This is a huge museum. It is divided into three major sections: the main museum, the Village, and the River Rouge Factory. I’ll be spending a day in each. Some photos from the main museum:

I grew up in the Lehigh Valley PA, former home of Bethlehem Steel and Mack Trucks. When I was a kid, Allentown and Bethlehem were wealthy towns with good-paying industries. Then, all the good jobs fled to Mexico and China, everything closed down, and the whole area became an economic disaster area. “Allentown” was so … More Greetings From Detroit

This is a very large wildlife refuge just outside Minneapolis (I think parts of it are actually within the city limits).  The big attraction here are the waterbirds that migrate up from the south for the summer. Most of these seem to have already departed for winter in Florida, though, and I saw only a … More Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

This is a very nice science museum in St Paul MN. Like most science museums it’s aimed mostly at kids, but lots of “adults” stuff too. Nice dinosaur collection. Some photos.

[NOTE: I’ve blogged all these “how-to” posts before, but am gonna re-run them on occasion, since folks may have missed them, and many of them have been updated or expanded since they were first posted.] Back in my younger days as a backpacker, we used almost no electricity at all. I sometimes carried a small … More Life in the Van: Electricity

The Dakota War of 1862 was a pivotal time in Minnesota’s history. Today, that history is commemorated at the Fort Snelling State Park. In 1805, US Army Lt Zebulon Pike was assigned to lead an expedition to explore the newly-acquired Louisiana Purchase, with specific orders to find suitable locations for new forts and trading posts. Although … More Fort Snelling

This large park is in the middle of Minneapolis, but runs along the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. There are walking and biking paths, picnic areas, and a couple of historical spots, but the major attraction is Minnehaha Falls. Some photos from a day in the park.

This is a very big and very nice park in St Paul MN. There’s a childrens zoo, a botanical conservatory, a large lake, and lots of walking trails and bike paths. It’s a great place to spend the day. Some photos.

My allergies have put me on my ass for a bit–they usually act up a lot this time of year. After popping Zyrtecs like candy, I feel better now. Every time it acts up, there’s always the thought in the back of my head that it might be the damn virus. The initial symptoms are … More Ugh, Allergies …

I’ve been to several SeaLife Aquariums around the country (Orlando, Kansas City, Charlotte NC), and always stop to visit when there’s one nearby. The SeaLife in Minneapolis is inside the Mall of America. Alas, that means there’s lots of little kids running around inside, but they usually clear out and go home for a nappie by … More SeaLife Aquarium