat at the top of a staircase watching all my aunts and uncles haul boxes down the stairs of my great-grandparents’ house. They were getting ready to rent out and eventually sell the home. At that moment, I thought, “I might never get to see this again. Remember the memories here? Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa when they sat right there?” That memory of looking down from that staircase stayed clear in my mind for years to come. I never thought that I would get the chance to be in that exact same spot again making memories, shooting baskets into the old grain carts, playing with the farm animals and eating delicious pizza. Yet to every end, there is always a beginning.
Walking onto the Alpha & Omega property, owned by Brad and Kim Hayes, immediately brings in the rich smell of the brick ovens baking pizzas, the sound of cattle mooing in the back field and families laughing. It feels like being transported into a place where all the cares in the world disappear, and the only thing you have to worry about is the growling in your stomach as you wait for your delicious pizza to be served. Your family has the chance to eat together at picnic tables or inside a grain bin gazebo (“grainzebo”) decorated with lights, and the kids get to run over to the goat pen to feed the goats a handful of grain and watch the kid goats play with each other. It’s peaceful, and a place filled with joy, a chance to make memories that last.
The land that Alpha & Omega is built on has a history that is deeply connected to family, community and fun. Previous owners of the property the home stands on, Erwin and Eleanor Reynolds, spent their early years of retirement building their dream home on the property. According to their daughter, Carol, the couple had married in their early 20s. They first met when Eleanor was standing near an open window in her family’s farmhouse, and her father and Erwin were discussing his employment just outside the window. Seeing Eleanor in the window, her father told Erwin, “If you can throw a pail of water on that girl standing in the window, you got the job.” Erwin did just that, filling a pail of water and sloshing it onto Eleanor — who gasped in surprise. He was hired on the spot for simply following directions. The couple married a few years later.
During World War II, Erwin took over Eleanor’s family farm completely and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. The couple had four children: David, Thomas, Marnell and Carol. After the war, the couple moved to Princeton, Minnesota, and lived in town. Erwin began working for Westman Silo Company, building grain silos across the Midwest, while Eleanor worked as a nurse at the nearby hospital.
When the couple neared retirement, they purchased land just outside of Princeton and sold their home in town. They developed plans to build a house, which Erwin would build himself, with the help of his brothers Rodger and Gerald. After its
completion, “the farm,” as it was referred to by their family, became the hub for community. Carol remembers, “They had a beautiful yard with big trees behind the house, so other family members would come with their motor homes and spend a couple of weeks there over the summer.” Thanksgiving, Christmas and family reunion celebrations were held there, along with church picnics.
The joy of living out in the country with their horses and chickens lasted for several years, until Erwin and Eleanor moved into a retirement home shortly before they passed away. Eleanor passed away in March 2008, and Erwin passed away later that December. The family kept the property for a few years, renting it out to another family. The house and property aged, with little maintenance, and was eventually sold.
Little did the family know that selling the home would create an opportunity for life to return to the property. The new owners were Brad and Kim Hayes, and they had a dream of beginning a pizza farm on the property. Pizza farms are a form of agritourism that have captured the attention of the media over the years. Brad and Kim were ready to bring that to rural Minnesota.
Kim says part of the reasoning behind starting the farm was because “we need a place where we can come together as a community that’s family-friendly; so that’s really my number one goal — bringing the community together.” They also decided to bring new life into the home by renovating it and giving it a more modern look, while preserving Erwin’s craftsmanship.
Eventually, the property came back to life and “The Farm” was transformed into “Alpha & Omega Farm,” home of wood-fire pizzas made from locally grown and raised products. Kim says, “We opened in October 2020, when no one could go inside. So everyone came outside. There were some good things that came out of Covid, and I think this was one of them.” Alpha & Omega provided an opportunity for visitors to enjoy the fall weather while sitting on picnic tables by fire rings or inside a repurposed grain bin. It also offered a place for children to play and created a safe space for the community after the loss of connection during the pandemic.
"IT FEELS LIKE BEING TRANSPORTED INTO A PLACE WHERE ALL THE CARES IN THE WORLD DISAPPEAR"
Alpha & Omega continues to grow and provide opportunities for more memories with family and friends to be made, by hosting events in the spring, summer and fall. The events include weddings, celebrations of life, business retreats and birthdays. Echoing the farm’s history of being the place where traveling family members camped out in their motor homes, a recent addition to the farm includes two glamping sites for those looking to spend more time outdoors but in a cozy setting. Kim says, “It’s kind of a farm-style glamping. You’re looking right out at the field with the cattle, alpacas and donkeys.”
According to Kim, the people who visit the place are like family, and this is evident as she moves around from table to table, saying, “Hi, friends” and “Hi, family, how are we doing today?” Kim says, “That’s what I want people to feel, even if it’s their first time here, that they’re part of our family or they’re our friends.”
It’s easy to believe that Erwin and Eleanor would be proud of the new life and community the farm has started. Every year since it’s opening, Erwin and Eleanor’s daughter Carol and her husband, Craig, along with her children and grandchildren visit Alpha & Omega. They enjoy the pizzas and coming together as a family. “I really think it’s beautiful. I think that Mom and Dad would be so pleased,” Carol says.
Nearly 10 years later, I had the chance to stand at the top of the stairs of the place I once thought I might never see again. This time the place was filled with joy, hope, laughter and community once more. Sometimes what appears to be the ending is really just the beginning of something wonderful.
By Kim Hayes, Owner of Alpha & Omega Farm
When I first read Alison’s beautiful story about our farm, I was moved to tears. Her personal connection to this property — having sat on those same stairs as a child — gave me a new appreciation for the legacy we’ve inherited. Through her eyes, I saw our farm’s story woven together with threads of past and present, creating a tapestry of community, family and new beginnings that spans generations.
The story of Erwin and Eleanor Reynolds has become part of our own family lore. That playful beginning — a pail of water tossed through an open window — reminds me that the best love stories often start with laughter. I can’t help but think about how their story mirrors what we try to create here at Alpha & Omega Farm — a place where families gather, where laughter flows as freely as that pail of water once did, and where communities come together to create lasting memories.
Looking at our farm today, I see echoes of Erwin and Eleanor’s legacy everywhere — in the careful craftsmanship of the house Erwin built with his own hands, in the warmth of community they fostered, and in the way their spirit of hospitality lives on in every pizza we serve and every gathering we host. When we renovated the farmhouse, we made a conscious decision to preserve Erwin’s craftsmanship while bringing in modern touches that would serve our new purpose. Their legacy of love continues to inspire us every day.
"LIVING LIKE SOMEONE LEFT THE GATE OPEN ISN’T JUST ABOUT FREEDOM — IT’S ABOUT EMBRACING THE UNEXPECTED GIFTS THAT COME WHEN WE STAY OPEN TO POSSIBILITY"
You know that saying, “Live like someone left the gate open”? That became our guiding philosophy during the pandemic. When most businesses were closing their doors, we found ourselves in the unique position of just opening ours — wide open to the fresh air and sunshine.
In a time when the world felt like it was closing in, with barriers going up everywhere, we chose to think differently. Just as farm animals discover unexpected joy when they find an open gate, we found that creating an open, welcoming space could bring that same sense of freedom and discovery to our community during a challenging time.
The pandemic may have closed many gates, but it inspired us to swing ours wide open — safely and thoughtfully. We created outdoor spaces where people could breathe freely, laugh openly and remember what community felt like. Those fire pits and picnic tables became more than just seating — they became gathering spots where families could escape the confines of their homes and find connection again.
Living like someone left the gate open isn’t just about freedom — it’s about embracing the unexpected gifts that come when we stay open to possibility. Just as our pizza farm wasn’t in the original plan for this property, some of the best things in life happen when we leave the gate open to new opportunities, even during challenging times.
What moves me most about our farm’s story is how it has truly come full circle. Where once the Reynolds family gathered for reunions and holidays, now new families create their own traditions around our fire pits and pizza ovens. Where once motor homes parked under shady trees for summer visits, now glamping tents offer visitors a chance to wake up to the sight of alpacas grazing in the morning mist.
The most touching part of our story, though, is how the Reynolds family, including their daughter Carol and her extended family, still visit us. Watching them enjoy our pizzas in the home her father built brings tears to my eyes. When Carol told me, “I think that Mom and Dad would be so pleased,” I knew we had honored their legacy in the best possible way.
As Alison so beautifully put it, “Sometimes what appears to be the ending is really just the beginning of something wonderful.” That’s exactly what Alpha & Omega Farm represents — a new beginning that honors all that came before while creating space for new memories to be made.
Every season brings new faces and returning friends to our tables. I love greeting everyone who visits as “family” because that’s exactly what this place is about — creating a sense of belonging that transcends the typical customer relationship. When I see children playing on our grounds, teenagers disconnecting from their phones to actually talk to each other and grandparents sharing stories around the fire, I know we’ve created exactly what we set out to build: a true community gathering place.
As we continue to write the next chapters of Alpha & Omega Farm’s story, I’m filled with gratitude for the rich history that preceded us and excitement for the new memories we’ll continue to make together. From Erwin and Eleanor’s first splash of water to the crackle of our wood-fire ovens today, this land has always been about bringing people together.
We invite you to become part of our story. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning like an old friend, our gates are always open.
Alpha & Omega Farm serves wood-fire pizza made with locally sourced ingredients just outside Princeton, Minnesota. Open from May through October, the farm also offers glamping accommodations and corporate event hosting. Visit their website at https://alphaomegafarm.co/ (and no, that is not a typo; it is “.co”) or follow their social media pages for current hours and special events.
Tired of the same four walls? Break free at Alpha & Omega Farm, where 38 vibrant acres become your canvas for connection.
WHERE ORDINARY MEETINGS
BECOME EXTRAORDINARY MEMORIES
Imagine your team exchanging ideas in our Scandinavian-inspired Summer Huis, building relationships in the charming Grainzebo or celebrating success under open skies as alpacas graze nearby.
At Alpha & Omega Farm, we don’t just host events; we cultivate experiences that transform colleagues into community.
CRAFT YOUR PERFECT GATHERING
Reserved Spaces During Pizza Nights
• Semi-private areas for groups of up to 40
• Wood-fired pizza and live music
• The perfect casual atmosphere for team building
Private Farm Rental
• Exclusive use of our entire 38-acre property
• Customizable experiences for client appreciation
• Flexible spaces that inspire creativity and connection
WHERE TEAMS CONNECT. AND CLIENTS FEEL APPRECIATED.
Whether you’re planning a strategic retreat or a client appreciation event, or simply need to reconnect your team with purpose, our family farm setting offers the perfect backdrop for meaningful engagement.
Gift cards are available — the perfect way to show appreciation to clients and employees alike.
By CYD HAYNES
The United States is a country made up of immigrants.
— New citizen Noah Lara
The large hall buzzed with quiet excitement. Families clutched their phones, ready to capture the moment, while 501 men and women of all ages sat anxiously, their hands folded in their laps. A ceremony was taking place at the Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, a place filled with history and significance. Among those gathered were three siblings — Daniel Lara, Itzel Lara Ambriz and Noah Lara — who had waited a long time for this moment. Today they would finally become U.S. citizens together.
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen.”
As they repeated these words, each of them reflected on the journey that had brought them here. They were born in Mexico and arrived in the United States in 2004, when the youngest, Itzel, was just 2 years old. Growing up in Minnesota, they built their lives balancing their Mexican heritage with the opportunities and responsibilities of their new home. Twenty years later, as adults, they chose to pursue citizenship in the only country they had ever known, valuing the freedom, economic opportunities and safety it provided.
“That I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
The pat h to citizenship was filled with challenges. They had begun the official naturalization application process in October 2024, memorizing for the civics test and reviewing U.S. history and government, all with a determination to pass. The night before the test, they reviewed together the amendments to the Constitution and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Noah had been so nervous that he asked his aunt to quiz him while driving to the interview. When they all passed, their celebration was filled with both joy and relief.
“Any immigrant applying for naturalization has to have a grounds for qualification based on having been a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) in the U.S. for at least five years,” says Dawn Holicky Pruitt, lawyer at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath.
Besides qualifying and demonstrating good moral character, applicants must pass an English reading and writing test, as well as a civics test to move on from the interview stage of the process, which includes 100 questions, then answer 6/10 questions correctly on the day of the interview. Minnesota applicants pass the test on their first attempt 90% of the time.
What kinds of questions must applicants answer correctly? Here are some examples. Can you answer them?
*Answers at the end of the article.
a) Who makes federal laws?
b) How many amendments does the Constitution have?
c) Name your U.S. representative.
d) If both the president and the vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
e) Name one power of the federal government.
f) What is the name of the speaker of the House of Representatives now?
g) Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
h) When was the Constitution written?
i) Who was president during World War I?
j) Name one responsibility that is only for U.S. citizens.
k) What is the deadline for submitting federal income forms?
l) The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
m) Name one U.S. territory.
n) What is the name of the national anthem?
“That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”
However, their journey had not just been about legal status — it was about belonging. Daniel worked for a medical manufacturing company while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in finance. Itzel also worked in medical manufacturing and planned to begin college the following fall. Noah was a pharmacy technician, also finishing a bachelor’s degree. They had all found ways to contribute to the country that had given them so much.
One of the moments that stood out during the ceremony was when new citizens were recognized in groups of the 76 countries they had come from. “The judge pointed out that the United States is a country made up of immigrants,” Noah remembered. As they listened to the federal judge’s words, they felt a deep sense of pride in their journey.
“That I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
Freedom. Responsibility. Security. These words carried profound meaning for the Lara siblings. Becoming U.S. citizens meant they could vote in future elections. “The right to vote really matters, because it’s my voice,” said Itzel. It also meant they no longer had to worry about changes in immigration policy affecting their status.
A line in the Oath of Allegiance resonated deeply with Daniel in particular: “That I will support and defend the Constitution and laws … against all enemies.” He knew that he was willing to fight for the United States, to fully defend the Constitution with the commitment he had made.
As the ceremony concluded, applause erupted. Daniel, Itzel and Noah turned to one another with knowing smiles. They had done this together, just as they had navigated every challenge before. Noah shared congratulations with the woman sitting next to him — a second ago, a complete stranger, now not so dissimilar. Around them, others celebrated, families embracing and new citizens wiping away tears of joy.
“Congratulations, citizens,” the officiant announced warmly.
The three siblings had taken an oath not just with words, but with their entire hearts. And now, they were ready to live it.
• The naturalization application process typically takes from several months to a year (after completing residency requirements of three to five years).
• By 2023, the foreign-born population in Minnesota had reached approximately 8.6% of the state’s total population.
• In the 1890s, while 15% of the U.S. population was foreign-born, Minnesota’s foreign-born population was notably higher, at 40%. Immigrants hailed primarily from Sweden, Norway and Germany.
• Post–Vietnam War, Minnesota welcomed refugees from Southeast Asia, notably from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
• As of 2018, immigrants from Mexico constituted 12% of the state’s immigrant population, while those from Somalia accounted for 8%.
• Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States.
• The Twin Cities area hosts the largest Hmong community in the world outside of Asia.
• Smaller immigrant communities in Minnesota include the largest group of Oromo — an ethnic group from Ethiopia — outside of that country; the secondlargest group of Tibetans in the U.S.; and a concentration of West African refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone.
* Put to the Test — ANSWERS
a) Congress; b) 27; c) usa.gov/electedofficials; d) The Speaker of the House; e) print money, declare war, create an army, make treaties; f) Mike Johnson; g) Thomas Jefferson; h) 1787 i) Woodrow Wilson; j) serve on a jury, vote in a federal election; k) April 15 (typically); l) 435; m) Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam; n) The Star-Spangled Banner
For nearly three decades, The Heritage Center has been a beloved destination for gatherings of all kinds. With 40,000 square feet of flexible event space and 17 unique rooms, it’s the perfect place to bring people together—whether you’re planning a celebration, a community event, or an inspiring day of learning.
Located just minutes from downtown Minneapolis, the Heritage Center offers the best of both worlds: the charm of a historic setting paired with the ease and comfort of modern amenities. From the beautiful courtyard to the cutting-edge audiovisual technology and professional catering services, everything you need is right here.
What really sets the Heritage Center apart is the dedicated team behind every event. Friendly, detail-driven, and passionate about hospitality, they’ll be with you every step of the way to make sure your event feels effortless—and unforgettable.
By CHRIS PASCONE
Who goes hiking in the Boundary Waters? Why go backpacking in a place with over 1,100 lakes explorable by canoe? After all, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a water paradise, first and foremost.
But that’s just it: Exploring the unknown means seeking alternative, outside-the-box ways to experience places that we might already know, but from a different perspective. It could be going to a familiar place in a different season than we’ve ever seen it before. Or accessing these places using different methods than usual. Finally, it’s about having the mindset that we, ourselves, can be transformed by new explorations.
It was with these goals in mind that my daughter, Vanessa, and I planned to backpack one of the least-known areas of the Boundary Waters: the Powwow Trail. Originating at BWCAW Entry Point 86 (Lake Isabella) in far northern Minnesota, the Powwow Trail is “Alaska four hours north of the Twin Cities,” to quote a friend.
Vanessa and I ratcheted up the “unknown” aspect another step too: We planned the hike for early March, a time when the Powwow is typically covered in deep snow. Taking my 13-year-old to this remote area where we’d be guaranteed not to see a soul for three days meant a lot of “unknowns.” And that was exactly what we were looking for: experiencing the wilderness in a new, challenging way.
The Powwow Trail makes a 31-mile lollipop loop through rugged backcountry terrain. In fact, this area was burned to the ground just 14 years ago, in the 92,000-acre Pagami Creek fire. The trail was closed for years, and only thanks to the efforts of the all-volunteer Boundary Waters Advisory Group was the trail rehabilitated, with the final strokes to the trail restoration project being completed in 2023.
Vanessa likes to walk fast. But she also would have to wear a heaping backpack carrying our provisions and her winter sleeping bag and warm clothes. I would carry our two-person tent, camp stove, pots and pans, and my own sleeping bag and extra layers. We’d both have
to carry a lot of water. Eating and drinking well would be essential for dealing with cold temps and long days on foot.
As our trip date approached, conditions came together perfectly: temperatures were well below freezing for our trip, following a practically snowless winter and an early March thaw. This meant the tread of the Powwow was transformed just before our trip from mud into hard ground, with no puddles, slush or standing water. There was still snow on some shadier sections of the trail, but it crusted over hard. With all the conditions lining up just right, we set off to seize our opportunity on March 8, 2024.
We saw two lynx on our drive down Forest Road 377 to the entry point, our first reward for exploring the unknown. We set up camp the first night a mile in from the trailhead, along the gurgling Isabella River.
We had frost on the tent in the morning, following a brutally cold night, but the day dawned clear and sunny. It was time to hike. We had three days to do 30 more miles.
About half an hour in, we finally started warming up enough to take off our down jackets. We got to the end of the lollipop stick (the first “wye”), and decided to hike the Powwow counter-clockwise. We were on a roll now, making it to the second wye in the trail an hour later.
We started up one of the hardest sections of the trail, heading northwest. We were expecting to see far more tree falls in this section (we had climbed over only a few downed trees to this point), but the trail was totally passable. We were building up an appetite but made our goal of reaching the Pose Lake campsite before stopping for lunch.
The site was incredibly windblown, located high over the lake, and the wind had a polar feel to it. We retreated behind a rocky knob to make lunch and relax a bit.
Soon we were back on trail, admiring the new forest growth. Vanessa was amazed by the density and intense color of the green jack pines, which were all about 20 feet tall, 13 years after the forest fire.
We had planned to reach North Wilder Lake to make camp for the night, but here we took the word “exploration” literally: we got off trail and hiked across frozen South Wilder Lake to a canoe campsite instead. This is what exploring means: taking advantage of conditions, changing plans as needed, responding to your environment. We gathered plenty of water from the lake and had a fabulous night’s sleep.
The next day we saw a pair of trumpeter swans, then found our way back onto the Powwow. We followed it north, but not all the way to North Wilder. Instead, we left the trail again so as to make a shortcut across three other frozen lakes: Harbor, Brewis and Horseshoe. All three are connected by maintained canoe portages.
We were treated to bluebird skies again and hiked for about two and a half hours before stopping for lunch at the far west end of Horseshoe Lake, where we reconnected with the Powwow. This was exploring at its best — we benefited from the same ribbons of water that canoeists use come summertime, but in their frozen state.
We hiked at a great pace from Horseshoe Lake to Rock of Ages Lake, and then to Mirror Lake. The hiking felt fluid and fun, despite our heavy packs. We saw a beautiful sunset over Mirror Lake and again walked the ice.
We then made the final push to Superstition Lake in the dark, by headlamp. We ended up doing another 10-mile day, with about 7 hours of hiking. It was good to make camp and eat a big pot of wild rice soup for dinner. We had gotten ourselves into position to finish off the Powwow circumnavigation on our last day.
I made a fire on our third morning, along with our usual breakfast of oatmeal, coffee and tea. We packed up quicker than the first two mornings and left camp at 9:45, after taking pictures on the ice.
Soon we were making fast progress, as the southern section of the Powwow loop is the easiest part of the whole trail. The temperature shot up from 15 degrees when we woke up, to 55 degrees by 1:30 p.m. We finished our trip just as the window of hard ground and frozen lake surfaces was closing.
We saw 15 lakes in all on our trip. The abundant sunshine, the achievement of hiking 31 miles over land and ice, and our sense of teamwork throughout our three-day trek brought Vanessa and me a lot of satisfaction together. We had explored an unknown-to-us section of the BWCAW, in conditions we had never backpacked in before. Our reward was a dream expedition over the frozen footpaths of the Powwow.
y e ar-r o un d
Enjoy an elevated experience at Spirit Mountain, home to the region's only alpine coaster, zip ride, scenic chairlift, Jumping Pillow and putt-putt golf, as well as some of the Midwest's best gravity-biking mountain trails.
At first glance, a warehouse humming with the meticulous assembling of corrugated plastic products may not seem like the obvious place to employ and empower people with disabilities. But get to know the people doing the work, and you’ll quickly learn that MDI is a special place, with a culture founded on inclusion.
MDI is a Minneapolis-based manufacturer of corrugated plastic products and provider of production and medical services that help keep supplies flowing across Minnesota and the world. Within its three Minnesota facilities, MDI is a thriving business with a nonprofit mission of empowering the career success of people with disabilities. In fact, approximately half of MDI’s employees are people with disabilities.
Eric Black, president and CEO of MDI, says there is an opportunity for other Minnesota businesses to engage and employ this overlooked talent pool to address workforce shortages. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is twice the general population.
“When we hire a new employee, we focus on the person’s abilities and strengths — not their limitations,” Black said. “The sobering reality is that tens of thousands of Minnesotans with disabilities — from Chanhassen to Crosby — are skilled and ready to work but have not been given a fair shot.”
Black, who spent more than two decades working for a Fortune 500 company himself, challenges companies of all sizes to keep an open mind and consider hiring people with disabilities.
“It’s not enough just to hire a person with disabilities,” added Black. “The real work starts after the hire, with the ultimate goals of job satisfaction, retention and empowerment.”
MDI’s Career Skills program — offered since 2017 — helps employees become the “CEOs of their life” through weekly classes that build personal and professional development skills to improve confidence and productivity. The program has a goal of impacting 2,500 lives by 2025. MDI is seeking one-time funding from the Minnesota Legislature to roll out a virtual component and thus expand its reach.
Pointing to progress made by other Minnesota companies, including Arrowhead Medical, Boston Scientific, Brother Justus Whiskey Company and Hotel Rapids, Black says providing good-paying jobs for people with disabilities also makes economic sense.
“If we open our minds to untapped talent pools, we can provide meaningful employment for people who deserve it, solve staffing challenges across the state and strengthen our economy.”
As an architectural firm with a storefront in the Duluth community, CF Design has both opportunity and obligation, to raise design expectations and promote a culture of design awareness and appreciation when and how we can. CF design has always been a visual and demonstrative organization, with our works and our processes on display. Even so, there are influences upon the design process, so fundamental to the way we do work and think, as designers and architects, that the public little comprehends and, therefore, considers inconsequential. Sometimes lost in abstractions, the “Influence of Light” is one of those primary creative inspirations. One needs to be “present in the moment” to recognize the poetry and power of light. Calm & Observation are required to understand the long-term potentials and the teaching “opportunities” that light may deliver. In today’s world, to simply “be still” requires willfull accommodation. So, CF design has made a place to come to know and appreciate Light in a restful and relaxed setting.
You who live on or visit Lake Superior’s shore should know your common ground. Many great lighting designers lived on or near the sea. Poul Henningsen, designer of the iconic PH series of lights, worked in Copenhagen. Santiago de Composta, home of designer Arturo Alvarez, reaches into the North Atlantic. The wonderful Spanish lighting company, Marset, is in Barcelona, on the Balearic Sea. On our doorstep, the Inland Sea, there is a sense of light … modified, rarified, and transformed by Lake Superior. This light is a brighter, more complex, more enabled light than many other places on earth. Amidst so many manifest lessons, Duluth is a place where telling the story of Light & Lighting is expressly relevant.
Here, next to CF design at 310 East Superior Street, in Duluth, I have recently opened LUMstudio, a curated collection of the finest international lighting. LUMstudio exhibits Italian, Spanish, Danish, and Dutch lighting fabricators, together with an assortment of fine US-made fixtures. Because observation needs “intentional stillness”, our collection is supported by comfy furnishings from the iconic MillerKnoll
Collective & Portugal’s Branca Lisboa. The most famous of our lights, Poulsen’s PH5 - designed 100 years ago, is the only incandescent fixture. This is an all-LED exhibit. The stories of Making and Inspiration play quietly on a large screen, in studio. We want LUMstudio to cultivate a Culture of Light here on the shores of Lake Superior, by demonstrating the diffraction, diffusion, and reflection of light that are each so much a part of this Place and our natural experiences. Amidst planes of cold, still water and blue sky, the graded diffusion of sea smoke and fog in moonlight, the spectrum of color at sunrise through lucent atmosphere and clouds, the linear shimmer on a wave threshold, the concentric circles of light around the brightest stars and planets on a warm and humid night … These are performances we can anticipate from light.
Good architecture is specific to its Site, The on-site state of light is considered very early in the process of design. At CF design, we look at Lake Superior and are moved to match its potency in our built spaces. Light, in all of its forms and form-making,“settles” projects into the natural conditions. At CF design, we begin our work with this premise and we realize our work by holding on to the capacity of light - both generated and natural - to render tangible surface, form, texture, and color.
At LUMstudio, our collection simply celebrates Light. Please join us.
310 E. Superior Street Suite 125 Duluth, MN
218.722.1060 | 218.343.0983
cfdesignltd.com | lumstudio.us
Cheryl Fosdick
By HOLLI BUSCHING
Grand Rapids, Minnesota: the outdoor Mecca of the North. With lakes, trails and fresh air, you’re sure to find something fun to do. My favorite spring, summer and fall activity is paddling!
In fact, you could say paddling is my passion. As young girls, my sister and I used to paddle canoes along the shores of Bass Lake. We loved feeling the sun on our shoulders and sand between our toes. As a teen, I went camping with my family on Lakes NorthStar and Clubhouse, where being on the water was second nature. I honeymooned in the Boundary Waters. I took girlfriend trips in kayaks, just because we could. Dipping in a paddle, I answered all the questions my 2-year-old son had about fish, turtles, lily pads and frogs. The first time stand-up paddle boarding was truly like walking on water! Oh, the memories and the joy of knowing there’s more to come. When you feel this happy doing something, you want to share it.
That is the premise behind Paddle Hoppers, my little paddle shop on the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids. I want to share the joy of paddling. Paddling is a sport that everyone can do, young and old alike. You can do it alone, with a partner or pet, or in a group. You can do it for an hour, a day or even a week. You can paddle canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddleboards. You can paddle out for fun or to bring back dinner. There is no limit to where you can go or what you’ll see, and with 1,084 lakes in Itasca County alone, you don’t have to go far. Paddle Hoppers offers kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards that are ready to get you out on the water.
Our site is located right on the gorgeous shores of the Mississippi River. If you haven’t paddled the river between the Pokegama and Blandin dams, you’ll be surprised at how wild and beautiful it is. Paddle Hoppers offers river access at the shop, on County Road 63 in Grand Rapids, for those who just want to rent for a few hours. From the moment you put in, you will experience the slow-moving water slapping against the sandy and slightly rocky shorelines that are studded with deciduous and coniferous trees. As you paddle your way along the river in either direction, you will see an abundance of Minnesota wildlife including loons, ducks and eagles. This section is also a great place to fish, with the opportunity to catch a variety of species; just be sure to get a Minnesota fishing license first.
As you paddle, you may also notice big deadheads, or logs, in the river; these are the remains of our logging heritage and a time gone by when logs were floated down the river. In fact, after paddling, you can check out the Forest History Center, where you can learn more about our logging history. Be sure to pack yourself a lunch, as there are a couple of spots to pull out of the water and grab a bite. Sylvan Bay and Izaac Walton Park offer boat access, picnic tables, benches and a fishing pier. If you continue upriver, you’ll find a picnic area, a walking trail to stretch your legs and even a playground at the Pokegama Dam!
Looking for a little more adventure? Start a paddle trip at the Steamboat landing right across from our public library. This section of the Mississippi River is unique because it is very close to town, yet you would never know! It passes under bridges, through farmland (ask the Californians about the cows!) and past big pine stands that sit high above the river and lowlands where you are paddling in the trees. Wildlife is sure to be seen. You can quit a few hours downriver at the Blackberry Bridge Landing or make it a five- to six-hour trip to Herb Beer’s landing, but be sure to have a truck or friend waiting to bring you back to town where you started. Once you are back in town, head over to one of our many awesome places to eat or drink, like Unwind Up North or Rapids Brewing Company, or grab a brew and enjoy live music, often brought in by Klockow Brewing Company. Need vegetarian or vegan fare? Stop at Brewed Awakenings.
As you can see, Grand Rapids has a lot to offer the paddling enthusiast, both on and off the Mississippi River. If you need gear or advice or just want to chat, stop in and see us at the shop or check out our website at paddlehoppers.com. Happy paddling!
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Voyageurs Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Voyageurs National Park.
Our work began in 1965, when a group of visionary citizens came together with the goal of protecting the lands and waters of the Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point Lakes region of northern Minnesota. Voyageurs National Park was established in 1975.
Today, your gift helps us carry on their legacy. In partnership with the National Park Service, Voyageurs Conservancy works to preserve the wild character and unique experience of Voyageurs by funding projects and programs that will sustain it for generations to come.
This year we reflect on a half-century of parkhood and take in the present day wonders – from big lakes, to wild habitat and world-class dark skies. And we look 50 more years into the future, envisioning a park that is protected and accessible for many generations to come.
Fifty years ago, people like you made history by ensuring Voyageurs National Park would be protected forever. Now, it’s our turn to ensure the next 50 years are just as extraordinary.
This year we reflect on a half-century of parkhood and take in the present day wonders – from big lakes, to wild habitat and world-class dark skies
When you contact Best Care, you’ll be greeted by our dedicated management team, who are ready to answer your questions and guide you through the Personal Care Assistant (PCA) process. Every day, our staff connects clients to the support they need and helps caregivers receive fair compensation for the high-quality, dedicated care they provide to a loved one. Whether you’re a friend or family member who is currently providing in-home care for a senior parent or disabled loved one without compensation, we’re happy to help!.
By JOE HENRY
People love a good comeback story, and that is exactly what is happening on the northern border of Minnesota. Lake sturgeon have made, and are continuing to make, an incredible comeback. At one point, the population of these massive, prehistoric fish was struggling, but a few important changes turned the tide. Now sturgeon numbers, size and popularity are on the rise.
Joe Henry with a
These powerful fish have made an incredible comeback in Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, and anglers are taking notice.
One of the largest populations of lake sturgeon in the U.S. lives in the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods. This scenic and winding waterway marks the international border with Canada and is best known for walleyes. However, anglers looking to catch the biggest freshwater fish of their lives — fish that can exceed 100 pounds — are beginning to take notice of the sturgeon.
The sturgeon population has been getting healthier since the mid-1960s. Commercial netting, used to harvest sturgeon eggs to be processed into caviar, was halted in the early 1920s. Since caviar harvesting involved cutting open the fish and removing the eggs, it drastically reduced sturgeon numbers.
At one point, Lake of the Woods was a major producer of the world’s caviar. Caviar was shipped via steamships to Kenora, Ontario, where established railroad lines transported it to major East Coast U.S. cities, where demand was high.
In addition to commercial netting, pollution in the Rainy River took a toll on the sturgeon population. Before modern regulations, excessive pollution and pulp waste from upstream paper mills harmed water quality. Significant improvements did not happen until the Clean Water Act was strengthened in the mid-1960s.
Historically, it is believed that the most successful sturgeon reproduction occurred in the cleaner waters of the tributaries feeding into the Rainy River. Once commercial netting ended and pollution levels dropped, sturgeon populations began to thrive. Today, a regulated sturgeon “keep season” allows anglers to harvest one sturgeon of between 45 and 50 inches or over 75 inches per calendar year.
Anglers who wish to keep a sturgeon must purchase a sturgeon tag, in addition to their Minnesota fishing license. The tagged fish must then be reported to the Minnesota DNR, similar to registering a deer after a hunt.
Because of the abundance of sturgeon in the Rainy River and anglers’ growing knowledge of how to target them, interest in sturgeon fishing has skyrocketed.
The appeal of catching a fish that can reach up to 120 pounds is undeniable. Typically, landing a fish of that size requires a trip to the ocean — but not anymore.
Lake sturgeon are the largest freshwater fish in the Great Lakes Basin. They prefer nearshore warm waters of 50–65°F and depths of 15–30 feet. Their diet consists of insect larvae, crayfish, snails, clams, leeches, minnows and other small aquatic creatures found along the river bottom.
Unlike most fish, lake sturgeon do not have scales. Instead, they have five rows of bone-like plates along their backs and stomachs called scutes. These scutes are sharp when the fish are young but become smoother as they age. When you handle a sturgeon, you quickly realize just how durable and tough these prehistoric fish are.
Sturgeon can live for over 100 years but grow and reproduce slowly. Females take about 25 years to mature, while males mature at 15 years. Females spawn only once every four years, while males spawn every other year. Because of their slow reproduction rates, it is important to handle these fish with care to ensure future populations remain strong. Many of these fish are older than the anglers catching them, making them true river elders!
For those who want to experience the thrill of catching a sturgeon, many Lake of the Woods and Rainy River resorts offer guided sturgeon trips. A guide provides valuable knowledge about where to fish and supplies the heavy rods, reels, line and tackle needed to handle these giants.
For anglers bringing their own boats and gear, a standard sturgeon rig consists of an 18-inch leader of 60-pound test line with a circle hook. This rig is paired with a flat “no roll” sinker weighing 3–4 ounces, depending on the current.
Most anglers use nightcrawlers, frozen emerald shiners or a combination of both as bait. The best approach is to anchor upstream of a deep hole in the river. The current carries the scent of the bait downstream, drawing sturgeon to the area.
Planning ahead for landing a big fish is essential. A large net or a tail lasso helps manage the fish safely. Have needle-nose pliers ready for hook removal and a camera set for a quick photo before releasing the fish.
Catching a big lake sturgeon is an incredible experience. The moment you hook into one of these prehistoric fish, the raw power is undeniable. Your rod doubles over, and the reel screams as the fish rips line. After an exhausting battle, the fish surfaces, sometimes launching itself out of the water in an impressive display. It is not your typical day of fishing — and it is certainly not your typical fish.
by
Some of my fondest food memories I have revolve around freshly caught lake fish. The experience of being out on a boat all day with friends, catching what inevitably becomes our dinner, cleaning the fish and preparing the meal, the final feast – all these memories bring me to a happy place. I was never an avid angler – fishing was always a very casual event for me – but perhaps that’s why I’ve enjoyed it so much. It was never a chore. It wasn’t considered work. It was something done on special occasions or on vacation. This lack of expectation kept the task simple and fun, made sitting on the water comfortable, relaxed, blissful.
A fine adult take on classic fried chicken nuggets, made special by using northern pike fillets along with a tartar sauce seasoned with cornichons (small French pickles). All too often people don’t give northern pike the respect they deserve because their structure makes them more difficult to debone than your average fish, but these days there are many YouTube tutorials to help you through the process. And this recipe is a good choice for when those first few fillets don’t come out quite right. Give this fish a chance: the effort truly is worth it.
Serves 2–4
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp finely chopped cornichons
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup beer (or water)
1 large egg
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning vegetable oil
1lb skinless northern pike fillets, cut into 1½–inch nuggets
DIRECTIONS
Stir together mayo, pickles, and vinegar in a small mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate until needed.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, beer, egg, baking powder, Old Bay, and a generous pinch of salt.
Add about 2 inches vegetable oil to a medium saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and warm to 350 degrees.
Dip fish nuggets into batter, gently place in the oil, and fry until golden brown, about 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from oil and drain on paper towel–lined plate. Season the nuggets with salt as soon as they come out of the fryer. Serve alongside the tartar sauce.
One of the things I love about good tartines (aside from the fact that they’re absolutely delicious) is that they sound WAY fancier than they really are. Tartine is simply a French name for an open-faced sandwich, but it works so well with trout that your friends and family won’t be the wiser when they sit down to eat their fancy sandwiches. This recipe is great for leftover trout, but you can also cook some up expressly for this purpose: just let it cool before you make your tartines.
Serves 2–4
4 slices pumpernickel bread
½ cup chive (or herbed) cream cheese
2 cups cooked, flaked trout
½ cup thinly sliced red onion chives
olive oil (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Toast the bread to desired level of doneness—ideally, crisp on the outside and still chewy on the inside. Spread approximately 2 tablespoons of cream cheese on each slice and then top evenly with trout, red onion, and fresh chives. Cut in half, lightly drizzle with olive oil if desired, and serve.
Of the millions of ways to put together a taco, this one might be the easiest. That there are so few ingredients is really the selling point, as it helps to emphasize the freshness of the fish. The walleye is perfect as its own entity, and the earthiness of the corn tortillas helps the natural sweetness of the fish to shine. Couple that with a sweet, savory, and spicy mango salsa and you may have created the perfect food.
Serves 2–4
1 cup finely chopped mango
½ cup finely chopped tomato
½ cup finely chopped red onion juice of ½ lime
2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
4 (4- to 6-ounce) skinless walleye fillets
8 corn tortillas
DIRECTIONS
Stir together the mango, tomato, onion, lime juice, and cilantro in a bowl. Season with salt and refrigerate until needed. Pat the walleye fillets dry and season with salt. Place a grill pan over high heat and coat with nonstick spray. Add the fillets and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, then remove from heat. Cook the corn tortillas for about 10 seconds on each side. Flake the fish and place in tortillas. Top with the mango salsa.
Everybody loves a good burger, but for some reason when it comes to fish, the default seems to be salmon. For a fresh change, dill and green onion add brightness to northern, making an excellent burger for any summertime cookout.
Serves 2–4
½ cup coarsely chopped green onions, green parts only
¼ cup coarsely chopped dill
4 (6-ounce) skinless northern fillets, cut into one-inch cubes
1 large egg bread crumbs (if needed) buns burger fixings: lettuce, tomato, onion, mayonnaise
DIRECTIONS
Place the green onions and dill in a blender and pulse 2 to 3 times to combine. Add in the fish fillets and pulse several times, until the mixture is fully combined and the fish is finely chopped. Spoon mixture into a large mixing bowl and add egg, stirring to thoroughly combine. If the mixture seems wet, slowly add in bread crumbs to soak up the extra moisture until mixture reaches “burger” consistency. Form mixture into 4 to 6 patties and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Place a griddle pan over high heat and grease with nonstick spray. Add the fish patties and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until the fish is fully cooked through. Serve on a bun with your favorite burger toppings.
I don’t have many memories from my early childhood, but there is one that is clear as day ...
NORTH MALLOW
The S'mores Kit
Meet North Mallow, founded by Mike and Christine, the s’mores experts and camp counselors from Minnesota who set out to revolutionize marshmallows and s’mores. Their gourmet vanilla bean marshmallows are crafted with high-quality natural ingredients, free of high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and preservatives, ensuring a deliciously guilt-free treat for families and campers alike. Through their Get Outdoors S’more donation program, North Mallow not only spreads joy with their products but also supports summer camps and environmental conservation efforts, embodying their commitment to community and the great outdoors.
northmallow.com @northmallow thelakeandco.com
By JIM HAROLD
They say that young kids can see things grownups don’t see or can’t see. They’re more imaginative and closer to the veil. Well, I don’t have many memories from my early childhood, but there is one that is clear as day. I was five or six years old. My room faced our backyard. We had a wooded area in the back, and a single street lamp outside illuminated it somewhat, but not too much.
This particular night, I had been in bed for a while but couldn’t sleep. I turned my head to look out into the yard and noticed a black mass outside. I couldn’t make out what it was. It seemed humanoid, but that was all I could make out. One thing I do remember distinctly was that it seemed to suck the night into it. It seemed blacker than everything else around it. I watched this thing in the backyard, and I realized it was coming toward my window! I kept my eyes on it because I wasn’t sure what I was seeing. The next thing I knew, it was right at my windowsill. My house was about three feet off the ground, and the window was higher than that. This thing somehow leaped through my closed window and into my room. As a little kid, I pulled my covers up to my head and watched this thing stroll into my room. The lamp stayed on, and I watched this black figure go around the corner of my bed into the hallway, and it just disappeared. This really happened, and it kept happening! About a week later, it happened again. It was the same exact experience.
The third time was very similar, except my lamp went out, but I could still see whatever it was. The next time it happened, it came into the window again, but this time, it was different. It didn’t go into the hallway as it usually did. It went and stood over me for a minute. The feeling I got from it, I still can’t really describe. It didn’t feel evil, but it didn’t feel great either. It was in the middle of the road, I guess. I could feel the presence of it, and it seemed to just stare right down through me. Then I felt the presence leave, and I didn’t know what to make of that. So I didn’t say anything to my parents.
It happened again for the last time, and things got really personal. I could see it coming through the backyard again, the same as before. It came and leaped up into my window. Of course, this time, I was so frightened when it had been staring down at me that I pulled the covers over my head. I didn’t want to see it, and I could feel it come straight toward the bed again. The next thing I knew, I felt like I was being wrapped up. I don’t even know what I would call it. It felt like I was being encased in a cocoon or something like that. It was really weird, really creepy. I swear to you, the next thing I knew, this thing just started rubbing my sides and was tickling me all over. I didn’t really know what to make of it. I’m ticklish as it is, so I couldn’t stop it, or try to fight it, or anything.
The next thing I remember is waking up the following day and seeing my dad outside mowing the grass. I honestly don’t remember falling asleep. I don’t know anything else. That was actually the last time that I ever saw anything of it. I still get the feeling that something was around my house occasionally, but I’ve never seen it again. To this day, I still have no idea what to make of the real-life tickle monster.
If you are new to our Campfire series, you can jump in right here. Each book is a compilation of our best stories, and each stands alone. We cover ghosts, shadow people, after-death visitations, cryptids, UFOs, psychic phenomena and much more. We find it all fascinating. Grab some marshmallows and your favorite beverage. Sit for a while by our Campfire.
FOLLOWING AN ABANDONED RAILROAD LINE, SOO LINE NORTH TRAIL IS MINNESOTA’S ULTIMATE ATV CONNECTOR.
Minnesota has proven to be a wonderful place to ride, and the Soo Line Trail is no exception. A great destination to catch some scenic views and wildlife, this relaxed style of all-terrain vehicle trail riding that is ideal for the whole family.
The Soo Line Trail is an abandoned railroad line that has essentially been converted to a gravel road intended for snowmobile and ATV / UTV use as well as hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. There are two parts of the Soo Line Trail, the Soo Line South ATV Trail and the Soo Line North ATV Trail also known as the North Woods ATV Trail. The Soo Line South ATV trail is 126 miles long, starting in Superior, Wisconsin, and runs southwest ending in Royalton, Minnesota.
The scenic route features a mix of dense forest, swampy marshes, farmland, and trestle crossings as well as a variety of side loops including the Northern Pine Riders ATV Trail. It connects with the Soo Line North ATV Trail just southwest of Moose Lake near the trailhead we entered each day. The Soo Line North ATV Trail is 148 miles long, starting at Moose Lake and continues northwest through Aitkin County and serves as the backbone for the Northwoods ATV Trail System.
Since the Soo Line runs through several small towns, it’s common for riders to make frequent pit stops for fuel, food, and beverages at each town’s local bar/restaurant. Locals and regular riders to the area often “bar hop”. Go hit the Soo and find the adventure this Fall.
Little Lazy Lodge is where luxury meets the outdoors. Operating year-round on the edge of stunning Chippewa Forest, our direct access to trails and wildlife means your adventure of a lifetime is just minutes away.
Located smack dab in the middle of thousands of acres of public land where you can hunt deer, bear, or grouse. If you prefer to just watch wildlife, you are likely to see a bobcat, a coyote, or a wolf or two. At the very least you’ll hear them howl as you sit around the campfire.
Fishing, boating, and any water-related sport are just a hop, skip, and a jump to Leech Lake, Boy River, Winnibigoshish, and Pokegama Lake. Guide services and rentals are available.
If it’s waterfowl hunting you’re into, we have some of the best in the state just two miles away on the Boy River flyway between Boy Lake and Leech Lake. Hunt ducks in the morning and pheasants in the afternoon at the premier game farm, Bader’s Pheasant Run.
High-end features in the lodge and venue are ready to host your every need. Sauna, hot tub, steam shower, cozy beds, a cooks kitchen, and plenty of room to roam.
Situated along the banks of the Mississippi River, Lake City, Minnesota, is an idyllic town with a rich history, vibrant community and breathtaking natural beauty. However, Lake City has a unique distinction that sets it apart from other small towns across the state: it is the birthplace of waterskiing.
In the summer of 1922, a young man named Ralph Samuelson launched an experiment that would forever change the world of recreational sports. Samuelson grew up in Lake City as an avid outdoor enthusiast with a passion for skiing. He was inspired by his love for winter sports, including skiing, when setting out to create a new way to enjoy the water. His vision was to combine the thrill of skiing with the fun of water sports. Using a pair of homemade wooden skis and a simple rope, Samuelson took his vision to the waters of Lake Pepin. He managed to stand up on his skis and glide across the lake’s surface, launching the sport of waterskiing. His innovation and determination transformed his simple idea into a sport many still love today.
Lake City continues to celebrate its place in waterskiing history. The town hosts various events and activities that honor this heritage every year. Waterskiing remains an important part of the Lake City community. The annual Lake City Water Ski Days festival features performances from talented skiers who continue to push the boundaries of the sport. These shows, which often include complex tricks and routines, show how far waterskiing has come since Samuelson’s first attempt.
Beyond its waterskiing heritage, the town offers charming streets lined with boutique shops, cozy cafés and welcoming residents who are eager to share their town’s history.
The people of Lake City are deeply committed to preserving and celebrating their waterskiing heritage. Local organizations, including the Lake City Waterski Club and the Ralph Samuelson Historical Society, work to maintain the town’s historical sites and promote events that keep the spirit of waterskiing alive.
Lake City remains dedicated to celebrating its past while embracing new opportunities, and the legacy of Ralph Samuelson’s spirit continues to inspire the community and attract visitors. With ongoing events, new initiatives and a commitment to preserving the history of waterskiing, Lake City will continue to remain a hub for waterskiing enthusiasts and history buffs. Lake City’s history is a testament to the power of innovation, community and the enduring appeal of a beloved sport.
• Lake City Water Ski Days: Enjoy impressive waterskiing performances
• Lake City Hall: Artifacts belonging to the Lake City Historial Society and a pair of Ralph Samuelson’s water skis on display
• Float-A-Palooza: Bring your lily pad or flotation device for the biggest beach party on the river
• Downtown Lake City: Shop, dine at and explore the charming town center
• Lake Pepin: The iconic body of water where waterskiing was born
Every visit to Watertown, SD, is an opportunity to create unforgettable moments. Say hi to Watertown’s favorite camel, Bobby Sue, at the Bramble Park Zoo. Step back in time to 1885 by visiting the Mellette House, catch an evening performance at the beautifully restored Goss Opera House, and discover the art at the Redlin Art Center, where every painting tells a story. Explore the variety of restaurants, breweries and unique shops in the downtown area, or enjoy lake life year-round on Lake Kampeska and Pelican Lake.
One of only two zoos in South Dakota! The Bramble Park Zoo comprises 15 acres with approximately 500 animals representing 130 different species, including leopards, kangaroos, monkeys, eagles and alligators. They are known for their commitment to wildlife conservation and education. Accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "Come Closer" to the best Zoo in the area and get up close with the animals.
What makes a great getaway?
Is it unforgettable family fun? Inspiring artwork? How about sun-drenched days on the lake? You’ll find all these things and plenty more in Watertown, South Dakota, a place that’s undeniably one of a kind.
Goss Opera House's beauty of history combines with a modern twist. The venue hosts a diverse range of artistic and cultural events throughout the year. Live entertainment enthusiasts will find delight in the Goss's lineup, which has featured past offerings such as South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Killer Queen and Soul Asylum. Visitors are encouraged to stop by Maud's Mercantile on the first floor of the Goss to explore a delightful array of gifts, discover upcoming events and purchase local art.
In Watertown, you're not just limited to one lake — you have the luxury of two — which give you ample opportunity for lake recreation and camping adventures. What's more, these lakes are surrounded by natural beauty and offer a range of amenities. You'll find two state parks, one county park and one city park all within minutes of each other and within city limits, ensuring that enthusiasts have plenty of options for enjoying the great outdoors. Whether you're into fishing, boating, camping or simply soaking in the serene atmosphere, Watertown's lakes have something for everyone to enjoy.
The Redlin Art Center was Terry Redlin's gift to his hometown. The center was built to attract Redlin fans and art enthusiasts to the palace that inspired so many of the paintings: art that beautifully and poignantly captures, on canvas, the family traditions and memories so many of us share. The gallery is filled with over 160 original oil paintings; the traditions captured in each beautiful scene invite us to take a walk down memory lane. The Art Center is open year-round and admission is free.
Where art meets adventure and great tastes are always on the menu. This slice of prairie paradise is the perfect spot for a getaway as relaxing or wild as you want. No matter how you do Watertown, one thing is certain: you’re in for one huge surprise.
The Mellette House was built in 1885 by Arthur Calvin Mellette, last governor of Dakota Territory and first governor of South Dakota. This historic home has been restored to its former beauty. The original furnishings, family portraits and heirlooms, presented by the Mellette family, make this historic spot unique. The Mellette House is open May — September and guided tours are free.
Downtown Watertown offers a nostalgic look at our past. The area consists of 40 city blocks designated as a historic district. Among the many historic buildings, 64 are listed on the National Historic Register. The area is full of interesting and quaint shops, local eateries and two breweries.
PLAN YOUR VISIT!
By: BUFFALO AND COMPANY
Welcome to Montana’s Paradise Valley, where adventure and beauty collide! It’s time to explore
Under Canvas North Yellowstone! This unique encampment offers a slice of paradise. The mighty Yellowstone River is just steps away from your luxurious glamping tent. With king-size beds, plush linens, en suite bathrooms and private decks, comfort meets the great outdoors here. Spend your days hiking scenic trails, enjoying world-class fly-fishing or floating down the river. As the sun sets, gather around a crackling campfire, dine alfresco and gaze at the starlit sky.
Under Canvas is nestled between the Absaroka and Gallatin mountain ranges. Paradise Valley is a dreamscape for adventure seekers. This is where the mighty Yellowstone River leaves the iconic Yellowstone Park and begins its northward journey, and that’s where the magic starts.
Rising into the sky along the east side of Paradise Valley, the Absaroka mountain range is a sight to behold. Towering nearly 6,000 feet over the valley floor and reaching up to 11,212 feet at the summit of Mount Cowen, these peaks redefine majesty. Paradise Valley is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
In the winter months, the valley transforms into a wonderland, perfect for snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing and wildlife watching.
