We packed a picnic one morning and headed to Itasca State Park for part of the day. As we drove in, they handed us a schedule that included Circle Time Under the Pines, a education event for young kids starting in just a few minutes. We hurried to the site and found this:
The kids ran to find a spot and we sat back to enjoy our surroundings and listen in on the presentation on porcupines. Turns out they are great tree climbers and fishers hunt them by running circles around them to make them fall over, belly up. Wild.
We found this little guy in the bathroom. And by we, I mean, I found him, fled the bathroom screaming and made Jason go hunt for the scurrying flash I saw go by. Jason carried the frog back to the circle time to share with all of the kids.
The dragonflies were prolific. Everywhere. Hundreds of them. But we didn't see a single mosquito. Thank you, dragonflies.
The kids made a little playdough porcupine with pine needles spikes.
We spent some time visiting historic sites in Itasca, including this replica of an old store, one of the original buildings in the park (when it wasn't yet a park.)
We shared a picnic near the headwaters.
And found our way to the great Mississippi, which isn't much more than a big stream trickling out of Lake Itasca.
By the way, someone remind me just to pack towels and a change of clothes for the kids next year. It would be easier. Thanks.
The kids were able to cross unassisted this year, so Jason went just for fun. It's like some sort of rite of passage right? Crossing the Mississippi without mom or dad. Aww.
We couldn't leave Itasca without some hard scoop icecream.
On our drive out of the park (which is always longer than I remember), we finally stopped at the Great White Pine, Itasca's tallest white pine tree, topping out at more than 112 feet. It's more than 300 years old.
And really tricky to fit in one frame.
It was a beautiful drive through one of Minnesota's most beautiful parks. What a great day.
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